Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-04-24
wYNDuAM AND AsHnY.
HOW TIE TWO CAVALRY LEADERS NET
SABRE TO SABRE

HOW THE TWO CAVALRY LEADERS NET
SABRE TO SABRE.
After the battle of Winchester. in the
Valley of Virginia, General Jackson,
(StonewalD was forced 10 fall back, be-
sing pressed by General Fremont. Gen
eral Jackson, in his retreat up the Val
ley, was seriously encountered with the
prisoners and stores he had captured j.,
the lower Valley, and it required great
skill and prudence TO make safe his es-
cape from the armies that were follow.
ling him. 1t is well known TO those ia
miliar with the history Of the unhappy
war between the two sections that up "a
the time of his death General Ashby
was the commander OF the cavalry al.
tached 10 General Jackson's army in
the Valley. In the retreat OF General
Jackson, General Ashby covered the
rear of the army and had good many
sharp conflicts with the Union forces
all along the march from Winchrsterto
Harrlsonburg-a distance Of seventy
miles.
Daring this retreat the Union cavalry
was under the command of General
Wyndham, or at least the detachment
which figured in the inciGept we are
relating This running fight aud skrm
ishing continued until the contestants
reached point three miles south of
Harrisouburg and within four miles OF
Cross Keys battle ground. At the place
named General Ashby had yhced the
main body of his command beyond 4
hill aud entirely concealed from lis
pursucrs. With a detachment d TWEEN
ty or thirty men he then advanced 10.
ward the CnoDiorces, who wep pass
ing forward In moment bis gallant
foe was after him and he retrcatcd to
ward the hill. The Union forces were
led by General Wyndham IN person.
When Ashby reached the brow Of the
hill his reserves came dashiDg forward
and the Union cavalry were in turn
forced to retreat. The conflict took place
in public road, on either side oIwhich
was a very high rail fence TWAS owing
TO this fact, no doubt, that the affair ter
minated as it did. About one Fourth of
mile from where the Union cavalry
commenced their retreat the road as
sumes the shape Of funnel, narrowing
down until ii was scarcely twenty feet
wide. While the Union cavalry were
pursuing the Coniederates General
! Wyndham was in advance of his meE,
sothat when they turned to retreat he
was in their rear. The gallant Ashby
led his command, he in front. On tho
retreat Ashby soon got in striking dis
tance of Wyndham, and as he dashed
up to him with his sabre drawn ono
would have expected him 70 strike his
foe to the earth. But he did not; ard
thus they rode, almost side by side, for
several hundred yards, Ashby holding
his sabre high above his head, as il in
tending every moment to cut down his
enemy.
When the retrealing Unionscavalry
reached the narrow point in the road
they became jainmed together so that
the retreat was partially checked, aud
then they were huddied together in
confused mass. AT this moment Gen.
Wyudham and hspursuer, Ashby, came
up to them. The former could go no
farther and the latter had splendid OPP
portuniiy to cut his enemy down. lie
did not strike, however, but shealbed
his sabre, and putting his hand on tho
shoulder of Wyndham, turned and led
him away prisoner. Half an hour az
ter that General Ashby was killed while
leading his troops in q fight with bri-
gade Of Infantry. The spot where hs
fell is not more than halt q mile distsat
from that here he performed The last
of his many gallant and generous deeds.
-PhiiddsIphia Times.