Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-26
Syn,7l,am and Ashby.

Alter tho battle Of Winchester, in The Valley
of Virginia, Gen. n-Stonewall-
fore d to fall back, being pressed by Gen. FRI
mont. Gen. Jackson. 10 his retreat up tho
Valley. was seriously encumbered with tho
prisoners and stores he had captured 10 tho
lower Valley, and it required great skill and
pruderc, 10 make safe his esc,po from tho
armies that wero following him. It is we'll
known to those familiar with the history of tho
unhappy war between the two sections that up
to tho time Of his death Gen. Asbby was the
commander Of the c,valry attached to General
Jackson's army 10 the Valley. 10 the retreat
OF Gen. Jackson, Gee. Ashby covered the rear
Of the srny and hal a good many sharp COD
Ii cNs with the Uoiop forcJs all along the march
from Winchester to Harrison burg-a distance
Of seventy miles,
During this retreat the Uoiou cavalry was
under the command of General Wyndham, or
at least the dctachm snt Wh;c1 figured 10 tho
itoldont Wa arc relating. This running fight
and skirmiablug continued uuti the cobtes-
tants reached plilt three miles south OF
Harrlsnnburg ani within four miles Of
Cross Keys battle erounJ. At the place named
OF his command beyond hill sud entirely cln-
ooaIed from his aursucrs. With a detachment
aftwLntV or thirty men he ,hou sdzaCcsd to.
yard the Uoion forces, 8ho were ras.pS forward.
ln tnOmeot his sa'lnn. foe Was after him aud
nc tetTeated toward he hill The Uoion forces
vera led by General Wyadhacl in person.
When Ashby reechc! the brew Of tho bill bis
reserves camo tashinS forward aud the Ualon
cava'y waTe in :uio forced 10 retreat. The con
u ct took place 10 public road, on either eide
OF whico was very high rail feUco. Ii was
owug 10 this fec, 90 doubt, that the nfFsr ter
minated az it did. About one fourth Of mile
from |her3 tho Union cavalry commenced their
ic.rest the r3sd assumes the shape Of iuouej,
narrowing d0Va untl Is was scarcely twenty
feet wide. Whilo the Uoiou cayel,y vere pur-
suiog the Co0tederatos General Wyudhsm va.
10 advance OF his men, so that when thoy turued
to rotrest ne vas 10 their roar. The gallant Ash
by led ti4 comnaad, he 10 front. On the
retreat Ashby eoon got in striking dstarco Of
Wyodham, aud "a he dashed up 70 him with
lis ss5ra draTu o1o would hsso expected him
10 strike his foe to tho Garth. Bu. no did not
and thus they roie, almost side by side. far
several hundred yards, Ashley holding biz sshrr
'l2h ub)ro Et4 hcsd, as if inten5iag eyc1v mo.
tocnt TO cut dtwn bis coeny.
when the retrcainG UaIoa cavalry rc:ohci;
the mario" pliot 10 the roal they became
lmuod togei hor 30 that the retreat Vas par
Tally checked, snd then thoy we're huddlod 70.
rothei IN cjniused nGss. ht this mou,sa,
General WPndham and his pursuer. Ashby.
cama ~ 10 them. I'ho torucr ooula 20 10
inf:he: AMI tho lattor had a splendid oppor
'rnitv to cut bis eremY do7n. Ho did o.:
snlk", howevtr, bat shaethca his sabre, an,:
rH;tioe Eis haua on the shocllev Of Wyndhapi,
taTncd aad led lin away pr;soGor. Half "a
hcuf pitcr that Gsuersl AShty vas killed while
!9adins his troops 10 i;sa. with brigade cl
loisuny. The sHa where he fell is not mcra
s1sn ta'f o rui'H distant frou that whero he
performed the last Of his nnnvsalIans snd pcr,
cfous deeds -Fhttddapi,ia Times.