The Somerset reporter., 1893-08-24
A Captains Bravery.

General Meade. occupied the country
about culpeprr Court House, facing the
coniederates.
The winter had been so severe that
military operations of any magnitude in
+ Virginia were not deemed practicable.
though throughout the winter the
cavalry were kept employed, on the
union side at least, in watching an eX.
tended line and from time to time max
ing reconnaissance to develop the enc
my, with view to ascertaining If any
considerable part of his force had been
detached to other fields of operation
farther south
On one of these reconnois sances the
event occurred which am about to re
late.
1t must be promised, to an under
standing OF what follows. that when the
Object of one army il to fiud out or de-
velop facts as to the other, then this
/ last thwarts attempts of the kind as far
as possible in order to keep the adver-
sary in ignorance. Thus If General
Meade desired to ascertain if the con-
/ federate army in his front had been re-
duced by sending regiments elsewhere.
General 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 bringing
on general engagement.
TO reach the desired position it was
necessary to march considerable dis
tance to the south and cross the Robin
son river, tributary of the Rapidan.
The division consisted of three bri-
gades of cavalry, each of the brigades
being accompanied by battery of light,
or horse artillery. A force of con-
federate cavalry which was on picket
duty on Robinson river was easily driven
in and on the evening of the day we
found ourselves 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 until the following
morning. After placing our pickets to
insure against surprise, we made our
selves rs comfortable for the night us
the weather bl all unusually raw IL
ginia February would permit.
Early the following morning the
cavalry and artillery moved toward the
river in our front, and lively skirmish
with small arms, accompanied by artil-
lery commenced, and was well sustained
on both sides.
The result was far from satisfactory
DO what we would. the enemy per
sistently declined to show force beyond
what was necessary to engage our ski:-
mish lines; and he uncovered but Il gun
or two at intervals along his lines to re-
ply to our artillery.
We could plainly make out long and
formidable brcastWorks on the farther
bank of the river; but whether these
were occupied by many or few soldiers,
our best efforts and most ingenious plans
failed to discover. The entire morning
was spent in these vain attempts.
1t will be understood that loss of fife
on the picket line and to a less degr e
on reconnaissance is not directly de-
cisive of 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 If 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 lewiston was organized for
the work.
Leading the advance guard. consisting
of IA squadron of cavalry, was Captain
Asll-,lestined to be the hero of the oc-
cason. Following this advance at IA
proper distance were the cavalry and ar
tllery of the division. properly formed
for etecting a lodgment on the farther
side 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 Captain Ash con-
templated the possible crossing of not
more than his advance guard, and not
all of that if what we desired to dis
cover could be effected before all had
crossed. In this event the command
was to be held so IA 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 attended our attempts of the morn
ing were hushcd, and the silence which
prevailed showed that the enemy was
intent on keeping us in ignorance of
] their numbers, and determined to make
us pay heavily for information.
! 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. denuded and stained ny winter
of llawing and freezing, seemed desert
ed Now the few mounted men thrown
to the front of tie advance guard were
entering the ford.
''l'rot. march, was the command, as
Ash hurried his squadron forward to
share the shock with his leading men.
Many IA strong man i'll our command
prayed ut that moment for Ash and his
men. He had now gained a vantage
position where, because of turn in the
river above, he commanded view of
the interior of the confederate breast
works. What he saw no one could tell.
But just then the enemy opened with
few scattering shots. and withering
volley followed. BY IA motion rather
than command, Ash intimated to his
squadron to seek cover, while he, bending
forward on his horses neck, turned to
| The RIGHT and T. de at n raOid gallon along