Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-12-19
Spirit Of gefterso!1,
Oharlestowu, West Va, December 10
COMMUNICATED.

AvERlTT, formerly Of Wnchestcr, memorial
Of the lives aud services of Gen. TURNER
AsuBY and his compecrs As au old member
Of the Laurel Brigade" have been inter.
csted 10 glancing over its pages, aud 10 reviv.
ing the memories Of scenes already somewhat
dimmed by the apsc Of time. 1t is too late
now, even were it not entirely foreign irom
my purpose, to critcse the fidelity or the cx
cecuce Of Mr.. AS. performance. Turner
Ashby aud his heroic Captains performed cx
plots in their day, and illustrated virtues in
their lives, that well deserved to be recorded
and transmitted to posterity; and the record
Of them should be US severely simple as their
lives. and us trauSparentIy true as their loyalty
to their country and to horOr
The auther of this volume. though officially
connected with the Ashby Brigade in the
beginning "t its career, did not, We believe,
follow its fortunes, during the last three yearl
OF its eveullul history and Of this fact his
book gives strong anI unIoltunute evidence.
1t cannot fail to strike any one familiar with
the career Of that Brigade, that his selection
Of "Uompcers" is siusuIarly arbitrary aud
singuIarIy incomplete. In the first place, it
had been well to have confined his biograph.
ical notices to the distinguished officers otthe
command who tell during the war, dnd scarcely
one could have been omitted from the cOllec-
ton: but even among the living we look in
vain for my notice Of such men as Col. Fun
stem, (uow deceased, but living when this
volume was published Col. White. and others
who we're conspicuousIy identified with the
Brigade during most OF its history, while We
do end a notice Of an Olfcer-well deserving,
it is true, more than the praise bestowed upon
him-whose only claim to be included in this
collection is that he commanded, by special
assignment, remnant Of the Brigade, for u
short time during the last wintOr OF the war,
and oElicated ut the funeral Of Gen. A. |! As
a soldier of the command must be permitted
to say, TINT few men, considering age and
physical disquaIifcutiOns, did their purt SO well
and SO faithfully us Col Fuustcn, He com.
manded the Brigade in many OF its hardest
and bIoodicst encounters, always exhibiting
personal courage and executive ability. But
my object in writing this communication is to
point out, what conceive to be, singularly
unfortunate omission in the volume, aud to
offer ar humble tribute to the memory of one
who, in courage, in devotion, and in every
soldierly quality, was, in no degree, inferior
to my Of those here placed beside the gallant
Ash6y. | refer to Major John l.. KnOtt o.
this county, of whom there is scarcely men
ton mude in the entire volume. Maj. Knott
entered tho command at tho same time with
| Col. Marshall, who is rightly given the post
| Of honor, and actively shared in all its subse.
quent fortunes, ever displaying modesty and
uniform courage TINT mny have failed to ut
tract tho notice, md tOsecuFe the recognition,
they deserved.
As soldier he was conscicntiou'ly y faithful
in the discharge OF every duty constant at
his post; earnest in the work to which he had
grded himself, and always ready to do aud to
dare for its successful aud speedy achieve
ment Frequently, and for extended periods,
in the lus, two campaigns OF tho war, when
the fighting was heaviest md the carnage
greatest, be commanded the 18th Regiment
with success aud with vigOr. When supo.
rior officer was present, AIoj X. was assigned
tho particularly hazardous duty of command
iug the dismouuted men, and it is well known
that the heaviest lighting in the cavalry battles
ut that period, was done by the truopers on
foot. Ia this capacity he was especially dis
tinguishCd, executing orders with precision,
aud moving upon the peri!uus edge o! buttle
Us calmly aud as cOoIy us in the camp or upon
the parade ground His courage was Of the
quiet, unexplosive kind he was thoroughly
unlike that class. too numerous III our cavalry,
ambitious Of the reputation for Vnlor. and seek
ing to achieve 1t by oecasunal aud dazzling
fcats Of hardihoOd; but relieving these by
long breathing spells, und absences from the
post. Of duty and ul dupger; class that
frequently did bear Of the palm from those
whose services we're tar more valuable, aud
whose personal risk was iucompaEably greater
Mnj X. was not man OF brilliant mind, OF
Of extended education, but he had fund Ol
common sense, that stood him III steud Of both
a well balanced judgment; aud an ambition
to ulett his duties, that made him faithful
aui competent officer. As u mau hG was
mod,sr, kind heated, temperate, aud TINT
which rounds aud completes all the viItues-
a sincere Christian Amid all the temptations
and excesses OF military life, his pety was
never compromised t burned with healthy
and steady fame in every atmosphere intc
which fortune or duty bore him. Major
Kuott was killed in the memorable engage
mout ut tho High Bridge near FaruyilC
VA, during tho melancholy retreat Of OUT
shattered troops from their lines at Petersburg
1t was momentary flash in the thickcniuG
gloom TINT wus finally settling upon our cause
"a brillinnt success at the cos, Of valuable
lives. lie fell leading a Charge Of the 12tl
Regiment upon Brigade Of Federal Infantry
pierced through the hcud by muskct ball
lie was still in the morning of life and Iul
Of hope. Death met him where life Away
found him, at the post Of duty aud in tn,
van.
A SAD SroRY.-IIugh BGnsIey, who wa