Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-03-10

ltRl sense, StneiUuS us iepoeiioH, ohu uo-
bic character, the Confederacy is indebted
for two as noble and gallant men as have
won soldiers graves during this war.
The father Of Turner Ashby was the
sixth son, that reached manhood. of Cap
,7rn Jack Ashby, a man OF mark in The
lay in which he lived. aud Of whom ma
nv anecdotes are sllll exmnl, illustrative
OF his remarkable character. One of
these belongs 10 the colonial tunes, and is
interesting
, when the news Of the disastrous de-
: feat aud death Of General Braddock reach.
ed Forr Loudoun NOW Winchester, Vlr-
7 gina JON Ashby was there. aud his
z celebrity as a hoIseman induced the Brit
I sh commandant Of the post TO secure his
! services as bearer Of dispatches 10 the
vlce-roya governor a, Williamsburg.
Ashby at once proceeded on his mission,
and IN an incretitly short time presented
himself before the commander of Fort
Loudoun. This official. of choleric dis
position, upon the appearance OF Ashby,
trUke out IN severe reprnach for his de.
lay in proceeding on his mission, and
was finally struck dumb with astonish-
menl the presentation of the governors :
reply 10 the dispatch ! The ride is said
10 have been accomplished in the shortest
possible time, aud The fact Is certified in
the records OF Frederick counly court
/ Upon HE breaking ou, of the Revolu-
ton OF 1875, Captain Jack Ashhy raised
company III his neighborhood in the up.
per part OF Fauquier llwas attached 10
lle lhird Virginia regiment, under CON-
mand OF General Marshall. lie was in
,he b,tlles OF Brandy wine, Germantown.
and several other Of the most desperately
CONTESTED fields Of the Revolution. From
expo. ufe and hardships endured upon the
| frontiers of Canada he contracted disease,
! from which he was never entirely rellev-
ed TO the day OF lis death. He continued
in the service during tie whole period Of
The Revolution, and after the proclama,
ZION OF peace, quietly seuled upon bis
beautiful farm not far from Markham sta
ton. upon he Manassas Gap railroad.
Four oil his sons, John, Samuel, Nlmrod,
and Thomson, served IN the war Of 1912.
Tie father Of our hero died, as we have
stated, leaving a family Of children OF len
der age. Young Turner was put 10
school, where it does not appear ,la. he
showed any peculiar trait in his studies;
| but be was remarkable among his young
) associates for his sedale manners, his
grave regard for truth, and his apprecia-
uon of points OF honor.
: Turner Ashby never had the sdvan'a'
ges of college education, bot he had a
good, healthy mind; he was an attentive
student Of human nature, ,and convenient
listener where information was TO be
gained; and he possessed those ordinary
stores of kno Wedge which may be &C.
CURED by moderate use of books and an
attentive intercourse with men. tie was
engaged for some time in merchandise al
Markham's Depot. The old homestead
of bis father still stands near there. ard
not far from lhe Homestead OF the Mar
shalls. The tastes Of Ashby were TOO
domestic for politics. He was al one
time Wing candidate for the Virginia Leg
lsla,ure from Fauquier, but was defeated
by small majority. This was his only
public appearance in any political strife.
and but little else is known OF him as a
politician beyond his ardent admiration Of
and personal attachment! TO Robert f..
Scott.
Ashby's attachment TO domestic life
was enlivened by an extreme fondness
for manly paslimes. He was horseman
from very childhood, and had the greatest
} passion tor equestrian exercises. His de.
ligh, in physical excitements was singu-
! larIy pure and yiriuous; he slammed the
dissipstiops fashionable among young
men, and while So sober and steady in
his habits as sometimes TO be a oke
among his companions, ye. he was the
IfoIemOs. in all innocent sports, The first
10 get up tournaments and fox-chases ,and
almost always The successful competition
in all manly games. His favorile horse
vas trained for tournaments and foX-huni
ing, and ii is said 10 have been common
paslime of Ashby TO take him into the
meadow and Jump him over hsy'cocks
and stone fences. Some of his feats Of
horsemanship are memorable, and are
constantly related in his neighborhood.
v hle al Fsuquier Springs. which he
frequently visited. and where he got up
tournaments after The fashion of the an
Glen. chivaIry, he once displayed his
horsemanship by riding into the bali
room, up and down steep flights of steps.
10 The mingled terror and admiration ol
The guests. No cavalier was more grace
lni. The reserve Of his manner was
thrown aside in such sports, and his b ack