The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-06
A CAPTAINS BRAVERY,
His Courage Was Rewarded by
Applause from the Enemy.


was in cantonment along the Rapida
river. while the union forces, unde
Gem Meade, occupied the countr
about Culpeper Court House, facing tn
confederates.
The winter had been SO severe tina
military operations of any magnitud
in Virginia were not deemed practi
cable, though throughout the white
the cavalry were kept employed, on tn
union side at least, in watching an ex
tended line and from time to time max
ing reconnaissance to develop tn,
enemy, with view to ascertaining i
any considerable part Of his force hat
been detached to other fields of opera
ton farther south.
On one of these Reconnaissance thu
event occurred which am about to re
late.
It must be promised, to an under
standing of what follows, that when
the object Of one army is TO find out OF
develop facts as to the other, then this
/ last thwarts attempts of the kind as
far as possible in order to keep the ad.
versary in ignorance. Thus if Gen.
Meade desired to ascertain if the con-
federate army in his front had been re-
duced by sending regiments elsewhere,
Gen. Lee equally desired that this in
formation 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
reconnoitre the left of the enemy's line
on the Rapidan river, and develop the
force in that direction without bring
ing on a general engagement.
TO reach the desired position it was
necessary to march a considerable dis
lance to the south and cross the Rob-
inson river, tributary of the Rapidan.
The division consisted Of three brig
ades of cavalry, each of the brigades be-
ing accompanied by battery of light.
or horse, artillery. A force of confed-
crate cavalry which was on picket duty
on Robinson river was easily driven in.
and on the evening of the day we
started we found ourselves face to fac
with the enemy, with the Rapidan river
between us.
The work of discovering the enemy
strength was, owing to the lateness Of
the hour, put off till the followiug
morning. After placing our piclsets TO
insure against surprise, we made our
selves as comfortable for the night as
the weather of an unusually raw Viz"
ginia February would permit.
Early the following morning the cav
airy and artillery moved toward the
river in our front, and lively skirrnish
with small arms, accompanied by artila
lery, commenced and was well sus-
tanned on both sides
The result was far from satisfactory.
Do what we would, the enemy persist
emily declined to show force beyond
what was necessary to engage our
skirmish lines; and he uncovered but a
gun or two at intervals along his line,
to reply to our artillery.
We could plainly make out long and
formida BILE preastworks on the farther
bank of the river; but whether these
were occupied by many or few sold;c-
our best efforts and most ingeni1.>
plans failed to discover. The enti~e
was spent in these vain al
tempts.
1t will be understood that loss OF life
on the picket line and to less degree
on reconnaissance is not directly de-
cisive of a war; hence we speak of lives
thrown away" in these duties How
ever. 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 to make the enemy show his force
was to cross, or try to cross, the ford in
our front # this succeeded, the enemy
was TO be driven 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 circum-
stances, the division was organized for
the work.
Leading the advance guard, consist
ing Of q squadron of cavalry, was Capt
to be the hero of the oc-
casion. Following this advance at
proper distance We're the cavalry and
of the division. properly formed
for effecting Judgment on the farther
ride of the river. This stream was not
more than thirty yards across in its
broadest part, and at this season was
easily fordable.
The instructions TO Capt. Ash con-
the possible crossing OF not |
more than his advance guard. and |
not all OF that II what we desired 70 dis |
over could be effected before all had |
crossed In this event the command !
was 70 be held so as 10 cover his retrea. |
md protect him from pursuit by the |
enemy.
Ash advanced with his squadron amid |
he stiffness of death. The slirInish |
iring and booming OF large guns which /
had attended our attempts of the morn. /
ng were hushed, and the silence which 1
prevailed showed that the enemy was
intent on keeping US in ignorance CT
heir numbers, aud determined TO make I
Is pay heavily for information.
The anxiety was intense We knew
when the enemy opened fire 81 short
'acge that the loss would be great. and
Ill felt that the advance guard must be
he tirst and creates: sufferers
Ash with his small command ulove.i
n. The Works in front gtoomx aad