The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-01
A TRIBUTE TO Mr.. ASHTON

Cousin" Fielding is dead
J come in all humility to lay witt
reyerent hand "A wreath upon the
grave Of him who will always b,
10 me the whiiest soul OF my chiy-
ry.
The Northern Neck OF Virginia
has mothered many great names
From here came the father OF his
country, and later there biOOmed
within its borders that perfect flow
er of Southern manhood Lee. the
gentlest of the brave And while
We can claim for the Subject Of this
sketch no such performances OF
fame as those great souls achieved
we can yet say in all truth that no
statesman however illustriOus, nc
chieftain Of great armies however
brave. has been attended to his
grave with more tears OF genuine
sorrow than has this venerable man.
His life contained material for many
volumes Of adventure and romance
With his death we feel that one
more link that helped TO bind the
South OF today with the tender
memories OF yesterday is severed
forever
4 man Of sterling worth and in
tegrity. no language is too ex-
alted in which to praise him: no
praise is too eloquent to apply TO a
life devoted as was his to the sery-
ice Of his state and people.
h4aaanlauf of fbaua baatfts ..atr-
alters who in the early days Of
colonial history with Spotswood-
Climbed the blue Virginia hills
Against embattled foes,
And planted there. in valleys fair,
The lily and the rose,
he has added TO his name new
rcnOwn
Born and reared in the mid-period
Of the republic. he early became an
ardent supporter OF the political
faiths of John G. Calhoun. who was
probably, with the single exception
Of Robert TOombs, Of Georgia, the
most extreme advocate of the right
Of secession that the South has
ever elected TO the national Senate.
don't think | do his memory an
injustice to say that TO the day OF
his death he was of the firm be-
lief that the darkey had been hap
pier under the conditions thar ex-
listed prior TO the Civil war Ac-
knOwledging the abuses of slavery,
he could never forgive the North
for its Interference in the matter.
Here let me pause 20 say that
his grave, none looked on with
among those all who stood beside
sadder hearts than the many color
ed people who had come TO pay their
last tribute to lifelong friend.
AT the outbreak of the war he en-
listed as private in Co. X. Both
Va. Regiment, and throughout those
weary years OF war he fought as
only a soldier OF Lee could fight.
His command was a part of the
old Stonewall Brigade. He fought
numerous battles in Tennessee and
North Carolina and took part in
very near every battle of Importance
that occurred in Maryland and Vir-
ginia
lie was with StOnewall Jackson
when Harper's Ferry was captured
and followed him through three OF
his most brilliant campaigns
On that fatal night at Chancellors-
vile. when Jackson was by a cruel
mistake wounded unto death by the
fire. of his own men. Ashton was ly-
ing in the tangled thickets OF the
wilderness. so close by where they
carried him to the rear that ne
could hear the groan of agony that
escaped the iron lips.
lie was captured early in the war
and confined at Point Lookout. but
escaped by daring means. crossed
both the st. Mary's and Wicomico
rivers I'm Maryland. travelled on foot
to point on the Potomac near
Riverside and swan to the Virginia
shore. A few days later he re-
joined his command near Frederick
burg. He charged and was wounded
in the hand at Sharpsburg. The
slaughter was so great on the Con-
federate side i'm this fight that OF
the so men who composed Co. X
at break OF day only eleven an
swered present" when the roll
was called at night.
At Five Forks, he. with the sup
port of only two comrades held at
bay a large detachment of Federal
cavalry who attempted to break
through Confederate breastworks.
Later in the day the Federals by
flank movement against Stuarts cav
airy surrounded their position and
he was again taken to prison, where
he remained until paroled after Lee
had surrendered at AppomattoX.
Old comrades yet tell Of his care
less bravery in battle and OF how,
at night. when the bivouac fires
were lit he would cheer them with
his gaiety.
AS a type OF the old Virginia gem
tleman. / have never met but one
other who could be compared 10
him. Having never married. all
the devotion of a naturally warm
heart was given to the land oil MS
people. To him no where else
The DAYS were ever quite so long
As in Virginia;
Nor quite so filled with happy song
As in Virginia.
The glories and traditions OF the
old South were very dear to him,
and had his State called he would
have risen from the bed whereon he
died to fight her battles anew.
He was the soul of kindly court
esy. and who ever shook his hand
became hs friend High and low
have found comfort at his fireside,
for OF him you need not say his
latch string was out for the door
was ever open to all. All who knew
him loved him, and others yet, who
never looked upon his face, bear
him more than passing affection
for some kindly deed he has done to
one they hold dear Verify, as old
Shirley hath it
"Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the
dust.
He died peacefully at his old
home, "Hobson," in King George
county, Wednesday last and was bur
led at st. Paul's church Saturday
aveninq Tho Dallbearers were