Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-05

His earliest military experience, beys1d the mere sof
der-pAyrg Of Virginia horsemen, was IN command o.
company OF cavalry whom be led 10 OharlestoWh lm'
medatey upon the appariton OF John Brown a. mar
pers Ferry II then and there that Ashoys blsek-
Horse" had their name; his men we're mounted on
boodedblaek chargers and the chargers were mounted
by bleoded white riders-horse and man alike were Oh
the first families His picked for their eq1es'
lrian accomplishments ard many OF their horses were
bred and trained 90 his own plantation. As for himself
his name IS a horseman Is famous from Washington 10
Winchester his repus il this respect being equal 70
that Of the gallant bat reckless Randolph R6gey, oil
Baltimore to the exploits OF whose battery in Mexico
Color 81 Charles May mainly indebted for his dragon
reputation.
Daring the John Brown affair." Ashby secuted the
Shenandoah country for negro cobspracits and scsu
ally checked the spirit OF serve uprising, he was one
of the first to enlist in the Rebellion and waited In
Richmond With prefer Of his services, till the ord
nance of Secession passed That Same day. be hnr
ried TO Harpers Ferry, by way OF Washington the IKE
law" and followed by several Vhginians, the first
mounted Rebel to rush into that s.orled little town. Is
il believed that the movement against Harpers Ferry
was proposed and organized at Richmond by him.
Turner Ashby was a gentle man-so quiet tacturn
aud recent TO be thought morcss by those VINO DID
not know him we'll If Rebel be pious, he was so
have heard from two intelligent residents of HarPers
Ferry, that be especially abominatsd profanity, and
when in that place lAst fsll he was excited for mo-
ment into ddaiAg something, he openly expressed hls
regret and modification.
Il is certain that he was not ambitious OF military
honors for he was twice of red the shoulder straps OF
brigadier general bus declined the ground that be
mad no sp, cal mil tsry fnEs rave for the command oil
cavalry composed OF men whom he knew, and in q re
gion with which re was familiar. When, finally, be did
accept the brgadSrs commission il was for Ipediency
add IN compliance with Urgent appeals
HIS yuufgsr brother "Dick, !" captain In his own
CORPS was peculiarly endeared to him by bis fine horse
manship and hs personal intrt pdity Dick Asbby you
remember was XII ed in desperate affair with Wallices
Indiana uaYes, PStGersoas Greek, on the Basi.
more ano Ohio Railroad After his horse was killed and
he shot, he refused quarter and kicked at our men
ss he lay on the ground Il is said by all who knew
him. that Turner Ashby has been a SILENT but savage
man ever stree.
he was about thirty seven years Old Of medium hight
weighing perhaps $50 pounds Of very dark complexion,
with deeply act back EYES, surmouned by shaggy eye
brows, and with most imposing beard and mus:aohe,
covering half his face, and falling half way down his
breast.
He was devoted to General Jackson, and frequently
declared that he should be proud 70 follow him In any
character aud for any duty As for his personal cour
age il is enough say that the very morning General
Bluks entered Winchester, Ashby went TO his head
quarters disguised as a marketman, and in reply 10
questions from staff officers, described bis Rebel self
The day before the tai.le OF Winchester, be rode
through the streets Of that town. with one OF his Cap
taius, 10 Union uniform.
Ole Of the mos. gallant Colonies In shields CON-
maud, who has observed Ashby in three engagement
said IN verbal report to Government few days ago,
that the Black Horse General had Of late become the
mos, reckless man 10 be found either side that he
seemed to plunge into all forms Of danger with delight
riding wherever the fire was hottest waving bis sword,
discharging Lie pisolst best o,ers and coptinu
ally inviting hand TO hand encounters. Our Colonel
once saw him leap bis horse abandoned gun 10
m Ike such AL attack. So peculiar, by is skill aud dar
lug was his horsemsr ship, thai he long ago became
marked man, and General Shields predicted that Ashby
would surely be killed before Jackson driven out OF
toe Valley. Il was doubt intelligent bullet thai
took him #. lady at Winchester said to US, "AshbJ
is a devoted man this war has wslEnigh ok.n his
heart ALrLNOST