The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-06-07
A BRAVE DEED.


The winter had been so severe that mil
ttary operations Of any magnitude in Vir-
ginia were not deemed practicable, though
throughout the winter the cavalry were
kept employed, on the Union side at least,
in watching an extended line and from
time to time making reconnoisances to
develop the enemy, with a view to ascer-
tanning If any considerable part of his force
had been detached to other fields Of oper-
alton further south.
On one Of these reconnoisances the event
occurred which l am about to relate.
1t must be promised, to an understanding
Of what follows, that when the object of
one army is to find out and develop facts as
to the other, then this last thwarts attempts
of the kind so far as possible in order to
keep the adversary in ignorance Thus if
General Meade desired to ascertain If the
Confederate army in his front had been re.
duced by sending regiments elsewhere, Gen
eral Lee equally desired that this informa-
tion should not be obtained by Meade.
On stormy morning in February, 1864,
my division Of cavalry marched from its
camps in front of Culpeper Court House,
Va, with instructions to reconnoiter the
left Of the enemy's line on the Rapidan
river and develop the force in that direction
without bringing on general engagement
To reach the desired position it was nee
essary to march a considerable distance to
the south and cross the Robinson river, a
tributary of the Rapidan.
The division consisted of three brigades
Of cavalry, each Of the brigades being ac-
companied by battery of light, or horse,
artillery. A force of Confederate cavalry,
which was on picket duty on Robinson
river, was easily driven in, and on the even
ing Of the day we started we found our
selves face to face with the enemy, with the
Rapidan river between us.
The work Of discovering the enemy's
strength was, owing to the lateness of the
hour, put Off till the following morning
After placing our pickets to insure against
surprise, we made ourselves as comfortable
for the night as the weather of an unusual
ly raw Virginia February would permit.
Early the following morning the cavalry
and artillery moved toward the river in our
front, and a lively skirnish with small
arms, accompanied by artillery, com
menced and was well sustained on both
sides.
The result was far from satisfactory. Do
what we would, the enemy persistently de
| clined to show force beyond what was neces
sary to engage our skirmish line, and he
uncovered but a gun or two at intervals
along his lines to reply to our artillery.
We could plainly make out long and
formidable breastworks on the farther bank
of the river, but whether these were occu-
pied by many or few soldiers our best eff
forts and most ingenious plans failed to
discover. The entire morning was spent in
these vain attempts.
1t will be understood that loss of life on
the picket line and to less degree on rec
onnoissance is not directly decisive of war,
hence we speak Of lives Thrown away" in
these duties However, in order to gather
information it may be necessary to expose
soldiers to danger, wounds and even death,
and we were now facing that necessity.
1t was finally decided that the only way
Co make the enemy show his force was to
cross, or try to cross, the ford in our front.
If this succeeded, the enemywas to be driv-
en- out of his works if possible; if not, he
would drive US back across the stream with
possibly severe loss to our troops
Reluctantly under these circumstances
the division was organized for the work.
Leading the advance guard, consisting of
a squadron Of cavalry, was Captain Ash
destined to be the hero of the occasion. Fol
lowing this advance at a proper distance
were the cavalry and artillery Of the divi-
sion, properly formed for effecting a lodg-
stream was not more than 80 yards across
in it's broadest part, and at this season was
easily fordable
! The instructions to Captain Ash conteni-
| plated the possible crossing of not more
| than his advance guard, and not all Of that
| If what we desired to discover could be ef-
| fected before all had crossed. In this event
| the command was to be held so as to cover
| his retreat and protect him from pursuit
/ by the enemy.
! Ash advanced with his squadron amid
| the stiffness of death. The skirmish firing
and booming Of large guns which had at
! tended our attempts Of the morning were
| hushed, and the silence which prevailed
showed that the enemy was intent on keep
| ing us in ignorance of their numbers and
| determined to make us pay heavily for in
/ formation.
The anxiety was intense We knew when
the enemy opened fire at short range that
the loss would be great, and all felt that
the advance guard must be the first and
| greatest sufferers.
Ash with his small command moved on
| The works in front, gloomy and silent, de
/ nuded and stained b5 winter of thawing
and freezing, Sc med deserted. Now the
few mounted men thrown to the front Of
! the advance guard were entering the ford.
"Trot, marchr' was the command as Ash
/ hurried his squadron forward to share the
shock with his leading men,
/ Many a strong man in our command
/ prayed at that moment for Ash and his
men. He had now gained a vantage posi-
/ tion where because Of a turn in the river
/ above he commanded a view of the inte-
rior of the Confederate breastworks What
/ he saw no one could tell
But Just then the enemy opened with
/ few scattering shots and "A withering vol
ley followed. By motion rather than
command Ash intimated to his squadron
20 seek cover when he, bending forward
on his horse's neck, turned TO the right and
rode aJ a rapid gallop along the river bank
parallel TO the enemy's works, followed as
he came opposite each new part of the
breastworks with volley after yolley.
There seemed no hope for him, and we
watched with intense anxiety, expecting
every moment to see horse and rider go
down. Yet both kept on amid the storm
Of lead apparently unhurt. That some
thing must be done 20 help him now was,
doubt NOT, the thought in every ones mind.
Suddenly as Ash reached another part Of
bis route, where his view of the Confederate
lines was still more extended, he raised his
hat and waved it over his head IL was
signal Of triumph.
Then occurred a scene which has not been
witnessed since the times of the Joyous
passages Of arms in the age Of chiyalry.
To ouramazement the Confederates, moved
by admiration for his gallantry, ceased to
fire on the intrepid horseman. Instead they
on their breastWOrks as thick as