Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-03-17

dead. He was removed many hours az
forwards, and lived for several days, en-
loving every kind attention. bot his
wounds proved mortal. He was buried
in the beautiful Indian Mound Cemetery
at Rnmney, on The 4lh of July, 1861.
During the engagement, Of his brother,
Tunsr Ashby started up the railroad to
his rescue; but in passing along the Iiv'
er's brink. his force was fired upnn from
krIly's l-land, on the north branch OF the
! Po,or ac about twelve miles east OF Cum
berland. The island lies some sixty ieet
from The Virginia bank, which is precIpI,
lous, and directly laid with the railroad
tract. On the other side Of the island
which was reached through water to ;he
saddle eirih, there is gently rising
beach. some ibir'y yards to the INTERIOR
which is thickly wooded. and contains
dense underground. Here in ambush
IIav. as was afterwards reported ,abcut for
I,v Of the Indiana troops, and about sixty
'of MerIey's branch rihemen-Mary land
! Union men Of the vicnlty-woodmen,
skilled with the rifle, and many of them
desperate characters. After receiving
the enemy's fire, Turner Ashby and his
eleven at once charged and after sharp
engagement, routed and dispersed their
forces. 1t has been declared that not less
than forty shots were fired at Ashby on
that occasion. but no, he nor his horse
were harmed. and al leas, FIVE Of the enc
my were probably slain by his hand.
From the date of his brothers death, a
change passed over the life of Turner
Asjby He always wore sad smile
alter tina, unhappy day. and his lie be-
came more solemn and earnest 10 the end
of his own evanescenl and splendid ca
lreer. "Ashbv." said lady friend, speak
ing Of him after this period. sis now
iderofed man" His behavior at his
bIolher's grave, and i. is described by
one of the mourners a, the same spot,
was most touching. He stood over the
grave, took his brothers sword, broke 1t
and threw ii into tire opening; cIasped
his hands and looked upward as if in res
IignaInn; and lhen pressing his lips, as II
IN the bitterness of grief. while a tear rol,
lied down his cheek. be turned without a
word, mounted his horse ard rode away.
!Thenceiorlh his name was terror 10 the
emmy.
Shortly after the death of his brother.
his company consented to yield him up in
order that he might accept tho lieutenant
coloneIcy of the Legion, and elected Is,
Lieut.. William Turner (his cousin) cap
tain in his stead. The Legion. number
ing at tha, time nearly nine hundred ef-
tective men tolerably equipped and noun
ted, continued on duty in Hampshire un-
I'll the l6lh Of July, 1861, when ii started
for Manassas, but did not arrive until al-
Ter the battle. The command was imme-
IdiateIy afterwards ordered TO SlauntOn 10
loin Gen. Lees forces subsequently, 10
uollingsworlh, one mile south OF Win.
chester. In the mean time, Col. Ashbv,
with several companies, was sent on de-
tached duty to Jefferson, into which conn-
~ the enemy was making frequent in
cursons from Harper's Ferry and Mary.
land
10 Jefferson, Ashby had command OF
four companies Of cavalry and about eigh,
hundred militia. Yankee raids we're
KEEP, from the doors cf the inhabitants,
and the enemy made but little appearance
in this portion Of Virginia, until Banks
crossed the Potomac in February, 1862.
II was about this time that Ashby's
cavalry acquired its great renown. The
Lincoln soldiers dreaded nothing so much
as they did these hated troopers. Go
where they would, out of sigh. of their
encampments, they were almost sure to
meet some of Ashby's cavalry, who SEEM
ed 10 possess the power of ubiquity. And
in truth, they had good cause both 10 hate
and TO fear Ashby's cavalry; for many a
Federal horseman dropped from his sad
die, and many Federal soldier on foot
dropped in his tracks, al the crack of
Confederate rifles in the hands Of Ash
by's fearless sharpshoolers.
During the time of the encampment al
Flowing Springs, Col. Ashby rarely ever
came into town, which was about mile
and a half distant. Nothing could seduce
him from his duties; no admiration, no
dinner parties or collaions, could move
him to leave his camp. He always slept
with his men. No matter what hour OF
the night he was aroused, he was always
wakeful, self.possessed, and ready to DO
battle. He was idolized by his men.
whom he treated as companions, and IN
dulged without reference 10 rules OF mill
tary discipline. de had great contempt