Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-03-03
MISCEL LANEOUS.
GFrom the Gray Jackets. ]
The Death Of Ashby.

scarcely naQ ne Oruereu DapRdSe tram
to proceed before the enemy opened fire upon
his camp. With but two companies of his
old cavalry he prepared to meet them; see>
ing this they Immediately withdrew. The
command was then moved slowly through
Harrisonburg, and drawn up three hundred
yards from the opposite end Soon a regiment
eff "blue coats" came charging through town,
around the bend, in full sight of Ashbys
men, who stood upon their trained chargers
as if fixed to the ground When within
very short distance, they commenced to slack
en- their speed, only giving US time to tender
the salute due them. Soon their ranks were
broken and in confusion they fed through the
streets.
Never before had heard our noble Gen
eral ntter such shout. 1t was not one caus-
cd by victory over brave foe, after hard
contested fight, but only seemed designed to
shame an ignominious band for running be-
fore they were hurt We had begun to enter
tain high opinion Of this body of cavalry.
Upon one instance it flanked and charged
upon battery, which was left without sup.
port-a most daring feat for them. (Iere
Gen. Ashby stood by the guns, fred every
load from his three pistols, and brought every
thing way safely) Soon we were moving
along the road to Port Republic, the enemy
pressing closely. Ashby's eagle eye was upon
them, as if watching for an excuse to give
them battle. An excuse, ,and even the necess>
ity for fight soon became evident. The road
was very bad the train moved slowly, and
the main body of the enemy's cavalry was
only a mile from its rear. They gave us no
time to prepare to meet them. Ashby had
but begun to form his men, before three regi-
ments with colorS and music rare, emerged
from woods three fourths of a mile distant.
Bearing to our right, they charged, present.
ing beautiful sight. Ashby could contain
himself no longer. Gently drawing his sabre,
and waving it around his head, his clear,
sounding voice rang out his only command
-"FoLLow ME-" The dash was simulta-
neous. Fences were cleared, which at any
other time would have been thought impossi-
BILE. The enemy came to a halt. 1t was but
for a moment. AS they heard the strange
whz of the sabre around their heads they
broke and ran. The work of slaughter had
commenced. For every step Ashby, followed
closely by his men, cut them down, or sent
them to the rear. For two miles and a half
the chase continued, and the scene became
more bloody. Never before did our General
or his men use their sabres to such an extent.
None but those who have witnessed SINH
lar scene can imagine the spectacle. Enraged
by deeds too horrible to mention-led by
General whose presence exerted a mystic in
fuence over every heart-the bravery of the
men knew no limit,an seldom was a summons
to surrender heard. The scattered fragments
of the three regiments hid themselves be-
hind their column of infantry three miles
beyond the point of attack, and the pursuit
ended not until this infantry opened fire
Here Ashby drew up his men and remained
81, for inf
ments from Jackson. In this fight, Major
Green, of the sixth Virginia cavalry, was
slightly wounded also another, name un-
known We took forty. -four prisoners, among
them the colonel commanding the brigade of
cavalry. The infantry having arrived, Gen
erals Ashby, Ewell and Stewart, (of Mary
land,) led them to the fight. Here .Ashby's
gallantry could not have been excelled. HaV-
ing led the first Maryland regiment in a
charge which sent the enemy flying from that
quarter, he sought the ffty-eight Virginia,
and, still between the two fires, he ordered
the charge His horse fell dead He rose,
beckoned to the men, and whilst in the very
act, ball entered low in his left side, came
out near the right breast, and shattered his
right wrist He fell-he died. Not even a
| groan or sigh was uttered by the dying hero.
| He was brave whilst living, but braver in
| dying. The men were not discouraged, but
/ pressed on. and soon the victory was ours
Night closed the fighting. The noble Ashby
| fell between six and seven in the evening"
The news went like fash through our lines
Every heart wounded. The aged, the
yeung- and the hard-hearted wept. Nature
made deeper the gloom; and soon the dark
ness of the night made still darker the regions
Of the mind. He was buried in the Uni
versity Cemetery, near Charlottesville, but
his body was afterwards removed to Winehes.
ter.