The National tribune., 1906-04-05
GEN. ASHBY'S-susSION,
Comradc Murphy Met thehRebci Chief
thin Face to Face ard Was Much Inn
pressed by His SOld1cr1S Appearance

Comrade D. p. Murphy, Co. C, ssth
Ill.,, writes from Pontiac, ILL.,: Il saw
in The National Tribune some time ago
short history Of Cen. Ashby. who
commanded the rebel cavalry in the
Shenandoah Valley. ,Col. Ashby, or
wrote, was the first rebel officer 1 knew
by sight My regiment, 1the 39th ILL.,,
was guarding the B. q q! Railroad in
| the Winter of 1861 ands1Ss2. My COM
pany (C) and Cos. Asandl F were sta
toned at Alpine Station, Va. just
across the river from Hancock. The
remaining companies of the regiment
were stationed at other points along
the railroad, some at Bath and some
at Sir Johns Run. Gen. Jackson, on
Jan. 2, 1862, marched from Winchester
| and attacked our boys at Bath, driving
them across the Potomac River at Sir
Johns Run. The evening of Jan. he
attacked our force at Alpine Station.
| Jacksons force was estimated at from
$4,000 to 10000 strong. The Union
force at Alpine Station consisted OF
three companies of the seth ILL.,, two
Pennsylvania regiments and battery
| OF U. S. artillery. When Ashby's cav
| airy charged into our camp he was
met with a warm reception and driven
back with a loss of several men. OF
| course, the Union forces retreated from
cock. The rebels shelled the town and
river that night, doing but little dam
| age.
1.-The next morning the 39th boys
were drawn up In line along the bank
of the river, trying their new Spring
| field rifles on the Johnnies. This was
the first battle we had been engaged
| appeared on the Virginia side of the
river. Our officers commanded us to
cease firing, as 1t was a flag of truce.
An officer was commanded to met the
flag Of truce, and see what the rebs
| wanted.
Now, there is a dispute as to who
! that officer was. Our Historian of the
regiment says it was Lieut.-Col. Mann,
while First Lieut.. Wallace Lord, of
Pontiac, claims he was the officer who
went over and met Col. Ashby and con-
Quoted him to Gen. Lander's headquar-
| ters, where Gen. Jackson demanded
the unconditional surrender of all OF
| the Union forces at Hancock. 1t Is my
recollection It was Lieut.. Lord, as !
| was very near the landing when the
| boat containing Col. Ashby came over,
and 1 had good view OF the rebel
officer before he was blindfolded. l
remember distinctly what grand
looking, soldierly officer he appeared.
Lieut.. Lord tells me that he told Col.
Ashby that he did not know much
about war, but he thought the proper
thing was for him to blindfold him be-
fore he took him to the Generals head
quarters, asking him whether he should
use his own handkerchief, OF had he
(Ashby) one he would rather have
used. They finally tied the two (Ash-
bys and Lords) together and blind
folded Ashby with them. asked
Lieut.. Lord what became Of his hand
kerchief, and he says be, has it yet.
my regiment had more or less skir-
mishing with Jackson's men and Ash
bys Cavalry until we were sent to help
Mcclellan. We remember; with sorrow
for ourselves of Ashbyis active service.
There Is no doubt but Col Ashby was
an honest and true soldier,c but on the
wrong side" ,ht 70