The Tupelo journal., 1913-05-16
Turner Ashby the Dashing
Cavalier of Virginia.

of the C~onfederacy held In Tupelo last
week:
When we first picture our hero he IS
dashing over the hills of old Virginia
on his magnificent white horse urging
men to JOIN his volunteer cavalry to de-
fend their own dear valley from the
invasion of the Northern hordes. His
clear sweet voice is very persuasive
and his personality so striking that he
soon succeeds in organizing a small
company, of which he is made COM
mander. He irresistibly attracts these
men and they love him from the hrst.
How grand he looks on his beautiful
horse. His striking face as lark as a
Moor's is half hidden by a heavy black
beard and mustache, his keen eyes flash
and his whole face shines with enthu-
siasm and excitement. On his dark
hair he wears a broad brimmed hat
from which hangs a long flowing plume.
We see ia him our brave and daring
cavalier.
One of his men asks him what flag
Virginia will choose. He removes his
hat, and from the crown takes a green
flag on which is painted the Virgin OF
Virginia, trampling on the neck of a
tvrant, with the motto "Slc Semper
Tvrannis." Then he replies. This
is the flag | intend to fight under
He admits his lingering affection for
the stars and stripes. His g~randfath-
er, John Ashby, helped to free Virginia
from England's TYRANNY, and Turner
does not intend to spoil the good name
of the Ashbys by being a laggard when
duty calls.
This dashing cavalier, destined to be
one of the most cherished men OF the
Shenandoah Valley, was born at Rose
Hill. Fauuier county, in 1924. AS
a boy he had a passion for riding and
figured in all the tournaments around
that country, soon far SURPRISING all
ms companions. Wood carving claimed
much of his attention, and he Whitfield
ANYTHING he could get his hands on.
He had little education and no military
training. He was reared to live a
Christian life and regularly attended
the Episcopal Church.
In October 1859, he leads his troops
to Harper's Ferry to the scene OF John
..J hftor rofnrnln0 fn hIS
home at Markam's, near Manassas Gap,
the home of his brother Richard, whom
he loves almost ~passionately, he con-
tinues to stir up loyalty to Virginia.
On April 18th 1861, our enthusiastic
leader and his beloved brother, Richard,
are called to the Exchange Hotel at
Richmond by Ex-Governor Wise. They
are Joined by John Imboden and o. X.
Funston, ardent secessionists and Off
GERS of the Virginia militia, and there
they discuss and agree upon a plan for
the capture of Harper's Ferry. Ashby
with his usual forethought sends men
to cut the wires between Manassas and
Alexandria, and so prevents informa-
ton of their movements being commu-
nicated to Washington.
The next morning after Virginia's
ordinance of secession has been passed,
he hurries to his home to call out his
cavalry. They gladly rally to their
idols side. He passes the home of a
Young lady friend and wishes to bid her
good bye. We are taken back to the
DAYS of knights and chivalry as he
rides up a long flight of stone steps,
raises his hat in a gallant fashion, and
in a clear sweet voice tells her good
bye. Then descends the stone steps
still mounted on his beautiful mare.
Our brave Captain is soon at Har-
per's Ferry in command of the Cavalry.
Major T. J. Jackson is put in command
of that place April 9th. He orders
J.. E. B. Stuart to consolidate all
his cavalry into a battalion. Ashby,
very much aggrieved at his own ignor-
ance of military discipline, determines
to resign his captaincy. He is per-
suaded by imboden to visit Jackson.
That General is favorbly impressed by
him and puts him under Col. Angus
McDonald's Division of Cavalry.
Ashby and Stuart guard the front
along the Potomac. From the point of
rock across the Shenandoah Valley
they keep a strict virgil. On May the
23rd Brigadier General Joseph E.
johnson takes command at Harper's
Ferry.
Our bold hero, now transferred to a
troup of Eppa Hunton's, conceives a
daring exploit. Disgusting himself as
a horse doctor, he journeys to Cham
bersburg, Penn. Here Patterson and
his Federal force are stationed. Ashby