Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-14
generally on the picket line, in sight of
the Federal camn- fires

conceived the second stage OF br1lllan
military movement, crushing Bank
and capturing large part of his Outfi
of men and material, it was Ashby VIII
executed some of the most difficult part
of the work. Again, when jackson wa
on the retreat, with Fremont closing IL
behind from the west at Strasburg, ant
Mcdowell and Shields closing In from
the east, with Banks and Landers press
ing from behind, it was to Ashby tina
Jackson looked, nor did he look in vain
Barely passing between Fremont anG
Mcdowell at Strasburg, unless Jack
sons rear had been well protected tht
retreat must have been so hurried as t.
have lost many Of the spoils of the cam
paign. He scarcely quilted the saddle
from Winchester till the army was safe
and Gen. Jackson's immense trains haC
been placed beyond the river at Port
Republic.
ASHBY'S LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
It was on the outskirts of Harrison
burg, in the centre of the great valley
! almost equidistant from tragic Harper's
Ferry, at its entrance and quiet Salem
at its close. The Federals were pressing
upon the rear of Jackson, and the next
day the storm of battle was to begin
which shook the mountains around Port
Republic and reverberated among the
hills of Cross Keys. Ashby was to fall
with bis hand on the heart of the valley.
His chaplain, who was with him, says
lit was little wonder he could not sleep
that night, for never did officer feel more
keenly the delicacy and importance of
Jackson's trust" Early Friday morn
ing, June 6, 1862, just nineteen years
| oh hxyu cd oil fo
With his line of protection and observa-
ton thrown in crescent form from the
Shenandoah river around to the noun
tains west of Harrisonburg, it may be
imagined how very active and energetic
he was when he endeavored to keep the
whole line under his own eye. His
whole military career had been very
brilliant, and, as Gen. Robert E. Lee
expressed it, sit had been an eventful
one." The last day of his life, however,
was the most brilliant in services, ar.
duous and perilous.
CAPTURE OF COL. SIR PERCY WYND-
HAM.
When the Federal advance reached
Harrisonburg the cavalry, under Gen.
eral Bayard, began to press Jackson's
rear with great energy. Here 1t was that
Ashby performed one of his brilliant ex-
ploits. There was in the Federal army
on Sir Percy Wyndham, colonel Of the
First New Jersey Cavalry, an officer
we'll schooled in all the experiences of
the field on both sides of the Atlantic.
He was full of adventure and anxious
to capture Ashby. This he undertook
to do by pressing Ashby's rear with
great dash, but imagine Sir Percy's
chagrin to find himself prisoner He
had gone too far. Ashby had apparent
ly retreated, when, throwing out his
fanks and allowing the Federal cavalry
to pass on, he had completely envelopcd
Sir Percy before the English adventurer
knew he had ventured too far in on the
lined formed.
AsHBY's DEATH AND BURIAL.
Very soon thereafter Fremont pushed
on his infantry, and Ashby fell leading
an infantry charge against Pennsyl-
vania regiment known as the "Buck>
tails" He was pierced through the
heart by MIME ball while leading on
his men to victory, and calling to them
as he fea them on, Forward, my brave
men," He was buried the 5tsh Of June,
1852. in the cemetery of the University
of Virginia at Charlottesville.
THE sTONEWALL CEMETERY.
luo WOuleu OI CD0 Lower valley,
headed by Mrs. Philip Williams, had
prepared beautiful home for the Con-
federate dead who had fallen around
Winchester. This work of love had
been brought to such stage Of compile
ton as to be ready for dedication on the
25th of October, 1866, when the bodies
of the Ashby brothers were buried in
one and the same grave. On the after
noon of the Oath the body of Captain
George Sheets. one of Ashby's bravest
and most trusted captains, had been
brought from near Front Royal, where
he had fallen in May, 1862, while that
of Captain Richard Ashby was Brought
from Romney that of Lieutenant COL
onel Thomas Marshall from Charles
town, where it had been temporarily
placed in vault, while that of General
Ashby was brought from Charlottes-
vile. The four bodies were carried to
the Episcopal Church. The interment
took place the next day with the dedica-
tion of Stonewall Cemetery, in the pre-
sence of 10000 people, the late Hon.
Henry A. Wise delivering an eloquent
address.