The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-21

the Pennsylvania "Bucktails, was
drawn up, and soon the crash of mus
kerry resounded from the bush, S along
fence on the edge of the forest, where
the enemy were posted. Ashby rushed
to the assault with the fiery enthusiasm
OF his blood. Advancing at the head OF,
! the 18th Virginia in front, While Col.
johnson with the MaryIanders attack
ed the enemy in flank, he had his horse
shot from under him, but sprung up,
waving his sword, and shouting "Vir-
ginians, charged These words were his
last. From the enemy's line, now with
| in fifty yards, came a storm Of bullets;
one pierced his breast, and he fell at
the very moment when the Bucktails
broke, and were pursued by the victori-
Gus Southerns. Amid that triumphant
shout the great soul Of Ashby passed
away. Al most before his men could
raise him he was dead. He had fall n
as he wished to fall-leading a charge
in full war harness, fighting to the last
Placed on a horse in front ola cavalry
/ man, his body was borne out of the
wood, just as the last rays of sunset
tipped with fire the foliage of the trees;
and as the inert form of the dead chief
tain was borne along the lines of infan-
| try drawn up in column, explanations
| broke forth, and the bOsOms ofmen who
had advanced without tremor into
the bloodiest CULTS of battle, WAS shaken
by uncomfortable sobs. The dead man
had become their beau ideal of q soldier;
| his courage, fire. dash and unshrinking
nerve had won the heart of these rough
men-and now when they read upon
that cold pale face the stamp Oft the hand
of death, a black pail seemed slowly to
descend, the light Of the June evening
was q mockery. That sunset was the
glory which fell Oh the soldiers brow
as he passed away. Never did day light
to his death nobler spirit.
Mere animal courage is a common
trait; the majority of men will advance
boldly into battle, and defy shells, bull
lets and the sabre. It was not the chief
glory of this remarkable man that he
cared nothing for peril, daring it with
an utter recklessness. Many private
soldiers of whom the world never heard
did as much. The supremacy beautiful
trait of Ashby was his modesty, his
truth, his pure and knightly honor.
His was a nature full OF heroism, chival-
ry, simplicity; ne was not only q great
soldier, but gentleman in every fiber
Of his being. II was with him. said
|
was struck for the cause which we both
had so much at heart, and was with him
in his est fight, always knowing him to
be beyond al! modern men in chivalry,
as he was equal to any one in courage
He combined the virtues Of Sir Philip
Sidney with the dash Of Murat. His
fame will live in the Valley of Virginia
outside of books, as long as its hills and
mountains shall endure" Never was
truer comparison than that Of Ashby to
Murat and Sidney mingled; but the
splendid truth and modesty of the great
English Chevalier predominated in him.
The Nirginian had the dash and fire of
Murat in the charge, and never did the
glittering Marshal at the head of the
French cuirassers perform greater deeds
OF daring. But the pure and spotless
soul OF Philip Sidney, that slnirrcr of
chivalry,' was the true antelope of Ash
by. Faith, honor, truth, modesty,
courtesy which never failed, loyalty
which nothing could affect, these were
the great traits which made the young
Virginian SO beloved and honored, Civ
ing him the first place among the men
of his epoch. No man lives who can re-
member rude action of his; his spirit
seemed to have been moulded to the per-
| iecC shape OF antique courtesy anu non
or; and nothing could change the pure
gold of his nature. His fault as y SOL
der was want of discipline; and it has
been said with truth that he resembled
rather the chief huntsman OF a hunting
party than general-mingling with
his men in bivouac or around the camp
fire, on i. perfect equality. But what
he wanted in his discipline and militia
ry rigor he supplied by the enthusiasm
which he aroused in the troops. They
adored him, and rated him before all
other leaders. His wish was their guide
! in all things: and upon tle field they
| looked to him as their war-king. The
flash Of his sabre as it left the scabbard
drove every hand to the hilt; the sight
of his milk white horse in front was
their signal for attention." and the
low clear tones of -Ahsby's order. FOL
law me!" as he moved to the charge
mad more effect upon his men thar a
hundred hugles.
pray my northern reader who does
me the honor to,iteraue this sketch mot to
regard these sentences As the mere rhap-
sody OF enthusiasm. They contain the
truth of Ashby, and those who served
with ii'n will testify 10 ths. !itel..i ac-
curacy OF the sketch. He Has one of
those men who appear but once in q
century, or many centures-a veritable