Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-06-25

Neither of the brothers was ever married,
allusion is here made 10 Richards engage
ment to one OF the most lovely of Virgin
is's daughters The chaplain of the regi-
ment took the engagement ring of the
finger of the dead Ashby, and with lock
of his hair inclosed IL 10 his widow-be-
trothed. The body of Capt. Ashby was
buried in Indian Mound Cemetery, Rom
ney. Va, (now West Virginia.)
MANASSAS, BOLIVAR HEIGHTS AND THE BATH
CAMPAIGN.
While denied the privilege of minglng
In the fray At the first battle of Manassas,
such excellent service did Col. Ashby
render in masking Gen. Johnston's move-
ments from Winchester 10 reinforce Beau-
regard that the Federal General Patterson
was completely hoodwinked. After this
battle Ashby returned 10 his old work OF
guarding the b6rler, and with the contin-
uous skirmishing up and down the river,
! with line of pickets some sixty miles in
length, was kept very busy. The battle
! of Bolivar Heights. with the Federal Cen
oral Geary, IL which the attempt Of the
latter 10 enter the valley by the way OF
| Earper's Ferry was frustrated, showed
/ clearly that Ashby could handle both in
! fantry and cavalry. During the autumn
! and early winter Ashby, under the order
! up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad con-
| nectiOn with Washington and in destroy
! ing the locks OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
! canal so rs 10 increase the difficulty OF
supplying the Federal commissariat. llc
! commanded the cavalry In the celebrated
! bath campaign" in January, 1862, when
! Gen. Jackson made a feint of crossing into
MARYLAND, his real object being 10 gather
the rich supplies In Hardy and Hampshire
! counties.
After this, while Gen. Jackson, In Feb
ruary, was in Winchester resting aud re-
cruiting. il WAS Ashby who watched the
camp-tires of the Federsls around llar-
| per's Ferry, and Frederick city and Cum
berland rs WELL keeping Jackson inform
ed of the exact stage of preparation Tor
the Federal advance In March. On the
retreat from Winchester Ashby was the
last man To leave the old town, constitu-
ting the rear-guard of Jackson's little ar
| nv, When Gen. Joe Johnston's : orders
called Jackson back 10 Kernstown 10 pre-
vent Banks from reinforcing Mcclellan,
IL was Ashby who led the advance-guard
In person, and in the stubborn engage
ment of the 23d of March. 1852, co-opcrat-
ell with Jackson in SO Gripping Banks rs
to hold thousands of troops in the Valley
who would have gone across the Blue
Ridge 10 oppose Johnston. After the bat
tie of Kcrnstown Jackson looked 10 ASH
by to cover his retreat. This he did In tho
most mastery manner.
RRILIIANT SERVICE.
This. in the judgement of many, consti-
| tuted the most brilliant part of Ashby's
military life, and secured for him, on tho
earnest recommendation of Gen. Jackson.
the promotion to brigadicr- -generalship,
his brigade being constituted Of the Sew
cu.h Regiment, Col. X. II. Delaney.
Eleventh Regiment, Col. j.. l.. LomaX,
Twelfth Regiment, Col. \. W. llarman,
and battalion commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel G.. A. White. During this retreat
not gun, not wagon, aud scarcely
man as prisoner, did jackson lose. twas
Ashby's watchful courage and skill that
protected them and when night-fall came
he was generally on the pickct-line, In
sight OF the Federal camp-drcn.
When, reinforced 10y Ewel, Jackson
conceived the second stage Of brilliant
military movement, crushing Banks aud
capturing a large part of his outfit Of men
and material, IL was Ashby who executed
some of the most difficult parts Of tho
work. Again, when Jackson was on the
retreat, with Fremont closing IN behind
from the west at Strasburg, and Mellow
and Shields closing In from the east, with
Banks and Landers pressing from behind,
IL was 10 Ashby that Jackson looked, nor
did he look In vain. Barely passing be-
tween Fremont and Mcdowell at Stras-
burg, unless JacksOn's rear had been well
protected the retreat must hpyo been 20
| hurried H. 10 have lost many of the spoils
! Of the campaign. He scarcely Quilted tho
saddle from Winchester I'LL the army was
safe, and Gen. Jackson's immense trains
had been placed beyond the river at Port
Republic.
AsHBY's LAST NIGHT on PABTH.
IL was OF the outskirts Of Ilarrisouburg.
in the centre Of the great valley, almost
equi-distant from tragic ilarper's Ferry,
at its entrance and quiet Salem NJ IL close.
The Federals were pressing upon ;hcrcar
of jackson, and the next day the storm Of
battle was to begin which shook the noun
tains around Port Republic and reycrber-
ated among the hills Of Cross Reyes. Ash
by was to fall with his hand on the heart
Of the valley. His chaplain, who was
with him, says "it was little wonder he
could not sleep that night, for never did
officer feel more keenly the Jclicacy and
! importance OF JacksOn's trBt." Early
| Friday morning, June 9Th, 1882, just nine
J teen years ago, Ashby seemed all energy
and life. With his line Of protection and
! observation thrown In crescent form from
the Shenandoah river around TO the noun
tains west OF Harrisonburg, IL may be i'm
agned how very active apd energetic hc
was when he cndeavorcd 10 keep the
/ whole line under his own eye. Ills whole
military career had been very brilliant,
and, as Gen. Robert r.. Lee expressed IL,
sit had been an eventful one" The last
! day Of his life, however, was the most
brilliant la services, arduOus and peril
! ous.
CAPTURE or COL. SIR PERCY wYyDHAM.
When the Federal advance reached
Harrisonburg the cavalry, under General
Bayard, began to press JacksoD's rear
with great energy. Here IL was that ASH
| by performed one Of his brilliant exploits.
There was In the Federal army one Sir
Percy Wyndham, colonel Of the First New
Jersey Cavalry, an officer well scbooled
In all the experiences Of the field ON both
sides ofthe Atlantic. lie wss full Of ad-
venture and anxious TO capture Asbby.
This he Undertook 10 do by pressing Ash
by's rear with great dash, but imagine Sir
Percy's chagrin 10 find himself prisoner.
He had gone too far. Asbby had App.-
rcntly retreate1, when, throwing out hIs
1aDks and allowing the Federal cavalry
to pass on, he had completely eDysIoped
Sir Percy before the English adyenturcr
knew he had ventured too far ia OH the
lines formed.
AsHBY's DEATH AND BURIAL
Very ysoon thereafter Fremont pushed on
bis infantry and Asbby fell leading an in
fantry charge against PennsyIvanla reg
iment tkn0wn a. the "Bucktail." lie was
pierced through the heart by ayinIe ball
while leading on liE mon M yfetnrv a,d