The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-10-25
ASHBY'S DASH.
:, Story OF tho Confederate War Told.
From Mc Dcu'ou Free Press.


From Hc DcTOu Free Press.
While S,onewall Jackson was retiring
upon liarrsonburg, pushed by Fremont
and watching out for Shields, the rear Of
his army was defended by General Ash
by, of cavalry fame. His Immediate
command numbered less than 900 horse.
men, and until the last few miles nf The
airy and artillery
Cor successful defense hy n rear guard.
and sudden curves--natural ambusca,!es
men nj certain spots to hold n regiment
at bay for quarter of an hour. Jack.
son pushed ahead at u famous rate, and
the roar of the guns OF the rear guard
was ever in his ears. 80 one point nine
dismounted cavalrymen held the narrow
road until the federals had advanced two
full regiments and one hundred men had
worked their way up the sides of the
mountain to flank the little band. These
| nine men killed and wounded twenty
three men before they were pushed back,
and though dozen shells were fired at
them rs they rctrcated along straight
! stretch of road not mnn was injured.
THE CAPTURE OF wYNpHAM.
During the afternoon Of .he last day
of the retreat the Federal General
Wyndham, who had command Of full
brigade of cavalry, was pushed to the
front to drive through the confederate
rear guard. The spot chosen was where
the highway stretched across level, this
giving the cavalry room to depoy and
maneuyer. Not quite half mile DO.
yond the confederate rear guard was
holding the hill over which tho road
wound. Two pieces of artillery were
posted i'll the road, and dismounted cav
airy supported them. When it was seen
that Wyndham's brigade was massing for
charge Ashby hastily collected about
700 OF his men and massed them in the
highway. The guns were then drawn
aside aud the cavalry, carbines slung and
depending upon the sabre alone, rushed
down the highway in mighty mass.
Wyndham WAS struck in the center and
the confederatcs passed clear through his
lines, wheeled at the call of the bugle,
and, dividing 20 the right and left, they
fell upon the two wings with such fury
AS to route both. 1t was sabre work al
fight 100 men were killed or wounded,
Wyndfam and six officers captured, and
two flags, 81 horses and Al prisoners
taken: Ashby led the charge and men
who followed close after hin aver that
he struck as many as six different men
| with his sabre. In that fight a confed.
crate, now living on farm near Glen.
dale, Va, had his right ear sliced off
close to his mead, and the sabre sunk into
his shoulder in II way TO forever disable
his arm. The wound in his shoulder was
felt at once, but the loss Of his ear was
not noticed until the fight was over.
Wyndham sought to excuse his disaster
by talking of the cowardicc of his troop.
ers, but his own sabre WAS without stain.
and men who hear no orders of com.
mand cannot be blamed for falling into
panic. The confederates rode right Mt
solid lines and the shock of meeting
Knocked down numerous horses and dis
abled number of men.
CHARGING INFANTRY.
Half an hour later FremonL's advance
OF infantry WAS pressing 80 cluseley that
in!nntry had to be sent back to oppose
them Ewell anbushed three or four
regiments in the woods and fields at a
turn Of the road, but the advance scented
the trap and deployed right and left, and
advanced to the attack in two lines of
battle, most of the force being composed
OF Pennsylvania Bucktails TO reach
the confederates the blue lines had to
cross wide, open fields, and as they left
their shelter they received such q fire
that all further advance was checked.
The men were seeking the cover of rocks
a tcf, o,,I hol a.,
we'll, when Ashby thundered down, upon
them with his cavalry. There was no
time to form squares, and tho charge re.
suited in defeat The infantry were.
driven back upon the reserve, horses and
men, federal and confederate inter.
mingled, and again the sabre and bayo-
net inflicted terrible work. Almost every
cavalry horse was wounded, scne three
or four times, and many Of their riders
were thrust with the bayonet and pulled
out Of their saddles.
AsHBY's DEATH.
How strange that so few OF the cavalry
leaders on either side died al they might
have wished to die-lcading their com
mands in some glorious charge Ashby
had courted death hundred times az he
rode at the head of his men. Here on
this lonesome road, as night came down,
he formed another ambush with infantry.
The trap was we'll set, but as it's iaws
were about to spring, q shot fired at ran.
dom by u federal struck one who had
risked his life dozen times that day,
and laid him low. Jackson was Lees
right arm. Ashby was Jackson's right
arm. The tribute paid him by the &C.
centric warrior was not lengthy, but it
outweighed the boom of cannon, the long
processions, the burdens of flowers, and
the efforts of orators. When a courier
rode up to Jackson and announced the
news, he dropped the rens, his head
hung low, and he whispered
Poor Ashby! nm grieved !"
STUART AFTER POPE.
The cavalier Of the South was Stuart.
Ha was born 70 the saddle. He looked
upofinfantry as sort Of necessary OWL,
and whenever he attempted to handle
them in conjunction with cavalry he was
worsted. Had there been no army regu-
lations Stuarts men would have been
dressed moro like knights than Dragons.
Rough old fighters smiled at his pIumed
hat and his dandy ways, but Stuart was
a fighter. Had he worn a ruffled shirt
and velvet cloak he would still have
been the dashing cavalry leader that he
was, counting odds as nothing and ever
fighting to win.
When General Pope had mis- headquar-
fara of Cotlattju afotiop Gtvort ooo Jo,,