Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-03-24
MEMOIR OF TURNER ASIIBY.
No. 3.

SpFCllA6u VI ilIONtl u uS NV
South even has ever produced. His
brilliant daring, his extreme courtesy 10
woman, his devotion 10 the horse. his
open hearted manner, and his scorn Of
mean actions. ere qualities as admirable
nov as in The days Of Froissar,'s Chfon-
iclcs. After the battle Of Winchester. the
Yankee women and families of officers
.omeiimrs came TO Ashby to get passes.
They were surprised to find with "hal
readiness permits were granted. They
would say Colonel Ashby, you may
search our baggage. We assure yon we
are carrying away nothing which we are
no, q. liberty TO DO" Ills reply was,
IL have no right TO look into ladies bag
gage, or to exomine their trunks. South
ern gen. .Iemen do nc snch thing They
said, "Colonol YOU may search our per-
sons, sod see If We carry away anything
contraband" " The reply was, "Vrgiaia
gentlemen DO not search The persons Of
ladies'"
Few young men Of Ashby's age could
have resieted the intoxicalion Of praise
heaped upon him from every quarter.
The tact " as. no sgsd and stern devolee
10 duly was ever more lnsenslble, IN The
performance of bis task. 10 the currents
OF popular favor than tie young Paladin
Of lhe South. The following copy OF a
IeIler, written at the hei9 ht Of his repu'a-
TOO to an elderly gentlemen Of Stafford
county, illuslrsles tie modesiy which
adorned the life Of Turner Ashby, and
the sense Of duly which insured It's most
Brilliant successes
My DEAR Slg have just received
yuur exceedingly kind and most fatIer-
ing letter. Let me assure you that 1t
gives me no little pleasure TO know lha,
my course, willie doing my duty 10 my
county, meets Your approval, whose
age aud experience make il more 10 he
es,eeUed. That have not sought eelf'
sggrandiZenent, or regarded any thing
save What ! believed TO be my duty to
nv couniry in Ibis war hope il is need
less to assure you. When my course
meets wl.h ,he approval Of the old pa
riols, feel do,b satisfied that have
uol mistaken what believe ia bo my du.
ly. What you are pleased TO say OF my
brother (vho fell as |, too. expeci 10 fall.
if my country needs iO is but too true.
Had he been spared longer, he would
doubtless have been Of gtea, vaiae tn our
country His fall, however, has not
been without lis lesson to the enemy,
teaching them that Virginisns know how
to die as well as to fight for their Liberty.
he died without regret, feeling that his
! life was due 10 his counlry's cause.
Please present me most kindly to all my
r,isnds IN Stafford, and accept my high.
est respects for yourself, Your obedien'
servant, Turner ABBEY
Il wss on the occasion of the battle OF
kernssown that his energy wos exercis
ed to an extraordinary degree in protect
ing the retrea, and annoying the skirts OF
the enemy. In thirty eight, out Of forty
Two DAYS after this battle he was fighting
The enemy, keeping him in check, or
cutting Of his Communications. The
terrible fa,igues he incurred never seem
I'D 10 dcpress him. TO tax hls endurance.
An acquaintance tesGfes that ii was not
an unftequent feat for him TO Tids daily
over a line of piekets sixty or seventy
miles in extent.
AT later period Of the Valley cam
paign, when Banks returned from Slras-
burg and our troops were chasing him.
Ashby would follow and charge the Fed
erals as the Rockbridge Artillery poured
in their fire. At one time he was riding
abreast of three hundred infantry, who
were passing along the turnpike. All at
once he wheeled his horse, and lesping
the fence with drawn sword. cut his way
through; then wheeling, he did the same
thing second time. Riding up TO the
standard. bearer, he seized il from him
and dashed him 10 the earth. The terri
fed wretches never raised a weapon
against him. Sevenly.fve Of them, whom
he cut off. laid down their arms, and sa,
down at his order in the corner Of The
fence, where they remained until his men
came up 10 take care Of them. The flag
vas that Of Vernon, regiment. A few
days a,rer, Mr.. Boreler asked Ashby OF
the exploit. He drew the flag from his
bosom and gave il to him. 1t was pre-
sented by Mr.. Bo.eler TO the Library Of
the State, at Richmond, testimony 10
one of the mos, brilliant deeds o. Virgin
las youthful hero.
A week after this adventure. Ashby
was dead. Blu, few days before the
termiDa:ion Of his brilliant career. he re-
ceived the promotion which had been
long due him from the government. Just
before leaving RiehmonG, after the ad'