The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-06-10
A CAPTAINS BRAVERY.
His Courage Was Rewarded by
Applause from the Enemy.

confcderateS.
The winter had been so severe that
military operations of any magnitud,
in Virginia were o deemed practi
cable, though throughout the winter
the cavalry were kept employed, on the
union side at least, in watching an cx
tended line and from time To time max
ing Reconnaissance to develop thu
enemy, with a view to asc~crtaining il
any considerable part of his force had
been detached to other fields of opera.
tiun farther south.
On one of these rec%onnoisSanccs the
event occurred which am about to re-
late.
1t must he promised, To an under
standing of what follows, that when
the object of one army is ia find out or
develop facts as to the other, then this
last thwarts attempts of the kind as
far as possible in order to keep the adj
versarv in ignorance. Thus if Gen.
Meade desired to ascertain if the con
fedcrate army in his front had becn re-
duccd by sending regiments elsewhere,
Gen. Lee equally desired that this in
formation should not be obtained by
Meade.
On Il stormy morning in February,
1864. my division of cavalry marched
from its camps in front of Culpcper
Court House. Va, with instructions la
reconnoitrc the left of the cncmy'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
tance to the south and cross the Rob
insun river. a tributary of the Eapidan.
The division consisted of three brig
AIDES of cavalry. each of the brigadcs be-
ing accompanied by n battery of light.
or horse. artillery. 4 force of cnnfcd-
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 face
with the enemy, with the Rapidan river
between us.
The work Of discovering the cncmy's
strength was. owing to the latcncss OF
the hour. put off till the following
morning. After placing IL pickcts to
insure against surprise. we made our
selves rs comfortable for the night as
the weather of an unusually raw Eir-
ginia February would permit.
Early the following morning the cav
airy and artillery moved toward the
river in our front, and a lively skirmish
with small arms, accompanied by artil-
lcry. commenced and was well sus-
tanned on both sides.
The result was far from satisfactory.
Do what we would, the enemy persist
entity declined to show force beyond
what was necessary to cngagc our
skirmish lines; 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 occupied by many OF few soldiers,
our best efforts and most ingenious
plans failed to discover. The entire
morning was spent in these vain at
temptS.
1t will be understood that loss of life
on the picket line and to a less degree
on reconnaissance is not directly de
ciSive of a Il hence we speak of lives
Thrown away" in these duties. How
ever, in order tn gather information. it
may be necessary to expose soldiers to
danger, wounds and even death; and
w were now facing that necessity.
1t was finally decided hat 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: il 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 a squadron of cavalry, was Capt.
Ash-destined to be the hero of the &C.
casion. Following this advance at a
proper distance were the cavalry and
artillery of the division. properly formed
for effecting a Judgment on the farther
ride of the river. This stream was not
more than thirty yards across in its
broadcast part. and at this season was
easily fordable.
The instructions to Capt. Ash con-
templated the possible crossing of not
more than his advance guard. and
all of that il what we desircd to dis
could be effected before all had
In this event the command
vas to be held so as to cover his retreat |
and protect him from pursuit by the
Ash advanced with his squadron amid
The stiffness of death. The skirmish
and booming Of large guns which
had attended our attempts of the norm
ing were hushed. and the silence which
prevailed showed that the enemy was
on keeping us in ignorance of
heir numbers, and determined to make
is pay heavily for information.
The anxiety was intense. We knew
when the enemy opened fire at short
that the loss would he great, and
Ill felt that the advance guard must be
he first and greatest sufferers.
Ash with his small command moved
N. The works in front. gloomy and
denuded and stained by a win
er of thawing and freezing. seemed de-
.ertcd. Now the few mounted men
brown 10 the front of the advance
,uard were entering the ford.
'Trot, march, was the command, as
hurried his squadron forward to
the shock with his leading men.
Many a strong a in our command
at tha moment for Ash and his
men. He had now gained a vantage
where, because of a turn in
he river above, he commanded a view
# the interior of the confederate
What he saw no one
ould tell. |,
But just then the emery opened with
few scattering shots, and n whitening
olley followed. BY a motion rather
han a command, Ash intimated to his
luadron to seek cover, while he, bend
1g forward OIL his horses neck, turned