South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-06-18
T o r Err AsHBY.


During that period OF suppressed OK
element in Virginia after the John
Brown. incident at Harper's Ferry, and
before the outbreak of the war, a young
man from one OF the Northern States
passed week or two as q guest in the
house OF ono Of the oldest and most
distinguished families in Northern Vir-
ginia. :,
The young man was frankly n rcpub-
lican in politics, but tho fact made no
difference whatever in the courtesy or
kindness .of. his host, or in the treatment
given to him by the gentlefolk OF the
surrounding country, to whose houses he
was freely invited, as gentleman visit.
ing the house Of gentleman, their
neighbor. His business In the neighbor-
hood was social not politicalE-he was,
in fact, paying his addresses 70 his hosts
daughter. and his political opinions,
though perfectly we'll known. were not
discussed aud perhaps were scarcely
thought Of at all.
One evening during his visit this young
man. G. D, was invited in company
with his hosts family to attend reccp-
ton given by Turner Ashby on the oc-
casion OF tournament. lie went, OF
course, mingled freely with the other
guests, and found nothing in his reccp-
ton TO make any difference between
himself and other gentlemen present an.
till the supper was served. Then dis
agreeable incident occurred.
A young man of the neighborhood
who, as {. D aiterward learned,
was a rejected sutton for the hand OF the
woman to whom he was himself laying
seige, approached him as he stood talk
ing with her, and without speaking to
&. D. at all, said to the lady:
Isn't 1t sublime piece Of impudence
for a Yankee end black Republican to
come down here now and accept the
hospitality ola Virginia gentleman, ar-
ter all that has happened?'
The young lady replied quickly:
MIR. x, you should be tho last
person to criticise the catholicity Of my
fathers hospitality-you have proG,cd
by his disposition to draw social lines
too sharply. You have been received by
him as guest upon several occasions
The reply was so singing that the
youth straightway withdrew from the
supper-rcom, and G. D, thinking it
better to retire from company in which
he might be less welcome than he had
supposed, went TO tao cloak room when
B approached him saying:
What L said just Cow had reference
TO you. and was meant to DO insulting
Young g. D. had not been used
TO encounters of this kind, ana had lit
lie disposition to engage in affairs OF
honor; but lie seriously intended to
prosecute his suit for the hand oe his
hosts daughter, and he knew instinct
lively that all hope Of success there must
be abandoned if he failed to resent an
insult of so gross nature. He there
fore struck his antagonist in the face
with the glove which he had just drawn
from his hand.
This was signal for the persons pres.
ent to interfere to prevent brutal fight
with fists. A challenge in regular form
was quickly given and accepted, and G..
D., anxious to have the affair ended
as speedily as possible, insisted that
the duel should be fought at once in
grove near tho house, by the light OF
torches.
All the persons concerned prepared
themselves Immediately, and we're about
TO quit the room for the appointed place,
when Turner Ashby, white with rage
burst through the door. a whisper Of
what was going on had reached hi m.
He entered the room, paused a mo-
ment and then advanced to B. ouiy.
ering rs he went forward SO violently
that haif the persons present supposed
that he meditated an assault upon b.
Ills voice, however, was low, and his
speech very deliberate.
What is the time fixed for our meet.
ing, Mr.. b ---?, lie asked.
Il am TO fight Mr.. G. D. immedi.
ately,' answered B.
Il beg your pardon, replied Ashby.
but Mr. Q. D. has nothing 10 do
with this affair. lie came to my house
70 .night as my guest. When invited
him to come the invitation was Turner
Ashby's word OF honor that he should
be treated here as n gentleman it was
my voucher for his character to my 9th.
er guests, and for the character OF nv
other guests TO him. an sorry 20 have
to explain these points Of good breeding
TO you, Mr.. b, but you have shown
your ignorance OF them by insulting nv
guest. That insult is mine. not his 10
resent lie Is here under my invitation.
and that is my pledge OF protection
Ii you are not prepared 10 make a prop.
or and satisfactory apology at once, both
to my guest and myself, you must FIGHT
Turner Ashby. and the timo and place
already agreed upon will answer as we'll
as any other. What do you say sir2'
Now fighting a duel with young
stranger wholly unused 10 firearms and
lighting OF any sort was ono thing fght.
ing duel with Turner Ashby in a rage.
was very we'll understood 70 be anoth.
er and a much more serious thing. and
young BIS consciousness Of the
difference wrought q complete change
in his mood. lie pleaded in excuse for
his conduct the fact that he had been
drinking too freely, and signed the pair
Of apologies which Turner Ashby wrote.