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


heavy columns of General Banks, Ashby
was in the saddle day and night, and
his guns were never silent. The infantry
sank to sleep with that thunder in their
ears, and the same sound was their re-
veille at dawn. Weary at last of pro-
ceeding SO unproductive General Banks
ceased the pursuit and fell back to Win
chester, when Ashhy pursued in his
turn, and quickly sent intelligence to
Jackson which brought him back to
kernstown. The battle there followed
and Ashby held the turnpike, pressing
! forward with invincible ardor, and
nearly thanking the federal forces. When
Jackson was forced to retire, he again
held the rear; and continued in front of
the enemy. eternally skirmishing with
them, until jackson again advanced to
attack General Banks at Strasburg and
Winchester. 1t was on bright May
morning that Ashby, moving in front,
struck the federal column CT cavalry IN
ta11situ north Of Strasburg, and scatter
ed them like a hurricane. Separated
from his command but bursting with an
ard0r which dehed control, he charged
solitary and alone, an entire regiment
retreating in disorder, snatcfled a guidon
from the hands of it's bearer, and firing
/
ed the men to surrender. Many did so,
Ashby, to Winchester, where he threw
the guidon, with a laugh, TO Il friend
who afterwards had it hung up in the
Library of the Capitol at RichEond.
But this is not the place to discuss a
record Of Ashby's career. The incidents
above given were merely the preface.
The affair with General Banks was on
ly a Skirmish-the wars of the giants
! followed. Jackson, nearly hemmed in
by,,bitterand determined foes, fell back to
escape destruction, and on his track
rushed the heavy columns of Shields
and Fremont, which, closing. in at Stras-
burg, We're now hunting down the lion.
1t was then and there that Ashby won
his fame as a cavalry officer, and at
taehed to every foot of ground over
which he fought some deathless tradi-
ton. The reader must look elsewhere
for a record Of those achievements. Space
would fail me were | to touch with the
! penis point the hundredth part of that
splendid career. On every hill, in eve
ry valley, at every bridge, Ashby thun-
dered and lightened with his cavalry
and artillery. Bitterest OF the bitter
was the cavalier in those moments; q
man sworn to hold his ground or die.
He played with death, and dared it ev-
eryWhere. From every hill came the
roar of his guns and the sharp crack of
his slarpshooters, but the music, much
as he loved it and he did love it with
all his sou--Was less sweet TO him than
the clash Of sabers. 1t was in hand-to
hand fighting that he seemed to take
| the greatest pleasure. In front OF the
column, sweeping forward 10 the charge,
Ashby was, whata comrade called him,
'happy.o Coming To the Shenandoah
near Newmarket he remained behind
with few men to destroy the bridge,
and here took place an event which may
seem too trifling to be recorded, but
which produced a strange effect upon
the army. While retreating before q
squadron of the enemy's cavalry which
Numbered on his track-his own men
had deserted him--his celebrated white
horse was MORALLY wounded. Furious
at this, Ashby cut the foremost OF his
assalants out Of the saddle with his
saber, and a'ely reached his command;
but the noble charger was staggering
under him, and bleeding to death. He
dismounted, caressed for an instant,
without speaking, the proud neck, and
then turned away. The historic steed
was led away to his death; his eyes glar-
ing with rage it seemed at the enemy
STILL and Ashby returned to his work,
Fastening to meet the fatal bullet which
i'm turn was to strike him. The death
of the white steed who had passed un-
scathed through so many battles, pre-
coded only by a few days that OF his
rider, whom no ball had ever yet touch
ed. 1t was on the Attn or 9Th OF June, /
believe, just before the battle Of Cross
Keys, that he ambuscaded and captured
Sir Percy Wynham, commander of Ere.
mont's cavalry advance. Sir Percy had
publicly announced his intention to
''bag Ashby;" but unwariiy advancing
upon a small decoy in the road, hetound
himself suddenly attacked in flank and
rear by Ashby in person; and he and
his squadron of nearly a hundred men
were taken prisoners. That WAS the
last cavalry fight in which the great
/ leader took part. His days were num-
bered--death had marked him. But to
the last he was what he had always
been unresting, fiery, ever on the ene
my's track and he died IN harness. 1t
was on the very next day, think, that
while commanding the rear guard of
Jackson, he formed the design OF flank
ing and attacking the enemy's infantry,
and sent to jackson for troops. 4 brave
associate, Col. Brady Johnson, describ-