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JOHN ASHTON: 
 
 A STORY 
 
 OP 
 
 THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPERS DICKSON, 
 An Ex-Member of Cobb's Legion, Georgia Volunteers. 
 
 ATLANTA, GA.: 
 
 Thk Foote & Davies Company, 
 
 Printers and Binders. 
 
 18%. 
 
Copyright 1896, 
 By Capers Dickson. 
 
To 
 
 The Heruks who wore The Gray 
 
 AND bravely bore The Starry Cross into fierce 
 
 battle's focal fires, achieving signal victories over a world in 
 
 arms until crushed by overwhelming numbers, 
 
 This Volume is Affectionately Dedicated 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 602811 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The fictional framework of the following story will be 
 found to contain accurate pictures of some of the military 
 incidents of The War Between The States. Some of those 
 incidents came under the author's personal observation 
 and a knowledge of the others was obtained from the 
 official records of the Union and Confederate armies, as pub- 
 lished by authority of Congress, and from other historical 
 sources. Principally for the purpose of portraying these 
 incidents in a manner that will render their perusal more 
 interesting to the general reader than if a recital of them 
 were embodied in an unvarnished and isolated historical 
 statement, this volume has been written. 
 
 CAPERS DICKSON. 
 Oxford, Ga., 1896. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 "Well, Ruth, what do you think of him?" asked Bertha 
 Gray of her cousin, Ruth Middle ton. 
 
 "I hardly know how to answer your question," said the 
 latter. "He is handsome, as one can see at a glance, and 
 has a distingue look and bearing that are quite impressive. 
 His face indicates intellectuality and force of character but 
 has an expression of sadness and reserve which suggests 
 the idea that he has experienced great sorrow; and, either 
 from choice or lack of friendly sjnnpathy, borne his grief in 
 silence, and thus acquired a habit of seclusion that tends to 
 make him isolate himself from his fellows." 
 
 "If your ideas concerning him are correct, " said Bertha, 
 "he is not likely to prove a very attractive person, and, not- 
 withstanding his handsome appearance and evident intel- 
 lectuality, will be no acquisition to society." 
 
 "I cannot agree with you in the conclusion you have 
 reached," said Ruth, "for lam confident that by nature and 
 cultivation he is well fitted both to adorn and benefit socie- 
 ty, if he can be drawn out of himself and induced to mingle 
 with his fellow-creatures and participate in the social af- 
 fairs of life in which most young men find recreation and 
 pleasure." 
 
 "You may be right," said Bertha, "and we can only wait 
 and see." 
 
 The subject of the foregoing conversation was John Ash- 
 ton, a young lawyer who had recently located in B , a 
 
 small town in Middle Georgia. He was a native of Vir- 
 ginia and had graduated with distinction at the University 
 of that State in the law class of 1860. Shortly after he re- 
 turned home from college, his father. Colonel Aubrey Ash- 
 ton, met a tragic death by being thrown from his horse. 
 His mother was in very feeble health, and the shock which 
 she experienced in consequence of her husband's death was 
 so great that she never recovered from its effect and died 
 about a week thereafter. John, being an only child, was 
 
6 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 thus left alone in the world with neither brother nor sister 
 to sympathize with and comfort him in his sad bereavement. 
 His grief was agonizing and grew in intensity as the days 
 passed by, as everything about his once happy home vivid- 
 ly reminded him of his lost loved ones and kept constantly 
 before his mind the heartrending misfortune that had be- 
 fallen him. Having no near relatives to whom he could go 
 for sympathy and consolation, he had to bear the burden 
 of his grief alone, and at last determined to get away from 
 the scenes and surroundings which daily reminded him of 
 his bereavement and made it more difficult to endure. In 
 consequence of this determination, he sold the family resi- 
 dence, together with its furniture, and went to B , where 
 
 he had begun the practice of his profession a short time be- 
 fore Ruth Middleton and Bertha Gray had the conversation 
 with whicli this story opens. The occasion of this conversa- 
 tion was a casual sight which they had of Ashton at the 
 village church on the preceding day. The interest which 
 they had manifested in him was to some extent that which 
 they would have felt in any newcomer who happened to be 
 a handsome and eligible young man, and it had been en- 
 hanced by reason of the story of sadness and suffering that 
 was so plainly written on his face. 
 
 The parties to this conversation resided in B , and, as 
 
 their parents were dead, had with them, as a companion 
 and housekeeper, Mrs. Martha Foster, a distant relative of 
 theirs. They were two of the most charming and interest- 
 ing young ladies in the place. Bertha Gray was a bright 
 and joyous creature whose presence brought sunshine and 
 gladness to those with whom she came in contact. Ruth 
 Middleton was not so lively and demonstrative as her 
 cousin, but was equally as agreeable in her manners. She 
 was quite intellectual, had great strength of character, an 
 equable disposition and a calm dignity of manner that was 
 suggestive of reserved force, and yet possessed a warm 
 heart, and was quite animated when the occasion called for 
 vivacity or joyousness. Indeed, there was nothing in her 
 calm and dignified mien indicative of coldness or indiffer- 
 ence, as it was so easy and natural, and her bearing was so 
 frank and affable, that one was at once impressed with the 
 
' JOHN ASHTON. 7 
 
 idea that it was merely the accompaniment of a noble dis- 
 position. She -was an excellent judge of human nature and 
 her estimates of character were rarely incorrect. Her re- 
 marks concerning John Ashton indicated that she had 
 formed a correct idea of his character merely from having 
 seen him for a few moments. 
 
 The days passed by, and outside of the members of the 
 bar and a few young men who had called on him, Ashton 
 formed no acquaintances except such as he met in the 
 course of his business. He felt an aversion for the company 
 of comparative strangers and, of course, would not go 
 into society with his great grief so fresh in his memory and 
 bearing so heavily upon his heart. He devoted himself to the 
 study and practice of his profession and, in the course of a 
 few months, secured such a clientage as indicated that he 
 had won the confidence of the people among whom he had 
 cast his lot and was in a fair way of acquiring both wealth 
 and fame. He persistently refused to enter society, al- 
 though often invited by his male acquaintances to join 
 them in their social gatherings. Hence months passed by 
 without his meeting Ruth Middleton and Bertha Gray, and 
 he might not have met them at all had not an accident 
 brought about an acquaintance between them. 
 
 Leading a sedentary life it was necessary that he should 
 have some exercise, and he was accustomed to taking a 
 ride of several miles nearly every afternoon. 
 
 One afternoon he had taken a ride into the country and 
 was returning by way of an unfrequented road that inter- 
 sected the main thoroughfare leading toB . When with- 
 in a short distance of this thoroughfare he heard the sound 
 of a horse's feet upon it, and, glancing in the direction of 
 
 B , saw a horse running at full speed toward the place 
 
 where the two roads met, and on the horse a lady who ap- 
 peared to have lost all control of the animal and was 
 merely endeavoring to keep her seat in the saddle. Realizing 
 the great danger that threatened the lady, Ashton at once 
 put spurs to his horse and rode forward at rapid speed 
 with a view to intercepting the runaw^ay horse. He was 
 superbly mounted and felt confident of succeeding in his pur- 
 pose; but the other horse was nearer than his own to the 
 
8 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 intersection of the roads when the race began, and before he 
 could be intercepted, had reached the place and dashed by 
 with the speed of the wind. Ashton's only hope now was 
 to overtake the animal by sheer rapidity of speed on the 
 part of his own horse, and without a moment's hesitation 
 he began the race. The runaway horse had about thirty 
 yards the start of Ashton's horse and for a few moments 
 gained on the latter. Ashton was not discouraged by this 
 and had really anticipated it, as he knew that it would 
 take a little time to get his own horse up to his full speed. 
 Giving his horse free rein and touching him sharply with 
 the spur, Ashton urged him on to greater speed. The ani- 
 mal readily responded to his rider's wishes and, rapidly in- 
 creasing his gait, was soon perceptibly gaining on the other 
 horse. 
 
 About three-quarters of a mile ahead, the ro^d crossed a 
 stream which ordinarih' was quite shallow, but after every 
 heavy rain became for a time impassable. In consequence 
 of this fact, a bridge had been built over the stream a short 
 distance above the ford, and the road leading to and 
 across this bridge left the main road about three hundred 
 yards from the stream. Only a few daj's before, this bridge 
 had been washed away by reason of an extraordinary rise 
 in the waters of the stream, and it had not yet been re- 
 placed. The result of this was that at this time there was 
 a wide and deep chasm where the bridge had been, and Ash- 
 ton knew that if the runaway horse should happen to take 
 the road leading to this chasm and attempt to leap across 
 the same, certain death awaited its rider. Fearing that 
 this might be done, he redoubled his efforts to overtake the 
 animal by urging on his own horse to yet greater speed. 
 Believing that the former had reached his full speed, as he 
 was running in consequenceof fright, and perceiving that his 
 own horse was gradually gaining on him, Ashton naturally 
 concluded that his animal w^as the faster of the two and 
 felt confident of overtaking and rescuing the lady if her 
 horse should keep in the main road. But, alas! to his dis- 
 appointment and horror, the lady's horse, on reaching the 
 road leading to where the bridge had been, turned into it 
 and dashed ahead without slackening his speed. For a mo- 
 
JOHN ASnTON. 9 
 
 ment Ashton's mind was almost paralyzed with horror at 
 the thought of the danger that threatened the lady; bnt 
 recovering from this temporary shock, he struck his spurs 
 deeply into his horse's sides and with quick and vehement 
 cries urged him on. At this time he was about forty yards 
 behind the fleeing animal, and his own horse, smarting 
 under the pain of the cruel spurs and seeming to understand 
 from the tones of his master's voice that his utmost speed 
 w^as required of him, sprang forward with long, panther- 
 like leaps that rapidly lessened the space between him and 
 the frightened fugitive. Faster and faster he sped, gaining 
 each moment on the fleeing animal, and soon he had over- 
 taken him and the two horses w^ere running side by side. 
 
 Glancing ahead, Ashton saw that they were within fifty 
 yards of the stream, and realized the impossibility of check- 
 ing the lady's horse in that distance by any degree of force 
 that he could exert by means of her bridle reins. He 
 instantly conceived the idea of lifting the lady from her 
 horse, and quickly but calmh- said: 
 
 "Loosen your foot from the stirrup, free your skirt from 
 the horn of your saddle, and be prepared to drop your reins 
 and lean toward me when I give the word." 
 
 The lady having promptly done as he directed, Ashton 
 bent over toward her and said, "Now!" and, as she leaned 
 toward him, he clasped her form w^ith his right arm and 
 lifted her out of the saddle. Instinctively she clasped his 
 horse's mane with her right hand and his saddle-bow 
 with her left, and thus greatly lessened the weight that had 
 at first been thrown upon him and relieved the strain 
 which he had thereby experienced. Pulling hard upon the 
 reins and speaking gently to his horse, Ashton succeeded in 
 stopping the animal within a few paces of the chasm 
 where the bridge had been, and safely lowered the lady to 
 the ground. Quickly dismounting, he supported her to a 
 spot near the roadside where there was an accumulation 
 of fallen leaves, and there she sank down, completely 
 exhausted from the effects of the terrible ordeal through 
 which she had passed. She had not yet spoken to Ashton, 
 but as soon as she had sufficiently recovered from her fright 
 and state of exhaustion to speak, she said: 
 
10 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 "I believe that it is to Mr. Ashton that I am indebted for 
 the timely and inestimable service that has been rendered 
 me and, as this service has evidently saved my life, I cannot 
 find words to express my deep gratitude for the same, and 
 can only say that with all my heart I thank you for what 
 you have done." 
 
 "Now, that it is over," said Ashton, "I will not underes- 
 timate the danger which threatened you or the service that 
 I was enabled to render you ; but you must not waste your 
 breath in thanks. The intense gratification which I experi- 
 ence in having rescued you from danger is more than 
 sufficient compensation for w^hat I have done. Had I failed 
 in my effort to rescue you, the failure would have almost 
 crazed me, although youare to me an entire stranger. And 
 this reminds me to answer your interrogative supposition 
 as to who I am, by stating that it is correct, and that my 
 name is John Ashton. You, I know, are Miss Middleton of 
 
 B . Now, that our informal introduction is over, if 3^ou 
 
 will excuse m}' absence for a few moments I will ascertain 
 what has become of your horse. I fear that he is seriously 
 and perhaps fatally injured ; for when I last saw him he 
 was disappearing in the chasm ahead of us." 
 
 Ashton then proceeded to the edge of the chasm and, on 
 looking over, saw, at its bottom and near the mid He of the 
 stream, the lifeless body of Miss Middleton's horse. He 
 was lying in such a position as indicated that his neck had 
 been broken. Evidently he had endeavored to stop on 
 reaching the edge of the chasm, and, being unable to do so, 
 the momentum given to his body by the speed at which he 
 was running had caused him to fall instead of leaping into 
 the chasm, and he had thus lost his equilibrium and fallen 
 on his head, thereby meeting instant death. 
 
 Ashton immediately returned to Miss Middleton and, as 
 she appeared to have regained her composure, informed hei 
 that her horse was dead. 
 
 For a moment her face was pale wnth horror at tht 
 thought of the fate that she had so narrowly escaped ; bui 
 almost instantly the color returned to her cheeks and her 
 countenance was radiant with the joy that filled her heari 
 in consequence of the fact that she had indeed escaped such 
 
JOHN AS U TON. 11 
 
 a terrible fate. Ashton now began to wonder how he would 
 manage to get Miss Middleton home, as he knew that it 
 would be very inconvenient and fatiguing for her to ride 
 on his saddle, and her own was lying in the middle of the 
 stream and unfit for use even if it were accessible. 
 
 About this time two negro boys, accompanied by several 
 dogs and evidently engaged in a rabbit hunt, came into the 
 road a short distance from where Ashton was standing. 
 Calling them to him, Ashton soon induced one of the 
 negroes to temporarily suspend his contemplated chase of 
 "the cotton-tails" for a less exciting and pleasant but more 
 profitable employment, and bargained with him to go to 
 
 B , for a carriage. Mounting Ashton's horse the negro 
 
 started on his errand in a sharp trot and was soon out of 
 sigth. 
 
 Ashton then turned to Miss Middleton and asked her to 
 tell him how her horse came to run away with her. 
 
 She informed him that she and her cousin, Miss Bertha 
 
 Gray, were riding out from B . and when they were 
 
 within about three-quarters of a mile of where he first saw 
 her, a ferocious dog ran out from a farmhouse near the 
 road, and began to bark furiously at their horses. Her 
 horse was greatly startled by the noise and at once started 
 to run. Seeing this, the dog ran after him and kept up a 
 loud barking at his heels. This thoroughly frightened the 
 horse and, clamping the bit with his teeth, he plunged for- 
 ward at full speed and soon became en tirel}- unmanageable. 
 Discovering that she could not control her horse, she had 
 merely endeavored to keep her seat in the saddle. Not 
 knowing that the bridge had been washed away, she had 
 made no effort to keep her horse in the main road at the 
 time that he turned into the other, and hence had not real- 
 ized the full danger that threatened her until just before 
 Ashton lifted her from the saddle, when she caught a 
 glimpse of the chasm ahead of them. 
 
 "And now," she concluded, "let me again thank you for 
 the timely service which you rendered me, and assure 3'ou 
 of my lasting gratitude for the same. Permit me also, to 
 express my admiration for the wonderful forethought, 
 coolness, and dexterity manifested by you in your method 
 
12 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 of rescuing me. The calm tone of your voice, when telling 
 me what to do, was so reassuring that my fears were 
 greatly relieved and my self-possession to some extent 
 restored, and I did not hesitate a moment infollowingyour 
 directions. Indeed, 1 was so impressed hj' your calmness 
 that I would have done anything that you might have 
 directed." 
 
 "Yes," said Ashton, "I noticed the promptness with 
 which j^ou followed my directions and was thereby satisfied 
 that I would succeed in safely liftmg you from your horse. 
 Had you hesitated or become nervously agitated, it is 
 probable that some accident would have happened and 
 that both of us would have fallen to the ground. Hence 
 you see that your promptness and calmness in following 
 my instructions contributed greatly to your rescue, and 
 indeed were essential to the success of my effort in 3'our 
 behalf. Allow me to say that you are an exceedingly skill- 
 ful rider. Although I came from Virginia where, one might 
 say, the ladies are almost reared in the saddle, yet I have 
 never seen a lady who excelled you in riding." 
 
 At this moment a lady was seen approaching them on 
 horseback, and Miss Middleton said: 
 
 "That is my cousin, Bertha Gray, who was with me when 
 my horse became frightened, and she is doubtless surprised 
 to see me alive." 
 
 On reaching them. Bertha quickly sprang from her horse, 
 without waiting to receive the assistance which Ashton 
 started to offer, and rushing forward clasped her cousin in 
 an affectionate and convulsive embrace, and, in broken sen- 
 tences interspersed with tears and laughter, said : 
 
 "Oh, Ruth, it was terrible! I was almost paralyzed with 
 horror — and you really are unhurt? How glad and happy I 
 am ! I expected to find you dead, and can now see again the 
 horrible vision that arose in my mind of your bruised and 
 bleeding form lying on the roadside. How inexpressibly 
 thankful I am that it was only a vision, and that my dear 
 cousin is unharmed and with me again." 
 
 All this time Bertha had taken no notice of Ashton, and 
 would have continued yet longer to ignore his presence in 
 her engrossing manifestations of joy at her cousin's escape 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 13 
 
 from danger, but the latter, gently unclasping Bertha's 
 arms from her neck, said: 
 
 "Your manifestations of joy at my escape are very sweet 
 and dear to me. Bertha, but I must ask you to suspend 
 them for at least a little while in order that I may make 
 you acquainted with the gentleman to whom I am indebted 
 for my rescue from danger." 
 
 She then introduced Ashton to Bertha, who, both from lively 
 gratitude and warm-hearted impulsiveness, was exceedingly 
 profuse in her thanks to him for the service that he had 
 rendered Ruth. After thus overwhelming him with thanks 
 for what he had done, she insisted that he should tell her 
 ail about the rescue and how he had effected it. 
 
 Ashton complied with her request, and in a simple and 
 modest manner gave an account of the occurrence. 
 
 While he was talking to Bertha, Ruth had, for the first 
 time, an opportunity for closely observing him without 
 attracting his attention, and this was the result of her 
 observation : She saw that his form was slightly above 
 medium height, perfectly erect and well-proportioned, that 
 his eyes were dark grey, his hair almost black, his forehead 
 broad and massive, his nose straight and small and his 
 mouth rather broad and firmly set, indicating firmness 
 and strength of character. Although his face was ani- 
 mated and bright while he was talking to Bertha, yet Ruth 
 could still detect strong traces of the sadness that marked 
 it when first she saw him ; and her heart was touched with 
 sympathy for him in the misfortune which she inferred had 
 befallen him and the grief that he was still enduring in con- 
 sequence of it. 
 
 Shortly after Ashton had finished telling Bertha of Ruth's 
 adventure, the carriage for which he had sent arrived. 
 
 Having placed Ruth in the carriage and assisted Bertha 
 to mount her horse Ashton mounted his own horse and the 
 party returned to B . 
 
 On their arrival at the home of the young ladies, Ruth 
 and Bertha renewed their thanks to Ashton and gave him 
 a cordial invitation to visit them. 
 
 He stated that he would be pleased to do so, and bade 
 them adieu. 
 
14 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 When Ruth and Bertha retired to their room that night 
 and had an opportunity for confidential conversation, 
 Bertha said : 
 
 "Ruth, what do you think of him now? I guess that you 
 have by this time learned how to answer my question?" 
 
 "Yes, to some extent I have," replied Ruth, "and I am 
 fully confirmed in the opinion expressed in our former con- 
 versation. Moreover, I am satisfied that he possesses not 
 only the intellectuality and force of character which I 
 ascribed to him, but also a warmth of heart and nobility of 
 soul that constitute him one of nature's noblemen." 
 
 "Whether he be that or not," said Bertha, "he is certainlv 
 a fortunate hi an to have won such praise from the lips of 
 my fastidious and undemonstrative cousin. And she is also 
 fortunate to have had such a man as her rescuer from dan- 
 ger, and the hero of to-day's adventure. How romantic it 
 is ! Of course, he will feel that he has met his fate, fall des- 
 perately in love with you, become your devoted slave, seek 
 and win your love, and then, as the story-books express it, 
 you and he will be married and live happily ever after." 
 
 Ruth slightly blushed in consequence of the picture which 
 Bertha had thus glibly drawn, but promptly negatived the 
 idea of its realization by saying : 
 
 "You are decidedly premature in your predictions, and 
 show that you have but little knowledge of Mr. Ashton's 
 character. He is not a person to yield to the supposed 
 influences of what you consider a romantic adventure, or to 
 fall desperately in love with any woman; and, moreover, his 
 heart is so fully preoccupied by the sorrow which his face 
 portrays that there is in it no place for the gladsome emo- 
 tion of love. He will, of course, visit us in compliance with 
 the invitation we gave him, and it is probable that his 
 visits may be occasionally repeated and he and I may 
 become warm friends; but, unless he experiences a gre:it 
 change, it will be a long time before he thinks of loving any 
 woman." 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 15 
 
 "T can't believe that you are correct in 3^our views," said 
 Bertha, "and as to your denial of my supposition that he 
 will fall in love with you, I am sure that it is simply the 
 result of your well-known modesty. Nobody can help lov- 
 ing you when they know yo i ; and for a man not to love 
 you after saving your life, as Mr. Ashton has done, would 
 be contrary to nature and simply preposterous." 
 
 "Thanks, dear cousin," said Ruth, "for your very flatter- 
 ing opinion of me; but I feel that it is merely the out- 
 growth of your great affection for me, and hence it does 
 not shake my confidence in the views which I have expressed. 
 Your surmises might be correct in regard to an ordinary 
 man under ordinary circumstances ; but, as I have intimated, 
 Mr. Ashton is no ordinary man, and his heart and life 
 are at present under the domination of an absorbing emo- 
 tion that will probably for a long time control both his 
 conduct and his feelings. For his sake, I earnestly hope 
 that the occasional visits which, as a matter of courtesy, he 
 ma^^ now make us will awaken him to a sense of the isola- 
 tion that he has practiced and tend to make him take some 
 interest in society, and thereby counteract the depressing 
 etfects of the burden of sorrow that he is evidently bearing 
 in secret and alone." 
 
 "I heartily join you in this hope," said Bertha, "for I am 
 sure that he full_v deserves all the happiness that could come 
 to a true and noble man under the most favorable circum- 
 stances. I shall certainly do all I can to contribute to his 
 pleasure, and will be greatly gratified if I succeed in bring- 
 ing the least bit of sunshine into his life." 
 
 At the time that this conversation was in progress, the 
 subject of it was sitting in his room apparently engaged in 
 reflection on some subject of absorbing interest. A short 
 time before he bad been reading on a branch of law in- 
 volved in an important case in which he had recently been 
 retained as counsel; but the book had been laid aside and 
 its contents for the time dismissed from his mind. The sub- 
 ject of his meditations was one of personal interest, for he 
 was thinking of the day's adventure, the unexpected and 
 radical change that it had effected in his relations to at 
 least two of the ladies of B , and of how its results 
 
16 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 would prob'ibly lead to a complete revolution in his social 
 life; for he realized that, in view of what had occurred, 
 common courtesy required that he should occasionally visit 
 Misses Middleton and Gray, and that if he visited them he 
 would be expected to visit other ladies in the place, and 
 perhaps would eventually be drawn into society. The 
 thought was by no means pleasant to him, as he disliked 
 the idea of relinquishing the life of seclusion which he had 
 been leading, and felt that he could not endure to come in 
 contact with the gay and thoughtless persons whom he 
 would meet in society, when his heart was filled with a sor- 
 row that knew no abatement. In contrast with the un- 
 pleasant feeling awakened by this train of thought, was a 
 desire to become better acquainted with Miss Middleton, 
 for he had been impressed with the idea that she was an 
 exceptional woman as to her moral attributes and mental 
 attainments, and felt that he would find her interesting and 
 companionable. He felt also that her nature was such 
 that she could and would sympathize with him in his sor- 
 row should their acquaintance become such as to warrant 
 him in revealing it to her. As a final result of his medita- 
 tions, he reached the conclusion that the occurrence of the 
 afternoon was perhaps providential, and intended to break 
 up the depressing monotony of his sad and secluded life and 
 open the way to such experiences as would, eventually, 
 counteract the effects of his then absorbing sorrow ; and he 
 determined to let matters take their natural course and 
 accept whatever consequences might result therefrom. 
 
 In accordance with this determination he called on Ruth 
 and Bertha the next evening. He met w^ith a cordial recep- 
 tion and both of the girls showed by their manner that 
 they were really glad to see him, and at once made him feel 
 perfectly at ease and as if he were with friends instead of 
 comparative strangers. 
 
 The evening was pleasantly spent in conversation on 
 topics of general interest, interspersed with vocal and in- 
 strumental music by Ruth and Bertha, who were excellent 
 musicians. Ruth had an exceedingly sweet voice which had 
 been highly cultivated, and sang with marked expression, 
 throwing her whole soul into every song that breathed of 
 
JOIIN ASHTON. 17 
 
 tender sentiment. Ashton was very fond of vocal music 
 and Ruth's singing gave him intense pleasure. She dis- 
 played great tact and consideration in the selection of the 
 songs that she sang; for while she avoided sinking any- 
 thing light and gay that would have been entirely out of 
 harmony with the settled sadness of his feelings, she also 
 refrained from singing songs that told of suiTering and sor- 
 row, which would naturally have reminded Ashton of his 
 own grief, and sang only such simple lyrics as told of quiet 
 joys and sweet contentment and seemed to be the natural 
 outgushings of hearts at peace with all the world. 
 
 On taking leave of the ladies, Ashton expressed his appre- 
 ciation of the pleasure that his visit had given him, and 
 heartily accepted the invitation which they gave him to 
 visit them often. 
 
 While returning to his room, and after arriving there, he 
 allowed his mind to dwell on the incidents of the evening, 
 the marked friendliness of Ruth and Bertha, and the almost 
 homelike atmosphere which seemed to surround him when 
 with them, and realized that there had been effected a com- 
 plete change, not only in his social relations but also in his 
 feelings. He almost reproached himself for allowing 
 this change in his feelings to occur, for he had cherished 
 his sorrow for the death of his parents so long and absorb- 
 ingly that it seemed like disloyalty to their memory to let it 
 be even temporarily displaced by any pleasant emotion. He 
 kne\v, however, that he was not dislo\'al to the memory of 
 his parents, and began to think that, perhaps, the manner 
 m which he had previously manifested his loyalty to their 
 memory was a mistaken one and the result of morbid ideas 
 on the subject. And yet, he did not regret what he had 
 done, but was really gratified that he had thus acted, as 
 his conduct had been entirely in keeping with the prompt- 
 ings of his heart and the result of his deep and all-absorb- 
 ing love for his lost ones. Reaching no satisfactory solu- 
 tion of the matter that was troubling him, he fell asleep 
 pondering on it and speculating as to what would probably 
 be the consequences of his changed social relations. 
 
 About a week later he again visited Ruth and Bertha and 
 experienced a repetition of the quiet enjoyment that had 
 
18 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 rendered his first viiit so agreeable. Their conversation 
 took a wider range than the one in which they engaged on 
 bis former visit had taken, and he was surprised and grati- 
 fied at the high degree of culture which Ruth had attained, 
 as evinced by her familiarity with nearly all of the best 
 poets and standard prose authors, an accurate knowledge 
 of history, and a thorough understanding of the political 
 questions that were then agitating the country and threat- 
 ening to disrupt the Union. He was also impressed by the 
 clearness and precision with which she expressed her views 
 on every subject that was discussed, and naturally inferred 
 that she had received exceptionally good mental training to 
 have acquired such perspicuity and force of expression. 
 
 Although well-informed, and thoroughly capable of giv- 
 ing expression to her knowledge, she was not in the slightest 
 degree pedantic, and invariably gave utterance to her 
 thoughts in a modest, matter-of-fact manner, as if she 
 were stating a simple truth with which every one was sup- 
 posed to be familiar. This mental modesty and absence of 
 display was very pleasing to Ashton, and greatly enhanced 
 the interest that he felt in conversing with Ruth, and also 
 increased his admiration for her character. Hence, w^hen he 
 left that evening there was in his mind a well-settled pur- 
 pose to cultivate her acquaintance. 
 
 Ashton's next visit to Ruth and Bertha was made just 
 after South Carolina's secession from the Union on Decem- 
 ber 20th, 1860, and their conversation naturally turned to 
 that event and drifted into a discussion of the right of 
 secession, the causes which had led to the exercise of this 
 right by South Carolina and would doubtless induce the 
 other Southern States to follow her example, and also the 
 probable results that would ensue in consequence thereof. 
 
 Ashton, of course, took the leading part in this discussion, 
 but Ruth's familiarity with the political history of the 
 United States and her intenseh^ Southern sentiments made 
 her an appreciative and interested listener to the views 
 expressed by him, and of which we will give an outline. 
 
 His theory of the American Government was, that the 
 Union was a union of States, as such, in their sovereign 
 capacities, under the appropriatenameof the "United States 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 19 
 
 of America," and not a union of the American people; that 
 the Constitution adopted by these States in forming this 
 union was a solemn compact between them whereby the 
 General Government was created and made a common agent 
 for all of the parties to the compact, and by which the 
 powers delegated to this agent w^ere distinctly defined and 
 limited, and that in entering the Union the States had not 
 surrendered their original sovereignty, but had merely 
 intrusted to their common agent certain specified rights and 
 powers to be exercised for their benefit and the general 
 welfare, in acccordance with their joint will as exjiressed in 
 the instrument creating this agent. In support of his 
 theor3^ of the sovereignty and reserved rights of the States, 
 he spoke of the formation of the American Government, 
 and mentioned the fact that the Articles of Confederation 
 under which the original thirteen States were united, de- 
 clared that "each State retains its sovereignty, freedom, 
 and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right 
 which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to 
 the United States in congress assembled," and also that the 
 Constitution of the United States provided that "the pow- 
 ers not delegated to the United States by the Constitu- 
 tion, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the 
 States respectively, or to the people." Thus believing in the 
 sovereignty and reserved powers of the States, Ashton 
 maintained that a State had the indisputable right to w^ith- 
 draw from the Union when it failed to accomplish the 
 objects of its formation, or became subversive of the 
 rights, or injurious to the interests of such State, and 
 claimed that this right was virtually recognized in the 
 formation of the government, by the fact that New York, 
 Rhode Island and Virginia entered the Union on the express 
 condition that they should be free to retire therefrom and 
 resume their separate independence whenever they found 
 the Union inconvenient. 
 
 In further support of the right of secession, he referred to 
 its exercise by the colonies in severing their connection 
 with Great Britain, and its subsequent unquestioned and 
 unmolested exercise by each of the States in withdrawing 
 from the old Confederation, notwithstanding the declaration 
 
20 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 contained in the Articles thereof that "the Union shall be 
 perpetual," and also the fact that the Constitution adopted 
 by these seceding States in forming the new Confederation 
 or Union, neither expressly nor impliedly prohibited to such 
 States the right of withdrawing therefrom, nor gave to 
 the General Government the power to forcibly prevent such 
 withdrawal. 
 
 As conclusive evidence of the fact that the convention 
 which framed the Constitution was unalterably opposed 
 to investing the General Government with power in any 
 form to control or coerce a State, Ashton referred to the 
 emphatic rejection by that convention of each and all of 
 the various measures offered for that purpose, and quoted 
 the declaration of Alexnnder Hamilton, one of the leading 
 advocates of a consolidated government, that "to coerce a 
 State would be one of the maddest projects ever devised," 
 and also that of John Quincy Adams that "the indissolu- 
 ble link of union between the people of the several States of 
 this confederated nation is, after all, not in the right but in 
 the heart. ^^ 
 
 As later authority of other eminent Northern men on the 
 subject under consideration, Ashton quoted the statement 
 of William Rawle, of Pennsylvania, a profound lawyer and 
 an able expounder of the Constitution, that the right of 
 secession "must be considered an ingredient in the original 
 composition of the General Government, which, though not 
 expressed, was mutually understood," and read from a 
 copy of The New York Tribune, published December 17th, 
 1860, and just received by him, an editorial in which Mr. 
 Horace Greeley, referring to the Declaration of Independence, 
 said: "If it justifies the secession of three millions of 
 colonists in 1776, toe do not see why it would not justify the 
 secession of five millions of Southerners from the Federal Union in 
 ISGir 
 
 As the legitimate result of his reasoning on the subject, 
 as we have outlined it, Ashton deduced the conclusion that 
 to each State belonged the right of peaceable secession for 
 just and reasonable cause, and that such State was the sole 
 judge as to the sufficiency of the cause, and the time for 
 the exercise of this right. Hence, in speaking of the with- 
 
JOIIN ASHTON. 21 
 
 drawal of South Carolina from the Union, he claimed that 
 she had thereby simply exercised an unquestionable right, 
 as there were just and reasonable causes for such with- 
 drawal, and proceeded to enumerate them. Some of the 
 causes enumerated by him were as follows: The unjust 
 discriminations which the General Government had made 
 against the Southern States by providing bounties on fish- 
 eries for the benefit of the New England States, and estab- 
 lishing protective tariffs for the benefit of the Northern and 
 Middle States ; the passage by Congress in 1821 of an 
 unconstitutional law^, known as "The Missouri Compro- 
 mise," whereby slavery was thereafter prohibited in 
 all territory lying north of latitude 36° 30' from the 
 southern boundary line of Missouri to the Pacific Ocean, 
 except that included in that State, this legislation 
 being another unjust discrimination against the South, and 
 indicating a purpose on the part of the North to appropri- 
 ate the greater part of the territory belonging to the United 
 States; the continued agitation throughout the Northern 
 States of a desire and purpose to abolish slavery in the 
 South; the passage by most of these States of anti-fugitive 
 slave laws in defiance of the constitutional provisions pro- 
 tecting the right of property of slaveholders in their slaves, 
 and the consequently frequent and unrestrained stealing of 
 slaves by Northern adventurers; the rapid growth and 
 menacing attitude of the Free-soil party in the Northern 
 States; the unjust and false construction given by leading 
 politicians of the North to the Kansas-Nebraska bill of 
 1854, whereby, under the theory of so-called "squatter 
 sovereignty," it was claimed that this bill authorized the 
 settlers, as such, in a Territory to determine whether or not 
 slavery should exist therein, even before the legal require- 
 ments and prerequisites for its organization as a State had 
 been met, whereas, under a just and constitutional construc- 
 tion of the bill, such Territory could not prohibit slavery 
 therein until it had become a State; the generally accepted 
 theory of Northern men that the United States did not con- 
 stitute a Federal Republic, a union of States in which each 
 State had the right to regulate its own institutions, but 
 that they formed a consolidated national Democracy in 
 
22 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 which the will of a numerical majority was the supremelaw; 
 the persistent, bitter and fanatical denunciation of the South 
 bv Northern men through the press and from the pulpit on 
 account of its institution of slavery ; the John Brown raid 
 in the fall of 1859, in which that infamous ruffian and his 
 associate assassins, invading Virginia, attempted to incite 
 insurrection among the slaves of the State and precipitate a 
 civil war, and especially the fanatical hostility manifested 
 toward the South by Northern people in attempting to 
 justify this treasonable and murderous outrage, and com- 
 mending the conduct of its villainous perpetrators and 
 apotheosizing their still more villainous leader; and finally, 
 the triumph of a purely sectional party, of which Wendell 
 Phillips, one of the ablest and most prominent of the 
 abolitionists, had said : "It is the first sectional party ever 
 * rganized in this country. It does not know its own face, 
 and calls itself national; but it is not national— it is sec- 
 tional. The Republican party is a party of the North 
 pledged against the South"; and the election to the presi- 
 dency of Abraham Lincoln, another noted abolitionist, on 
 a platform of principles inimical to the South, and who, in 
 common with W. H. Seward, held that "The United States 
 could not exist part free and part slave; that there was an 
 irrepressible conflict between the two systems; and that 
 slavery in the States must be put under a process of 
 extinction." 
 
 Ashton stated that he was confident that the other 
 Southern States would follow the example of South Caro- 
 lina and withdraw from the Union, especiallj' in view of the 
 indications that the Republican majority in Congress (then 
 in session) would reject all measures providing for a pacific 
 settlement of the pending national difficulties. One of these 
 measures, known as "The Crittenden Compromise," was 
 then pending in the Senate, and had been referred to a 
 special committee composed of five Republican senators, 
 five Southern senators and three Northern Democratic 
 senators. This measure was intended to provide for the 
 adoption ot amendments to the Constitution of the United 
 States, prohibiting slavery in all Territories north of lati- 
 tude 36° 30' and protecting it south of that lati- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 23 
 
 tude; denying the power of Congress to abolish slavery 
 in the District of Columbia, or in ports, arsenals, dock- 
 yards or any other place where the General Govern- 
 ment exercised jurisdiction ; and providing for remuneration 
 to the owners of escaped slaves by communities in which 
 the Federal laws that provided for the restitution of such 
 slaves might be violently obstructed. The acceptance of 
 the proposed measure by the South would really have 
 been a surrender of her position on the slavery question, 
 and a renunciation of her rights under the Constitution, as 
 affirmed by the Supreme Court, for that tribunal had, in the 
 case of Dred Scott, vs. J. F. A. Stanford, already decided 
 that a slaveowner had the right to take such property into 
 any of the Territories, while this measure prohibited such 
 right in the larger part of the common territory of the 
 United States, and merely permitted its exercise in the 
 remainder thereof. And \^et, so anxious were the Southern 
 senators and the people of the South to effect a final settle- 
 ment of the slavery question, and avert a disruption of the 
 Union, that they would have willingly accepted the pro- 
 posed settlement if an opportunity for so doing had been 
 offered them. But this was not done, for the committee 
 having the measure under consideration, took action at its 
 first meeting, on December 21st, whereby it was "resolved 
 that no proposition shall be reported as adopted, unless 
 sustained by a majority of each of the classes of the com- 
 mittee; senators of the Republican party to constitute one 
 class, and senators of the other parties to constitute the 
 other class"; and when the measure was finally voted on 
 by the committee it was defeated, as every one of the 
 Republican senators voted against it. 
 
 It was subsequently defeated in the House of Representa- 
 tives by a solid Republican vote, and thus, by the leaders 
 and representatives of that "sectional party," was all hope 
 of preserving the Union destroyed. The responsibility of 
 this result and, consequently, of the subsequent disruption 
 of the Union, was at the time ascribed to the Republican 
 party by a prominent Northern man; for Senator Stephen 
 A. Douglas, in addressing the Senate a few days after the 
 committee of thirteen had reported their inability to "agree 
 
24 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 Upon any general plan of adjustment," said: "If you of 
 the Republican side are not willing to accept this (a propo- 
 sition of his own), nor the proposition of the senator from 
 Kentucky (Mr. Crittenden), pray tell us what you are will- 
 ing to do? I address the inquiry to the Republicans alone, 
 for the reason, that in the committee of thirteen, a few 
 days ago, every member from the South, including those 
 from the Cotton States (Messrs. Toombs and Davis), 
 expressed their readiness to accept the proposition of my 
 venerable friend from Kentucky (Mr. Crittenden), as a final 
 settlement of the controversy, if tendered and sustained by 
 the Republican members. Plence, the sole responsibility of 
 our disagreement, and the only difficulty in the way of an 
 amicable adjustment, is with the Republican party." 
 
 Although Ashton believed that the Southern States could 
 lawfully withdraw from the Union, and had just cause for 
 so doing, he thought that it would be impolitic for them to 
 do so at that time, or before some flagrant violation of 
 their constitutional rights should be attempted by the 
 party in power, and expressed the opinion that the Western 
 States would doubtless espouse their cause if any such 
 invasion of their rights should be attempted while they 
 remained in the Union, as such invasion would be not only 
 an act of oppression to the South, but also a menace to the 
 rights of every State in the Union. 
 
 However, neither he nor his listeners hoped that this wait- 
 ing policy would be pursued by the Southern States, and 
 they confidently anticipated the disruption of the Union, 
 and greatly deplored the disastrous consequences that 
 would doubtless result therefrom, as they believed that it 
 would be followed by a civil war with all of its attendant 
 horrors. 
 
 Ashton informed Ruth and Bertha that, in the event of a 
 war between the States, he would return to Virginia and 
 enlist in some home regiment, as he preferred this to enlist- 
 ment in a Georgia regiment where he would be among 
 almost entire strangers. 
 
 As the weeks passed by, Ashton's visits to Ruth Middle- 
 ton became more frequent. His visits are represented as 
 being made to Ruth, because Bertha generally managed to 
 
JOHN AS ETON. 25 
 
 excuse herself shortly after his arrival, and thus left him 
 and Ruth alone as much as possible. Her reason for this 
 was the fact that she had noticed his increasing interest in 
 Ruth's society and, moreover, had her heart set on the real- 
 ization of her prediction as to the consequences of their 
 romantic meeting. 
 
 And now let us see what were the prospects for its reali- 
 zation as indicated by the relations existing between the 
 subjects of it. Ashton's interest in and admiration for 
 Ruth had constantly increased, but thus far had developed 
 no warmer sentiment than that of pure and confiding 
 friendship, based on the superior mental qualities, womanly 
 virtues and sympathetic nature that characterized her, and 
 rendered her exceedingly interesting and companionable. 
 He had often thought of how thoroughly qualified she was 
 to fill and adorn woman's true and highest sphere — the 
 home circle — but in so doing considered her objectively, and 
 as the wife of some ideal man who would understand and 
 appreciate her exalted worth and also be worthy of her, 
 and did not think of himself as that highly favored person. 
 This may have partly resulted from his modesty, but it 
 was principally caused by the fact that he had not yet 
 recovered from the effects of his great bereavement, and as 
 his heart was filled with the sorrow which his affliction had 
 brought him, there was in it no place for the joy ousness that 
 springs from love, and he still felt that in a measure he 
 would be disloyal to his love of the dead if he should allow 
 love for the living to take possession of his heart. 
 
 Ruth fully understood his feelings, and never for a 
 ■moment misconstrued his attentions to her. She knew 
 that they were purely of a friendly character, and was 
 fully confirmed in the opinion expressed to Bertha, that 
 until Ashton was freed from the domination of his great 
 sorrow he was not likely to love any woman, and she 
 knew that this time had not 3'et arrived. Hence, while she 
 felt a deep interest in him and admired him more than she 
 had ever admired any other man, she had not allowed her- 
 self to think of him in the light of a lover and, of course, 
 had not given him her love. Even if she had not felt sure 
 that his attentions resulted entirely from his friendship for 
 
26 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 her, and that his mind had not even turned to thoughts of 
 love, her womanly modesty would have kept her own heart 
 whole, and she would not have assumed that he loved her; 
 for her theory in matters of this kind was, that a woman 
 had no right to believe that a man loved her until he had 
 declared his love. 
 
 Hence it would seem that there was no immediate pros- 
 pect for the realization of Bertha's prediction as to the 
 ha-p^y finale of the romantic beginning of Ruth's acquaint- 
 ance with Ashton. 
 
 Several months had passed since this acquaintance began, 
 and they marked an important epoch in Ashton's life. 
 Through the medium of Ruth's enlivening and yet soothing 
 influence, he had been drawn out of himself, and led to 
 think less absorbingly of his sad bereavement and take an 
 interest in other persons and things beside his clients and 
 his professional duties. At her solicitation he had several 
 times appeared in society, and every one who met him was 
 favorably impressed by the easy dignity and winning 
 affability of his manners, and the brilliancy and force of 
 his conversation. He had continued to visit Ruth fre- 
 quently, and during his visits often had her to sing for him, 
 and, as on the evening of his first visit, she tried to adapt 
 her songs to the condition of his feelings at the time. He 
 was most pleased with simple lyrics that told of homely 
 experiences and portrayed scenes of rural life, as they 
 brought, as it were, on the wings of harmony, the sight of 
 green fields and babbling brooks, the scent of wild flowers 
 and the songs of birds which cheered and soothed his heart. 
 Among these were several Scotch songs which Ruth sang 
 with great expression and tenderness, and Ashton always 
 experienced a feeling of sweet contentment while listening 
 to them. Indeed, the cheering and soothing effect of her 
 singing was more than momentary, and its influence on 
 Ashton was such as to greatly aid in relieving his mind 
 from the gloom of grief which enwrapped it when Ruth 
 first met him. Thus, since that time, the enlivening and 
 soothing influences growing out of Ruth's companionship 
 had gradually lessened Ashton's sorrow and partially 
 restored his cheerfulness. 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 21 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 It was now the middle of April, 1861. Fort Sutnter had 
 surrendered to the Confederate forces under General Beaure- 
 gard at Charleston. The efforts of conservative men North 
 and South to prevent a war between the sections had 
 failed, and hostilities had actually begun. Ashton's own 
 State, Virginia, had exhausted all honorable means to 
 effect a reconciliation between the General Government and 
 her Southern sisters. South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama 
 Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, who had seceded in 
 the order named ; but her efforts had been fruitless and on 
 the day before (April 17th), a convention of delegates 
 chosen by the people of Virginia had passed an ordinance 
 resuming the separate independence of the State, and this 
 act of secession needed only the ratification of the people to 
 effectually sever her connection with the United States . 
 
 On learning that Virginia had seceded, Ash ton determined 
 to immediately carry out his previously expressed purpose 
 of enlisting in some one of her regiments, and that day 
 repaired to the home of Ruth Middleton to inform her of 
 his contemplated action. He told her that as soon as he 
 could arrange for his departure he would leave for Vir- 
 ginia, and on his arrival there cast his lot among the sol- 
 diers of his own State, for the reasons which he had pre- 
 viously expressed. 
 
 She approved the decision that he had made, and fully 
 appreciated the reasons why he had not already connected 
 himself with a Georgia regiment. After conversing with 
 her a short while and expressing his appreciation of the 
 pleasures and benefits which he had derived from her 
 society, and thanking her for the friendly interest which 
 she had manifested in him, he left her with the expressed 
 hope that he would be enabled to see her several times 
 before his departure. 
 
 During the ensuing week, Ashton arranged his affairs 
 with reference to an indefinite absence, disposing of his 
 library and turning over all of his law business to an 
 elderly member of the bar, who was phj-sicall^^ unfitted for 
 
28 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 military service, and hence did not expect to enter the army. 
 In the meantime he had frequently visited Ruth, and the 
 satisfying pleasures incident to these visits, combined with 
 the constantly recurring thought that he would so soon 
 lose the elevating and cheering influence of her companion- 
 ship, greatly increased his interest in and admiration for 
 her. This was perfectly natural according to the principle 
 embodied in the old saying that "blessings brighten as they 
 take their flight." 
 
 Ashton fully realized its truth in the experience through 
 which he was passing, and was thereby led to indulge in 
 such introspection as caused a more thorough analysis of 
 his feelings for Ruth than any he had previously made. 
 Indeed, up to this time he had made no especial analysis of 
 his feelings for her, as he had thought of her only as a dear 
 and valued friend and a true and noble woman whose life 
 had incidentally touched his own and made him a broader, 
 better and happier man. While the recollection of the in- 
 fluence which she had thus exerted over him was a good rea- 
 son for the great regret which he experienced in having so 
 soon to leave her, he began to question himself as to 
 whether it sufficiently explained the feeling of intense sad- 
 ness and the depressing sense of approaching loneliness that 
 had taken possession of his heart in view of his coming 
 separation from her. He could not believe that it did, and 
 the more thoroughly he analyzed his feelings, the more 
 clearly it appeared to him that his interest in Ruth Middle- 
 ton was inore than a friendly one, that the wants of his 
 nature, which had been so fully met by her companionship, 
 could not have been thus satisfied by the societ}- of even 
 the most sympathetic friend, and that the warm and 
 increasing admiration for her which her many charms had 
 awakened and nourished in his heart, was warmer and ten- 
 derer than the most devoted friendship and must be nothing 
 less than love. This conclusion startled and perplexed him, 
 for he had never anticipated the situation in which it 
 placed him, and was in doubt as to how he should act in 
 the light of the revelation which he had thus experienced. 
 His first inclination was to follow the promptings of self- 
 interest and immediately declare his love for Ruth, and seek 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 29 
 
 to win liers in return, especially as he was about to leave 
 her for an indefinite period, and hence would not be present 
 to compete with any rival who might appear as a suitor for 
 her heart and hand ; but the very thought of his early 
 departure for the army awakened the nobler impulses of 
 bis nature and led him to the conclusion that it would be 
 better, less selfish, and more in harmony with real love to 
 defer the declaration of his affection for her, as he could 
 now offer her only his love, and iij a few days would have 
 to leave her for scenes of strife and danger, the thought of 
 which would naturally distress her, and among which 
 there might be awaiting him a speedy death that would 
 sadden and becloud her life if she reciprocated his love. 
 
 The conclusion thus reached by Ashton was strengthened 
 by the thought that possibly his love for Ruth was not all 
 that it should be in warmth, depth and strength to consti- 
 tute a sure basis for a perfectly happy marriage, and that 
 the stress upon his feelings occasioned by the circumstances 
 of his approaching separation from her, and his depressed 
 condition, might have caused him to misunderstand and 
 exaggerate his regard for her. Having formed the resolu- 
 tion that he would not, at this time, declare his love, he 
 strictly adhered to it, although he often found great diffi- 
 culty in so doing. However, he did not fully succeed in 
 concealing his love, for at times the inner nature broke 
 through the restraints put upon it by the outer man, and 
 Ruth caught occasional glimpses in his tell-tale eyes of a 
 softer and more magnetic light than any she had ever 
 before seen there. 
 
 Without the slightest conceit or lack of modesty, and 
 simply by means of herwomanly instincts and that indefina- 
 ble agency that communicates thought and feeling without 
 the aid of speech, she realized that Ashton loved her. 
 Although the thought was pleasant to her, she gave no 
 sign of gratification or embarrassment; for she felt con- 
 fident that he was endeavoring to conceal his love, and 
 believed that she understood his motives for so doing and, 
 considering them from his point of view, approved them. 
 The realization of the fact that Ashton loved her was 
 seemingly inconsistent with her theory that a woman had 
 
30 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 no right to believe that a man loved her until he had 
 declared his love; but she reconciled the apparent inconsist- 
 ency between her theory and her experience in this instance, 
 by the reflection that so far as her feelings and conduct were 
 concerned, there would be no real difference as to results, its 
 she determined to control the former and regulate the latter 
 in such manner that she would not be sensibly affected by 
 the discovery of Ashton's love, and he would not know that 
 she had discovered it. This purpose was all the more 
 readily formed in consequence of the fact that she was con- 
 fident that Ashton was endeavoring to conceal his love for 
 reasons which, as before stated, she approved. 
 
 Matters between them were in this condition when he 
 made his final visit on the evening before his departure for 
 Virginia. The occasion was to both of them a sad one and 
 their parting was especially trying to Ashton, as he found 
 great difficulty in overcoming an almost irresistible im- 
 pulse to declare his love. By a strong effort he restrained 
 his feelings and overcame this impulse, and at last with a 
 forced calmness, which had almost the appearance of cold- 
 ness or indifference, he bade Ruth good-bye. 
 
 On the following morning he left for Virginia, and in due 
 
 time arrived at the town of T , near which was his 
 
 former home. He found that the citizens of the place and 
 of the surrounding country were thoroughly aroused to a 
 sense of the danger that threatened Virginia as one of the 
 border States, and therefore liable to be first invaded by the 
 Federal army; and in consequence thereof they were taking 
 prompt action to furnish their quota of troops to repel the 
 anticipated invasion. 
 
 On the day after Ashton's arrival at T , he learned 
 
 that a meeting of the citizens of the county had been called 
 for that day at the court-house, for the purpose of organ- 
 izing a cavalry company which w^onld immediately offer its 
 services to Governor Letcher with a view to joining the 
 Virginia forces that he was then raising for the defense of 
 the State. At the hour appointed for the meeting, Ashton 
 repaired to the court-house, and finding that several promi- 
 nent men of his acquaintance were leading spirits in the 
 enterprise, he promptly responded when the call for volun- 
 
JO UN ASHTON. 81 
 
 teers was made, and later in the day took an active part in 
 the organization of tlie company, which, in honor of one 
 of Virginia's greatest men, was called "The Jefferson Hus- 
 sars." Owing to the prominent position which his father 
 had occupied in the county, and the fact that Ashton was 
 known to be a brave and intelligent man, he would have 
 been elected first lieutenant of the company if he had not 
 declined any office, stating that he preferred to serve as a 
 private soldier. Soon after its organization, the company 
 reported for service and became a part of the State forces 
 tinder General R. E. Lee. 
 
 During the following month the State loccame a member 
 of the Confederacy and these troops w; re transferred to 
 the new government. It might be interesting, but it is 
 unnecessary, to give an account of the movements of the 
 company which Ashton had joined, and of his own personal 
 experience during the next fifteen months of the war. 
 Suffice it to say that the company took part in General 
 Lee's campaign in Western Virginia, was with Ashby under 
 General Jackson in "The Valley" and came with the latter in 
 his forced march to join General Beauregard at Centreville 
 and took part in the first battle of Manassas, was subse- 
 quently transferred to General J. E B. Stuart's command 
 and from that time rendered efficient service as part of the 
 Ninth Virginia Cavalry. 
 
 This regiment was one of the three Virginia regiments, 
 which, in conjunction with two squadrons of the Jeff. 
 Davis Legion and a part of the Stuart Horse Artillery, con- 
 stituted the force with which General Stuart made his 
 famous "ride around McClellan" on the 13th, 14th, and 
 15th of June, 1862, while the Federal army was preparing 
 for an attack on Richmond from the direction of the 
 Chickahominy river, and the Jefferson Hussars did their 
 full duty in this daring and unprecedented exploit. The 
 expedition was one that afforded opportunities for exhibi- 
 tions of individual courage and prowess, and in several 
 instances Ashton's gallantry was so conspicuous that it 
 attracted the attention and received the commendation of 
 the commanding general. 
 
32 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 After the seven days' fighting around Richmond, the 
 retreat of General McClellan, and the defeat of General 
 Pope at Cedar Run on August 9th, 1862, the Federal army 
 under the latter general was concentrated in Culpeper 
 county between the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. As 
 General Lee had reason to believe that General Pope's army 
 was being increased and there was no indication of an 
 attack on Richmond from the direction of the Peninsula, 
 he decided to advance on Pope, and about the middle of 
 August arranged the plan of the contemplated movement. 
 General Longstreet's corps was to cross the Rapidan at 
 Raccoon Ford, General Jackson's corps was to cross at 
 Somerville Ford and both commands, together with the 
 artillery, were to move toward Culpeper Court-house, 
 while the cavalry, tinder General Stuart, was to cross the 
 Rapidan at Morton's Ford, proceed to Rappahannock Sta- 
 tion, destroy the railroad bridge and cut the telegraph wire 
 at that place, and operate toward Culpeper Court-house, 
 taking position on General Longstreet's right. This move- 
 ment was appointed for August 18th, but, owing to a fail- 
 ure to complete the necessary preparations, it had to be 
 postponed until the 20th and the order directing it was not 
 issued until the 19th. General Stuart had previously 
 received secret instructions as to the part he was to take in 
 the movement, and in accordance therewith, on August 16th, 
 directed General Fit7,hugh Lee to proceed with his brigade 
 to the vicinity of Raccoon Ford, where he promised to 
 meet him on the 17th. 
 
 General Stuart reached Verdierville, near Raccoon Ford, 
 on the evening of August 17th, but General Fitzhugh Lee's 
 brigade had not arrived. He remained at Verdierville that 
 night, awaiting the arrival of Lee's brigade, and as a result 
 thereof narrowly escaped capture. The weather being 
 warm, he slept that night on the floor of a porch near the 
 roadside, with his cloak for his bed. About dawn he was 
 aroused by the sound of approaching horses and wagons, 
 and walked out bareheaded to the fence near by and dis- 
 covered that they were coming from the direction from which 
 he expected General Fitzhugh Lee. Although he believed that 
 the noise was made by the approach of Lee's brigade, he 
 
JOUN ASUrON. 33 
 
 took the precaution to send Captain John S. Mnsbj and 
 Lieutenant Gibson to ascertain the truth of the matter and 
 was soon undeceived by the speedy return of these officers, 
 who were fired at and rapidly pursued by a force of Fed- 
 eral cavalry. Hastily mounting his horse, General Stuart, 
 together with Major Van Borke and Lieutenant Dabney, 
 of his staff, succeeded in escaping by leaping a high fence, 
 but his hat and cloak fell into the hands of the enemy. 
 General Fitzhugh Lee's brigade did not arrive until the 
 night of August 18th, and was not in a condition to make 
 a forced march on the 19th. Moreover, in accordance with 
 instructions received by General Stuart from General R. E. 
 Lee, the 19th was devoted to rest and preparation for the 
 movement which was to begin on the 20th. This move- 
 ment had been admirably planned, and if it could have been 
 commenced on August 18th, as originally contemplated, 
 would have placed the Confederate army between the Fed- 
 ral army and its reinforcements then coming up from Fred- 
 ericksburg and Acquia Creek, and also from Alexandria by 
 way of Manassas Junction, and the result would have been 
 the certain defeat and probable destruction of Pope's 
 army. But on the morning of August 18th, one of Pope's 
 spies, who had been with the Confederate army, reported 
 to him General Lee's contemplated movement; and its 
 unavoidable postponement, for the reason before men- 
 tioned, gave Pope time to withdraw his army behind the 
 Rappahannock. This he did and had made a successful 
 retreat to the north bank of that stream before the move- 
 ment began on the morning of August 20th. 
 
 General Stuart had with him Generals B. H. Robertson's 
 and Fit/chugh Lee's brigades (Ashton's regiment being at 
 this time a part of the latter brigade), and after crossing 
 the Rapidan the former, accompanied by General Stuart, 
 pushed forward to Brandy Station, while the latter moved 
 rapidly to Kelly's and Ellis Fords on the Rappahannock, 
 and had a successful skirmish with the rear of the retreat- 
 ing Federal cavalry near Kelly's Ford. General Stuart with 
 Robertson's brigade attacked the Federal cavalry near 
 Brandy Station and drove them back to the Rappahannock, 
 where they were protected by their artillery on the other 
 side of the river. 
 
 3 
 
B4 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 On August 22d, while a portion of the Stuart Horse 
 Artillery, under Captain John Pelham, was engaged with 
 the Federal artillery at Freeman's Ford on the Rappahan- 
 nock, General Stuart received a note from General Lee ap- 
 proving a proposition that he had made to strike the enemy's 
 rear with cavalry and endeavor to cut his communication 
 with Washington, and he at once began the execution of 
 the plan. With about fifteen hundred men, consisting of 
 Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, part of Robertson's brigade and two 
 pieces of artillery, heproceeded through Jefifersonton and 
 crossed the Rappahannock at Waterloo Bridge and Hart's 
 Mills, and reached Warrenton. From this point he began his 
 march to the rear of Cedar Run for the purpose of destroying 
 the railroad bridge over that stream near Catlett's Station 
 and the telegraph wire there, thus cutting the enemy's line 
 of communication with Washington. Riding for hours 
 through a terrific storm, the command arrived in the vicin- 
 ity of Catlett's Station after dark, captured the Federal 
 picket and soon thereafter unexpectedly rode into the midst 
 of the enemy's encampment. 
 
 As the storm was still in progress and the night intensely 
 dark, General Stuart could not distinguish his surroundings, 
 and his position w^as exceedingly critical. At this moment 
 a negro who had previously known General Stuart was 
 captured and brought before him. On recognizing Stuart, 
 the negro informed him of the location of General Pope's 
 staff, baggage, horses, etc., and offered to guide him to 
 where they were. Accepting the offer, General Stuart 
 promptly decided to send forward a regiment to capture 
 Pope's staff, and the Ninth Virginia, under Colonel W. H. 
 F. Lee, was selected for the purpose. Following their 
 guide, Colonel Lee and his gallant regiment marched boldly 
 forward through the drenching rain and dismal darkness 
 until within a few paces of the tents occupied by Pope's 
 staff, and then dashing forward at a gallop, charged the 
 Federal camp and in a few moments were in complete 
 possession of the same, having captured several hxxndredi 
 prisoners (many of whom were oflicers), General Pope's 
 baggage, horses and equipments, and a large quantity of 
 other property. 
 
JOHN AS ETON. 35 
 
 Ashtoti was among the first to reach Pope's headquarters 
 and, in addition to securing several prisoners, captured 
 some of General Pope's private papers, among which was 
 his dispatch-book, containing copies of his official corres- 
 pondence with the Federal Government, General Stuart 
 promptly forwarded these papers to General Lee, and the 
 dispatch-book proved to be of the greatest value to the 
 latter. It contained information of the strength and move- 
 ments of Pope's army, confirmed the information previ- 
 oush'- received by General Lee as to Pope's expected rein- 
 forcements, and disclosed the fact that a part of General 
 McClellan's army had marched to join Pope, that the re- 
 mainder would soon follow, and that the greater part of 
 General Cox's army had been withdrawn from the Kana- 
 wha Valley for the same purpose. This information en- 
 abled General Lee to act promptly and efficiently in the dis- 
 position of his troops in such manner as to prevent the 
 arrival of these expected reinforcements in time for them to 
 aid Pope in the second battle of Manassas, which Lee 
 forced on him a few days thereafter; and the first step 
 taken by General Lee in the matter was the sending of Gen- 
 eral Jackson on his famous flank movement by means of 
 which he got in Pope's rear, cut his communications with 
 Washington and captured his principal depot of supplies 
 at Manassas Junction, as will hereinafter more fully 
 appear. 
 
 Immediately after the capture of the Federal camp where 
 Pope's headquarters had been located. Colonels L. T. Brien 
 and T. L. Rosser, with the First and Fifth Virginia cavalry, 
 attacked another camp beyond the Orange and Alexandria 
 railroad, but the Federals extinguished the lights in the 
 camp at the first shot of the Confederates and took refuge 
 in and behind their wagons, and the attack was not pros- 
 ecuted on account of the intense darkness which prevailed 
 and rendered a charge by mounted men impracticable. An 
 attempt Avas then made to destroy the railroad bridge 
 over Cedar Run, but this failed on account of the fact that 
 the bridge was so wet that it would not burn, and the 
 stream was swollen to such an extent that the axemen 
 could not get to the trestles for the purpose of cutting 
 
36 JOHN ASRTON. 
 
 them. Finding it impossible to destroy the bridge, General 
 Stuart retired that night by the route he had come and re- 
 joined the army the next day at Warrenton Springs. 
 
 On August 25th, General Jackson began the flank move- 
 ment before mentioned, and in accordance with instructions 
 received from General Lee that night. General Stuart, with 
 Fitzhugh Lee's and Robertson's brigades, overtook General 
 Jackson the next day near Gainesville and joined him in the 
 movement. That night, by direction of General Jackson, 
 General Stuart, with a part of Robertson's brigade, and 
 General I. R. Trimble, with the Twenty-first Georgia and 
 the Twenty-first North Carolina regiments, proceeded to 
 Manassas Junction and captured the place together with 
 over three hundred prisoners, eight pieces of artillery, seven- 
 ty-two artillery horses, an immense quantity of commissary 
 and quartermaster's stores, a long train of cars filled with 
 army supplies that had just arrived from Alexandria, and 
 about two hundred horses beside those belonging to the 
 artillery, and also recaptured more than two hundred 
 negroes. 
 
 The next morning General Jackson arrived at Manassas 
 Junction with Hill's and TaHaferro's divisions and soon 
 thereafter General G. W. Taylor, of New Jersey, with a 
 considerable force of Federal infantry made a bold attempt 
 to recapture the place and lost his life in his daring effort. 
 During the day General Fitzhugh Lee, with three of his reg- 
 iments, including the Ninth Virginia, was detached and 
 sent in the rear of Fairfax Court-house to damage the com- 
 munications of the Federals as much as possible and try to 
 cut off the force that had been led by General Taylor. 
 
 Unfortunately for Ashton, as the sequel shows, he had 
 that morning been detailed as a special courier for General 
 Stuart and did not accompany his regiment in this expe- 
 dition. That night all of the captured property that could 
 not be used or carried away from Manassas Junction was 
 destroyed, and General Jackson moved his command to the 
 vicinity of Groveton and halted near where the first battle 
 of Manassas was fought the year before. 
 
 Early in the morning of August 28th, a dispatch had 
 been intercepted which gave the order of march of the Fed- 
 
JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 eral army from Warrenton and directed a part of the cav- 
 alry to report to General Bayard at Haymarket. Hav- 
 ing obtained General Jackson's permission for the move- 
 ment, General Stuart proceeded to Haymarket with what 
 cavalry he then had with him, and on approaching the 
 place discovered the presence of a large force of Federals. 
 About this time he saw the fighting in progress at Thor- 
 oughfare Gap, where General Longstreet was engaged 
 with the Federals, who were attempting to prevent his 
 junction with General Jackson. 
 
 Wishing to establish communication with General Long- 
 street and give him accurate information as to the location 
 of General Jackson, General Stuart decided to send a dis- 
 patch to the former and Ashton was selected as the bearer 
 of the same. The position of a courier is always a ver^' 
 responsible one and it is often fraught with much danger. 
 If the reader has ever been intrusted with an important 
 dispatch, on the safe delivery of which perhaps depended 
 the issue of an impending battle, and in order to deliver 
 the same it was necessary to either pass through or around 
 the enemy's lines, he will understand the sense of responsi- 
 bility and grave concern with which Ashton started on his 
 mission. As the Federals were between him and Thorough- 
 fare Gap, he knew that he must make a considerable circuit 
 to avoid them in his effort to reach General Longstreet, and 
 that even then he would run the risk of coming in contact 
 with some of their scouting parties or pickets above Hay- 
 market. 
 
 While he fully appreciated the difficulties and dangers 
 incident to the errand on which he was sent, he feltno phys- 
 ical fear in consequence thereof, and was concerned about 
 his personal safety only in so far as it was necessary to 
 the success of his mission. Passing around to the right of 
 Haymarket and avoiding the open roads, he proceeded for 
 several miles in the direction of Aldie. After going as far 
 as he supposed was necessary to flank any Federal out- 
 posts in that direction, he turned to the left and gradually 
 approached the road between Haymarket and Aldie, in- 
 tending to cross this road and make his way down to 
 Hopewell Gap in Bull Run Mountain and there cross the 
 
38 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 mountain, if the Federals were still in front of Thorough- 
 fare Gap. He approached the road through a skirt of 
 woods alongside it, and hence could not obtain a view of it 
 until he entered it. Just as he rode out of the woods he saw 
 a Federal vedette on horseback about twenty paces from 
 him. 
 
 The Federal soldier was watching the road in the direc- 
 tion of Aldie, and Asbton had entered it behind him; but, 
 on hearing thesound made by Ashton's horse in entering the 
 road, he quickly wheeled his own horse and confronted 
 Ashton. The latter had drawn his pistol and at once or- 
 dered the Federal to surrender. Instead of doing this he 
 quickly raised his carbine and fired. The bullet passed un- 
 pleasantly near Ashton's head, but did not touch him. 
 
 On discovering that he had missed his mark the Federal 
 endeavored to draw his pistol; but before he could do so 
 Ashton had taken deliberate aim at him and fired. He 
 dropped his bridle-rein and pressed his left hand to his 
 breast, made one more effort to draw his pistol and then 
 reeled and fell from his horse. 
 
 At this moment Ashton heard the whiz of bullets above 
 his head and the almost simultaneous reports of several 
 guns behind him, and on glancing back saw a squad of 
 Federal cavalry mounting their horses about six fiundred 
 yards in his rear. Witho'ut waiting to see whether he had 
 killed his late antagonist, but with mingled feelings of ad- 
 miration and sorrow for the brave fellow, Ashton put 
 spurs to his horse and dashed off at full speed along the 
 road toward Aldie. Having so much the start of the Fed- 
 erals, he believed that he could escape them in a straight 
 race, but this he knew would take him too far out of his 
 intended route and unnecessarily tax his horse's strength; 
 and hence he determined to leave the road and dodge his 
 pursuers at the first opportunity. This opportunity soon 
 presented itself, for on passing the edge of a large body of 
 woods through which the road ran, he discovered that the 
 road made a considerable bend to the right, and immedi- 
 ately after he had passed this bend he was entirely out of 
 sight of his pursuers. Bringing his horse to a walk he rode 
 him into the woods on the left and, having dismounted, 
 
JOUN A sS II TON. 39 
 
 quickly returned to the road and obliterated the tracks 
 made by his horse in leaving the same, and then hastily 
 remounting his horse rode off through the woods as rap- 
 idly as possible. Fortunately, the woods extended some 
 distance in the direction in which he was going, and he 
 soon felt secure from further pursuit; for he was satisfied 
 that the Federals, in their rapid pursuit of him, would pass 
 by the place where he left the road before discovering tliat 
 he had left it, and that the tracks there made by their 
 horses would render its location quite difficult and perhaps 
 impossible. On emerging from the woods Ashton pressed 
 rapidly on toward Hopewell Gap, reached his destination 
 without any further adventure and delivered General 
 Stuart's dispatch to General Longstreet shortly after dark. 
 
 Just before Ashton's arrival, the Federal force in front 
 of Thoroughfare Gap had been repulsed by General D. R. 
 Jones and retreated toward Manassas, and a successful 
 passage of Bull Run Mountain at this point was thus 
 effected by the part of Longstreet's corps which had come 
 through that gap. At that time General Hood with two 
 brigades was crossing the mountain by a footpath, and 
 General Wilcox with three brigades was crossing it through 
 Hopewell Gap, and that night the entire corps bivouacked 
 east of the mountain. 
 
 In answer to General Stuart's dispatch. General Long- 
 street wrote General Jackson that he had successfully 
 passed Bull Run Mountain and would promptly march to 
 join him the next morning. Ashton was instructed to de- 
 liver the dispatch that night, and as soon as he had re- 
 freshed himself and his horse he started on this mission. It 
 was after midnight when he reached General Jackson's 
 headquarters and delivered the dispatch, and he decided to 
 wait until morning to join General Stuart, who, as he was 
 informed, was near Sudlc}' Church. 
 
 The next morning, August 29th, Ashton started off to 
 join General Stuart and proceeded parallel with and in the 
 rear of Jackson's corps, which, as he discovered, had 
 changed its position since he saw it the day before, and 
 was now formed in line of battle along the unfinished rail- 
 road stretching from the Warren ton turnpike across the 
 
40 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 road from Sudley's Ford to Manassas Junction, the left of 
 the Hne being near this road. 
 
 As Ashton was in the rear of General Jackson's line of 
 battle and at times in sight of the same, he did not for a 
 moment anticipate an encounter with the enemy and rode 
 carelessly along, perfectly unconscious of danger. When 
 he had nearly reached the extreme left of the line and was 
 almost in sight of Sudley Church, a small party of Federals 
 suddenly appeared a short distance in front of him and at 
 once began to fire at him. He quickly drew his pistol and 
 returned their fire, but had only fired twice when he was 
 struck in the right breast by a pistol ball and fell from his 
 horse. The fall from his horse rendered him unconscious for 
 a few moments, and on recovering his consciousness he 
 found himself surrounded bj' Federal soldiers. There hap- 
 pened to be a surgeon among them, and, true to the in- 
 stincts of his fraternity and, doubtless, the impulses of 
 humanity, he promptly sought to ascertain whether he 
 coLild relieve Ashton, notwithstanding the fact that he 
 was an enemy. 
 
 An examination of Ashton's wound showed that it was 
 a severe one, but not likely to prove fatal, as the ball on 
 entering his breast had struck a rib and, being thereby 
 deflected from its course, had passed out at his side. The 
 surgeon at once dressed Ashton's wound and directed that 
 he be taken to Centreville, where the Federals had estab- 
 lished a temporary hospital to which they were sending 
 their own wounded and those of the Confederates whom 
 they had captured. 
 
 In accordance with the instruction thus given, Ashton 
 was carried off toward Centreville. The party of Federals 
 then retired to the woods bordering the Sudley Ford road, 
 and rejoined the force of which they were a part, and 
 which had by some means succeeded in reaching the rear of 
 Jackson's line at this point. 
 
 If Ashton's removal had been delayed for even a few min- 
 utes, he would probably have been recaptured, for shortly 
 afterward the presence of this Federal force in Jackson's 
 rear was discovered, and the brave and peerless Captain 
 Pelham w^ith his Horse Artillery routed them and recap- 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 41 
 
 tured several other wounded Confederates whom they had 
 just captured. 
 
 Ashton was kept at Centreville only one night, for on the 
 morning of August 30th, in anticipation of the desperate 
 effort which General Pope was to make that afternoon to 
 retrieve the disasters his army had suffered during the 
 two preceding days, all of the wounded at Centreville who 
 could be moved were sent to Washington, and Ashton 
 was among the number. Thus again was his evil star in 
 the ascendant, as but for this precautionary measure he 
 would have been recaptured, for, in the general engagement 
 which occurred that afternoon. General Pope was first suc- 
 cessfully repulsed and afterward completely routed, and his 
 entire army was driven back across Bull Run and did not 
 halt in its wild retreat until it reached the heights of Cen- 
 treville, and being flanked out of this position by General 
 Jackson the next day, hastily retreated toward Fairfax 
 Court-house, had a brief but bloody engagement with Jack- 
 son at Ox Hill near nightfall and continued the retreat in 
 the darkness, reaching the breastworks before Washing- 
 ton the following day. 
 
 In the meantime Ashton had been carried to Washing- 
 ton and placed in a hospital, where he w^as receiving all 
 necessary care and attention. His trip to Washington had 
 been quite fatiguing to him and this result, combined with 
 the harassing thought of a probably lengthy imprison- 
 ment, had so affected him that he had been thrown into a ■ 
 high fever which was likely to prove troublesome and per- 
 haps dangerous. Indeed, on the day after his arrival at 
 the hospital, his fever was such as to render him at times 
 unconscious. 
 
 Thus far we have given an outline of Ashton's career as 
 a soldier without even alluding to his experience as a lover 
 since he left Ruth Aliddleton about sixteen months before. 
 Leaving him for the present in the hands of the hospital 
 surgeon an 1 nurses, we will relate some of the incidents 
 growing out of his relation to Ruth. 
 
42 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Before leaving Ruth, Ashton had obtained her consent 
 to a correspondence between them, and they had kept up 
 the correspondence as regularly as they could in view of 
 his surroundings, the frequency with which his regiment 
 changed its location, and the consequent delays in his re- 
 ception of Ruth's letters. During the first twelve months 
 of the correspondence, Ashton's letters, whilst evincing the 
 highest regard for Ruth and a deep interest in all that con- 
 cerned her, were purely friendly in their character, as he 
 had scrupulously kept his resolution to refrain from declar- 
 ing his love for her. But for several months before he was 
 wounded, his letters had become decidedly warmer in their 
 tenor, and running through all of them there was an un- 
 dercurrent of tenderness the unmistakable source of 
 which was manifestly the fountain of love. 
 
 Just before General Lee began the movement against 
 General Pope which culminated in the second battle of 
 Manassas, Ashton wrote Ruth a letter in which he made 
 known his deep, absorbing and constantly increasing love 
 for her, explained why he had thus long refrained from 
 reveaHng it, and told her that he could no longer delay an 
 expression of his feelings. As this delay, as he explained to 
 her, had been caused by the fact that he had devoted him- 
 self to his country's service, was leading a life of hardship 
 and danger and could offer her nothing but his love, he 
 excUvSed himself for having now seemingly ignored what had 
 previously prevented a declaration of his love, by telling 
 Ruth that he hoped and beheved that these restraining 
 causes would soon be removed, as the recent signal vic- 
 tories of the Confederate armies gave promise of an early 
 termination of the war. He told her of the great struggle 
 which he experienced in restraining himself from a declara- 
 tion of his love before leaving her, and how this struggle 
 had almost daily recurred in his life since then, and that at 
 times he was tortured by the agonizing thought that even 
 if there was a hope of winning her love, should his own 
 be revealed, this hope might be destroyed by the successful 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 43 
 
 suit of some other man while she was ignorant of his 
 deep and deathless devotion to her. After telling her how 
 anxiously and impatiently he would await an answer to 
 his letter, he requested that she would direct her reply as 
 follows: "John Ashton, Ninth Virginia Cavalry, Fitzhugh 
 Lee's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia," stating that as 
 the army v^as about to begin an aggressive campaign he 
 did not know where he would be during the next two 
 weeks, but if the letter w^ere thus directed it would be sent 
 to his regiment and eventually reach him. 
 
 Ruth received Ashton's letter a few days after it was 
 mailed, and the reader can readily imagine its effect upon 
 her. She had long known that Ashton loved her, felt satis- 
 fied that it was only a question of time as to the declara- 
 tion of his love, and in the meanwhile, despite the efforts 
 which she had made to control her feelings, her heart had 
 responded to his love and he had become very dear to her. 
 Hence it was with an emotion of exhilarating gladness 
 that she read the revelation of his deep and ardent love for 
 her, and her soul was tilled with happiness at the thought 
 that she was "all the world" to such a true and noble man, 
 and had it in her power to bless and brighten his future 
 life, and also her own, by giving a full response to his love. 
 If she had consulted her feehngs alone and 3'ielded to the 
 impulse of the moment, she would have given Ashton's 
 letter an immediate reply ; but maidenl3' modesty and a re- 
 gard for conventional propriety restrained her from writ- 
 ing for several days. She then answered Ashton's let- 
 ter, telling him that his love w^as reciprocated and that she 
 was very happy in the thought of its possession. With 
 feminine inconsistency she playfully chided him for having 
 so long refrained from revealing his love and thus delay- 
 ing their mutual happiness. The letter was duly posted, 
 but did not reach Ashton's regiment until a day or two 
 after he was wounded and captured, and hence was not re- 
 ceived by him. 
 
 On the morning of August 29th, and shortly after 
 Ashton was captured, General Stuart with a part of his 
 command met General Longstreet between Haymarket 
 and Gainesville, and there learned from the latter that he 
 
44 JOEN ASHTON. 
 
 had the night before received the dispatch which Stuart 
 had sent hira by Ashton, and that he had intrusted Ashton 
 with the delivery of a dispatch to General Jackson. As 
 Ashton did not report to General Stuart during the further 
 progress of the battle, when it was over General Stuart 
 sent a messenger to Ashton's captain to ascertain whether 
 he was with the company and, on learning that he was 
 not, inquiry was made at General Jackson's headquarters 
 as to whether he had delivered General Longstreet's dis- 
 patch on the night of August 28th. The result of this in- 
 quiry showed that Ashton had delivered the dispatch that 
 night, remained near General Jackson's headquarters until 
 the next morning and then started off in the rear of Jack- 
 son's line of battle for the purpose of joining General 
 Stuart near Sudley Church. No further information of his 
 movements could be obtained at the time, and it was sup- 
 posed that he was probably killed by the Federal force that 
 reached the rear of General Jackson's lines on the morning 
 of August 29th. This supposition was strengthened and, 
 in the minds of some, confirmed by the statement of one of 
 the wounded Confederates who had been recaptured from 
 this Federal force that just before the recapture he saw a 
 cavalryman shot from his horse near Sudley Church by a 
 small party of Federals, that they rejoined the main force 
 a few minutes thereafter, but had no prisoners with them, 
 and hence he supposed that the cavalryman had been killed. 
 
 In view of the facts which we have stated, it was gener- 
 ally supposed that Ashton had been killed during the battle 
 of Manassas, and he was so reported in the list of casual- 
 ties occurring in his regiment. As Ashton was supposed 
 to have been killed, Rutii's letter was forwarded to Rich- 
 mond to be returned to its writer through the Dead Letter 
 Office, but for some cause it never reached its destination. 
 
 Several months before, Ashton had ordered the J?zc/i- 
 mond Examiner sent to Ruth's address, and she had been 
 reading it with much interest. Shortly after the battle of 
 Manassas she received a copy of the paper containing an 
 account of the part taken in the engagement by the Vir- 
 ginia troops and also a list of their killed and wounded. 
 Among the former she found the name of John Ashton, of 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 45 
 
 tbe Ninth Virginia Cavalry, and the shock caused by the 
 unexpected and painful discovery was almost paralyzing in 
 its effect upon her. 
 
 For a moment she was dazed, as if she had suddenly 
 received a physical blow; her mind was in a whirl and she 
 was hardly conscious of her surroundings, and could not 
 realize the full meaning of this heartrending news. When 
 its full significance found lodgment in her reeling brain and 
 she realized that Ashton was indeed dead, her whole being 
 was convulsed with agony and in tones of anguish she 
 cried out: "Oh, John, John, my love, my lost darling, let me 
 come to you ; my heart is broken ;" and fell to the floor in a 
 deathlike swoon. 
 
 Bertha Gray was in an adjoining room and, on hearing 
 the noise occasioned by Ruth's fall, hastily sought to ascer- 
 tain its cause, and was horrified to find Ruth lying on the 
 floor in an apparently lifeless condition. She at once 
 aroused the household, dispatched a servant for aph^'sician, 
 and proceeded to do what she could to revive her cousin. 
 Seating herself on the floor, she placed Ruth's head in her 
 lap and with the assistance of a waiting-maid began to 
 chafe her hands, and bathe her face v^ith cold water. In a 
 few moments she was rejoiced to see signs of animation in 
 her cousin, and shortly thereafter Ruth returned to full 
 consciousness. 
 
 When the physician arrived, he found that there was no 
 especial need for his services, but he directed that Ruth 
 should lie down and take several hours of uninterrupted 
 repose. Ruth gave no information as to the cause of her 
 swoon, and Bertha would not ask her about it in the pres- 
 ence of the physician and the servants. Even after she had 
 conducted Ruth to her room. Bertha still refrained from 
 questioning her in regard to the matter, especially as the 
 physician had prescribed perfect quiet for her; and after she 
 had made all necessary arrangements for Ruth's comfort, 
 she left her. 
 
 On re-entering the room where Ruth had fainted. Bertha 
 saw a paper lying on the floor and, having picked it up, was 
 attracted by the prominent head-lines of a column of war 
 news. Glancing down thecolumn she soon saw the name of 
 
46 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 John Ashton in the list of Virginia soldiers who had been 
 killed in the recent battle of Manassas, and at once con- 
 cluded that the sight of this had caused Ruth's swoon, for 
 the latter had told her of Ashton's declaration of his love 
 for her and of her own love for him. She was deeply 
 grieved at the thought of Ashton's death, as she felt the 
 warmest friendship for him, and her sorrow was greatly in- 
 tensified in consequence of the agonizing effect which his 
 death had produced on Ruth, and her heart was filled with 
 tenderest sympathy for her cousin in her sad bereavement. 
 Believing that Ruth would prefer to be alone during the first 
 hours of her grief, Bertha did not go to her cousin's room 
 until the next day. After gently rapping at the door and 
 receiving no response from within, she entered the room ex- 
 pecting to find Ruth asleep. Instead of this, she found her 
 sitting by a window gazing out-of-doors with a far-away 
 look in her eyes and an indescribably sad expression on her 
 face, which bore traces of recent tears. Without any pre- 
 vious salutation Bertha approached her and, placing her 
 arms around her, drew her to her bosom and simply said : 
 
 "My darling, I have seen the paper and understand it all. 
 1 suffer with you and wish that I could thereby render your 
 suffering less." 
 
 Ruth returned her cousin's embrace and said: "He was 
 so good and true, and I loved him with all my soul. It is 
 so hard to bear." 
 
 Nothing more w^as said, but for a long time the cousins 
 remained locked in a close embrace, and from the devoted 
 love and tender sympathy which it indicated on Bertha's 
 part, Ruth received as much of soothing consolation as 
 living loved ones can impart to' one whose grief-stricken 
 heart is sorrowing for the dead. 
 
 Leaving them locked in each other's arms, we will return 
 to Ashton, whom ^ve left in a partially delirious condition 
 at the hospital in Washington. Instead of improving, his 
 condition dstily grew worse, and at theexpiration of a week 
 his fever was so high that he entirel3^ lost consciousness of 
 his surroundings and had no lucid moments. He was per- 
 fectly delirious and in an incoherent manner repeatedly 
 gave expression to the thoughts that crowded his disor- 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 47 
 
 dered mind. As is usual in such cases, these thoughts took 
 a wide range and were constantly changing. At times he 
 thought that he was in the midst of battle and would shout 
 **the wild Confederate yell" as if he were charging the 
 enemy with Asliby or Stuart. At other times he would 
 imagine himself in his old home, surrounded by the loneliness 
 and air of desolation that marked it just after his parents 
 died, and he would give vent to his grief in bitter sobs and 
 bewail the mysterious fate which had so suddenly darkened 
 his young life. Then he would think of his adopted home 
 in the Sunny South, run over again in imagination his rapid 
 and thrilling race to rescue Ruth Middleton from the 
 impending fate to which she was being borne by her fright- 
 ened horse, and immediately afterward burst forth in 
 hearty praise of some sweet song as if it had just been 
 sung by Ruth with the utmost harmony and expression of 
 which it was susceptible; and then he would rave about his 
 love for her and the letter in which he had revealed it, and 
 wonder why he had received no answ^er to his letter. 
 
 He continued in this condition for several daj^s, and at 
 times the hospital physicians thought that his chance tore- 
 cover was but slight, and stated that the utmost care and 
 attention were necessary to preserve his life. In the ward in 
 which he had been placed there was a volunteer nurse 
 
 named Annie R . She resided in New Castle, Delaware, 
 
 and was the daughter of a wealthy merchant of that place 
 who sympathized with the South in the struggle then in prog- 
 ress, and as she shared her father's feelings in this matter, 
 she had offered her services at this hospital for the purpose 
 of nursing the sick and wounded Confederate prisoners who 
 were its inmates. She had been at once impressed by Ash- 
 ton's intellectual face and manly and distinguished api)ear- 
 ance, and when she caught glimpses of his past life and ex- 
 perience as revealed in his delirious talks she became deeply 
 interested in his case and did all in her power to secure his 
 recovery. She was a young lady of refinement and culture, 
 had a sweet and noble face and slightly resembled Ruth 
 Middleton in personal appearance. It may have been 
 owing to this resemblance, or, perhaps, to Miss R 's deft- 
 ness as a nurse and magnetic power, that she had better 
 
48 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 control than others over Ashton and could often quiet his 
 ravings when every one else had tailed to do so. The very 
 touch of her hand on his burning brow appeared to act 
 with magical effect upon his excited brain, and, in the midst 
 of his wildest ravings, calm the tempest of thought that 
 was raging in his mind. But nothing could entirely allay 
 the raging fever which was daily exhausting his physical 
 frame, and each recurring paroxysm made such drafts on 
 his strength as to lessen the chances of his recovery. 
 
 At last the crisis came, and the surgeon told Miss R 
 
 that if Ashton could successfully withstand the ravages of 
 the fever through that night, he would probably recover. 
 She determined that she would do everything in her power 
 to aid him in the approaching struggle and, after obtaining 
 from the surgeon full directions as to what should be done 
 in every conceivable emergency, she arranged to spend the 
 entire night by Ashton's bedside. All through the night she 
 watched by his couch, keeping constantly informed as to 
 the state of his pulse and the degree of his temperature, and 
 faithfully administered the remedies thereby respectively 
 indicated as necessary to be used. Toward morning she 
 was rejoiced to discover that his temperature was falling 
 and, as there was a corresponding decrease in the beat of 
 his pulse, she was satisfied that his fever was abating and 
 that the crisis had been successfully passed. In this suppo- 
 sition she was correct, and about dawn Ashton sank into a 
 quiet sleep and was soon breathing as regularly and natur- 
 ally as if he were in his usual health. Miss R remained 
 
 by his couch until some of the regular nurses came into the 
 ward, and at once informed them of Ashton's condition 
 and stated that he must not be disturbed under any circum- 
 stances, but should be allowed to sleep on until he awoke of 
 his own accord. She then left the hospital and repaired to 
 her boarding-house for the purpose of obtaining the rest 
 and sleep which she so much needed in consequence of her 
 long and anxious vigil. About noon she awoke and, after 
 refreshing herself with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, 
 immediately returned to the hospital to ascertain the con- 
 dition of Ashton. She found him still sleeping peacefully, 
 and decided that she would remain with him until he 
 
JO UN ASHTON, 49 
 
 awoke. It was not long before she noticed in his appear- 
 ance signs of returning consciousness, and soon thereafter 
 he opened his eyes and began to look around him. 
 
 Seeing Miss R , he looked at her steadily for a moment 
 
 and then closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his fore- 
 head as if trying to collect his thoughts, or recall something 
 that had escaped his memory. His effort appeared to be 
 fruitless, and again opening his eyes and looking at Miss 
 R in a half-dazed manner, he said : 
 
 "Where am I? And how came I to be here?" 
 
 She replied : "You are in a hospital in Washington City, 
 and were brought here in consequence of having been 
 wounded in battle and captured by Federal soldiers about 
 two weeks ago." 
 
 ''Two weeks ago!" exclaimed Ashton. "Have I been here 
 that long?" 
 
 "Not quite so long as that," said MissR ,"as you were 
 
 brought here about three da3's after you were wounded." 
 
 Ashton closed his eyes and appeared to be again striving 
 to recall something to remembrance. In a few moments 
 his face brightened and, opening his eyes, he said: 
 
 "Yes, I now remember the circumstances under which I 
 was wounded. I had carried a dispatch from General 
 Longstreet to General Jackson the night before, and on the 
 morning of the second day's fighting in the battle of 
 Manassas, was on my way to rejoin General Stuart near 
 Sudley Church. As I was in the rear of General Jackson's 
 line of battle, I had no thought of encountering any Fed- 
 eral soldiers and was carelessly riding along, unconscious 
 of danger, when a small party of Federals suddenly ap- 
 peared in front of me and began to fire at me. I think I 
 fired twice at them, and was then shot in the breast and 
 fell from ray horse. The fall rendered me unconscious for a 
 short time, and when I regained my consciousness I found 
 that I was a prisoner. My wound was dressed and, im- 
 mediately afterward, I was carried to Centreville, and on 
 the following day brought to this place. I have but an 
 indistinct recollection of my first day's stay here and 
 remember nothing occurring after that time. I am sure that 
 
50 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 I did not see you before I became unconscious, and yet your 
 face seems strangely familiar to me," 
 
 "You are correct in your statement that you did not see 
 
 me before you became unconscious," said Miss R ,"for I 
 
 was in another ward at that time and did not learn of your 
 case until the next day. I suppose that the reason why 
 my face seems familiar to you is because I have frequently 
 been about your bedside since 3'ou became delirious and, 
 although your brain remained disordered, 3'ou were per- 
 haps at times conscious of my presence, and my features 
 were then impressed on your mind and, being now recalled, 
 seem familiar to you." 
 
 "That is doubtless the correct explanation of the mat- 
 ter," said Ashton, "and what 3'ou have said enables me, 
 without further information, to understand that you have 
 carefully and assiduously watched over me and ministered 
 to m^' wants during my delirium ; for I have a recollection 
 that some person, of whose face your own is the counter- 
 part, seemed to exert a strong influence over me and by a 
 simple touch of her hand often soothed and calmed my 
 troubled mind. In view of the lengthy period of my 
 delirium, I realize the great danger through which I have 
 passed and am overwhelmed with a sense of the debt of 
 gratitude I owe you for your attention and kindness, which 
 I am sure have saved my life. I cannot find words to tell 
 YOU how deeply grateful I am for what you have done for 
 me. My gratitude is all the warmer and deeper in view of 
 the fact that 1 am to you an entire stranger, and also 
 belong to an army that is engaged in war with the section 
 in which 3'ou live." 
 
 "Do not trouble yourself farther to express your gratitude 
 for what I have done," she repHed, "for the pleasure which 
 I feel in having aided in your recovery is ample reward for 
 ray exertions. The fact that you are a Southern soldier, 
 and which, as it seems, renders you all the more grateful 
 for what I have done, is really the reason why I have had 
 an opportunity for assisting you; for otherwise, you would 
 not have been brought to this hospital, which is used only 
 for sick and wounded Confederate prisoners, and I am here 
 solely because such is its use. Can you keep a secret? I 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 51 
 
 believe that you can, and will therefore tell you one. 
 Although my home is at New Castle, Delaware, and I am a 
 native of that State, I sympathize with the Southern peo- 
 ple in their struggle against the United States, and came 
 here for the express purpose of aiding, as far as possible, 
 sick and wounded Confederate soldiers, knowing that they 
 would need more careful attention than they were likely to 
 receive from mere hired nurses who felt no interest in them 
 and doubtless were inimical to the South. But we will not 
 farther discuss this matter at present, as you are quite 
 feeble and both your mind and body require rest and quiet 
 in order for you to regain your strength. Moreover, I see 
 the surgeon approaching, and, although he is a kind-hearted 
 man and by no means bitter in his feelings tow^ard the 
 South, he must not know that I am a Southern sympa- 
 thizer." 
 
 Immediately after Miss R had ceased speaking, the 
 
 surgeon arrived and, after giving Miss R and Ashtou a 
 
 pleasant greeting, said to the latter: "I was truly glad, on 
 making my rounds this morning, to find that your fever 
 had abated and that you were out of danger. As you 
 were quietly sleeping at the time, I gave orders that you 
 should not be disturbed, and should be allowed to sleep on 
 until you awoke of your own accord. I found that in this 
 
 matter 1 had been preceded by Miss R , wiio had already 
 
 given similar instructions in regard to 3' ou. By the way, I 
 may safely say that to her you are doubtless indebted for 
 your recovery, for in all probability nothing short of the 
 constant and skilful attention which she gave you, would 
 have enabled your system to withstand the continuous and 
 protracted strain to which it was subjected. I thank her 
 for what she has accomplished, and congratulate 3'ou on 
 the result of her efforts and your good fortune in having 
 such an efficient nurse." 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Ashton, "I am sure that to MissR and 
 
 yourself I owe my life. I have already endeavored to give 
 her some idea of my gratitude for what she has done for 
 me, and now ask you to accept my earnest and grateful 
 thanks for the efficient service which you have rendered 
 me." 
 
52 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 "I will not," said the surgeon, "be guilty of mock mod- 
 esty and underestimate the service which my professional 
 knowledge and skill have enabled me to render you ; but, as 
 I have already intimated, this service would doubtless have 
 proven fruitless without the careful and unremitting atten- 
 tion given you by Miss R , and I repeat that to her you 
 
 owe your recovery. However, we will not longer dwell on 
 the means of your recovery. The more important matter 
 is the fact that your recovery is now assured, and I hope 
 that in a short time you will regain your usual health and 
 strength. Now that the fever has been allayed, your body 
 will soon resume its normal condition, and then your 
 wound will rapidly heal. What you now most need are 
 rest and sleep, and in order thai you may at once begin to 
 
 obtain their beneticial effects. Miss R , and I will leave 
 
 you to their enjoyment." 
 
 The surgeon and Miss R then left Ashton and pro- 
 ceeded to visit the other inmates of the ward. 
 
 Instead of trying to sleep, Ashton was soon deeply 
 absorbed in reflection on his recent experience and present 
 surroundings. His first thoughts were of Ruth Middleton 
 and his great love for her. He felt that he had but inade- 
 quately expressed his love in the letter declaring it, wished 
 that he could have told her of it in person, wondered how 
 she had received his declaration of love, and longed to know 
 whether his love was reciprocated and what had been her 
 reply to his letter. This longing for a knowledge of Ruth's 
 feelings toward him naturally reminded him of the proba- 
 ble cause of his failure to obtain it, viz.: his wound and 
 subsequent captivity; and his thoughts were thereby 
 turned to his experience as a prisoner, and his present sur- 
 roundings. He thought long and tenderly of the interest 
 
 that Miss R had manifested in him and the unremitting 
 
 efforts made by her to secure his recovery, and his heart 
 was filled with affectionate gratitude to her for the service 
 she had rendered him. This gratitude was so intense that it 
 had engendered the warmest friendly affection for her, and 
 he felt that if his heart were not already irretrievably given 
 to- another, he could and would love her devotedly for the 
 kindness which she had shown him ; and yet there was not 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 53 
 
 in this feeling the slightest element of disloyalty to Ruth, 
 for in harboring it he did not really contemplate ever loving 
 
 Miss R , or wish that he were free to love her. Thinking 
 
 of her kindness and attention to him reminded him of the 
 circumstances which called them forth, and he began to 
 wonder what experience awaited him as a prisoner of war. 
 He was satisfied that, as soon as he regained his strength, 
 he would be taken to some one of the Northern prisons to 
 be kept there until regularly exchanged, and the thought of 
 an indefinite and probably a lengthy imprisonment was 
 horrible to him. He determined that he would not wait to 
 be exchanged, but would make an effort to escape if he 
 should have the slightest opportunity for so doing, and 
 thought it possible that Miss R might oifer some sug- 
 gestions that would aid him in his purpose. While thinking 
 about this matter, he fell asleep, and did not wake until the 
 next morning. 
 
54 JOHN ASUrON. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 When Miss R arrived at the hospital that morning, 
 
 she found Ashton greatly refreshed and looking much better 
 as the result of his long sleep. She expressed great gratifi- 
 cation at his improved condition, took a seat near his 
 couch, and they were soon conversing with each other as 
 freely as if they had been old acquaintances. In the course 
 of their conversation she told him that during his delirium 
 he had talked in a random manner about various experi- 
 ences of his which had awakened both her interest and 
 sympathy, and she asked him to tell her as much as he felt 
 inclined to relate of his past life. This he proceeded to do, 
 and the marked attention which she gave the recital showed 
 that she was deeply interested in the story of his life. Sim- 
 ilarly friendly' and confidential conversations occurred be- 
 tween them ever3' day, and finally their intimacy had 
 become such that Ashton felt authorized to broach the 
 subject of his intended effort to escape when removed from 
 
 the hospital, and asked Miss R if she could offer any 
 
 suggestion that might aid him in the accomplishment of 
 his purpose. 
 
 "Yes," she replied, "and I had already thought of making 
 such a suggestion to you. As I have before stated, my 
 home is in New Castle, Delaware, and if you could succeed 
 in reaching that place it is probable that some means 
 might be provided by which you could get back to the Con- 
 federate army. My father is fully in sympathy with the 
 Southern States in the struggle which has resulted from 
 the steps taken by them in the exercise of their constitu- 
 tional rights and for the preservation of the same, and he 
 would gladly render you any assistance within his power, 
 especially if he were informed of my wishes in the matter. 
 I have already written him about your case, the part I took 
 in the means used for 3'our recovery, and my friendly inter- 
 est in you, and all that would be necessary to secure his aid 
 would be your identification as the wounded Confederate 
 soldier concerning whom I have written him. This can 
 easily be accomplished, but it must be done in such a man- 
 
JOHN ASBTON. 55 
 
 ner that there will be no chance to discover your purpose in 
 seeking my father, or my connection with it ; and hence it 
 would be out of the question for me to give you a written 
 communication to be delivered to him. The plan of which 
 I have been thinking is this : I have a peculiarly marked 
 ring that is an heirloom and has been in our family more 
 than a hundred years, and when you are ready to leave 
 here I will give j^ou an exact drawing of the ring to be 
 delivered to my father, with the request from me that he 
 will render 3^ou such assistance as he may be able to give 
 you." 
 
 "I am exceedingly grateful," said Ashton," foryourprof- 
 fered assistance; but fear that its acceptance might in- 
 volve your father and endanger his life or liberty." 
 
 Slie replied : "Of course he will incur some risk in trying 
 to aid you; but you must not on that account hesitate to 
 seek his assistance, for if the matter is properly managed 
 the risk will be slight and he will gladly take it." 
 
 "I will gladly accept the drawing," said Ashton, "but 
 cannot positively promise to use it in the manner suggested, 
 for the reason already given. In any event it will prove a 
 precious souvenir of the generous purpose that prompted 
 its execution, and a sweet reminder of the kind-hearted 
 friend who executed it." 
 
 As the days passed by Ashton rapidly regained his 
 strength, and toward the last of September his convales- 
 cence was such as to admit of his removal from the hos- 
 pital. This removal was perhaps hastened a few days in 
 consequence of the fact that the hospital was somewhat 
 crowded by an accession of Confederate soldiers who had 
 been wounded and captured in the battle of Sharpsburg on 
 the 17th of September. On the day before his removal 
 Ashton ascertained that it would occur the next morning 
 
 and informedMiss R of the fact, and told her that he 
 
 inferred from what he had heard that he would be confined 
 for at least two or three weeks in the Old Capitol prison in 
 the city. 
 
 She at once gave him the drawing which she had made 
 of her ring, and again insisted that he must use it in the 
 event of his succeeding in reaching her father. It had been 
 
56 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 made on a small piece of paper, and he easily concealed it 
 under the lining of his coat. During the conversation that 
 
 ensued, Miss R told Ashton that, without any definite 
 
 reason therefor, she was impressed with the idea that he 
 would succeed in escaping from prison and that her father 
 would in some way aid him in the matter, and gave him 
 full directions for finding her father's residence without the 
 necessity of further inquiry on the subject. At the close of 
 their conversation, Ashton again spoke of his deep and last- 
 ing gratitude to Miss R for her great kindness to him, 
 
 and then bade her good-bye with the expressed hope that 
 they would meet again. 
 
 On the following morning he was carried to the Old Capi- 
 tol prison, and placed on the second floor in one of the 
 front rooms overlooking the street between that building 
 and the capitol. He found that there was a small yard in 
 the rear of the building where the prisoners were permitted at 
 stated hours to walk for exercise; and during his stay he 
 made full use of the opportunities thus offered for bodily 
 exercise, as he knew that he would need all of his strength 
 in order to succeed in making his escape should an occasion 
 for so doing arise. He remained in the old capitol building 
 
 about five weeks, and during that period saw Miss R 
 
 several times from his prison window, as she passed by the 
 building as often as she could safely do so without attract- 
 ing the attention of the sentinels on the sidewalk in front 
 of the prison. Ashton always greeted her with a friendly 
 bow and a pleasant smile, and she returned his salutations 
 with an answering smile. She feared to give any further 
 evidence of recognition, and gave this with the utmost 
 caution, as the Federal authorities did not permit any 
 exchange of salutations between the Confederate prisoners 
 in the old capitol building and the citizens of Washington, 
 and punished such citizens as were detected in the same. 
 
 Although there was no one in the city who more 
 thoroughly sympathized with these prisoners than did Miss 
 
 R , yet there were some who were more daring than she 
 
 was in the manifestation of their sympathy, and it was no 
 unusual sight for the Confederate soldiers, as they looked 
 out through their prison bars, to see some beautiful woman 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 67 
 
 openly salute them with a pleasant bow and smile and an 
 expressive wave of her handkerchief. Such salutations 
 were answered by the raising of battered and weather- 
 stained hats and caps and by other silent tokens of respect 
 and admiration, and would have received a more demon- 
 strative response in the clarion tones of "the rebel yell," 
 but for the fact that this would have attracted the atten- 
 tion of the sentinels below to the conduct of these noble 
 and kind-hearted ladies, and thereby caused their arrest. 
 
 About the middle of October Ashton was taken to Fort 
 Delaware, where a prison for Confederate soldiers had been 
 established. Fort Delaware is situated on an island in the 
 Delaware River, opposite Delaware City and about seven 
 miles below New Castle. A considerable part of the island 
 might be said to be artificial, as it is below the level of high 
 tide and is protected from overflow by a broad and high 
 levee that encompasses the island. 
 
 On arriving at Fort Delaware, Ashton was greatly 
 pleased that he had been brought to that place as it was so 
 
 near to New Castle, where Mr. R resided ; and this close 
 
 proximity of one whom he believed would befriend him, if 
 called upon for assistance, strengthened his determination 
 to lose no time in arranging some plan by which he would 
 endeavor to escape. Hence, he immediately began to study 
 the topography of the place for the purpose of ascertaining 
 as far as possible what difficulties and dangers he w^ould 
 encounter in attempting to leave the island. He found that 
 the prison for private soldiers and non-commissioned 
 officers consisted of a number of wooden barracks that had 
 been erected just below the fort. The outer row of bar- 
 racks, together with the long dining-room, formed three 
 sides of a parallelogram, the other side being formed by a 
 high partition separating this inclosure from the prison for 
 commissioned officers, and as this outer row of barracks 
 had no doors or other outlets to the rear, the prison 
 grounds within were thereby completely protected by the 
 same. At the northeast corner of the inclosure there was 
 an opening through which the prisoners had free access at 
 all times to a small space between that point and the levee 
 on the eastern side of the island. This space was inclosed 
 
58 JOHN ASIJTON. 
 
 by a high stockade extending almost to the water's edge, 
 and taking in part of the levee. Near the southeast corner 
 of this stockade there was a small gate through which the 
 prisoners passed out to the water when they were occa- 
 sionally' allowed to bathe in the river. As a sentinel was 
 always on guard at a point about twenty paces from this 
 gate, no extraordinary precautions had been taken to pre- 
 vent its being opened, and it was fastened by means of a 
 common stock-lock. 
 
 Ashton decided that when he gotreadj^ for his attempt to 
 escape it should be made by way of this gate. The most 
 serious objection to leaving the prison at this place was, 
 that it was the farthest point of the island from the Dela- 
 ware shore, where he wished to land, and hence he would 
 have to swim nearly half way around the island before he 
 could strike across the river to his proposed landing-place. 
 However, he was satisfied that it was the only place that 
 offered any reasonable chance for him to reach the water 
 v^ithout being seen by the sentinels, and for that reason he 
 preferred leaving the prison at this point, notwithstanding 
 the fact that his so doing would necessitate an extra 
 amount of swimming in order for him to land on the Dela- 
 ware shore. As he believed it would be impossible for him 
 to procure a key that would fit the lock, he was satisfied 
 that he would have to "pick it," and proceeded to con- 
 struct an instrument by means of which he hoped to do 
 this. Procuring a piece of wire he bent it at a right angle 
 about half an inch from one end, and inserted the other end 
 in apiece of wood to be used as a handle in turning his thus 
 improvised skeleton-key. It was a simple and rude instru- 
 ment, but he felt confident that it would answer his pur- 
 pose unless the lock was so constructed as to prevent the 
 point of the wire from coming in contact with the bolt. 
 His next step was to secure some canteens to be used as 
 floats to support him in swimming across the river. As he 
 thought that four canteens would be necessary for his pur- 
 pose, and the possession of that many by any one person 
 would excite suspicion, he took into his confidence three of 
 his fellow-prisoners whom he could trust, and obtained 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 59 
 
 from them promises that they would let him have their can- 
 teens when the time arrived for his attempted escape. 
 
 By the first of November Ashton's wound had entirely 
 healed and he had regained his usual strength, and only 
 awaited a favorable opportunity for attempting his escape. 
 He knew that the attempt must be made on a very dark 
 night in order to insure its success. On the night of No- 
 vember 9th, the anxiously awaited opportunity arrived. 
 The day had been damp and cloudy, and shortly after sun- 
 set the wind commenced blowing strongly from the south- 
 east and bj' 10 o'clock it had greatly increased in strength 
 and a heavy rain was falling. The darkness was intense, 
 and Ashton decided that he would wait no longer, and pro- 
 ceeded to arrange for his departure. Taking from its 
 place of concealment under his coat-lining, the paper which 
 
 Miss R had given him, he put it in a water-proof match 
 
 box to protect it while he should be swimming across the 
 river. He had that night obtained the three canteens which 
 had been promised him as before mentioned, and taking off 
 his coat, he strapped them and his own canteen around his 
 body so that they rested on his back, just below his shoul- 
 der-blades. He then put on his coat, thereby hiding the 
 canteens from view, and quietly left the barracks. At the 
 place where the sentinel near the small gate was posted, 
 there was a lamp that was kept burning all night, and Ash- 
 ton feared that the light from this lamp might cause his 
 detection. When he had arrived within thirty-five or forty 
 yards of this sentinel's post and at a point where he 
 could have seen the lamp if it had been burning, he was 
 rejoiced to find that it was not lighted. Owing to its 
 exposed position it had shortly before been extinguished by 
 the gale that was blowing, and as the sentinel could not 
 leave his post at this time to procure means for relighting 
 the lamp, he was awaiting the arrival of the relief-guard 
 for the accomplishment of this purpose. 
 
 Ashton cautiously advanced toward the gate and suc- 
 ceeded in reaching it without attracting the attention of 
 the sentinel. The latter could not have seen him on account 
 of the intense darkness even if he had been looking directly 
 at the gate, but he was looking in a different direction, for 
 
60 JOUN ASHTOJSr. 
 
 the gate being somewhat south of his post and the furious 
 southeast wind having caused him to turn his back to it, 
 his face was toward the northwest. By passing his fingers 
 over the face of the lock, Ashton soon found the keyhole 
 and proceeded to insert into it the instrument that he had 
 constructed for the purpose of picking the lock. He found 
 that he had made a correct guess as to the length of the 
 key, and also that there was nothing to prevent the point 
 of his instrument from reaching the bolt of the lock, and on 
 reaching it the instrument caught firmly in the slot of the 
 bolt. Giving the instrument a strong and steady twist he 
 was gratified to find that the bolt responded to the force 
 thus exerted on it and gradually returned to its socket, and 
 in a moment the gate was unlocked. Withdrawing his 
 instrument from the lock, he opened the gate, passed 
 through and closed it, and then inserting the instrument 
 into the keyhole from the outside succeeded in relocking 
 the gate. This, as the reader will readily understand, was 
 done for the purpose of preventing anearly discovery of the 
 fact that a prisoner had escaped. Having thus secured 
 the gate, Ashton crept down to the water's edge and was 
 about to enter the river, when the thought occurred to him 
 that perhaps the exceedingly inclement weather had caused 
 the sentinels along the levee to be called in nearer to the 
 barracks and, if so, that he could make the half circuit of 
 the island on land instead of in the water as he had at first 
 contemplated doing. Acting on this idea, hecautiously pro- 
 ceeded down the river along the levee, and on reaching a 
 point where a sentinel was usually posted, discovered that 
 none was there. He made a similar discovery on arriving 
 at the next point where a sentinel was accustomed to be 
 on guard, for his supposition was correct and all of the 
 sentinels had been called in from that part of the levee and 
 were on guard nearer the barracks. Hence he proceeded 
 rapidly along the levee until he had passed around the lower 
 end of the island and then entered the water and struck out 
 boldly for the Delaware shore. He was an expert swimmer 
 and, being buoyed up by his canteens and greatly aided by 
 the wind and waves coming from the southeast, succeeded 
 in reaching the Delaware shore in a comparatively short 
 
JOUN ASHTON. 61 
 
 time. He landed a short distance above Delaware Cit}', 
 having taken a northwest course in order to get the full 
 benefit of the wind and waves that bore him in that 
 direction. 
 
 On reaching the shore he unstrapped the canteens from 
 his body, filled them with water and threw them into the 
 river. He then started off in a brisk walk, bearing up the 
 river in the direction of New Castle, as he had decided to 
 
 comply with Miss R 's wish and call on her father for 
 
 assistance. Being unacquainted with the country, he could 
 not advance with any degree of certainty as to whether he 
 was going in the right direction, and only hoped to proceed 
 in a general northerly course. After walking about a mile 
 he entered a road that appeared to lead in the direction that 
 he wished to go, and he decided to keep in it as long as its 
 course remained the same. 
 
 He had followed this road for two miles, passing a num- 
 ber of houses in which there was no sign of alight, when he 
 came to a house near the roadside in which there was a 
 bright light burning. As it was now after 12 o'clock, he was 
 surprised to see this light and, on approaching the house, 
 naturally looked in through a window from which the cur- 
 tains were drawn. The sight which he beheld at once 
 arrested his attention and aroused his sympathy. Near 
 the center of the room was a cradle, and lying in it was a 
 little child that appeared to be very sick and was breathing 
 with great difficulty. By the side of the cradle knelt a well- 
 dressed young woman whose face was intensely sad, and 
 indicated that she was in the deepest distress and per- 
 plexity. Standing by her and gazing down upon the face 
 of the child was a young man, whose face was also exceed- 
 ingly sad and bore a distressed and helpless look, as if he 
 were painfully conscious of his inability to relieve the child, 
 and that his grief had thereby been greatly intensified. So 
 deeply absorbed was Ashton in contemplating the scene be- 
 fore him, and so thoroughly was his sympathy aroused by 
 its sight, that he entirely forgot for the moment his own 
 condition and danger, and thought only of the suffering 
 child and its distressed parents, and felt irresistibly impelled 
 to offer his sympathy to the latter and endeavor to relieve 
 
62 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 the sufferings of the former. Acting on this impulse, Ashton 
 knocked at the door and, upon its being opened, walked 
 into the room, explained the cause of his apparent intru- 
 sion, and asked if he could render any assistance in an 
 effort to relieve the child. 
 
 The parents thanked him for the kindly interest he had 
 manifested in the child's condition, and said that there was 
 nothing he could do to aid them in relieving its sufferings. 
 Noticing the wet condition of Ashton's clothes, the man 
 told him he was incurring great danger in wearing them, 
 and suggested that they be immediately exchanged for dry 
 garments. 
 
 Ashton gratefully' accepted his kind offer, and was at 
 once conducted to an adjoining room where his wet gar- 
 ments were soon exchanged for a plain suit of citizen's 
 clothes. Returning to the room where the mother w^as still 
 anxiously bending over her sick child, Ashton made such 
 suggestions for its comfort as occurred to him, and 
 although they did not materially help the child, they indi- 
 cated his anxious concern for its condition and also his 
 great s^'^mpathy for its distressed parents. 
 
 In the course of an hour the child appeared to be consid- 
 erablj'' relieved from its suffering and shortly thereafter 
 went to sleep. Its mother then arose and told her husband 
 that she would go into another room to take a short 
 nap, and asked him to awaken her in about an hour, or 
 sooner if the child should awake before the expiration of 
 that time. 
 
 Immediately after she retired, Ashton asked her husband 
 if he would permit him to bring his clothes into the room 
 for the purpose of drying them before the fire, so that they 
 would be in a condition to be worn when he got ready 
 to leave. 
 
 "Do not concern ^^ourself about drying your clothes," 
 said the gentleman, "as you will have no further use for 
 them." 
 
 "You are mistaken," replied Ashton. "I will have a very 
 important use for them as I will have to wear them, for I 
 really have no other clothes." 
 
JOHN A SB TON. 63 
 
 "[ know," said the ge:itle:iian, "that you had no other 
 clothes when you came here; but now yon have a full suit 
 which, although plain, is comparatively new and much 
 better adapted to your use under existing circumstances 
 than would be the clothes which you have taken off." 
 
 The gentleman's use of the expression, "under existing 
 circumstances," in connection with what he said about the 
 two suits of clothes, caused Ashton to start, and look at 
 him with a quick, scrutinizing glance to see if his face gave 
 any additional emphasis to this suggestive expression. See- 
 ing that it did not, Ashton replied: 
 
 "I do not at all understand your remark, for the clothes 
 which I have on do not belong to me, and will be returned 
 to you before I leave here, and I cannot see how they should 
 be better adapted to my use than my own clothes, if the 
 latter were only dry." 
 
 "If you really do not understand my remark," said the 
 gentleman, "I suppose I will have to explain it, and also 
 make known the purpose I have formed concerning you, 
 although I would have greatly preferred not doing so, as 
 the danger I am incurring would thereby have been lessened. 
 Immediately after you entered the room I noticed that 
 your clothes were of military style, and as they were not 
 blue I knew that j^ou could not be a Federal soldier. As 
 there is a prison for Confederate soldiers at Fort D^^laware, 
 which is only a few miles from here, and as you appeared 
 to be too thoroughly drenched from head to foot to have 
 been put in that plight by the rain that has fallen to-night, 
 I at once concluded that you were a Confederate prisoner 
 who had escaped from that prison by swimming the river. 
 The great concern which you manifested in the condition of 
 my child, and your warm sympathy for my wife and mj^- 
 self in our deep distress, touched my heart and awakened in 
 me the liveliest interest in j-our case, and I determined 
 to aid you in your further efforts to escape, but thought 
 that it would be best, at least for myself, to keep you in 
 ignorance of m\ purpose. Knowing that your clothes 
 would attract attention, as they were of a military cut 
 and not those of a Federal soldier, I decided to let them 
 remain in their wet condition, and then, when you were 
 ready to leave, I would have an excuse for insisting on 
 
64 JOHN ASBTON. 
 
 your further use of the clothes I had loaned you, simply sug- 
 gesting that you could return them when you reached 3'our 
 destination. Hence it was that I was seemingly lacking in 
 consideration and courtesy as your host, both in not 
 promptly having your clothes dried without being asked 
 and also in offering an excuse for not doing so after your 
 request in regard to the matter had been made. In addition 
 to the reasons already given, there is also another why 
 I was willing to aid you in your effort to escape, and that 
 is the fact that I do not at all approve of the war of 
 coercion which is being waged against the Southern Sates, 
 and they have my sympathy in the struggle. That fact, I 
 will add, accounts for my presence here at this time; for if 
 I had believed that the United States were right in attempt- 
 ing, by force of arms, to coerce the seceding States back into 
 the Union, I would now be at the front as a soldier in the 
 Federal army." 
 
 Ashton had listened with mingled emotions of surprise, 
 admiration, and gratitude to this explanation, and at its 
 close, said : 
 
 "1 cannot hope to repay the kindness you have already 
 shown me and the still greater kindness which you purpose 
 concerning me; but I can and will ever cherish the deepest 
 gratitude for the services you have rendered me, and remem- 
 ber with emotions of highest admiration and warmest 
 regard the true, noble, and kind-hearted man you have proven 
 yourself to be. While I would gladly tell you everything 
 about my recent experience and future plans, I am satisfied, 
 from what you have said, that it is best that 1 should tell 
 you nothing— not even my name — so that if you should be 
 interrogated concerning me, and it becomes necessary- for 
 you to answer such interrogation, you can truthfullj^ state 
 that all you know about me is the fact that I sought and 
 obtained shelter here during the night, and left the next 
 morning without having given either my name or my desti- 
 nation." 
 
 "You have anticipated my wishes," replied thegentleman, 
 "and expressed my own views in regard tothematter. And 
 now that you may obtain some sleep and rest before morn- 
 ing, I will conduct you to your bed." 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 65 
 
 He then conducted Ashton to a bedroom on the opposite 
 side of the house, and, after bidding him goodnight, there 
 left him. 
 
 Ashton immediately retired and soon fell asleep. He was 
 awakened by his host about dawn, and ere the sun had 
 risen, had heartily partaken of a substantial breakfast and 
 was read}' to resume his journey. He had inquired as to 
 the condition of the sick child, and was rejoiced to learn 
 that it had greatly improved, and that the child was appar- 
 ently out of danger. Just before Ashton got ready to leave, 
 his host offered to loan him money to defray his traveling 
 expenses, supposing that he probably had only Confederate 
 money, which was entirely worthless in that section. 
 
 Ashton thanked him for his kind offer, but declined to 
 accept it, stating that he had sufficient money to meet his 
 immediate wants. This was true, as Ashton, like many 
 other Confederate cavalrymen who were frequently in that 
 part of Virginia which was alternately occupied by each of 
 the contending armies, sometimes had occasion to use 
 United States currency in dealing with the citizens, and 
 hence had accumulated a supply of "greenbacks" for that 
 purpose. Having obtained directions as to the route to 
 New Castle, Ashton again thanked his host for his kindness, 
 bade him and his wife good-bye and left them. As he was 
 leaving, his host laughingly and with a knowing wink, said: 
 
 "If you should not find a favorable opportunity for return- 
 ing the clothes, do not worry yourself about the matter, as 
 they are of no great value." 
 
 5 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 As the distance to New Castle was short and Ashton was 
 a fast walker, he arrived at that place early in the morning. 
 
 Wishing to see Mr. R as soon as possible and alone, 
 
 he immediately proceeded to his house, the location of which 
 
 he had learned from Miss R , as before stated. He 
 
 found that Mr. R had not yet gone to his place of busi- 
 ness, and shortly after he was ushered into the house, that 
 gentleman madehis appearance. He was apparently about 
 fifty years of age, had a ruddy complexion, rather light 
 hair, bright blue eyes and a frank and genial countenance. 
 When he entered the room, Ashton arose and said : 
 
 "My name is John Ashton, and I presume that I have the 
 pleasure of addressing Mr. R ." 
 
 "Yes sir," said the latter, extending his hand, "that is my 
 name. Please be seated, Mr. Ashton. And now, how can I 
 serve you ?" 
 
 Resuming his seat, Ashton said: 
 
 "You have doubtless been surprised by this informal call 
 on the part of a stranger, especiallj^ as I come to your house 
 instead of your place of business. My explanation and 
 excuse for my conduct is the fact that I desired to see you 
 alone and as soon as possible after reaching this place, and 
 hence, on arriving here this morning,! immediately came to 
 your house. As your time is valuable and my business is 
 urgent, I will at once make known the object of my visit. I 
 am a Confederate soldier, was wounded and captured dur- 
 ing the battle of Manassas last August, and afterward 
 carried to a hospital in Washington City, and there your 
 kind-hearted and noble daughter. Miss Annie R , care- 
 fully nursed me during a period of dangerous illness and 
 delirium, and ministered to my necessities in such manner as 
 to save my life. After mj^ return to consciousness and dur- 
 ing the remainder of my stay in the hospital, she continued 
 to manifest an interest in my welfare, and showed me much 
 kindness. She explained why she had come to the hospital 
 as a nurse, telling me of your sytiipathy for the South in 
 the war that is now in progress, and of her own feelings 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 67 
 
 in regard to the matter. Just before I left the hospital she 
 stated that, if I could escape from captivity and succeed in 
 reaching this place, you might be able to assist me in return- 
 ing to the Confederate army, telling me that she had writ- 
 ten you concerning me, and the part that she had taken in 
 securing my recovery from sickness. She said that in order 
 to obtain your assistance it would be necessary only to 
 enable you to identify me as the person about whom she 
 had written you, and provided for this identification by giv- 
 ing me a drawing of a peculiarly marked ring belonging to 
 her, and told me to present it to you with the request from 
 her that you would aid me in my effort to get back into the 
 Confederate lines. I stated that I could not positively 
 promise to call on you for assistance as I feared that by 
 giving it you might endanger your life or liberty. She said 
 that if the matter were properly managed the risk would 
 be slight and you would gladl3' take it. I was taken from 
 Washington City to Fort Delaware about three weeks ago, 
 and last night succeeded in escaping from the latter place 
 by swimming the river, and as I was so near your place of 
 residence I decided that I would come here, have an inter- 
 view with you and ascertain whether you could render me 
 any assistance without danger to yourself. And now I 
 will deliver the drawing of which I spoke, with the request 
 that if you cannot assist me without danger to yourself, 
 you wnll not undertake to do so." 
 
 Ashton then handed the drawing to Mr. R and, after 
 
 glancing at it, the latter said : 
 
 "Your own statement, Mr. Ashton, taken in connection 
 with what my daughter has written me, would have been 
 sufficient to satisfy me as to your identity, and this draw- 
 ing furnishes perfect proof of the same ; for I recognize in 
 it an accurate representation of my daughter's ring. You 
 haveacted wisely incoming to me in your present condition ; 
 for without the aid of some friend it would be impossible 
 for you to effect your return to the Confederate army, on 
 account of the extensive and thorough system of both mili- 
 tary and civil surveillance which has been established by the 
 Federal Government. I cannot deny that I will incur dan- 
 ger in trying to assist you, but this fact will not deter me 
 
68 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 from the effort, for my daughter correctly stated what 
 would be my course in the matter in saying that T would 
 gladly take the risk in order to aid you. I have no definite 
 plan in view at present, but hope that during the morning I 
 may mature one by means of which I can assist you with- 
 out any great danger to myself. As it is now near the time 
 at which I should go to my place of business, I must 
 arrange for your concealment here during my absence. Did 
 anyone see you enter my house, or did you make any inquiry 
 as to my place of residence ?" 
 
 "No one except the servant who ushered me in saw me 
 enter the house," said Ashton,"and I made no inquiry as to 
 your place of residence, your daughter having given me the 
 number and location of the house; and hence I found my 
 way here w^ithout having to ask directions in regard to 
 the same." 
 
 "That is fortunate," said Mr. R , "for it is best that 
 
 your visit to me should not be known and that your pres- 
 ence in the town should, as far as possible, be concealed dur- 
 ing your stay. In order that these desirable objects may be 
 accomplished, I will now conduct you to my study, where 
 you will be entirely free from intrusion, as no one enters it 
 except by my direction, or at 'my call when I am there." 
 
 Mr. R then conducted Ashton to a room on the second 
 
 floor of the house, at the rear of the building and overlook- 
 ing the garden. It contained a large bookcase filled with 
 volumes of the choicest literature, a centre-table on which 
 there were several new magazines and daily papers, a writing- 
 desk, several eas3^ chairs, a luxurious rocker and an inviting 
 lounge ; and the contents of the room, together with a bright 
 fire that was burning in the grate, gave it an air of cosy 
 comfortableness that was exceedingly pleasing. Going to 
 
 his writing-desk, Mr. R took from one of the drawers a 
 
 map and, handing it to Ashton, said : 
 
 "This is the latest and most accurate war map of North- 
 ern Virginia and, while awaiting my return, it would be 
 well for you to study the same and thoroughly familiarize 
 yourself with the topography of the section through which 
 you will have to pHS^? in your effort to reach the Confeder- 
 ate army. As yon doubtless know, General McClellan was 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 69 
 
 removed from the command of the Federal army in North- 
 ern Virginia on the 7th day of thismonth, and General Burn- 
 side has been placed in command of the same. Before his 
 removal General McClellan had concentrated the army 
 around Warrenton and along the north bank of the Rap- 
 paliannock river, and it is still there. But in studying the 
 map with a view to your contemplated movements, you 
 must do so upon the idea that the Federal army will shortly 
 be at Fredericksburg, for General Burnside is reported as 
 favoring its removal to that point. You may expect me 
 back at noon, and I hope that by that time I will have 
 forined some plan by means of which you can succeed in 
 passing through the Federal lines." 
 
 Mr. R then left Ashton, and the latter immediately 
 
 began a study of the map which had been furnished him. 
 Being satisfied that the plan which Mr R would sug- 
 gest for his movements would necessitate his passage 
 through Washington City, he had been gratified to learn 
 that the Federal army would soon be removed to Fred- 
 ericksburg, as this would leave Fauquier county (where 
 that army then was) comparatively free from the presence 
 of Federal soldiers, and thus increase his faciHties for reach- 
 ing the Confederate army by crossing the upper Rappahan- 
 nock at one of the numerous fords above its junction with 
 the Rapidan. Hence, on examining the map and becoming 
 satisfied that General Burnside's base of supplies would be 
 Acquia Creek, on the Potomac, when his armj reached Fred- 
 ericksburg, Ashton decided that when he should leave Wash- 
 ington City he would go on the Orange and Alexandria 
 railroad as far as he could safely travel toward Rappa- 
 hannock Station, and then leaving the railroad endeavor to 
 elude the Federal pickets along the Rappahannock and 
 cross the river into Culpeper county. 
 
 About noon Mr. R returned, and at once made known 
 
 to Ashton the plan which he had devised for his escape, 
 which we will give in his own words. 
 
 "It will be necessary," he said, "for you to go to Washing- 
 ton City and perhaps remain there several days, and in order 
 that you may do this without exciting suspicion, you must 
 have some ostensible business calling you there. Hence 
 
70 JOHN AS II TON. 
 
 I have prepared some orders for merchandise to be presented 
 bj you to two wholesale merchants in Washington with 
 whom I occasionally have dealings, and who, like myself, 
 sympathize with the South in the present struggle. I have 
 also written these gentlemen letters introducing you to them 
 as Mr. James Gray, who has recently been employed by me, 
 and in the letters have commended you to their favor. One 
 
 of these gentlemen, Mr. B , is so thoroughly in sympathy 
 
 with the South that«y.ou would run no risk in revealing to 
 him your real name and character, and if, as I fear, it should 
 become necessary for you to have a passport in order to 
 leave Washington for the seat of war, you may safely ask 
 his assistance in procuring one. Here is a ticket to Wash- 
 ington which I have purchased for you, and also two hun- 
 dred dollars to be used as the exigencies of j^our condition 
 may require. As it is nearly time for the arrival of the 
 train for Wilmington, you had best start to the station, and 
 hence I will not longer detain you." 
 
 Ashton was deeply affected by the kindness and generosity 
 of Air. R , and gave expression to his grateful apprecia- 
 tion of the same in heartfelt thanks, and assured the latter 
 that the ticket and money given him were accepted as a loan, 
 
 to be repaid as soon as possible. Mr. R then conducted 
 
 him to the front door and, after they had bidden each other 
 good-bye, Ashton left the house without being seen by any 
 of the family. He immediately repaired to the railroad 
 station and in a few minutes had boarded the train and was 
 on his way to Wilmington. At that place he made close 
 connection with the train for Baltimore and Washington 
 and reached the latter city that night. Getting into a cab 
 he was driven to one of the principal hotels and there 
 registered as "James Gray, Baltimore." Shortly after his 
 arrival he retired to the room which had been assigned him 
 and was soon enjoying a refreshing sleep. The next day 
 he called on the merchants to whom he had letters of 
 introduction, was pleasantly received by them and, after leav- 
 ing with them the orders sent by Mr. R for merchan- 
 dise, concluded that he would take a stroll over a part 
 of the city. 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 71 
 
 He had gone down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capi- 
 tol, passed the President's house, the State, Navy, and War 
 Departments, and was walking out toward the statue of 
 Washington, when a lady turned into the avenue from 
 Eighteenth Street, and came toward him. On meeting her 
 
 he was delighted to find that she was Miss R ■. She at 
 
 once recognized him and gave him a cordial greeting. 
 Fearing that he might attract attention by being seen with 
 her on the street, he obtained her address and told her that 
 he would visit her that evening, and then resumed his stroll. 
 
 At the appointed hour he called on Miss R and found 
 
 her impatiently awaiting his arival, as she was anxious to 
 ascertain how he had effected his escape from prison, and 
 also wished to see and converse with him as soon as possi- 
 ble. He at once proceeded to give her a full account of the 
 manner in which he escaped from Fort Delaware and his 
 subsequent experience that night, and then told her of the 
 generous and ethcient part which her father had taken in 
 aiding him to reach "Washington in safety. 
 
 "I knew that he w^ould do all in his power to aid you," 
 she said, "and I am so glad that you gave him an oppor- 
 tunity for assisting you. We must now devise some means 
 by which you can safely leave Washington and return to 
 the Confederate army. I learned from the surgeon at the 
 hospital that Captain Neill, of General Burnside's staff was 
 here yesterday with dispatches from General Burnside to 
 General Halleck, and it is reported that the Federal army is 
 about to march dov/n the Rappahannock to Fredericksburg. 
 This indicates that an important movement is on hand, and 
 consequently the newspapers will send correspondents to 
 the front in order to keep fully posted in regard to trans- 
 piring events. It has therefore occurred to me that if you 
 could obtain a passport as 'a war correspondent,' an excel- 
 lent opportunity would thereby be afforded you for reach- 
 ing a point from which you could easily pass through the 
 Federal lines.'' 
 
 "Your suggestion is an excellent one," said Ashton, "and 
 if possible, I will carry it out. By it I am reminded of the 
 fact that your father informed me that I might safely re- 
 veal myself to Mr. B , to whom he gave me a letter of 
 
72 JO UN ASHTON. 
 
 introduction, and that he could perhaps obtain a pass- 
 port for me." 
 
 "Yes," said Miss R , "I think that you might safely 
 
 reveal yourself to him, but this need not be done by you in 
 person; and, in order to avoid the risk which both you and 
 he might incur by personal interviews, I think it best that 
 the matter should be arranged by a third person. As I am 
 on very friendly terms with him, I will undertake the 
 arrangement of the matter for you." 
 
 "There is no limit to your kindness," said Ashton, "and I 
 am overwhelmed by a sense of the obligation under which 
 it has placed me. Your generous desire to befriend me has 
 seemingly rendered you oblivious of the danger which you 
 will incur in the matter, and I must not be so selfish as to let 
 you take this risk." 
 
 "You are mistaken," replied Miss R ,"in supposingthat 
 
 I will incur any danger; for if Mr. B should excite any 
 
 suspicion in his effort to secure the passport, this suspicion 
 will rest only on him, as I shall so arrange matters that I 
 will not be known in the undertaking. Hence, you must let 
 me carry out my plan, and while the effort is being made to 
 obtain the passport, you had best leave the hotel where you 
 are now staying and secure lodging in some secluded part 
 of the city." 
 
 "I perceive," said Ashton, "that I cannot maintain the 
 position taken by me in the matter, and must submit to 
 your wishes concerning it. As I have assumed the name of 
 James Gray and registered as from Baltimore, I suppose 
 that it will be best to obtain the passport for me under that 
 name and as the representative of a Baltimore paper." 
 
 "Yes," said Miss R , "and another reason for such an 
 
 arrangement is the fact that, as you are a Southerner and 
 show it in your appearance and speech, you would more 
 readily pass for a Baltimorean than for a Philadelphian, 
 Bostonian, or New Yorker, and it would naturally be sup- 
 posed that you reside in the place where the paper 
 represented by you is published." 
 
 After conversing awhile longer with Miss R , Ashton 
 
 left her with the understanding that he should call three 
 
JOHN A SB TON. 73 
 
 days thereafter to ascertain the result of her efforts to 
 obtain the passport. 
 
 In accordance with Miss R 's suggestion, he obtained 
 
 lodging at a private boarding-house in a retired part of the 
 city, and remained there during the greater part of the next 
 three days. He would have gladly visited Miss R sev- 
 eral times during this period, as he was anxious to be with 
 her as much as possible, but, at her suggestion, refrained 
 from so doing as she feared that his visits might attract 
 attention to him and perhaps excite suspicion as to the 
 cause of his presence in the city, it being well known by the 
 government officials that she was a volunteer nurse in the 
 hospital for sick and wounded Confederate soldiers. 
 
 "When he called on Miss R at the appointed time, he 
 
 was rejoiced to learn that she had been successful in her 
 undertaking. 
 
 "The passport," said she, "was obtained more easily 
 than I anticipated when I undertook to secure it. The day 
 
 after you were here I called on Mr. B at his residence 
 
 and gave him a history of j'our case, told him that I was 
 greatly concerned about securing your return to the Con- 
 federate army, and asked him if it were possible for him to 
 obtain for you a passport that would enable you to go 
 safely to the seat of war, and suggested the plan which you 
 and I had discussed as to your going in the character of a 
 newspaper correspondent. He stated that he thought he 
 could obtain the passport for you, and also approved the 
 
 plan suggested. He farther said that Major W ,the 
 
 provost-marshal of the city, and he were old friends, and he 
 believed that the major would provide the passport with- 
 out making any close investigation of the case. I was re- 
 quested to call again the following day to ascertain the 
 result of his efforts. T did so, and was at once informed by 
 him that he had secured a genuine regulation passport, duly 
 issued for James Gray, correspondent for The Baltimore 
 Gazette, and entitling him to uninterrupted passage from 
 Washington City to all points in Virginia within the Fed- 
 eral lines. It is all right and will be respected by the most 
 exacting officials. I now deliver to you this precious docu- 
 
74 JOHN ASflTON. 
 
 ment with the heartfelt hope that it may enable you to 
 safely reach your command." 
 
 Ashto I received the paper from Miss R , and, erasping 
 
 her hand, said in a voice tremulous with emotion : "Words 
 cannot express my gratitude for your unfailing kindness. 
 I am already indebted to you for my life, and you now make 
 me your debtor for the means of its farther enjoyment in 
 freedom. My unceasing and grateful remembrance of your 
 kindness, and my abiding friendship for you, will provehow 
 deeply 1 feel and appreciate the interest you have mani- 
 fested in my welfare and the services you have rendered me," 
 
 "It has given me the greatest pleasure to aid you," said 
 she, "and the satisfaction of having been able to assist you 
 is in itself ample reward for all that I have done. More- 
 over, has it not given me that rare and priceless treasure, a 
 true friend ? Yes, and although the events of the future 
 may be such that we will never meet again, it will ever be 
 to me a source of purest pleasure to believe that your friend- 
 ship for me is unchanged and that your kindliest wishes 
 follow me through life." 
 
 "Yes, my dear friend," said Ashton, "my best wishes will 
 ever follow you, and if they could control your fate, your 
 entire life would be filled with richest blessings. Such I 
 hope and believe will be the case; for I know that your 
 noble and generous nature will constantly lead you to per- 
 form acts of kindness, and the satisfaction which you will 
 feel in thus helping others will insure your happiness, as it is 
 indeed 'more blessed to give than to receive.' I have already 
 told you of my gratitude for the inestimable benefits which 
 I have personally received from you, and now, in behalf of 
 my beloved Southland, where at present your good deeds 
 are unknown, I thank you with all my heart for your noble 
 devotion to its cause and your generous kindness and assist- 
 ance to its sick and wounded soJdiers. I must now leave 
 you and, as I shall start on my journey to-morrow, and 
 hence will not be able to see you again before my departure, 
 I will bid you good-bye." 
 
 Giving Ashton a cordial grasp of her hand, Miss R • 
 
 said: "Good-bye. I shall never forget you. May God 
 bless and protect you." 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 75 
 
 And thus these friends, whom the chances of war had so 
 strangely brought together, parted to meet no more 
 
 until but we must not anticipate coming events, as 
 
 the reader's interest in our story might thereby be lessened. 
 
76 JOHN ASHTOJS. 
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 
 The next morning Ashton purchased a suitable outfit for 
 a newspaper correspondent who intended going to the front, 
 a pair of saddle-bags, an overcoat and a pair of blankets. 
 
 Immediately after reaching Washington he had returned 
 by express the clothes which he borrowed on the night of 
 his escape from Fort Delaware, and now wore a neat busi- 
 ness suit of brown cassimere. 
 
 Returning to his boarding-house, he packed his saddle- 
 bags, paid his bill, hired a cab to take him to the station 
 and, after his passport had been duly inspected by the 
 provost-guard, was soon on his way to Alexandria. From 
 this place he was rapidly borne toward Rappahannock Sta- 
 tion on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and on arriving 
 at Manassas was vividl^^ reminded of his having been 
 wounded and captured near that place, and of the varied 
 experiences which had come to him in consequence of that 
 misfortune. 
 
 At Catlett's Station several Federal soldiers came into the 
 car where Ashton was, and were soon talking about the 
 movements of the army. He learned from their conversa- 
 tion that it was being rapidly moved toward Fredericks- 
 burg, that the greater part of tbeinfantry had left Fauquier 
 county and the remainder w^ould leave early in the morning 
 of the next day, and that only a portion of the cavalry 
 would remain for the purpose of temporarily guarding the 
 fords along the Rappahannock. He had at first thought 
 of going to within a few miles of Rappahannock Station 
 before leaving the railroad, but in view of what he had just 
 heard, decided to leave it at Warrenton Junction, and there- 
 fore left the train when it reached that place. His reason 
 for this was, that if he went much farther toward the Rap- 
 pahannock by rail he would, on leaving the cars, probably 
 encounter some of the Federal cavalry who, upon seeing his 
 passport and thus learning his ostensible business and c'es 
 tination, would cause him to turn back and go down ttie 
 river in the direction taken by the Federal army; whereas, 
 bv stopping at Warrenton Junction he would have an 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 77 
 
 opportnnity to go across the country above Rappahannock 
 Station and perhaps entirely flank the Federal pickets at 
 Fox's, Lawson's, Freeman's and other fords up the river. 
 
 He spent the night at Warrenton Junction, where he 
 found a small part of General Sickles' division, and learned 
 that one corps of the army was encamped near the place 
 and another corps at Bealeton. These two corps started 
 very early the next morning toward Fredericksburg. 
 About two hours thereafter, Ashton succeeded in purchas- 
 ing a horse, and rode off as if he were going to Fredericks- 
 burg by way of Morrisville. He did not go far in that di- 
 rection before he turned back, left the road and proceeded 
 in a northwesterly course toward Sulphur Spring. Hav- 
 ing some knowledge of the country', and being aided by the 
 
 examination which he had made of Mr. R 's map, he 
 
 made good progress, although he avoided the open roads as 
 much as possible. He soon crossed the Orange and Alexan- 
 dria railroad a mile or two below Warrenton Junction, and, 
 passing above Fayetteville, crossed the road leading from 
 that place to Warrenton. Thinking that there might still 
 be some Federal troops at Warrenton, and therefore fear- 
 ing to go any nearer to that place, he changed his course so 
 as to bear down toward the Rappahannock river, and about 
 noon was near the intersection of the roads from Sulphur 
 Spring, Jeffersonton and Fayetteville at Fox's Ford. Find- 
 ing that he had gone near the river, and that too at a place 
 where there was probably a Federal picket, he turned a lit- 
 tle to the right for the purpose of passing above this place, 
 but had not proceeded far before he came in sight of a 
 bivouac of cavalry. Discovering that they were Federal 
 troops he would have turned back, but, being satisfied that 
 they had seen him, feared that by so doing he would excite 
 their suspicion, and hence he boldly rode forward into their 
 midst. He found that he had come upon a small picket 
 force that was guarding Fox's Ford, and had selected the 
 point where he discovered them as picket headquarters, in 
 order that they might the better watch the roads above 
 
 and below them. The troops were a part of the New 
 
 York cavalry which had been sent out from Bealeton by 
 
78 JOIIX AS II TON. 
 
 General Bayard to picket Beverly's, Fox's, Lawson's and 
 Freeman's Fords. 
 
 The squad consisted of about twenty men under the com- 
 mand of Lieutenant C , and when Ashton reached them 
 
 he was halted and at once carried before that officer. Upon 
 being questioned by the officer as to his name and occupation, 
 Ashton told him that his name was James Gray and that 
 he was a correspondent for The Baltimore Gazette. The 
 officer laughingly informed him that he would not be likely 
 to obtain any war news in that quarter, as he was on the 
 outpost of the Federal army, which was then moving 
 toward Fredericksburg, and that if he wished to be of any 
 service to his paper as a war correspondent, he would have 
 to turn back and ride down the river to that place. Hav- 
 ing inspected his passport and found that it was all right, 
 the officer was about to dismiss Ashton, when one of the 
 troopers who had been closely scrutinizing his face, said ; 
 
 "Heigh-ho! Is that you, Ashton? I did not expect to see 
 you here, and especially in citizen's clothes, as I heard that 
 you had joined the Confederate army." 
 
 Ashton turned toward the speaker, and his heart gave a 
 great throb and began to beat rapidly as he recognized in 
 the Federal trooper, Henry Knhn, a former acquaintance 
 whom he had met at the University of Virginia, and who 
 then lived in New York. Knowing that it would be impossi- 
 ble for him to overcome the testimony which Kuhn would 
 give as to his identity, and beingconsciousof having already 
 manifested such emotion as, if noticed, would prove suspi- 
 cious, Ashton promptly decided that he would attempt no 
 further deception, but fully explain why he was there in 
 citizen's dress, and conceal only such matters as might impli 
 cate others. Replying to Kuhn, he said : 
 
 "Yes, Kuhn. this is John Ashton, andyou werecorrecth^ in- 
 formed as to my having joined the Confederat. army. 
 Although we were on friendly terms at the university, I am 
 forced to the impoliteness of saying that I am not at all 
 glad to see 3'ou." 
 
 Kuhn laughed and said: "Well, I do not blame you for 
 your aversion to seeing me under existing circumstances, 
 nor for the frankness with which you have expressed it. 
 
JOHN A SB TON. 79 
 
 Frankness was always one of j^our leading characteristics, 
 and I cannot reconcile that fact with your present assumed 
 name and occupation. I hope, however, that 3'ou can satis- 
 factorily explain your presence here, and my knowledge of 
 3^our former character may assist you in the matter. If so, 
 I will gladly aid you." 
 
 "I thank you for your kind offer, "said Ashton, "and with 
 the testimony which you can furnish as to my former char- 
 acter I will be able to give a satisfactory explanation of my 
 presence inside the Federal lines, and show that I am not 
 heie voluntarily, or for any improper purpose. And now, 
 lieutenant, if yoii are willing to hear me, I am ready to give 
 an account of myself." 
 
 "Yes," said the officer, "although I have no authority to 
 finally pass on your case, I will listen to what you have 
 to say." 
 
 Ashton then proceeded to give a full and truthful account 
 of his movements after he was wounded and captured, tell- 
 ing of his sickness in the hospital at Washington, his tem- 
 porary stay at the Old Capitol prison, his transfer to Fort 
 Delaware and subsequent escape therefrom, and his immedi- 
 ate return to Washington. 
 
 "In this escape," he said, "I was unaided, and none of the 
 officers of your government are in any manner to blame for 
 the same. Of course, I had assistance in obtaining my pass- 
 port, but the rack could not make me reveal who rendered 
 it. I assumed a fictitious name and character for the sole 
 purpose of trying to escape from captivity, have made no 
 effort to obtain any information for my government, and 
 the party who rendered me assistance knew the circum- 
 stances of my case and merely wished to aid me in avoiding 
 a recapture in my effort to return to the Confederate 
 army." 
 
 "I am satisfied, lieutenant," said Kuhn, "that Ashton 
 has told the truth, for my knowledge of his exemplary char- 
 acter and high sense of honor when at college, convinces 
 me beyond doubt that he would not, under any circum- 
 stances, stoop to the position of a spy." 
 
 "I, too," said Lieutenant C , "am convinced as to the 
 
 truthfulness of his story, and trust that he maybe able like- 
 
80 JOHN ASUTON. 
 
 wise to convince those who will have to deal with his case. 
 But under the circumstances, I can do nothing more than send 
 him to General Bayard at Bealeton, and report the facts at- 
 tending his capture. Tell a corporal to detail two men, 
 including yourself, and report here at once for the purpose 
 of conveying the prisoner to General Bayard." 
 
 In a few moments a corporal, accompanied by Kuhn and 
 another trooper, appeared on horseback ready to do the 
 
 lieutenant's bidding. Lieutenant C had written a short 
 
 note in regard to Ashton's capture, and, handing it and the 
 passport to the corporal, directed him to conduct Ashton 
 to General Bayard and deliver the papers with the state- 
 ment that Private Kuhn would give him the details of 
 the case. 
 
 Ashton was then directed to mount his horse and was in 
 the act of doing so, when the clatter of horses' feet was 
 heard on the road from Sulphur Spring, and in a few mo- 
 ments a column of Confederate cavalry came dashing 
 toward the encampment at full speed. The Federal troop, 
 ers rushed for their horses, but before they could get in the 
 saddle the Confederates were in their midst, and seeing that 
 resistance would be useless, they surrendered without firing 
 a shot. 
 
 The corporal, having been charged with the delivery of an 
 important paper to General Bayard, felt bound to make a 
 desperate effort to escape for this purpose, and at once 
 dashed off on the road leading to Fayetteville. His move- 
 ments were immediately discovered by the Confederates, 
 and instantly from the head of their column thei-e darted 
 out, as if propelled by a catapult, a fleet gray mare bearing 
 the slender, wiry form of a man of medium height whose 
 body seemed instinct with life and energy, and whose seat in 
 the saddle proclaimed the practiced rider. Dashing across to 
 the Fayetteville road he was soon in hot pursuit of the flee- 
 ing corporal. The latter had about fifty yards the start of 
 him, and, being excellently mounted, thought he could dis- 
 tance the Confederate in the race and make his escape. But 
 he was not aware of the difliculties with which he would 
 have to contend, for he did not know of the phenomenal 
 speed of his pursuer's horse, nor the fiery zeal, tireless energy. 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 81 
 
 and daring courage of her rider. Both horses soon reached 
 their full speed, and the corporal, on glancing back, saw 
 that his pursuer was rapidly gaining on him. Seeing that 
 his pursuer was alone, he determined that he would not sur- 
 render without first attempting to kill the Confederate. 
 When the latter was within fifteen or twenty paces of the 
 corporal he called to him to halt and surrender. Instead of 
 doing so the corporal turned in his saddle and quickly fired 
 at his pursuer, but his aim had been faulty in conseque.ice 
 of the movement of his body in turning to fire, and the ball 
 passed more than a foot to the left of his enemy. The next 
 moment he saw the flash of his pursuer's pistol, and in- 
 stantly felt a sharp pain in his right arm, which dropped 
 powerless to his side, and his pistol fell from his hand, the 
 Confederate having shot through the muscle of his arm 
 just above the elbow. Being now defenseless, the corporal 
 checked his horse and surrendered to the Confederate, and 
 the two rode back to the Federal picket-post. On their 
 arrival there one of the Confederates, addressing the cor- 
 poral's captor, said: 
 
 "Well, captain, I see that you caught him. We were con- 
 fident that you would do so and knew that you would not 
 need any assistance in the matter, and hence none of us fol- 
 lowed you, especially as we saw plenty of other game to be 
 bagged out here." 
 
 The person addressed, replied : 
 
 "You did exactly right, Randolph, as it was not necessary 
 that more than one of us should follow a single man. 
 According to strict military rules it was improper that I 
 should have left the command to follow a single fugitive, 
 and I would have directed some one else to do this, but for 
 the fact that I saw at a glance that he was riding a fleet 
 horse, and feared to risk in his pursuit any horse less fleet 
 than my own. Moreover, I suspected that there might be 
 some special reason, other than the mere fear of captivity, 
 why he was making such a desperate effort to escape, and I 
 was therefore all the more anxious to make certain his 
 capture." 
 
 Ashton had been listening to this conversation, and now 
 stepped forward and said : 
 
82 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 "Yoursuspicion was well-founded, Captain Mosby,for the 
 fugitive was the bearer of a note from the Federal lieuten- 
 ant here to General Bayard, telling of my capture at this 
 place about an hour ago, and inclosing a passport that 
 had been issued for me in a fictitious name." 
 
 Captain Mosby (for the person addressed by Ashton was 
 that famous partisan officer), scrutinizing Ashton's face, 
 said: "Veil, this is marvelous ! You here, John Ashton? 
 How can that be when you were killed near Manassas last 
 August? There must be some mistake, and I guess that it 
 was in the report that you were killed ; for I cannot be mis- 
 taken in that face." 
 
 "Yes, Captain, the mistake was made in reporting me as 
 being killed at that time, if such report has been made. I 
 was painfully wounded and captured, and have but recently 
 made my escape from imprisonment at Fort Delaware, and 
 was endeavoring to get back into our lines, when my iden- 
 tity was discovered here to-day by an old college-mate who 
 is a member of this Federal troop, and I was about to be 
 carried to General Bayard's heaiquarters at Bsaleton when 
 you and your command so opportunely arrived and disar- 
 ranged the plans of my captors. You have thereby placed 
 me under everlasting obligation to you, especially as you 
 saved my passport from falling into the hands of those who 
 would have made such investigation concerning it as might 
 have endangered the life or liberty of the person who 
 secured it for me. I will thank you to have the passport at 
 once taken from the man whom you captured and return 
 it to me." 
 
 Captain Mosby had one of his men to obtain the passport 
 and, after having glanced at it, returned it to Ashton and 
 said : 
 
 "I am truly glad to see you again, and congratulate you 
 on both your escape from prison and the recovery of your 
 passport. While you will no longer need the passport, I 
 appreciate the danger which it might have brought to others 
 if it had not been recovered, and hence its recovery has been 
 exceedinglv fortunate. I have been so much interested in 
 your case that I have entirely neglected to look after our 
 prisoners, and this I will now do." 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 83 
 
 Captain Alosby then directed that the prisoners should 
 be collected at a spot near by, and that preparations be 
 made to march in a few minutes. Turning to the Federal 
 lieutenant, he said : 
 
 "Lieutenant, I occasionally parole prisoners captured by 
 me; but there are reasons why I will have to detain you 
 and your men until you are regularly exchanged. This I 
 regret, but it cannot be avoided. I had hoped to capture 
 your post without bloodshed, and am sorry that I was 
 compelled to shoot your corporal. I avoided doing so as 
 long as possible, and did not fire at him until after he had 
 answered my demand for his surrender with a pistol shot. 
 I then fired at his right arm for the purpose of so disabling 
 it that I might capture him without further danger to my- 
 self, or the necessity of killing him. The ball passed through 
 his arm without breaking any bones and the wound is not 
 a dangerous one." 
 
 Lieutenant C replied: "I thank you, captain, for the 
 
 consideration manifested by you for the life of my corporal, 
 and also for your courteous conduct toward myself. I am 
 glad to know that the reports in circulation at the North 
 concerning your character are false, and that instead of be- 
 ing a cruel and remorseless guerilla, delighting in scenes of 
 slaughter, you are an affable and gentlemanly officer en- 
 gaged in legitimate partisan warfare and averse to the 
 shedding of blood." 
 
 After thanking the lieutenant for his manifestation of 
 fairness and justice in thus readily discrediting the false 
 reports that had been circulated concerning him, Mosby 
 ordered his men to mount and proceeded to cross the river. 
 
 The Federal vedette who was on guard at the ford when 
 the other troopers were captured, was also cyptured im- 
 mediately thereafter, and the way was thus opened for 
 Mosby's passage across the river without his movements 
 being detected. 
 
 The reader will perhaps wish to know how Alosbv hap- 
 pened to be in that section at the time, and succeeded in so 
 easily surprising and capturing the Federal pickets, and we 
 will therefore explain the matter. 
 
84 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 Some time before this occurrence, Mosby had been detailed 
 by General Stuart as a scout or partisan whose duty it was 
 to penetrate the Federal lines, obtain information as to the 
 location, numbers and movements of the enemy, and, when 
 occasion was offered for so doing, to capture wagon trains, 
 pickets and detached parties of Federal troops; and for the 
 accomplishment of these objects he was authorized to take 
 with him small detachments of enlistd cavalry and such 
 volunteer troopers as hecould obtain. He had no commission 
 from the Confederate Government at this time, but was 
 de/ac^o "Captain of Partisan Rangers" and this title was 
 uniformly applied to him. Having learned that the Federal 
 array was evacuating Fauquier county and moving down 
 to Fredericksburg, and knowing that the fords along the 
 Rappahannock above Rappahannock Station would stillbe 
 guarded for a day or two by the Federal cavalry, Mosby 
 determined to make an incursion into Fauquier county for 
 the purpose of trying to capture some of their pickets. 
 Hence, he had gathered together about thirty men, and a 
 few hours before the occurrence we have related, crossed the 
 river between Fox's Ford and Sulphur Spring at a place 
 where it was unguarded, as it was not supposed to be ford- 
 able at that point. Being thoroughly acquainted with 
 everyby-road and bridle-path in that section of the country, 
 he easily and secretly made his way down the river toward 
 Fox's Ford, at which place he knew there was a Federal 
 picket-post. When within a short distance of the ford he 
 entered the road leading to it from Sulphur Spring, rode 
 rapidly forward and charged the picket-post with the I'csults 
 already narrated. 
 
 After crossing the river, Mosby halted his men and calling 
 Ashton to him, said : 
 
 "I suppose that you will wish to join your regiment as 
 soon as possible, and hence we will have to separate here as 
 my route lies up the river, and your regiment is now near 
 Fredericksburg. By the way, your regiment has a new com- 
 mander in the person of Colonel R. L. T. Beale. Colonel W. 
 H. F. Lee was recently made a brigadier -general and on the 
 10th of this month assigned to the command of a brigade 
 to which your regiment has been transferred from General 
 
JO UN ASHTON. 85 
 
 Fitzhiigh Lee's brigade. 1 will have some of my men de- 
 tailed to take these prisoners to Culpeper to be forwarded 
 to Richmond, and you had best go with them that far on 
 your journey. As I see that you are riding an inferior 
 horse, I will allow you to exchange him for the Federal 
 corporal's horse captured by me, which is quite fleet and 
 appears to be an excellent animal, and moreover, will serve to 
 remind you of your happy extrication from a distressing 
 and dangerous predicament." 
 
 "I thank you very warmly, Captain," said Ashton, "for 
 your kind and generous offer, and accept it with the greatest 
 pleasure. Your valuable souvenir will serve to remind me 
 not only of my deliverance from danger, but also of the 
 brave and daring officer to whose extraordinary skill, pluck 
 and enterprise as a partisan commander, I am indebted for 
 my deliverance. As soon as possible I shall give General 
 Stuart a full account of your exploit in order that he may 
 know that of which he isalready satisfied, viz. ; that you are 
 actively engaged in the work to which he has assigned you, 
 and successfully executing thecommissionintrusted toyou." 
 
 Mosby then had eight men detailed with instructions to 
 conduct the prisoners to Culpeper for transportation to 
 Richmond and then to join him near Wood ville the next day, 
 from which point he contemplated starting on another ex- 
 pedition into the enemy's country. He then bade Ashton 
 good-bye and started up the river with the remainder of his 
 command. 
 
 Ashton and the detail in charge of the prisoners took the 
 road to Culpeper by way of Brandy Station, and reached 
 their destination that evening. There the prisoners were 
 turned over to the proper authorities for transportation to 
 Richmond, and after bidding his companions good-bye, Ash- 
 ton sought and obtained accommodations for himself and 
 his horse for the night. Eai'ly the next morning he started 
 for Fredericksburg and reached that place about night. 
 He learned that his regiment was six miles below the town, 
 near Hamilton's crossing, and on the following morning he 
 found it, rode into camp and reported for duty. 
 
 Great was the astonishment and gratification of the 
 members of his company when he made his appearance, for, 
 
86 JOHN AS 1 1 TON. 
 
 as before stated, they fully believed that he was dead. They 
 gathered around him by tne score, eager to learn his experi- 
 ence since they had last seen him, and he gave them a full 
 account of his adventures. 
 
 Having made inquiry as to whether any letters had come 
 for him during his absence, he was informed tliat one ar- 
 rived just after the battle of Manassas and, as he was sup- 
 posed to have been killed, was forwarded to the Dead 
 Letter Office at Richmond to be returned to its writer. His 
 informant stated that the postmark on the letter was that 
 of some town in Georgia, the name of which he had forgot- 
 ten. As Ashton's only correspondent in Georgia had been 
 Ruth Middleton, he was satisfied that the letter had come 
 from her and was an answer to the one in which he had told 
 her of his love. During his varied experiences and the 
 strange and trying scenes through which he had passed 
 since writing that letter, he had almost constantly thought 
 of Ruth and intenselj- longed to know what her answer 
 would be, and the anxiety for this knowledge and the hope 
 of obtaining it as soon as he reached his regiment had 
 served to buoy him up in the midst of the depressing sur- 
 roundings of his captivity, and also to encourage him in his 
 efforts to escape; and now, when he learned that the letter 
 from which he expected to obtain this knowledge had been 
 returned to its writer, and reflected that it might be weeks, 
 or perhaps months, before he would know his fate, his heart 
 was chilled by the disappointment which he had experi- 
 enced, and for the moment his spirit was almost crushed 
 beneath the weight of despondency that was resting upon 
 it. His despondency continued for hours, and so absorb- 
 ingly did he brood over his disappointment and distress in 
 not having received an answer to his letter, that he felt that 
 he was grieving over an unfavorable answer to the same, 
 forgetting that this answer had merely failed to reach him, 
 and might have been as favorable as he could h ive desired. 
 At last awaking to a sense of this fact, he realized the use- 
 lessness and folly of longer grievmg over the mere failure 
 to obtain the knowledge that he wished, at a particular 
 time, and felt that the proper and sensible thing to do would 
 be to immediately write again to Ruth and thus shorten the 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 87 
 
 period of his uncertainty as to her feeHngs toward him. 
 Acting on this idea, he wrote her a long letter in which he 
 again told her of his deep and absorbing love for her, ex- 
 plained why he had not received her answer to his last let- 
 ter, gave her an account of his captivity and subsequent 
 escape therefrom, and urged her to write at once and relieve 
 him from the harrowing effect produced on his mind by the 
 uncertainty as to her feelings toward him and his intense 
 longing to hear from her. The writing of the letter was a 
 great reHef to him, and when it was finished he felt as if a 
 weight had been lifted from his heart; and with this revul- 
 sion of feeling there came what v^as almost a spirit of joy- 
 ousness born of the thought that he would soon hear from 
 Ruth, and the hope that her message would be one of love, 
 that would bring peace and gladness to his soul. 
 
 When he handed his letter to the regimental mail-carrier to 
 be posted, he breathed a fervent prayer that it might be 
 swiftly and safely borne to its destination. Had his prayer 
 been answered, he would have been spared much disappoint- 
 ment and pain, and perhaps some of the incidents herein- 
 after related would never have occurred. But, alas, for the 
 peace and happiness of two loving hearts, the message of 
 tenderness and devotion from one which would have blessed 
 and brightened the other was sent in vain. In order that 
 the reader may understand why this was so, it will be neces- 
 sary to return to Ruth Middleton and give an account of 
 her experience after receiving the crushing news of Ashton's 
 death. 
 
88 JO UN ASH TON. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 We left Ruth clasped in the loving embrace of her consin, 
 who, b3' this tender manifestation of sympathy, was seek- 
 ing to lighten the weight of woe that was crushing her 
 heart. But there are sorrows that human sympathy can- 
 not relieve, and wounds which only the hand of time can 
 heal; and such was the sorrow tii at Ruth had experienced 
 and the wound which she had received from the reported 
 death of her lover. She had never loved before and, con- 
 stituted as she was, would never love again; for with her 
 love was not an ephemeral state of emotion resulting from 
 extraneous influences and dependent on their continuance 
 for its existence, but was a permanent growth of feeling 
 springing up within her heart in response to the wants of 
 her nature, and it had taken such complete possession of her 
 soul as to become a part of her being and as lasting as life 
 itself. Her love for Ashton being thus a part of herself, her 
 entire nature felt the shock of the blow inflicted by the news 
 of his death, and both mind and body were seriously af- 
 fected by the same. Hence, although she gave no expression 
 to her grief, her usual buoyancy of spirits was gone, and a 
 permanent feeling of sadness took possession of her mind 
 and heart, and manifested itself in her appearance and ac- 
 tions. Owing to the influence which the mind at times 
 exerts upon the body, her physical constitution was aft'ected 
 and her health impaired by her mental sufl'ering and the all- 
 absorbing grief that had taken possession of her. Hence, 
 in the course of a few weeks, she appeared to be gradually 
 wasting away, and her physician recommended a change of 
 climate as the most promising remedy for her condition. 
 
 It was now the first of November and, as winter was near 
 at hand, the physician decided that she had best go to 
 Florida, whose mild and comparatively uniform climate and 
 salubrious sea breezes it was thought would greatly aid in 
 restoring her health. Therefore, about the middle of the 
 month and just before Ashton's return to his regiment, she 
 
 and Bertha Gray left B with the intention of going to 
 
 Jacksonville, but, while on their journey, they learned that 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 89 
 
 the place was garrisoned bj Federal troops, and, therefore, 
 changed their course and proceeded to Ocala in Central 
 
 Florida. Ruth had instructed the postmaster at B to 
 
 forward her mail to Jacksonville, and hence, when Ashton's 
 
 letter arrived at B , it was forwarded in accordance with 
 
 this instruction. Owing to the occupation of Jacksonville 
 by the Federals, the letter was not carried to that place 
 but was brought back and eventually reached the Dead 
 Letter Office at Richmond, from which place it was finally 
 returned to Ashton about two months after it was written. 
 As he saw that it had been forwarded from B to Jack- 
 sonville and then sent to the Dead Letter Office, he was satis- 
 fied that Ruth was at neither of those places, and having no 
 idea as to where she was, he deemed it unnecessary to make 
 another eft'ort at that time to communicate with her. 
 
 After her arrival at Ocala, Ruth wrote to the postmaster 
 
 at B , changing the instruction she had given in regard to 
 
 her mail, and requested that it be forwarded to Ocala. 
 Unfortunately he did not receive this request until after he 
 had forwarded Ashton's letter to Jacksonville, n 1 there- 
 fore it did not reach her, for the reason already given. 
 
 On their arrival in Ocala, Ruth and Bertha stopped at a 
 hotel, but in a da}' or two secured board with Mrs. Mary 
 Austin, whose husband, Captain Wil iam Austin, was in the 
 Confederate army. Mrs. Austin was a refined and cultured 
 woman, unassuming in her manners, and exceedingly kind- 
 hearted and sympatlietic. The sad expression on Ruth's face 
 at once attracted her attention and deeply touched her 
 heart. Being satisfied that Ruth had experienced some great 
 grief which had imbued her life with sorrow, she deter- 
 mined to do all in her power to arouse her from the state of 
 melancholy into which she appeared to have lapsed, and en- 
 deavor to restore her to a condition of cheerfulness. Believ- 
 ing that she could best accomplish her object by seemingly 
 ignoring Ruth's sadness, she never alluded to it, and was 
 constantly arranging plans for her enjoyment of such quiet 
 recreations as would please and amuse her without jarring 
 her melancholy feelings. In conversing with Ruth, she 
 talked of such things as were calculated to interest her, ex- 
 cite her mind to action and draw her thoughts away from 
 
90 JOHN ASUTON. 
 
 herself. Taking her cue from Mrs. Austin's conduct, Bertha 
 also endeavored to prevent her cousin from dwelling on the 
 past, by keeping her mind directed into pleasing channels of 
 thought, and inducing her as often as ])ossible to partici- 
 pate in the quiet pleasureswhich their surroundings afforded. 
 The scenery of the surrounding country was both novel 
 and attractive, and Bertha quite often induced Ruth to join 
 her in its enjoyment through the medium of a walk or drive 
 in the midst of its beauties. 
 
 It was not very long before Ruth's surroundings began to 
 produce a salutary effect upon her, and the delightful and 
 salubrious climate, beautiful scenery and pleasant compan- 
 ionship which she enjoyed, rapidly improved her health and 
 tended to dissipate her melancholy feelings. By the end of 
 winter her health was restored, and she had, in a measure, 
 recovered her wonted cheerfulness, but her face still wore 
 a sad expression and at times she experienced fits of 
 melancholy. 
 
 At the opening of spring she and Bertha returned to their 
 home, and naturally this return to the scenes where she had 
 first met Ashton, and amidst which their mutual love had 
 sprung into existence, revived the sad memories of the past, 
 and opened afresh the wound in her heart. At tirst she 
 made no effort to put away the sad thoughts that filled her 
 mind, but took a melancholy pleasure in dwelling on the 
 past and living over in imagination the hours spent with 
 Ashton, and which had led to her brief enjoyment of perfect 
 happiness in the reception of his love and the gift of her 
 own, and that other hour in which her happiness had been 
 blasted and her heart broken by thenews of his death. But 
 she soon realized, from the injurious consequences of these 
 melancholy moods, that she would wrong herself and un- 
 necessarily distress others by longer indulging in them, and 
 therefore determined to find some means for so employing 
 her time and engaging her mind as to divert her thoughts 
 from herself and also enable her to be of service to others. 
 
 Being thoroughly imbued with a spirit of patriotism, and 
 fully alive to a sense of the sufferings of those who had left 
 their homes in defense of the South, she naturally thought 
 that some means for aiding them would be the most ap- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 91 
 
 propriate and serviceable plan that she could adopt. After 
 mature deliberation, she decided on the adoption of a plan 
 for the accomplishment of this purpose, and soon thereaf- 
 ter revealed it to her cousin in the following conversation : 
 
 "Bertha," said she, "I have something to tell you vi^hich 
 I know will make you sad, and is also painfully distressing 
 to me. I find that I will soon have to leave you for an in- 
 definite length of time." 
 
 "Leave m^!" exclaimed Bertha. "What do you mean? 
 Surely you cannot be in earnest, and moreover, I will not 
 let you leave me." 
 
 "Yes," said Ruth, "I am certainly in earnest, and you 
 must not try to dissuade me from the purpose which I have 
 formed, for it is necessary that I should go away, and I will 
 now give 3'ou the reasons for this necessity. Of course you 
 have noticed that since returning home I have lapsed into 
 my former state of melancholy and dejection, and you 
 doubtless understand that this was caused by the fact that 
 my surroundings here have awakened and serve to keep alive 
 the memory of that w^hich produced my sadness, and will 
 naturally tend to perpetuate it. I have decided thatformy 
 own sake I must do something to divert my thoughts from 
 myself; and, as I desire to be of some service to others, I can 
 think of no better plan for the accomplishment of these ob- 
 jects than that of rendering assistance to our soldiers. 
 Hence I have determined to follow the noble example 
 furnished by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, 
 and shall devote my services to the sick and wounded Con- 
 federate soldiers in the hospitals at Richmond." 
 
 "Oh, Ruth, you could not endure such service," said 
 Bertha, "and must not think of the undertaking. You 
 know that you are not as strong as you once were, and the 
 tax on your physical powers would soon exhaust them." 
 
 "You forget," replied Ruth, "that my loss of strength 
 was to a great extent caused by my constant contemplation 
 of my condition and a persistent brooding over mv sorrow^ 
 and the plan that I have formed will enable me to avoid a 
 repetition of such conduct, and to that extent tend to pre- 
 serve my strength. Besides, I am influenced in the matter 
 by a sense of duty and my devotion to the holy cause for 
 
92 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 whicii our armies are contending, and the more I tliink of it 
 the more Hke an inspiration it seems that I have been led to 
 form this plan for the relief of our suffering soldiers." 
 
 "I find as usual," said Bertha, "that I cannot meet your 
 arguments. I wonder if this is because you are so much 
 wiser than I, oris it because I always act from impulse, 
 while you act from reason and duty? Well, if you will go, 
 I shall go with you." 
 
 "No," said Ruth, "that would not do; for you could not, 
 with your lively' and restless disposition, long endure the con- 
 finement and tedium incident to the occupation of even a 
 volu7iieemVirsG:\r\ R hospital, and you would soon become 
 dissatisfied with your work and it would become corres- 
 pondingly ineflScient," 
 
 "I suppose," said Bertha, "that 1 must yield to your 
 judgment in the matter; but it will almost break my heart 
 to be separated from you, especially as we have been con- 
 stant companions for so many years. Of course, you will 
 not object to ray visiting you occasionally?" 
 
 "Oh no," said Ruth, "and I was just about to suggest 
 that plan as a means of mitigating the sadness of our sepa- 
 ration. It will not only be a source of comfort and pleasure 
 for us to thus occasionally be together, but you will have 
 opportunities for seeing the attractions of the Confederate 
 Capital, and these will interest and amuse you." 
 
 Having thus decided on her future course of conduct, 
 Ruth made all necessary arrangements for carrying it out, 
 and by the first of April she had gone to Richmond, offered 
 her services as a volunteer nurse, and had been assigned to 
 duty at one of the hospitals in the city. 
 
 Leaving her to learn, and familiarize herself with the du- 
 ties incident to the occupation in which she had engaged, 
 we will return to Ashton whom we left in camp below Fred- 
 ericksburg just after he had, with a fervent prayer for its 
 speedy delivery, handed to the regimental mail-carrier his 
 second love-letter to Ruth and which, as we have incident- 
 ally explained, failed to reach its destination and several 
 months afterward was returned to him. 
 
 Ashton learned that his regiment had reached its present 
 camp only the day before, all of General W. H. F. Lee's 
 
JOHN ASIirON. 93 
 
 briwacle, except the Tliirteenth Virginia Cavalry, having 
 been ordered to the vicinity of Fredericksburg on that day 
 to co-operate with the troops already there in resisting any 
 effort that might be made by the Federals to cross the Rap- 
 pahannock at that place. General R. E. Lee rapidly concen- 
 trated his army at Fredericksuurg tomeet the threatened at- 
 tack at that point, and in a few days General W. H. F. Lee's 
 brigade was sent farther down the river to guard and op- 
 erate along the Lower Rappahannock. Both the Federal 
 and Confederate commanders were busily engaged in mak- 
 ing preparations for a battle which, in some respects, proved 
 to be one of the most notable of the Civil War. As before 
 stated, General Burnside had been massing his army in the 
 vicinity of Fredericksburg and it now occupied the lofty 
 range of hills, known as Stafford Heights, overlooking the 
 Rappahannock river at their base and the town of Freder- 
 icksburg on the south side of that stream. He had hoped 
 to conceal his movements sufficiently long to effect a pas- 
 sage of the river at this point, before General Leecould con- 
 centrate an adequate force to check his progress; but the 
 ever-watchful and sagacious commander of the Confeder- 
 ate array had discovered his design, and now confronted 
 him with the greater part of the army on the opposite side 
 of the river. The two armies retained their respective posi- 
 tions for about two weeks before the battle to which we 
 have referred began. As this battle was a notable one, we 
 trust that a description of it will not prove uninteresting 
 to the reader. 
 
 In order to give an intelligible account of the engagement, 
 some description of the topography of the l)attle-ground 
 and its surroundings will be necessary. As before indicated, 
 the Rappahannock river at this point flows along the base 
 of a range of highlands on its northern bank, known as 
 Stafford Heights. The town of Fredericksburg, situated 
 on the south side of the river, extended about a mile and a 
 quarter along the bank of the stream and about a half mile 
 backward from the same. From a point ontheriver above 
 the town another range of highlands, known as Spottsvl- 
 vania Heights, extends in a southeasterly direction for 
 several miles, and then changing its course and gradually 
 
94 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 dirninishing in height, again approaches the river below the 
 town until it terminates at thevalley of Alassaponax Creek, 
 about four miles from Fredericksburg. Hence it will be 
 seen that the town was situated in a basin or vallev, and 
 this valley was an open plain varying in width from one to 
 two or three miles. Near the middle of this plain was a 
 road, known as the River Road, extending down the river 
 at a distance of about a mile and a half from the Spottsyl- 
 vania Heights, and at the time of the engagement there 
 were on each side of it earthen embankments and hedge- 
 rows of cedars and other trees which aiforded the Federals 
 the advantage of a double line of intrenchments. Opposite 
 the point where the Telegraph Road, leading southward, 
 issues from the town is a loftj^ eminence known as Marye's 
 Hill, and at its base this road turns abruptly eastward and 
 runs parallel with the south side of the town for several 
 hundred yards. The side of this road next to the town was 
 protected by a massive stone fence, and between it and the 
 town was a narrow, open and level field. The Richmond, 
 Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, issuing from the 
 eastern end of the town, passed through the plain below, 
 parallel with the road already described, and out into the 
 interior at a way-station called Hamilton's Crossing. 
 
 Having endeavored to give the reader an idea of what 
 was to be the battle-ground of the opposing armies, we will 
 try to describe the locations of their respective f(jrces. On 
 the 11th and 12th of December, General Burnside succeeded 
 in placing most of his army on the south side of the river by 
 means of pontoon bridges, and luider cover of a heavy fog 
 that prevailed during the 12th, a large part of his troops, 
 consisting of General Franklin's grand division and one of 
 General Hooker's corps, had taken position along the River 
 Road below the town. Daring this day, General Sumner's 
 srand division also crossed the river, while the remainder 
 of General Hooker's grand division was held in readiness 
 to cross, at a moment's notice, to tne support of Sumner on 
 the right or Franklin on the left. According to General 
 Burnside's report, the line that had been established was as 
 follows: 
 
JOHN AS II TON. 95 
 
 "The second corps held the center and right of the town ; 
 the ninth corps was on the left of the second c{)r;js, and 
 connected with General Franklin's right at Deep Run, the 
 whole of this force being nearly parallel to the river; the 
 sixth corps was formed on the left of the ninth corps, 
 nearly parallel with the old Richmond road, and the first 
 corps on the left of the sixth, nearly at right angles with it, 
 its left resting on the river." 
 
 On the morning of Deceml:)er 13th, the Federal army, with 
 the exception of General Hooker's reserves, was formed in 
 lines of battle along the River Road below the town, and 
 within the streets of the same. Stafford Heights for miles 
 were crow^ned with numerous batteries that commanded 
 the plain below, and the heights on its southern side. Along 
 the latter heights the Confederate army was posted, and, 
 according to General Lee's report, from which we quote, 
 the respective positions of its several divisions were as 
 follows : 
 
 "Longstreet's corps constituted the left, with Anderson's 
 division resting upon the river, and those of McLaws, Pick- 
 ett, and Hood extending to the right in the order named. 
 Ransom's division supported the batteries on Marye's and 
 Willis' hills, at the foot of which Cobb's brigade, of Mc- 
 Laws' division, and the 24th North Carolina, of Ransom's 
 division, were stationed, protected by a stone wall. The 
 immediate care of this point was committed to General 
 Ransom. The Washington Artillery occupied the redoubts 
 on the crest of Marye's Hill, and those on the heights to the 
 right and left were held by a part of the reserved artillery. 
 Col. E. P. Alexander's battalion, and the division batteries 
 of Anderson, Ransom, and McLaws. A. P.Hill, of Jackson's 
 corps, was posted between Hood's right and Hamilton's 
 Crossing, on the railroad. His front line, consisting of the 
 brigades of Pender, Lane, and Archer, occupied the edge of a 
 wood. Lieutenant-colonel Walker, with fourteen pieces of 
 artillery, was posted near the right, supported by the 40th 
 and 35th Virginia regiments, of Field's brigade, com nanded 
 by Colonel Brockenborough. Lane's brigade, thrown for- 
 ward in advance of the general line, held the woods, which 
 here project into the open ground. Thomas' brigade was 
 
96 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 stationed behind the interval between Lane and Pender, and 
 Gregg's in rear of that, between Lane and Archer. These 
 two brigades, with the 47th Virginia regiment, and 22d 
 Virginia battalion of Field's brigade, constituted General 
 Hill's reserve. Early's and Taliaferro's divisions composed 
 Jackson's second line — D. H. Hill's division his reserve. 
 His artillery was distributed along his line in the most 
 eligible position so as to command the open ground in 
 front. General Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry, and 
 his horse artillery, occupied the plain on Jackson's right, 
 extending to Massaponax Creek." 
 
 On the morning of December 13th, a dense fog enveloped 
 the plain on which the Federal army lay, and it was impossi- 
 ble for the Confederate army to discern its operations for 
 several hours. At an early hour the opening guns of the 
 battle were fired, when the Federal batteries on Stafford 
 Heights began to play on Longstreet's position, and under 
 cover of this fire the Federal army was formed for attack, 
 Franklin's grand division occupying the left and Sumner's 
 the right of their fine of battle. Shortly after 9 o'clock the 
 rising of the fog disclosed to the view of the Confederate 
 army a spectacle such as they had never before seen, and 
 one which brought vividly before their eyes the imposing 
 pomp and awful grandeur of war, for, looking down from 
 their elevated position on Spottsylvania Heights, they saw 
 marshaled on the plain beneath more than one hundred 
 thousand foemen with glistening muskets and numerous 
 batteries of field guns, awaiting but the order to advance, 
 and apparently capable of overwhelming them by sheer 
 force of numbers. This myriad host did not long await the 
 order of attack; and soon Franklin began his advance to- 
 ward Hamilton's Crossing against Jackson, and dense 
 masses of Federal soldiers moved out in front of A. P. Hill, 
 extending far up the river toward Fredericksburg. The 
 Federal batteries on Stafford Heights, numbering one hun- 
 dred and fifty guns, and those with Franklin on the plain 
 below, numbering one hundred and sixteen guns began to 
 belch forth their deadly shot and shell, and were answered 
 by the Confederate batteries on SpottvSylvania Heights, and 
 amidst their mimic thunders and the noise of bursting 
 
JOHN AS II TON. 97 
 
 shells, the Federal troops pressed forward to the attack. 
 The attack was made by General Reynolds' corps, being led 
 by General Aleade's division, composed entirely of Pennsyl- 
 vania troops, which was supported on the right by General 
 Gibbon's division and on the left by General Doubleday's 
 division. The Federals moved forward in gallant style, but 
 when they crossed the River Road the dauntless boy -hero, 
 John Pelham, of Stuart's Horse Artillery, dashed out into 
 the open plain between them and Massaponax Creek with 
 two of his guns, and began a destructive enfilading fire on 
 their left flank which, for awhile, stopped their advance. 
 Four of General Reynolds' batteries and some of the heavy 
 guns on Stafford Heights were at once turned upon him; 
 but notwithstanding this terrific fire, the peerless Pelham 
 held his ground for at least an hour, fighting his guns with 
 that marvelous coolness, gallantry and skill for which he 
 was noted, and did not retire from his perilous position 
 until recalled by positive orders from General Stuart. 
 When Pelham was withdrawn. General Franklin's left was 
 extended down the River Road and his numerous batteries 
 began a rapid and furious fire upon General Jackson's line, 
 shelling for about a half hour the wood in which Lane's 
 brigade was posted, and on the right of which Lieutenant- 
 colonel Lindsay Walker's artillery was located. 
 
 As there was no response from the Confederate artillery, 
 the Federal infantry moved forward to seize the position 
 held by Lieutenant-colonel Walker. He reserved his fire 
 until they were within less than eight hundred yards of his 
 position, and then shelled them with such destructive 
 effect that they were checked in their advance, began to 
 waver and soon retreated in confusion. About 1 o'clock p. 
 M., Franklin's main attack was made on General Lee's 
 right and, under cover of a heavy cannonade, three com- 
 pact lines of battle were advanced against Hill's front. As 
 before, the Federals were received by a furious fire from the 
 Confederate batteries and momentarily checked, but they 
 soon pressed forward with .callantry and determination, and 
 when they came within range of the Confederate infantrv, 
 the battle became fierce and bloody. Generals Lane and 
 Archer repulsed the Federal lines immediately in front of 
 
98 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 them, but unfortunately there was an interval between 
 their brigades, and, before it could be closed, the Federals 
 pressed through it in overwhelming numbers and turned 
 Lane's right and Archer's left. Being attacked in front and 
 flank, two of Archer's regiments and Lane's brigade gave 
 way after having made a gallant and determined resist- 
 ance to the superior force opposing them. Archer, however, 
 with the remainder of his brigade, stubbornly and gallantly 
 held his line until the arrival of reinforcements . General 
 E. L. Thomas with his valiant Georgia brigade quickly and 
 gallantlj came to the relief of Lane, and being joined by 
 the 7th and 18th North Carolina regiments, of Lane's bri- 
 gade, repulsed the column that had broken Lane's line and 
 drove it back to the railroad. In the meantime, a large 
 force of Federals had advanced into the wood as far as 
 Hill's reserve and attacked Gregg's brigade. So sudden and 
 unexpected was this attack that a part of Gregg's brigade 
 was thrown into confusion, they having mistaken the Fed- 
 erals for Confederates whom they supposed were retiring. 
 Their gallant general was mortally wounded while in the 
 act of rallying them, but Colonel D. H. Hamilton, of the 1st 
 South Carolina regiment, at once took command of the 
 brigade and checked the further progress of the Federals, 
 At this time General Jackson brought up his second line, 
 consisting of the divisions of Early and Taliaferro, and the 
 Federals were quickly routed, driven out of the wood with 
 heavy loss and, although largely reinforced, were forced 
 back and pursued to the railroad embankment where they 
 took shelter. From this position they were gallantly dis- 
 lodged by Lawton's and Trimble's brigades under Colonels 
 E. N. Atkinson and E. F. Hoke, and driven across the plain 
 to the protection of their batteries. Colonel Atkinson pur- 
 sued the Federals too far into the plain, and his flank be- 
 came exposed to an enfilading lire, while at the same time 
 his front was subjected to a heavy fire of musketry and 
 artillery. Colonel Atkinson being severely wounded, Cap- 
 tain E. P. Lawton, assistant adjutant-general, being mor- 
 tally wounded, and the ammunition of the brigade having 
 been exhausted, the brigade was compelled to fall back to 
 the main body, which at this time occupied the original line 
 
JOHN ASUTOJST. ' 99 
 
 of battle. The attack that had been made on Hill's left 
 was successfully repulsed by Walker's artillery, notwith- 
 standing the fact that it was constantly under a furious fire 
 from twenty -four guns. One brigade of Federals advanced 
 some distance up the channel of Deep Run, being protected 
 by its high banks from the Confederate artillery, but they 
 were gallantly charged and routed by the 16th North Caro- 
 lina regiment of Pender's brigade and the o4th and 57th 
 North Carolina regiments of Law's brigade, Hood's divis- 
 ion. The two last mentioned regiments had never before 
 been under fire, but their bravery was marvelous, and they 
 greatly distinguished themselves by the impetuosity and 
 persistency of their gallant and prolonged charge; for, after 
 routing the Federals, they pursued them across the railroad 
 and far out into the plain, although their ranks were being 
 raked by a heavy Hank fire from the channel of Deep Run, 
 and did not return until frequent messages recalling them 
 had been sent by Hood. It is said that as they returned, 
 some of them were seen weeping with vexation because thej' 
 had been, as it were, dragged back from their pursuit of the 
 enemy and, in speaking of General Hood's conduct in recall- 
 ing them, they exclaimed: "It is because he has not confi- 
 dence in Carolinians. If we had been some of his Texans, 
 he would have let us go on." 
 
 The repulse of the Federals on the Confederate right had 
 been complete and decisive, and the attack was not re- 
 newed, but their batteries kept up an active fire at intervals 
 during the remainder of the afternoon. 
 
 While the events just narrated were occurring on the 
 Confederate right, desperate and repeated assaults were 
 made by the Federals in great force on the left of the Con- 
 federate line. About 11 o'clock a. m., General Sumner 
 massed his troops under cover of the houses of Fredericks- 
 burg, and soon moved out in strong columns toward the 
 Plank and Telegraph roads for the purpose of seizing 
 Marye's and Willis' Hills, at the foot of which those roads 
 come nearly together a short distance from the town. Gen- 
 eral Ransom, who, as before stated, had the immediate care 
 of this point, at once advanced Cooke's brigade to the top 
 of the hill, and placed his own, with the exception of the 
 
100 ' JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 24th North Carolina, a short distance in the rear, this 
 North Carolina regiment being with Cobb's brigade of 
 Georgians in the Telegraph road at the foot of Marye's 
 Hill. The numerous batteries on Stafford Heights concen- 
 trated their fire on the Confederate artiller3' for the pur- 
 pose of trying to silence it and cover the advance of the 
 Federal infantry. The Confederate batteries, however, dis- 
 regarded this furious cannonade, and poured a rapid and 
 destructive fire into the dense lines of Federal infantry as 
 they advanced to the attack from the outskirts of the 
 town, frequently breaking their ranks and driving them 
 back to the shelter of the houses. Notwithstanding the ex- 
 tensive and terrible slaughter effected by the Confederate 
 artillery, the Federals pressed forward six times with great 
 gallantry to within one hundred yards of the foot of the 
 hill, but here they received the well-directed and destructive 
 fire of the Confederate infantry, by which their columns 
 were shattered, and the survivors fled in confusion to the 
 town. The havoc made in their ranks was horrible, and im- 
 mediately in front of the position held by Cobb's brigade 
 the ground was literally covered with dead and wounded 
 men. The brave and noble commander of this brigade, 
 General Thomas R. R. Cobb, fell during the third assault of 
 the Federals. He was distinguished as an orator and a 
 statesman as well as a soldier, and his untimely death was 
 deeply lamented by every Southerner who had heard of his 
 Christian virtues, civil renown and military fame. The 
 fighting at this point continued until nightfall and every 
 attack of the Federals was successfully repulsed. During 
 the day General Sumner used the entire force of the Right 
 Grand Division in his efforts to take Marye's and Willis' 
 Hills, and the order of his several assaults was as follows: 
 Toward noon the division of Hancock, composed of 
 Caldwell's brigade, Meagher's (Irish) brigade, and Zook's 
 brigade, and the division of French, composed of Kimball's, 
 Palmer's and Andrews' brigades, pressed forward from the 
 town toward Marye's and Willis' Hills. They advanced 
 with great gallantry and determination across the open 
 ground, but were met with such a destructive fire of ar- 
 tillery and musketry that their ranks were quickly shat- 
 
JOHJSr ASRTON. 101 
 
 tered, their progress was checked, and finally they fled in 
 confusion to the town. The casualties in the three first 
 mentioned brigades were exceedingly great, as they lost in 
 killed, wounded and captured nearly halt of the troops 
 engaged. They fought bravely and well, but no troops 
 could have withstood the rapid and deadly fire to which 
 they were subjected. Howard's division, composed of 
 Sully's, Owens' and Hall's brigades, Sturgis' division, com- 
 posed of Nagle's and Ferrero's brigades, and Getty's divis- 
 ion, composed of Hawkins' and Harland's brigades, were 
 next advanced by Sumner to renew the attack. This they 
 did with great spirit and gallantry, but, like the troops 
 who had preceded them, thej' were repulsed with fearful 
 slaughter and driven back by the destructive fire of the 
 Confederates. It was now about 2 o'clock p. m., and the 
 repeated and ineffectual efforts which had been made to 
 take the Confederate works should have convinced General 
 Burnside that it was impossible for him to take them; but 
 he appeared not to realize the fact and, although he had 
 that morning learned from a Confederate prisoner that 
 Longstreet's position was impregnable and that the Con- 
 federates desired an attack at that point, he determined to 
 make another effort to carry Mar\'e's and Willis' Hills, and 
 ordered General Hooker to make the attack with Butter- 
 field's corps. Griffin's division of this corps had been sent 
 to support General Sturgis, and the remaining divisions of 
 Humphreys and Sykes constituted the force with which 
 Hooker was expected to do that which Couch's entire 
 corps and two divisions of Willcox's corps had failed to 
 accomplish by repeated efforts during the greater part of 
 the day. Being fully convinced that it would be a useless 
 waste of life to make the attack with the force at his com- 
 mand. General Hooker dispatched an aide to General Burn- 
 side advising him not to attack. Burnside replied that the 
 attack must be made. Hooker then in person gave Burn- 
 side a more thorough explanation of the difficulties that 
 would render the attack fruitless, and endeavored to dis- 
 suade bim from making it, but Burnside insisted upon its 
 being made. Hooker then brought up every available bat- 
 tery at his disposal, posting one of them (Hazzard's, of the 
 
102 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 1st Rhode Island Artillery) within about five hundred 
 yards of the Confederate line, and a furious cannonade 
 was begun upon the Confederate position. This artillery' 
 fire was continued with great vigor until near sunset, and 
 then the direct attack with bayonet was made by Humph- 
 rey's division, Sykes' division advancing on its right to 
 assault en echelon and support. 
 
 Notwithstanding the desperate character of their un- 
 dertaking and the bloody repulses of those who had pre- 
 ceded them, the troops moved bravely forward and the 
 attack was made with great gallantry and determination, 
 but, like all of the attacks that preceded it and at about 
 the same place on the plain, it was quickly checked by the 
 fatal fire of the Confederates, and the attacking columns 
 were driven back with heavy loss. 
 
 This was the last attack made on the Confederate left, 
 and marked the close of a hard-fought battle, in which the 
 Confederates had achieved a signal victory over nearly five 
 times their numbers; for, while the greater part of General 
 Burnside's army of one hundred and twenty-two thousand 
 was engaged in the battle, the whole number of General 
 Lee's troops actually engaged did not exceed twenty-five 
 thousand. The Confederate loss in killed, wounded and 
 captured was four thousand two hundred and one, and that 
 of the Federals was twelve thousand six hundred and 
 fifty-three. 
 
 Ashton did not take part in the general engagement at 
 Fredericksburg and, during most of the time occupied by it, 
 was only a spectator, as General Stuart's cavalry was 
 guarding the right wing of Lee's army, and only occasion- 
 ally attacking the Federal left when a favorable oppor- 
 tunity for so doing occurred. The respective positions of 
 the two armies and the nature of the ground were such as 
 to prevent a more extensive operation of Stuart's com- 
 mand. 
 
 We should have mentioned, however, that about ten days 
 before the battle, Ashton was one of a party of dis- 
 mounted men who went on an expedition into Westmore- 
 land county and captured the Federal pickets at Leeds- 
 town. The party consisted of a detachment of sixty men 
 
JOHN ASRTON. 103 
 
 from the 9th Virginia cavalry, under the command of 
 Major T. Waller. They left their horses on the south side 
 of the Rappahannock, and crossed the river in skiffs a short 
 distance above Leedstown on the night of December 1st, 
 and after making a detour of several miles, approached the 
 town from the rear or north side of the same. They 
 waited in concealment until just before the setting of the 
 moon between 2 and 3 o'clock a. m., and then cautiously 
 but quickly proceeded to accomplish the object of the expe- 
 dition. A short distance above the town they surprised and 
 captured a sentinel posted on the Port Conway road, in 
 the town they captured eight men, and just below the 
 town, within a short distance of the river, they captured 
 two more sentinels and the entire picket force, with the ex- 
 ception of one man who escaped in the darkness. The 
 whole number captured was forty -nine, including the officer 
 in command. Captain Wilson of the 8th Pennsylvania cav- 
 alry. They also captured fifty horses, and recaptured two 
 Confederates who had previously fallen into the hands of 
 the Federals. The party recrossed the river in safety that 
 morning without having suffered any casualty during the 
 expedition, except the accidental wounding of one man by 
 one of his comrades. 
 
104 JOHN ASRTON. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 About ten days after the battle of Fredericksburg, Gen- 
 eral Stuart planned a raid on Dumfries and other points 
 near the Potomac. The force organized for this expedi- 
 tion consisted of detachments from the brigades of Gener- 
 als Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee and W. H. F. Lee, aggregating 
 in all one thousand eight hundred men, and four pieces of 
 the Stuart Horse Artillery. These detachments were under 
 the immediate command of their respective brigade com- 
 manders and, having crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's 
 Ford, bivouacked near Morrisville on the night of Decem- 
 ber 26th, 1862. In accordance with the plan marked out 
 by General Stuart, General Hampton was to move around 
 to the left toward Occoquan, General Fitzhugh Lee was to 
 strike the Telegraph road betw^een Dumfries and Acquia 
 Creek, and General W. H. F. Lee was to march between the 
 two directly upon Dumfries. Ashton was, of course, with 
 the detachment of his new brigade commander. General W. 
 H. F. Lee, and it proceeded on its march without meeting 
 any Federals until it reached Wheat's Mill on the Quantico 
 Creek. Here they found an infantry picket consisting of 
 twelve men, which was charged and captured by one 
 squadron of Ashton's regiment under Captain S. Boiling. 
 This squadron at once crossed the Quantico Creek sup- 
 ported by two other squadrons, but on arriving at the 
 suburbs of Dumfries it was driven back by two regiments 
 of infantry. A squadron of Federal cavalry then advanced, 
 but was quickly repulsed and hastily retreated. About 
 this time General Stuart arrived and ordered up Henry's, 
 battery of horse artillery, which opened on the Federals and 
 soon drove them from their position. The Federals 
 promptly brought forward their artillery and an engage- 
 ment ensued between it and the Confederate battery. The 
 Federals soon evacuated the town and took position in a 
 pine thicket on a high ridge overlooking the town, their 
 force consisting of a brigade of infantry and a battery of 
 artillery. In the meantime, General Fitzhugh Lee's com- 
 mand had struck the Telegraph road about two miles be- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 105 
 
 low Dumfries, captured twenty-four men, and nine wagons 
 laden with sutler's stores, and now arrived at Dumfries. 
 General Stuart then arranged to assault the Federals and 
 capture the town; but, upon reflection, abandoned the un- 
 dertaking, as the capture of the place was of no especial 
 importance and would not have compensated for the loss 
 of life that would have resulted from the movement, and 
 General Fitzhugh Lee was ordered to engage the Federals 
 with dismounted skirmishes and artillery, while the remain- 
 der of the command moved around on the Brentsville road. 
 These dismounted men and two guns of Breathed's battery 
 kept up the engagement until dark. In this engagement, 
 while gallantly leading the sharpshooters, Captain J. W. 
 Bullock, of the 5th Virginia cavalry was mortally wounded. 
 General Hampton in the meantime had moved in the direc- 
 tion of Occoquan, captured a picket at Cole's store, and 
 a part of his command dashed into Occoquan, dispersing 
 several hundred Federal cavalry, and capturing nineteen 
 prisoners and eight wagons, with the loss of only one man 
 wounded. That night Stuart's entire command bivouacked 
 near Cole's store and the next morning (Decemljer 28th) 
 moved forward toward the Occoquan River. On reaching 
 Greenwood Church, Colonel M.C. Butler, of the 2nd South 
 Carolina, was detached and ordered to take his command 
 to Bacon Race Church for the purpose of cutting off a de- 
 tachment of Federals reported to be in front of the advanc- 
 ing column. 
 
 Soon after leaving Greenwood Church, Stuart's command 
 came in sight of two regiments of Federal cavalry drawn 
 up in line of battle near a dense piece of woods. The inter- 
 vening ground was open and favorable for a cavalry charge 
 and General Stuart at once ordered Fitzhugh Lee's brigade 
 (which happened to be in front) to make the charge. The 
 order was promptly obeyed and at the sound of the bugle, 
 the brigade, led by the 1st Virginia cavalry, under Colonel 
 James H. Drake, bore down upon the Federal cavalry at 
 full speed in the face of heavy volleys from the enemy's 
 carbines. The sight of thecharging columns, with gHttering 
 sabres flashing in the sunlight, the sound of the horses' clat- 
 tering feet upon the road and, high above the clang of 
 
106 JOUN ASH TON. 
 
 sabres, the din of horses' feet and the crack of carbines, the 
 "wild Confederate yell," all conspired to make the occasion 
 thrilling and grand beyond description. 
 
 So stirring was the sight that General Hampton, ever 
 ready for the fray, dashed forward with drawn sabre and 
 joined the Virginians in their gallant charge, and so rapidly 
 did he ride that he succeeded in unhorsing some of the 
 enemy with his own hand. The Federals, terrified by the 
 avalanche of steel that was being hurled against them, did 
 not await its descent upon their ranks, but turned and fled 
 in confusion before its rapid approach. Then began a rapid 
 pursuit by the Confederates, which continued for five or 
 six miles and resulted in the killing of eight or ten, and the 
 capture of more than one hundred Federals. 
 
 The Federals fled across the Occoquan at Selectman's 
 Ford, and on arriving there General Fitzhugh Lee found 
 that the northern bank of the stream was occupied by a 
 considerable force of dismounted sharpshooters. Without 
 waiting to exchange shots with them, the brigade, led by 
 the 5th Virginia cavalry under Colonel T. L. Rosser, 
 charged gallantly across the narrow and rockj' ford in sin- 
 gle file in the face of heavy volleys from the Federal sharp- 
 shooters, and soon captured or dispersed the entire party. 
 Pushing rapidly forward, Lee found and destroyed a large 
 camp, captured a number of horses, mules, wagons, blankets 
 and stores of various kinds, and burned the tents and every- 
 thing else that could not be carried away. 
 
 Colonel Butler rejoined the command at Selectman's 
 Ford, having encountered a division of Federal infantry 
 that was moving from Fan-fax to the support Jof the 
 troops at Dumfries, and extricated his command from a 
 critical situation by his coolness and presence of mind. 
 Just after Colonel Butler rejoined the command. General 
 Hampton went with a part of his brigade down toward 
 Accotink, while the main body moved across toward Burke's 
 Station. PTampton encountered a small party of Federals 
 and at once put them to flight, but owing to the darkness 
 did not follow them far and soon returned to the main 
 command. The head of the column reached Burke's Sta- 
 tion on the Orange and Alexandria railroad some time af- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 107 
 
 ter dark. The telegraph operator was captured Ijefore he 
 could give the alarm, and as General Stuart had an opera- 
 tor with him he was enabled to ascertain what prepara- 
 tions had been made to receive him, the news of his raid 
 having already reached Washington and dispatches being at 
 that time sent over the wire between General S. P. Heintzel- 
 man at Washington and the commandmg officer at Fairfax 
 Station. 
 
 General Stuart, who was fond of and ever ready for a 
 joke, having obtained all the information that he desired as 
 to the wide-spread alarm and extensive defensive prepara- 
 tions which his raid had occasioned, facetiously sent some 
 messages to General M. C. Meigs, quartermaster-general of 
 the United States army, at ""^'ashington, in which he com- 
 plained of the inferior quality of the mules recently fur- 
 nished, as their condition seriously interfered with the mov- 
 ing of the wagons that he had captured. 
 
 After sending a small detachment under General Fitzhugh 
 Lee to burn the bridge across the Accotink (which was 
 promptly done), General Stuart left Burke's Station and 
 proceeded to the Little River turnpike, and there halting 
 the rest of the command, he advanced toward Fairfax 
 Court-house with Fitzhugh Lee's brigade for the purpose 
 of surprising and capturing the town if practicable. The 
 place, however, was well-garrisoned and Stuart was sa- 
 luted with a heavy volley from the Federal infantry who 
 were guarding it, and, after keeping up the appearance of 
 an attack for a short time, he moved off by way of Vienna 
 toward Frying Pan, near which the command was halted, 
 and the horses fed about dawn, the whole division having 
 been in the saddle and constantly marching or fighting all 
 of the preceding night and day. 
 
 After resting at Frying Pan for an hour or two. General 
 Stuart proceeded to Middleburg, and from that place 
 Colonel Rosser, w^ith fifteen men, went b\' way of Snicker's 
 Gap into the Valley, and, having captured the Federal 
 picket near Leetown, penetrated the enemy's lines, ascer- 
 tained the strength and position of the forces in that sec- 
 tion and returned by way of Ashby's Gap without the loss 
 of a single man. From Middleburg, General Stuart's com- 
 
108 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 mand returned by easy marches to Culpeper Court-house, 
 reaching that place on December 31st, and from there the 
 three brigades repaired to their respective camps, having 
 been on the march or engaged in fighting for seven days 
 and several nights, and during that time the saddles were 
 not taken from their horses except on the night of Decem- 
 ber 26th. General Stuart's loss during the expedition was 
 exceedingly small, being one officer (Captain Jj . W. Bullock) 
 killed, Lieutenant-colonel Watts and twelve men wounded, 
 and one non-commissioned officer and twelve privates cap- 
 tured. He captured over two hundred prisoners, a large 
 number of horses, mules, wagons, saddles, bridles, pistols 
 and sabres, and destroyed the telegraph line between 
 Chopawanisie and the Occoquan, the tents and other prop- 
 erty of the 2nd Pennsylvania cavalry, fired the bridge over 
 the Accotink and destro^'cd a portion of the Orange and 
 Alexandria railroad, and, moreover, obtained valuable in- 
 formation as to the forces of the Federals at Winchester, 
 Martinsburg and other points in the Valley. The expedition 
 was a brilliant and successful one, and "the gay cavaliers" 
 who engaged in it returned to camp in jubilant spirits, 
 and many a time for months afterward, around their blaz- 
 ing camp-fires did they revive, by interchange of reminis- 
 cences, the memories of those stirring scenes and thrilling 
 incidents that marked the manner in which they spent the 
 Christmas holidays of 1862 at Dumfries, Cole's store, 
 Greenwood Church, Fairfax Court-house and on the 
 Occoquan. 
 
 Whenever an occasion for so doing was afforded him, 
 Ashton had displayed his usual gallantry throughout the 
 raid, and thereby maintained the high esteem in which he 
 was held by both officers and men for his soldierly quali- 
 ties. Although of a quiet disposition and at times some- 
 what reserved in his manner, he was quite popular with the 
 members of his company ; for he never held himself aloof 
 from the humlDlest one of them, and was ever ready to ren- 
 der an act of kindness for his comrades when any oppor- 
 tunity for so doing presented itself. After remaining a 
 month or two longer on the Lower Rappahannock, the 
 brigade to which his regiment belonged moved up to the 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 109 
 
 vicinity of Culpener Court-house, and began to picket the 
 line of the Upper Rappahannock and the Hazel River. At 
 some points, little more space than the width of the rivers 
 se])arated the Confederate and Federal pickets, and they 
 v^ere thus in full view and easy range of each other; but 
 there was a tacit understanding between them that there 
 should be no firing by either side, and hence for Ashton and 
 his comrades, who from time to time were sent on picket, 
 the first weeks of the opening spring passed quietly by, 
 without any incident worthy of notice. 
 
 However, about the middle of April, 1863, their routine 
 experience of picket duty and camp life was suddenly inter- 
 rupted, and the services of the brigade were called into 
 requisition to check a threatened advance of the Federals. 
 On the 13th of that month, a heavy force of Federals, con- 
 sisting of cavalry and artillery moved up the Rappahan- 
 nock from Fredericksburg to Kelly's Ford, and General W. 
 H. F. Lee promptly sent a part of Ashton's regiment to 
 meet them. About dawn the next morning the Federal 
 cavalry, supported by a regiment of dismounted sharp- 
 shooters, made a dash for the ford, but were quickly re- 
 pulsed by the sharpshooters of Ashton's regiment and 
 hastily retired in disorder. During that morning they 
 forced a passage of the river a short distance above, at 
 Rappahannock Station, but were again driven back. The 
 Confederate Horse Artillery then engaged the Federal bat- 
 teries and firing was kept up between the artillery and 
 sharpshooters on both sides during the remainder of the 
 day. 
 
 The next day the Federal cavalry forced a passage of the 
 river at Welford's Ford, driving in the Confederate pickets, 
 and also attacked a force of Confederates at Beverly's 
 Ford. General Lee at once advanced rapidly to Beverly's 
 Ford with a part of his brigade, and soon Ashton and his 
 comrades were in the midst of the fray. The Federals 
 could not withstand the rapid and vigorous onslaught of 
 the Confederate troopers, and were soon routed and driven 
 back across the river. Some of them, however, were not so 
 fortunate as to get across, for their rear guard, consisting 
 of two squadrons, was driven into the river in a confused 
 
110 JOITN ASH TON. 
 
 mass, where a number of them were drowned and fourteen 
 prisoners and sixteen horses were captured. Although Ash- 
 ton had become so much accustomed to scenes of death 
 caused by sabre blade, bullet and cannon ball that he could 
 bear them with some degree of composure, yet the sight of 
 these drowning men was shocking to his feelings and 
 greatly enlisted his sympathy in their behalf and he would 
 have gladly saved them if it had been possible to do so. 
 Indeed he did succeed in saving one poor fellow who, in his 
 struggles, had managed to reach the south side of the 
 stream, but owing to the steapiess of the bank at that 
 point could not extricate himself from the water. Seeing 
 his helpless and critical condition, Ashton leaped from his 
 horse and, at great peril to himself from the firinc^ of the 
 enemy on the other side of the river, ran to the assistance 
 of the floundering Federal and succeeded in drawing him 
 out of the water. General Lee had completely repulsei the 
 Federals at all points, and they did not again attempt to 
 cross the river. His force, as compared with that of the 
 enemy, was exceedingly small, and his own gallantry and 
 that of his officers and men were highly comracided by 
 General Stuart in forwarding a report of the two days 
 fighting to General R. E. Lee. 
 
 Ashton and his comrades enjoyed but a short respite 
 from the duties and dangers of war, for about two weeks 
 after the occurrences just related, they were again called on 
 to meet an advance of the enemy, and this time the force 
 to which they were opposed was far more formidable than 
 that which they had before successfully checked and 
 routed. On the 29th of April the Federal army began to 
 concentrate at and near Chancellorsville and a large force 
 also crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford on that 
 day. On the same day General George Stoneman crossed 
 the river at that place with about five thousand cavalry 
 for the purpose of starting on his (afterward) celebrated 
 raid, the object of which was ''the cutting of General Lee's 
 communication with Richmond by the Fredericksburg 
 route," and "the checking" of what General Hooker (who 
 had succeeded General Burnside in the command of the Fed- 
 
JOHN A8UT0N. Ill 
 
 eral army, thought would be "his retreat" over that route 
 when he attacked him at C iincillorsville. 
 
 Owing to the fact that Hampton's brigade had gone into 
 the interior to recruit their horses, and Fitzhugh Lee's 
 brigade had been taken by General Stuart to Chancellors- 
 ville, and only two regiments, the 9th and 13th Virginia 
 cavalry, of his brigade had been left with General W. H. F. 
 Lee at Culpeper Court-house, he had merely these two regi- 
 ments with which to meet the advancing Federals. With 
 this small force of cavalry and one piece of artillery, he 
 marched from Culpeper to Rapidau Station on April 30th. 
 On May 1st his little band was engaged all day with one or 
 two brigades of Federal cavalry, stubbornly contesting the 
 ground over which they passed in their forward movement, 
 and that night he withdrew to Gordonsville. On Mav 2d he 
 was informed that the Federals were at Trevilian's Station, 
 and sent the 9th Virginia cavalry in that direction. The 
 regiment met and gallantly charged Ihe Federals, drove 
 them back three miles and captured thirty-two of their 
 number. On the following day General Lee learned that 
 the Federals were moving from Louisa Court-house toward 
 Columbia, and, believing that their object was to destroy 
 the James River and Kanawha canal, he at once started 
 in pursuit of them. He arrived at Columbia that night but 
 the Federals had heard of his approach and precipitately 
 fled without having destroyed the canal, and on learning 
 this. General Lee continued his pursuit of them during the 
 entire night. At daybreak he had ridden about sixty 
 miles and halted for a short time to rest his horses. Hav- 
 ing given the horses a short rest, General Lee moved forward 
 and soon came upon the Federals drawn up in column at 
 Flemming's Crossroads. 
 
 The squadron to which Ashton belonged was a few hun- 
 dred yards ahead of General Lee's main force and at once 
 charged the Federal cavalry. The Federals charged at the 
 same time, and in a few moments the two opposing forces 
 were engaged in a hand-to-hand tight. The engagement 
 lasted only about hve minutes, when the Federals were 
 completely routed and driven back with the loss of six men 
 killed, a number of others wounded and thirty-three cap- 
 
112 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 tured, among whom were Captain Wesley Owens and Lieu- 
 tenant Temple Buford of the 5th United States cavalry. 
 Although short, the tight was a fierce and vigorous one and 
 sabres were freely used, especially by the Confederate 
 squadron. Ashton was in the front rank of fours and 
 hence got into the thickest of the fray. He became engaged 
 in a hand-to-hand encounter with a Federal trooper who 
 had previously fired at him twice without effect and hence 
 drew his sabre to defend himself from Ashton's fierce 
 attack upon him with his own sabre. The Federal was suc- 
 cessful only to the extent of weakening Ashton's blows and 
 preventing them from being fatal, for he carried off in his 
 subsequent flight no less than seven sabre cuts as evidence 
 of the rapidity and skill with which Ashton had used his 
 weapon. So vigorous had been the charge, accompanied, of 
 course, with "the wild Confederate yell," and so fierce 
 had been the attack upon the Federal column, that Captain 
 James E. Harrison, commanding the Federal cavalry, ap- 
 pears to have greatly exaggerated the numbers of the 
 attacking squadron, as he says in his official report of the 
 fight: "I found that I had become engaged with at least one 
 thousand men. The shock of the charge was so great that 
 my foremost horses were completely knocked over." 
 
 They were "knocked over," not by the supposed large 
 number of the attacking force that charged his column, but 
 by the impetuosity and vigor with which the charge was 
 made by that gallant little squadron (two companies) of 
 Confederate cavalry. 
 
 General Lee's entire force numbered only about eight hun- 
 dred men, and but one squadron took part in the charge. 
 After their rout the Federals retreated to Yanceyville and 
 subsequently, by forced marches day and night, succeeded in 
 recrossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford. General 
 Lee was informed by one of the captured officers that Gen- 
 eral Buford was only three miles distant, but owing to the 
 smallness of his force and the jaded condition of his horses, 
 he decided not to pursue him and returned to Gordonsville. 
 
 Having learned on May 6th that a force of Federals was 
 recrossing the Central railroad below Gordonsville, General 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 113 
 
 Lee started in pursuit of them and came up with the rear 
 guard of their column at the North Anna river, where he 
 captured seventeen prisoners. They had crossed the river 
 and destroyed the bridge, and as the stream was swollen 
 and not fordable he could not farther pursue them. Learn- 
 ing that another column of Federals was moving farther 
 down the river, he went in pursuit of them, but found that 
 they, too, had crossed the river and destroyed the bridges 
 behind them. On the following day he moved toward 
 Orange Court-house, and learned from his scouts that the 
 Federals had crossed the Rapidan and were beyond his 
 reach. 
 
 This terminated the part taken by the brigade to which 
 Ashton belonged in the efforts that were made to check 
 Stoneman's raid, and in view of the smallness of the Con- 
 federate force (two regiments), their work was bravely and 
 efficiently done. 
 
 In the meantime, the main body of General R. E. Lee's 
 army had fought and won the battles of Chancellorsville 
 and Salem Church, and driven General Hooker's army back 
 across the Rappahannock with a loss of more than seven- 
 teen thousand men, about twenty thousand muskets, thir- 
 teen pieces of artillery, seventeen colors and an immense 
 quantity of ammunition, the Confederate loss being about 
 eleven thousand. 
 
 These victories were achieved by the Confederates over 
 greatly superior numbers and in the face of apparently 
 insurmountable obstacles; for, while General Lee's force was 
 greatly reduced by the absence of General Longstreet, with 
 Hood's, Pickett's and Ransom's divisions in southeastern 
 Virginia, and consisted only of Jackson's corps, Anderson's 
 and McLaws' divisions of Longstreet's corps and one 
 brigade of cavalry and aggregated something over forty 
 thousand men, that of General Hooker consisted of his en- 
 tire army of seven corps and part of the cavalry corps, 
 numbering over one hundred and ten thousand, and, at 
 Chancellorsville, was intrenched ia the heart of a tangled 
 wilderness behind strong earthworks, the approaches to 
 which were protected by abattis and barricades of heavy 
 timber. 
 
114 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 The victory of the Confederates at Chaticellorsville was 
 mainly due to the rapid and successful flank movement of 
 General "Stonewall" Jackson, by means of which he 
 turned General Hooker's right flank, attacked him unex- 
 pectedly in the rear, in the afternoon of May 2d, and in 
 about two hours drove the right wing of his army pell-mell 
 more than three miles over a succession of outer works, and 
 into his strongly intrenched central position at Chancellors- 
 ville. In this movement, General Jackson had only D. H. 
 Hill's division, commanded by Brigadier-general R. E. 
 Rodes, Isaac R. Trimble's division, commanded by Briga- 
 dier-general R. E. Colston, and A, P. Hill's division, and 
 the first-mentioned division, under the superb leadership of 
 the gallant Rodes, completely routed and put to ignomini- 
 ous flight the 11th corps, commanded by General O. O. Ho vv- 
 ard, which sustained a loss of one thousand, four hundred 
 and twenty-eight killed and wounded, and nine hundred and 
 seventy -four captured; and, moreover, in their headlong 
 flight disarranged, demoralized and swept back another 
 corps that had come to their assistance. This victorious 
 movement was checked about 8 o'clock p. m., when in the 
 darkness the Confederates became entangled in a heavy 
 abattisin frontof the intrenchments between them and Chan- 
 cellorsville, and their first and second lines were thereby 
 mingled in great confusion. General Jackson prompth' re- 
 formed his line, with A. P. Hill's division in front, and soon 
 thereafter rode forward a short distance to reconnoitre, in- 
 tending to renew the attack that night, and giving orders 
 to his men not to fire unless cavalry should approach from 
 the direction of the Federals. He had gone about one hun- 
 dred yards when he discovered that no pickets had been 
 placed in front of his line and, having finished his inspec- 
 tion, sent an order to General A. P. Hill to advance, and 
 started to return to his troops. He failed to notify them 
 of his approach and, while riding back, he and his escort 
 were fired upon by some of his own men, who supposed them 
 to be Federal cavalr3'. From this fire General Jackson 
 received several wounds that completely disabled him, and 
 from the effects of which he died on May 10th. 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 115 
 
 But for this occurrence, General Hooker's arm\' would have 
 been annihilated or captured, for it was General Jackson's 
 purpose to move his troops still farther to the left, get 
 completely in General Hooker's rear, occupy the roads lead- 
 ing to Ely's Ford on the Rapidan and the United States 
 Ford on the Rappahannock, thus catting off his line of retreat, 
 and, on the following da3^ after remaining on the defensive 
 for a few hours and repulsing the efforts that General 
 Hooker would have naturalh^ made to open his line of 
 retreat, he intended to attack the Federal commander from 
 the rear with his whole force, while General Lee pressed 
 him in front, and in this way the Federal army would have 
 been crushed between the two Confederate forces thus clos- 
 ing in upon it. General J. E. B. Stuart, who was unex- 
 pectedly called to the command of the troops that night on 
 account of the fact that General A. P. Hill had been 
 wounded, being unfamiliar with the ground and uninformed 
 as to General Jackson's plans, pursued a different policy and, 
 on renewing the battle the next morning, moved his troops 
 to the right until he had formed a junction with General 
 Lee, The united forces of the two then stormed and cap- 
 tured the Federal stronghold at Chancellors ville, but Hook- 
 er's line of retreat toward the Rappahannock being open, 
 he succeeded in escaping in that direction, and took refuge 
 in a strong line of intrenchments covering the United States 
 Ford, 
 
 General Lee made preparations to renew his attack on" 
 General Hooker and drive him across the Rappahannock, but 
 was deterred from so doing by the receipt of information 
 that General Sedgwick, with a large force, was marching 
 against him from the direction of Fredericksburg, with only 
 General C, M. Wilcox's brigade to impede his progress. 
 General Lee at once ordered General McLaws, with Ker- 
 shaw's, Wofford's, Semmes' and Mahone's brigades, to the 
 assistance of General Wilcox. When these reinforcements 
 reached him. General Wilcox, with only about two thou- 
 sand men, was gallantly holding in check General Sedgwick's 
 force of about twenty thousand at Salem Church, and had 
 formed his brigade in line of battle across the plank-road 
 to receive an attack that was about to be made by the 
 
116 JOUN ASHTON. 
 
 advancing Federals. General McLaws quickly lengthened 
 his line of battle by placing Kershaw's and Wofford*s 
 brigades on the right and Semmes' and Mahone's brigades 
 on the left of Wilcox's brigade; but before his troops were 
 fully in position the Federals had pressed forward in heavy 
 force and attacked the brigades of Wilcox, Semmes and 
 Mahone, the 50th and 53rd Georgia regiments of Semmes' 
 brigade having to take position under a storm of bullets. 
 
 The attack of the Federals was gallantly made, but it 
 was still more gallantly and successfully repulsed by the 
 Confederates, the brigades of Wilcox and Semmes bearing 
 the brunt of the battle; and after a lierce and desperate 
 conflict, the Federals were routed and driven back in great 
 confusion. Wilcox's brigade and the 10th and 51st Geor- 
 gia regiments, of Semmes' brigade, pursued the fleeing Fed- 
 erals, and another line coming up the plank-road to the 
 support of their retreating comrades was quickly broken 
 by the Confederates and driven back in a perfect rout upon 
 the Federal reserves. It was now dark, and the conflict 
 ceased for the night. 
 
 During the next day General Lee came in person with the 
 remainder of General R. H. Anderson's division (Perry's, 
 Posey's and Wright's brigades) to reinforce General Mc- 
 Laws, and about 6 p.m. renewed the attack on General Sedg- 
 wick, who was rapidly driven back toward the Rappahan- 
 nock until darkness prevented farther pursuit, and he 
 made his escape that night by crossing the river at Banks' 
 Ford. 
 
 On the following day. General Lee returned to Chancellors- 
 ville for the purpose of attacking General Hooker, but was 
 prevented from so doing by the retreat of the latter that 
 night across the Rappahannock at the United States Ford. 
 
 Thus ended General Hooker's brief, bloody and unsuccess- 
 ful Chancellorsvil'e campaign, and his complete and disas- 
 trous defeat, culminating in the strange spectacle of an 
 immense army fleeing before a force about one-third as 
 large as its own, presented a picture in strikingly' ridiculous 
 contrast to the imaginary one drawn by him on April 30, 
 when, after he had crossed the Rappahannock with but 
 little opposition and massed his troops around Chancellors- 
 ville, he issued "General Orders, No. 47," and therein said : 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 117 
 
 "It is -with heartfelt satisfaction the commanding gen- 
 eral announces to the army that the operations of the last 
 three days have determined that our enemy must either 
 ingloriousl3' fly, or come out from behind his defenses and 
 give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruc- 
 tion awaits him." 
 
 The "enemy" did not "ingloriously fly," but had "come 
 out from behind his defenses" and given the Federals "bat- 
 tle on their own ground," and instead of meeting with "cer- 
 tain destruction," had achieved a marked and brilliant 
 victory over vastly superior numbers, thereby demonstrat- 
 ing the superior prowess of the Confederate troops, and 
 also administering a severe and wholesome rebuke to the 
 premature boastfulness of the over-confident Federal com- 
 mander. 
 
 General Hooker's effort to conceal the disastrous failure 
 of his inglorious campaign, as shown by "General Orders, 
 No. 49," issued May 6, 1863, was supremely absurd and 
 ridiculous ; for in that paper he says : 
 
 "The major-general commanding tenders to this army 
 his congratulations on its achievements of the last seven 
 days. If it has not accompHsIied all that was expected, the 
 reasons are well known to the army. It is sufficient to sav 
 they were of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by 
 human sagacity or resource. 
 
 "In withdrawing from the south bank of the Rappahan- 
 nock before delivering a general battle to our adversaries, 
 the army has given renewed evidence of its confidence in 
 itself and its fidelity to the principles it represents. In fight- 
 ing at a disadvantage, we would have been recreant to our 
 trust, to ourselves, our cause, and our country. 
 
 "Profoundly loyal, and conscious of its strength, the array 
 of the Potomac will give or decline battle whenever its in- 
 terest or honor may demand. It will also be the guardian 
 of its own history and its own fame. 
 
 "By our celerity and secrecy of movement, our advance 
 and passage of the rivers were undisputed, and on our with- 
 drawal not a rebel ventured to follow. 
 
 "The events of the last week may swell with pride the 
 heart of every officer and soldier of this army. We have 
 
Il8 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 added new luster to its former renown. We have made 
 long marches, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in his iu- 
 trenchments, and whenever we have fought, have inflicted 
 heavier blows than we have received." 
 
 Comment on this remarkable rodomontade would be 
 superfluous, as its ludicrous fancifulness will be perfectly 
 apparent to the reader in view of the facts previously nar- 
 rated in regard to the results of the Chancellorsville cam- 
 paign. 
 
 Although that campaign had resulted in a marked and 
 brilliant victory for the Confederates, their success had 
 been dearly purchased; for they had lost many brave 
 private soldiers and some of their most gallant and efficient 
 officers. Among the latter, as already mentioned, was that 
 military prodigy, General T. J. Jackson, whose phenomenal 
 achievements had made him the idol of his friends and a 
 terror to his foes, and not only stamped him as the best 
 corps commander of any age, but also indicated that if he 
 had been at the head of an army he would have taken 
 rank with the greatest generals that ever lived. 
 
 After the close of the Chancellorsville campaign, the 
 remainder of the month of May became a period of com- 
 parative rest to all branches of the army of Northern 
 Virginia, and this rest was especially acceptable to Ashton 
 and his comrades, in view of the arduous service which they 
 had rendered during Stoneman's raid. At its close they 
 went into camp in Orange county, where there was an 
 abundance of clover on which to graze their horses. 
 
 Although we have seemingly forgotten our heroine, the 
 reader must not suppose that Ashton had forgotten her 
 amid the varied and exciting scenes through which he had 
 passed during the preceding five months. Such was not the 
 case, for he had been constantly thinking of her, and was 
 greatly troubled in consequence of the fact that he had 
 failed to hear from her, his last letter, as before stated, 
 having been returned to him. And now, while enjoying 
 temporary rest from the labors and dangers of active serv- 
 ice during the bright and beautiful days of May, and loll- 
 ing in the genial sunshine, amid the blooming clover fields of 
 Orange county, watching his faithful horse as he content- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 119 
 
 edly grazed upon the rich herbage rising knee-high around 
 him, Ashton thought more constantly than ever before of 
 Ruth Middleton and his ardent love for her. As he reflected 
 on the depth and tenderness of his love for her, he realized 
 how completely that love had possessed his heart, and how 
 thoroughly it would dominate his after life. Although his 
 failure to hear from Ruth in answer to his declaration of 
 love, and the uncertainty as to how that declaration had 
 been received, greatly troubled him, he was not altogether 
 unhappy and found much pleasure in thinking of her and, 
 with the utmost abandon, giving full sway to his affection 
 for her. While it was true that he had idealized her and felt 
 that he was unworthy of her love, yet, seeming contradic- 
 tion, he was somehow confident that he would eventually 
 become the object and possessor of that love. Leaving him 
 to indulge in his tender and loving musings of Ruth, we will 
 return to her and give some account of the manner in which 
 her life had been spent in Richmond. 
 
120 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Shortly after Ruth's arrival in Richmond, she secured a 
 pleasant boarding-place with a family on Franklin street, 
 near the Capitol. The family consisted of Mrs. Julia 
 Slaughter, whose husband. Colonel Percy Slaughter, had 
 been killed at the second battle of Manassas, her daughter 
 Kate, about eighteen 3'ears of age, and her son Randolph, 
 about thirteen years of age. Mrs. Slaughter was well 
 educated, refined in her manners and exceedingly kind- 
 hearted, and her conduct was marked by that gentle, ever- 
 watchful and yet unobtrusive solicitude for the comfort 
 and pleasure of others which would have caused one to 
 speak of her as "a motherly woman." Kate was a high- 
 spirited, bright and lively creature, thoroughly independent 
 in her thoughts and actions, slightly headstrong and 
 inclined to have her own way, but withal utterly incapable 
 of doing a small or selfish thing, and as warm-hearted and 
 affectionate as any child. Randolph's disposition was the 
 counterpart of his sister's except in this, that it was more 
 equable and tractable than hers and invariably caused him 
 to show deference to the opinions and wishes of his 
 superiors. Ruth was charmed with the family among 
 whom her lot had been cast, and in a very short time all of 
 its members had become quite fond of her. By the kindly 
 interest which she manifested in Randolph she at once won 
 his heart, and soon this manly, warm-hearted boy was as 
 loyal to the lovely lady who had come among them as ever 
 knight of old was to the fair maiden in whose honor he 
 engaged in the peaceful joust of the tourney lists, or rode 
 in martial mood to the battle-field. Surrounded by such 
 kind-hearted and considerate friends, Ruth passed most 
 pleasantly the time spent in their company, and the affec- 
 tionate interest which they manifested in her welfare tended 
 greatly to soothe her sorrowing heart and restore her 
 former peace of mind. During the day the greater part of 
 her time was spent at the hospital where her services as a 
 volunteer nurse had been accepted, as before stated ; and 
 she had become deeply interested in the work in which she 
 
JOHN ASRTON. 121 
 
 was engaged, and also in the patients who had come under 
 her care. She possessed all the qualifications necessary to 
 make a good nurse and this fact, together with the deep in- 
 terest felt by her in those to whose wants she was minister- 
 ing, rendered her not only eminently successful in her new 
 vocation but also exceedingly popular with her patients. 
 
 In making her rounds each day, she always had a 
 pleasant greeting, a kindly smile and a cheering word for 
 every one of her patients, and at her approach the faces of 
 even the most despondent would be brightened by the 
 pleasant emotions which her presence invariably inspired. 
 Nearly all of the inmates of the ward to which her duties 
 called her were soldiers who had been wounded in battle, 
 and this fact kept her constantly reminded of Ashton, and 
 at first tended greatly to depress her feelings and partially 
 unfit her for the discharge of her duties in that cheerful 
 manner in which she knew that they should be discharged 
 in order to render them the most efficacious. In a short 
 time, however, she succeeded in overcoming this depressing 
 influence, and that which at first had caused it now helped 
 to better fit her for her work; for, thinking of Ashton and, 
 in imagination, picturing to herself the ghastly wound by 
 which she supposed he had met his death, made her more 
 solicitous for the recover3- of those who, like him, had been 
 wounded in defense of their country, and caused her to do 
 all in her power to alleviate their sufferings and hasten 
 their recovery. 
 
 Toward the latter part of April Ruth received a very 
 affectionate but doleful letter from Bertha, in which the 
 latter told her of how greatly she missed her and how sad 
 and lonely her life had been since she left, and closed with 
 the statement that she could not longer endure their separa- 
 tion and would be in Richmond on the 25th of that month. 
 At the time mentioned. Bertha arrived in the city, and the 
 meeting between her and Ruth was so affectionate and 
 joyous that any one witnessing it would have been im- 
 pressed with the idea that they had been separated for at 
 least a year. As Bertha possessed the happy faculty of 
 adapting herself to her surroundings, she would soon have 
 been at ease in any household, and in consequence of the 
 
122 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 genial dispositions and affable manners of the Slaughters, 
 she at once felt at home among them, and was soon on 
 ver^' friendly terms with the entire family. She found Kate 
 especially congenial and, although the latter's nature was 
 the stronger of the two, they possessed sufficient similarity 
 of tastes and feelings to quickly engender a warm mutual 
 attachment that brought about a loyal and delightful com- 
 radeship between therii. As a natural result of this, they 
 were almost constantly together and to some extent Kate's 
 associates also became Bertha's, Kate's frank, bright and 
 high-spirited nature and cordial manners had rendered her 
 quite popular with the gentlemen of her acquaintance as 
 was manifested by the number of her visitors. The per- 
 sonnel of her visitors was constantly changing, as nearly 
 all of them were soldiers in active service and only tem- 
 porarily in the city on short furloughs, or called there by 
 business connected with the army; for so thoroughly did 
 Kate believe that every young man who was able to shoul- 
 der a musket or wield a sabre should be at the front, that 
 she would have scorned the attentions of any such who 
 refrained from offering their services to the Confederate 
 Government. 
 
 "When, through the medium of Kate's existing acquaint- 
 ances, it became known that the attractions of Mrs. Slaugh- 
 ter's house had been enhanced by the presence of two 
 charming girls from Georgia, the number of visitors propor- 
 tionately increased and scarcely an evening passed without 
 the presence there of several young soldiers. And such is 
 human nature and thebuoyanc3'of youth, that these young 
 men who, in many instances, were fresh from scenes of car- 
 nage and suffering and would soon return to similar 
 scenes, were as gay and light-hearted as schoolboys and 
 passed the time in lively chat and merry jest, seemingly 
 oblivious of the fact that a gigantic and destructive war 
 was in progress with all of its attendant incidents of suf- 
 fering and death. 
 
 Amid these gay parties that nightly filled Mrs. Slaughter's 
 parlors, there was one who was not in harmony with her 
 surroundings and did not participate in the lively badinage 
 that was freely indulged in by the others, for Ruth Middle- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 123 
 
 ton's heart was too full of grief for her lost lover, and 
 solicitude for the wounded soldiers to whom she daily min- 
 istered, to have any room therein for merriment. Occa- 
 sionally, however, there were those among these visitors 
 who were inclined to serious discourse, and Ruth found 
 pleasure in conversing with them. 
 
 Shortly after Bertha's arrival she had accompanied Ruth 
 on one of her visits to the hospital, and although at first so 
 much affected by the distressing scenes around her that she 
 felt inclined to hasten away from them, after awhile her 
 sympathy was so thoroughly aroused in behalf of the suf- 
 fering soldiers that she either forgot or overcame the dis- 
 agreeable feelings which she had previously experienced at 
 sight of their condition, and was suddenly inspired with an 
 earnest desire to do what she could to relieve them. Hence, 
 on leaving the hospital she proposed to assist Ruth in her 
 work. Ruth was naturally surprised by this proposition, 
 but told her that if the hospital authorities would consent 
 to the arrangement she would gladly accept her assistance. 
 On the following day Ruth submitted the matter to the 
 surgeon in charge of the hospital. Having ascertained the 
 relation which Bertha sustained to Ruth, he promptly con- 
 sented to the proposed arrangement and after that Bertha 
 went to the hospital at least once each day to assist Ruth in 
 her duties. She soon became deeply interested in her work, 
 and correspondingly efBcient in its performance. Bertha 
 had been assisting Ruth for about a week when a num- 
 ber of soldiers who had been wounded during the battle of 
 Chancellorsville were brought to the hospital. Among them 
 was Captain Philip Carrington, of the 4th Georgia regi- 
 ment of infantry, who had been wounded while gallantly 
 leading his company in a charge on May 2d. He was shot 
 through the right arm and as the bone was broken it was 
 at first thought that amputation would Vje necessary; but 
 on close examination the regimental surgeon decided that 
 the wounded arm could be saved by proper attention. The 
 wound was promptly dressed ; all particles of bone were 
 extracted, and Carrington was carried to Richmond where 
 he could receive better treatment than in the field hospital. 
 As he has thus suddenly come into our story and will figure 
 
124 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 in its future development, the reader will doubtless wish 
 to know something about him. He was about twenty-five 
 years of age, of medium stature, well-proportioned, and 
 had a strikingly handsome and attractive face and an easy 
 and graceful carriage. His complexion was dark, his hair and 
 mustache were almost black, and his eyes dark brown. He 
 was quite intellectual, highly educated, and a man of exalted 
 moral character. His disposition was genial and lively, and 
 he readily made friends of all who came in contact with him, 
 and that too, without the sHghtest effort to win their 
 favor. He was a physician and had left a lucrative prac- 
 tice at the outbreak of the war in order to devote himself 
 to the service of the South. Such was Phil Carrington, as 
 his friends familiarly called him; and he at once attracted 
 the attention of Ruth and Bertha and aroused their warmest 
 sympathy in his behalf. Although they were accustomed 
 to minister alike and impartially to the wants of all of the 
 soldiers in their ward, there was something in the appear- 
 ance and manner of thishandsomeyoungofScerthatirresist- 
 ibly called forth more than ordinary care and attention 
 on their part. He was deeply touched by the solicitude 
 which they manifested in his case, and plainly showed by 
 his manner that he was truly grateful for the same. 
 Even under ordinary circumstances, the gentle and kindly 
 ministrations of two lovely girls would have greatly inter- 
 ested and gratified him, and when he ascertained that Ruth 
 and Bertha were natives and residents of his own State, 
 who had left the comforts and pleasures of home and 
 come to Virginia to try to allleviate the sufferings of 
 unknown soldiers, Carrington became all the more in- 
 terested in them, and his heart was filled with pride and 
 gratitude at the thought of their patriotic and self- 
 sacrificing devotion to the cause of the Confederacy. As he 
 became better acquainted with them, his respect and admi- 
 ration for them rapidlj'- increased, and soon he was on 
 quite friendly terms with them. In a short time, he had so 
 far recovered from the debilitating effects of his wound 
 that he was able to take a little exercise each day, and 
 after that he rapidly regained his strength and 
 health. As soon as the surgeon pronounced him out of 
 
JOHN AsiiTOJsr. 125 
 
 danger and consented that he might be discharged from the 
 hospital, he secured a boarding-place in the city and 
 became a frequent visitor at Mrs. Slaughter's residence. 
 Although he greatly admired both Ruth and Bertha, he had 
 been especially attracted to the latter, and it soon became 
 evident to those who saw them together that Carrington 
 was in a fair way of becoming the willing captive of this 
 bright and charming Georgia girl. It was also evident that 
 she was deeply interested in him and preferred his society 
 to that of any of the numerous visitors who, from time to 
 time, called at Mrs. Slaughter's. As Carrington's interest 
 in and regard for Bertha increased, he naturally became 
 anxious to enjoy more of her society than he had opoortu- 
 nities for enjoying in Mrs. Slaughter's parlors while other 
 visitors were present, and hence he began to take her out 
 driving to various points of interest in and around the city. 
 He made full use of the opportunities thus afforded for 
 manifesting his increasing interest in and warm regard for 
 Bertha and, erelong, noticed with joyous emotions evidences 
 of the fact that his lover-like attentions were acceptable to 
 her and that her interest in him was daily increasing. Shortly 
 after Carrington left the hospital and began his visits to the 
 young ladies at Mrs. Slaughter's, one of Kate Slaughter's 
 
 acquaintances, Lieutenant Henry Harris of the artillery, 
 
 called at Mrs. Slaughter's one evening and brought with 
 him a young man whom he introduced as Sergeant Paul, 
 of Mosby's cavalry. Harris had met Paul a few days 
 before in the reading-room of the Exchange Hotel, when a 
 lengthy conversation ensued between them. The intelli- 
 gent and ready manner in which Paul discussed the various 
 topics thatformedthesubjectsof theirconversation, and his 
 easy and affable manners made quite a favorable impres- 
 sion on Harris, and on meeting Paul again the next day, he 
 gave him a very cordial greeting. The letter not only 
 heartily responded to the cordial greeting of Harris, but so 
 demeaned himself in their subsequent conversation as to 
 impress Harris with the idea that he desired to cultivate 
 his acquaintance. Harris, being of a social disposition 
 and finding Paul's conversation entertaining, readily 
 acquiesced in this desire, and they were soon on friendly 
 
126 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 terms. As a result of the acquaintance thus begun, Harris 
 had invited Paul to join him in a visit to the young ladies 
 at Mrs. Slaughter's; and hence his appearance there at the 
 time before mentioned. Carrington was present on the 
 occasion and, although Paul was a man of fine personal 
 appearance, easy bearing, affable manners, and apparently 
 frank disposition, he was somewhat unfavorably impressed 
 by him and could not avoid wondering whether his sup- 
 posed frankness was real or assumed. If he had been 
 called on to give a reason for this unfavorable impression, 
 he could not, perhaps, have given one that would have been 
 satisfactory to any one else, nor could lie, in reflecting 
 on the matter afterward, attribute it to any cause that 
 was entirely clear or satisfactory to himself. However, the 
 impression had been made and continued to exist without 
 any tangible cause. It was one of those sudden, instinc- 
 tive, and inexplicable feelings of distrust and antipathy 
 which are engendered by what may be termed the exhalations 
 from an evil or hypocritical nature, independent of overt 
 act or outward appearance, just as one's sense of smell is 
 offended by the noxious odors of a poisonous flower, 
 although in appearance it may be the perfection of beauty. 
 Notwithstanding the fact that Sergeant Paul ignored (if he 
 were aware of its existence) the unfavorable impression 
 which he had made on Carrington, and was perfectly easy 
 and aff"able in his conduct toward him, doing and saying 
 nothing that was apparently insincere or offensive, Car- 
 rington could not get rid of the sense of distrust that he 
 experienced in regard to him. Having formed the 
 acquaintance of the young ladies at Mrs. Slaughter's, and 
 being apparently well pleased with their society, Paul 
 continued to visit them, and by his bright and sprightly 
 conversations and pertinent and intelligent observations on 
 the conduct and progress of the war, invariably succeeded 
 in interesting and entertaining his listeners. Moreover, 
 he occasionally presented to their view certain phases of 
 the war, with which not even the most experienced soldiers 
 present were familiar, by giving them graphic pictures of 
 Mosby and his httle band of partisan rangers when 
 engaged in their irregular but efiicient system of border 
 
joh:s ashton. 127 
 
 warfare, telling, with the spirit and perspicuity' of an eye- 
 witness and participant, of their silent, midnight marches 
 through the darksome woods in their frequent incursions 
 into the enemy's lines, their unexpected and vigorous 
 assault upon and capture of some outlying Federal picket- 
 post, and their rapid return into the Confederate lines and 
 sudden dispersion to their secret haunts in Fauquier and 
 Rappahannock counties and amid the mountain fastnesses 
 of the Blue Ridge. Such incidents were not only interesting, 
 but also novel to Paul's listeners, for, as Mosby was not 
 with the regular army and was operating outside of the 
 Confederate lines, even the soldiers present had no means 
 of acquiring full information in regard to his movements. 
 Hence, those to whom Paul related Mosby's gallant and 
 successful achievements, were naturally deeply interested in 
 their narration and consequently pleased with the narrator. 
 He had seemingly incidentally explained his presence in 
 Richmond at this time by stating that he had been sent there 
 with dispatches for the War Department and had leave of 
 absence from his command for two or three weeks. This 
 explanation of his presence in the city was a plausible one 
 and entirely satisfactory to those who had heard it. 
 
 It was now the first of June and about two weeks after 
 Paul began his visits at Mrs. Slaughter's, when, during one 
 of his visits, he announced that he expected to return to his 
 command in a day or two. The next afternoon Carring- 
 ton and Bertha took a long drive which was the occasion 
 of certain developments that were of sufficient interest to 
 entitle them to a place in our story. Leaving Franklin 
 street near the southwest corner of Capitol Square, they 
 drove up Ninth street into Broad, and out East Broad 
 beyond Shockoe Creek to Seventeenth street, and up that 
 street to where it is called Valley street, and out Valley 
 street for about a mile and a half along the Central rail- 
 road. Recrossing the railroad, the3' drove around by 
 Shockoe Hill Cemetery into Second street, and down 
 Second street to Marshal, and out West Marshal to Henry 
 street, and passing down Henry street, they drove b^' the 
 public square and along what is now Belvidere street to 
 Albemarle street and out Albemarle to Hollywood ceme- 
 
128 JOUN ASUTON. 
 
 tery. Here they alighted from their buggy, entered the cem- 
 etery, and began to stroll amid its beautiful shrubbery and 
 handsome monuments. Although they were seemingly en- 
 gaged in looking at the many attractions of nature and of 
 art that abounded in this beautiful city of the dead, their 
 surroundings had but a small place in their thoughts, and 
 the fact that they were in the presence of the emblems of 
 decay and death only served to awe them into comparative 
 silence and temporarily check what would otherwise have 
 been an exuberant flow of joyous feeling; for they were 
 quietlyand yet supremely happy. From what has previously 
 been said in regard to their increasing interest in each 
 other, the reader can readily guess the secret of their happi- 
 ness, and we will simply state that, as Carrington's wound 
 had about healed and he expected to return to his regiment 
 in a few days, he had seized the opportunity afforded him 
 by their lengthy drive to tell Bertha of his love, and received 
 the happy assurance that her heart was all his own. No 
 wonder, therefore, that they were supremely happy and, 
 in a measure, oblivious of their surroundings. Continuing 
 their walk, unconscious of the distance that they had 
 strolled, they at last reached a point not far from where 
 the James River and Kanawha Canal passes by the south- 
 ern extremity of the cemetery, and here they found a rustic 
 seat in the recess of a beautiful bower of overarching 
 vines and shrubbery. The sight of the seat reminded 
 Bertha of the fact that she was somewhat fatigued by the 
 long walk she had taken, and she readily adopted Carring- 
 ton's suggestion that they should rest awhile in this 
 inviting retreat. On entering it they were effectually 
 screened from view from all directions except tha t imme- 
 diately in front of its opening, and as the shrubbery and 
 bushes in the rear of the bower and toward the canal were 
 quite dense, it would have been almost impossible for any- 
 one to have discovered their presence except by approaching 
 the bower directly in front. They had been seated only a 
 few moments when they heard the sound of voices in rear of 
 the bower and discovered that the persons talking were 
 approaching them from the direction of the canal. When 
 these persons had approached within eight or ten paces of 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 129 
 
 Carrington and Bertha, they stopped, and although the 
 latter could neither see nor be seen by them, the\' could 
 hear what thcA' were saying. Greatly to the surprise of the 
 lovers, they immediately recognized one of the voices as that 
 of Sergeant Paul, and the first remark made by him not 
 only fixed their attention but also caused them to listen 
 with intense interest to the conversation thus begun, which 
 was as follows : 
 
 "Well, Fox, I have played mj^ cards successfully, and the 
 game is won. The 'Mosby's man' dodge has worked like a 
 charm, as it has increased my opportunities for observation 
 and decreased the dangers of detection ; forit is known that 
 many of Mosbj^'s men are not regularly enlisted in the 
 Rebel army and hence they have greater freedom of action 
 in Richmond than regular soldiers, and do not have to give 
 such a strict account of themselves as the latter. I have 
 made several friends among the Rebel officers, and used 
 them efficiently in obtaining the information for which I 
 came. I have learned that Lee is concentrating his army in 
 Orange and Culpeper counties with a view to an important 
 movement. I am preparing in cipher information as to the 
 details of this movement and will have it ready for you 
 to-morrow night. It is best that you should at once take 
 this to General Hooker at Falmouth. I will remain here a 
 few days longer and then leave for the Rebel army, where 
 I hope to acquire some additional information in regard to 
 Lee's plans before returning into our lines." 
 
 The person addressed as Fox replied : 
 
 "You have certainly played your cards well, Mr. Craft, 
 and I congratulate you on the success of your game. I 
 doubt whether there is another otie of our emissaries who 
 would have done half so well. I hope that your reward 
 will be proportionate to the service rendered, and in view of 
 the dangers incident to such service, your compensation 
 should be very great." 
 
 "No doubt," said Paul, "I will be handsomely rewarded 
 for the information furnished, as its value to the Federal 
 commander will be incalculable. Among all of the Rebels 
 whom I have met, a certain Captain Carrington is the only 
 one who appears to have distrusted me, and he has been so 
 
130 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 much engaged in his courtship of a Rebel girl, who is on a 
 visit here from the South, that he has made no effort to 
 have me shadowed, or, so far as I am informed, attempted 
 to ascertain an\'thing in regard to me. I am sure he has 
 not even suspected my real character, or the object of my 
 presence in the Rebel Capital." 
 
 "You have been quite fortunate," said Fox, "in having 
 escaped suspicion as to the object of your presence here, 
 and I hope that you may be equally as fortunate during the 
 remainder of your stay. Now let us have an understanding 
 as to when and where I am to meet you to-morrow night 
 for the purpose of receiving your cipher dispatches and any 
 further instructions you may wish to give me." 
 
 "I have been thinking about that matter," replied Paul, 
 "and have concluded that it would be rather risky for us to 
 meet at our former rendezvous in the city, as that quarter 
 is now under complete surveillance by the police. It will be 
 best for us to have our interview at some point in or near 
 the public square, and I will meet you there to-morrow evening 
 about dusk. I will be near the southeast entrance of the 
 square at that time, and if I do not immediately find an 
 opportunity for delivering the papers we can stroll out 
 toward the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac rail- 
 road, and I can deliver them during our walk. As there is 
 nothing further to be said or done at present, we will now 
 separate." 
 
 The speakers then retired in the direction from which 
 they had come, and Carrington and Bertha at once returned 
 to their buggy and drove back to Mrs. Slaughter's. They 
 were profoundly interested in what they had heard, and 
 Carrington told Bertha that he would take immediate 
 action to arrange for the arrest of the two spies, and 
 thereby prevent Paul's dispatches from being forwarded to 
 the Federal commander. He suggested to Bertha that she 
 had best spend the next day away from her boarding- 
 house, so that, in the event that Paul should call there, she 
 would not have to meet him ; as he knew that it would be very 
 disagreeable to her to meet_him after what she had heard, 
 and also feared that her manner toward him might be such 
 as to awaken his suspicions. Bertha readily promised that 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 131 
 
 she would adopt his suggestion and thanked him for mak- 
 ing it, stating that the thought of again meeting Paul was 
 extremely repugnant to her. After leaving Bertha, Car- 
 rington immediately sought an interview with the provost- 
 marshal of the city and related to him all that he had heard 
 of the conversation between the two spies. The provost- 
 marshal assured him that prompt and effectual measures 
 would be adopted for the apprehension of the spies and on 
 the following morning he made arrangements for the 
 accomplishment of this object. Knowing that the presence 
 of policemen at or near the public square at the time ap- 
 pointed for the meeting of the spies would excite less sus- 
 picion than that of soldiers, the provost-marshal, after 
 consulting with the chief of police, had ten policemen 
 detailed for the work in hand and gave them full instruc- 
 tions as to the steps to be taken in making the contem- 
 plated arrests. It was arranged that the policemen 
 should be stationed as follows: Four near the southeast 
 corner of the public square, four at the junction of Henry 
 and West Franklin streets, and the two others at the corner 
 of Smith and West Grace streets, as this disposition of the 
 men would enabfe them to watch the movements of the 
 spies in the event that they should not hold their interview 
 at or near the southeast entrance to the square as contem- 
 plated by them, but should go out toward the Richmond, 
 Fredericksburg, and Potomac railroad to give Paul an 
 opportunity for delivering his dispatches to Fox. A little 
 before dusk that evening, all of the policemen had reached 
 the positions to which they had been respectively assigned. 
 A few minutes afterward, Sergeant Paul sauntered into the 
 square from Henry street, and after strolling around for 
 a short time, returned to the southeast entrance. A 
 moment afterward, a man in citizen's dress approached the 
 entrance from Main street and walked in. On seeing Paul, 
 he walked briskly toward him and when he had reached 
 him extended his hand and said : 
 
 "Why, how are you, sergeant? t am glad to see you. 
 When did you reach the city?" 
 
 "Good evening, Mr. Phillips," said Paul. "This is an 
 unexpected pleasure, for I had supposed that you were out 
 
132 JOHN ASHTOJSr. 
 
 of the city, as I have been here for several weeks without 
 meeting you. I am really glad to see 3'ou again and regret 
 that we did not meet before now, especially as I will leave 
 for the army in a few da^^s. Let us take a stroll, as I 
 would like to have a chat with you and hear about Mrs. 
 PhilHps and 3'our daughters." 
 
 "Ver^' well," replied Paul's companion, "nothing would 
 please me better." 
 
 Paul and his companion then turned around and began to 
 walk off toward the north entrance of the square, and 
 immediately the four policemen who were near them, but 
 concealed by some shrulDber\^, made their appearance and 
 started toward t'lem. The man called Phillips caught sight 
 of them and at once darted off through the square toward 
 the northwest corner of it. Two of the policemen pursued 
 him, fii'ing several shots as they ran. He ran with great 
 speed and soon so far distanced his pursuers as to get out 
 of their sight in the gathering gloom and thus make his 
 escape. In the meantime, the other two policemen had 
 seized Paul, and one of them said : 
 
 "Edward Craft, ahas Sergeant Paul, by authority of the 
 provost-marshal of Richmond and in the name of the Con- 
 federate Government, I arrest you as a Federal spy." 
 
 "Arrest me as a Federal sp^^?" replied Paul. "Ha' ha! 
 What a blunder! That is certainly a capital joke. Now if 
 I had been arrested as a Confederate spy, there might have 
 been some foundation for the act, for the Major (that's 
 Mosby) frequently sends me into the Yankee lines under 
 such circumstances and on such missions that, if I were 
 caught, appearances would be so greatly against me I 
 would doubtless be treated as a spy. But the idea of my 
 being a Federal spy is so preposterous that it is realh^ 
 amusing. Why, my friend, I am one of Mosby's men, and 
 have been connected with his command for more than six 
 months." 
 
 The policeman replied: "Yourarrestmay appear amusing 
 to you, but i think you will soon find that it is a very 
 serious matter. However, it is not my business to discuss 
 the affair wath you, but simply to obe\' orders and conduct 
 you to the provost-marshal to be disposed of by him. And 
 as we have some distance to walk, we wnll start at once." 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 133 
 
 Having relieved hitii of his pistol, and the other policemen 
 having returned from their fruitless cliase after Fox, the 
 party started off with Paul, making him walk between two 
 of their number. On reaching Franklin street a inessenger 
 was sent for the policemen at the junction of Smith and 
 West Grace streets, and when they arrived the entire part\^ 
 returned into the city and conducted their prisoner to the 
 provost-marshal, who was at his office awaiting their 
 arrival. Paul was at once informed that he had been 
 arrested on the charge of being a Federal spy and that he 
 w^ould have to submit to being searched. At this state- 
 ment he turned slightly pale and appeared to be somewhat 
 excited ; but recovering his composure in a moment, he pro- 
 tested against the indignity of such a proceeding and 
 demanded to know upon whose accusation he had been 
 arrested. At that moment Captain Carrington entered the 
 office and said : 
 
 "You were arrested upon my accusation, and I am pre- 
 pared to establish its truthfulness. If the persons who 
 arrested you did their duty, and prevented 3^ou from deliv- 
 ering to your confederate a certain document which was to 
 have been delivered to him this evening at or near the pub- 
 lic square, there will be found on your person cipher dis- 
 patches to the Federal commander at Falmouth giving 
 what you claim to be definite information as to the con- 
 templated movements of General Lee's army." 
 
 While Carrington was speaking, Paul turned deathly pale, 
 and gave unmistakable signs of great nervousness and 
 embarrassment. His confusion was such that he did not 
 attempt any reply to Carrington's statement; and he was 
 at once subjected to a thorough search. Just as had been 
 expected, a lengthy document in cipher was found on his 
 person. It was in a sealed envelope without direction, was 
 not addressed to any one, and was simply signed, "C." 
 
 As this paper was the only suspicious article found on his 
 person, and the provost-marshal appeared unable to read 
 it, Paul experienced momentary relief from the feeling of 
 despair that had seized him when it was discovered. This 
 relief, however, was only momentary, for the provost- 
 marshal handed the writing to his clerk and said: 
 
134 JOaN ASRTON. 
 
 "Mr. Sharp, examine this document and see if you can 
 read it?" 
 
 After examining the document for a moment the clerk 
 said : "Yes, sir; although it is written in a peculiar cipher, I 
 can readily read it." 
 
 He tlien proceeded to read the contents of the paper, 
 which embodied a detailed statement of the recent increase 
 of General Lee's army, the aggregate force under his com- 
 mand, his contemplated invasion of Pennsylvania, the route 
 by which he expected to march, and the means to be used in 
 concealing his movements and ultimate destination from Gen- 
 eral Hooker, and also other information that would have 
 been of incalculable value to the latter at that particul ar 
 time. When the clerk had finished reading the paper the 
 provost-marshal turned to Paul and said: 
 
 "What have you now to say in answer to the accusation 
 against you ? " 
 
 "Nothing," replied Paul with an air of seeming 
 indifference. 
 
 The provost-marshal then stated that the case would be 
 investigated by a court-martial the next day, and ordered 
 that Paul be conducted to prison to await his trial. This 
 was immediately done, and soon Paul was safely lodged in 
 a prison cell. 
 
 Shortly after he was placed in prison, he requested the 
 guard to furnish him some paper and a pencil for the pur- 
 pose of writing a note to one of his friends in the city to 
 procure counsel for him in his approaching trial. The 
 guard complied with his request, and he at once began to 
 write. When he had finished writing he told the guard that 
 he would wait until morning to send the note, blew out the 
 light in his cell and went to bed. 
 
 When the jailer w^ent to the door of Paul's cell the next 
 morning for the purpose of giving him his breakfast, he 
 discovered that Paul had not arisen from his bunk. Hav- 
 ing called him two or three times without receiving an an- 
 swer, the jailer asked the guard to watch the door while he 
 was in the cell and immediately entered it. 
 
 Upon reaching the bunk on which Paul was lying, he was 
 startled and horrified to find that he was dead. He re- 
 
JOHN ASllTON. 135 
 
 ported the fact to the sentinel at the door, and upon an 
 examination of the body, they discovered that it was cold 
 and stiff, thereby indicating that life had been extinct for 
 six or eight hours. Lying on the floor beside the bunk they 
 found a folded paper, and on examining it at once 
 ascertained the cause and manner of Paul's death. So 
 intent were they on immediately learning the contents of 
 the paper, they did not go to the light to read it, but there 
 in the semi-darkness of the prison cell and within touch of 
 the dead hand that had written it, they read with absorb- 
 ing interest the following statement: 
 
 "Knowing that there is ample evidence to convict me, and 
 abhorring beyond expression the ignominious death of a 
 spy, I have deliberately arranged to take my own life by 
 means of a poisonous drug wiiich was long ago provided 
 for just such a contingency as the present. I earnestly 
 request that as little publicity as possible be given to my 
 case in order that no susi)icion as to my identity may be 
 excited in the minds of my family, which is a highly respect- 
 able one, and no member of it has the remotest idea as to 
 where or what I am. Not one of those whom I have been 
 serving suspects my real name, and inside the Federal lines I 
 am known only by the name which will be hereunto signed. 
 While the name of Paul, by which I am here known, is an 
 assumed one, my claim to membership in Mosby's com- 
 mand is not without foundation; for nominally I belong to 
 the command, and have frequently aided in its operations. 
 I joined and have operated with the command in order to 
 acquire freedom of action and ample opportunities for ply- 
 ing my trade, and also to lessen the chances of my detec- 
 tion and arrest. 
 
 "As to the motive that prompted me in becoming a Fed- 
 eral spy, I suppose that ra^- case is peculiar; for it was 
 neither love for the Union, hatred of the South, nor a 
 desire for gain that caused me to enter upon the work in 
 which I have been engaged. I began it purely in a spirit of 
 adventure and soon became so much interested in and in- 
 fatuated with the work that, in my thoughts, I idealized it 
 and thereby was rendered oblivious to its ignominious 
 character. Its dangers but enhanced its attractions, and so 
 
136 JOHN AsnroN. 
 
 fascinating did it become that I was never for a moment 
 inclined to relinquish it, although I realized that it would 
 probably lead to my death. 
 
 "I do not fear death in any ordinary form, as the act 
 which I am abont to perform will prove. But it is with 
 sickening dread and horrorthat I contemplate the ignominy 
 of being hung asaspy,andin order to escape that infamous 
 fate, I now, with a species of gladness, take the poisonous 
 drug which is to launch into eternity the spirit of 
 
 "Edward Craft." 
 
 When the jailer and sentinel had finished reading this 
 singular communication, the3' expressed great surprise at 
 its contents and agreed in thinking that the writer was not 
 altogether as bad as they had supposed him to bs when he 
 was brought to the prison as a spy. Moreover, they could 
 not avoid feeling a species of admiration for the man's 
 courage and the measure which he adopted to prevent his 
 public and ignominious execution and save his family from 
 the pain and humiliation which they would have experi- 
 enced in consequence of a knowledge of his fate. 
 
 The provost-marshal was at once informed of Paul's 
 suicide and, after reading the communication which the lat- 
 ter had left, decided that he would endeavor to induce the 
 War Department to comply with Paul's request that no 
 unnecessary publicity be given as to the circumstances of 
 his death. 
 
 In this he was successful, and, the matter having been 
 kept out of the papers, comparatively few persons in the 
 city knew that a Federal spy had been captured in their 
 midst and had committed suicide in order to escape the dis- 
 graceful penalty of his infamous crime. 
 
 The military operations which occurred shortly there- 
 after plainly indicated that General Hooker was ignorant 
 of General Lee's movements and the ultimate object of the 
 same; and hence, the interception of Paul's cipher dis- 
 patches to the Federal commander naturally leads one to 
 speculate as to whether those operations would have 
 occurred, or different movements been inaugurated, if Gen- 
 eral Hooker had received the information which these dis- 
 patches contained. If Hooker had known of the steps that 
 
JOHN ASHTON. I37 
 
 were being taken for the concentration of the Confederate 
 army at Culpeper Court-house and General Lee's contem- 
 plated invasion of Pennsylvania, and that only A. P. Hill's 
 corps confronted him at Fredericksburg, it is probable that 
 instead of throwing Sedgwick's corps across the Rappahan- 
 nock at Deep Run on the 6th of June for purposes of 
 observation, the Federal commander would have waited 
 until General Ewell's corps left Culpeper Court-house on 
 June 10th and was well on its march to the Valley, and 
 then he could have crossed the Rappahannock with thebulk 
 of his army, crushed A. P. Hill's corps, and either pressed 
 forward toward Richmond, or marched against Lon^- 
 street's corps at Culpeper Court-house with decided chances 
 in favor of his defeating General Lee before Ewell could 
 return to Lee's assistance. If he had received the aforesaid 
 information, General Hooker would not have found it 
 necessary to have sent General Pleasanton with two divis- 
 ions of cavalry and two brigades of infantry across the 
 Rappahannock at Kelly's and Beverly's Fords on the 9th 
 of June on a reconnoissance that resulted in the desperate 
 and protracted cavalry fight that day at Fleetwood 
 Heights and Brandy Station. 
 
 Ashton having taken an active part in that engagement, 
 we are reminded to return to him and give some account of 
 his experience and the movements of his regiment after we 
 left him basking in the sunshine amid the clover fields of 
 Orange county and thinking tenderly of Ruth Middleton. 
 For a week or two, he had ample time and opportunities 
 for frequent musings in regard to his relation to Ruth; for, 
 with the exception of an occasional skirmish drill, or a day 
 on picket, there was but little to interrupt him in his dailv 
 occupation of taking his horse out to graze for hours at a 
 time in the clover fields near which his regiment was en- 
 camped. Lying at full length amid the blooming clover 
 and listening to the humming of the bees around him and 
 the more distant music of numerous birds that were pour- 
 ing out in sweetest strains the. flood-tide of joy which filled 
 their hearts to overflowing at the gladsome advent of 
 spring, Ashton was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of 
 
138 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 joyousness that pervaded his surroundings, and thereby ren- 
 dered more cheerful than he had been for several months. 
 
 About a month after his letter to Ruth was returned to 
 him from the Dead Letter Office, he wrote to her again, but 
 received no answer to his letter, and in consequence thereof 
 became exceedingly despondent; but in the happy state of 
 mind which he now enjoyed, it was easy for him to imagine 
 and accept as satisfactory, various reasons why he had not 
 heard from her. Hence, to a great extent, he dispelled his 
 despondency, gave full sway to his absorbing love for Ruth, 
 and dreamed of the time when her silence would be ex- 
 plained, and he should learn that she loved him. The ten- 
 der love and happy hopefulness which he was thus cherish- 
 ing, not only engendered in his heart a feeling of content- 
 ment, but also had a reflex action on his outer life, and, 
 although he was uniformly affable in his manner, his com- 
 rades found him livelier and more genial than usual, and 
 noticed with pleasure his increased cheerfulness and 
 sociability. 
 
 Those halcyon days were of short duration and consti- 
 tuted merely an interlude in Ashton's soldier life — a calm 
 before the impending storm — for, as before mentioned, a 
 great military movement was imminent, and soon Stuart's 
 entire division of cavalry was concentrated in Culpeper 
 count3% where the bulk of General Lee's army was assem- 
 bling preparatory to the invasion of Pennsylvania. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 On Sunday, June 7th, 1863, there was a grand review 
 of the cavalry by General Lee, and as they passed in mar- 
 tial array before the noble commander-in-chief, the sight 
 thereby presented was extremely imposing. The review of 
 each regiment closed with a charge, at full speed, against 
 imaginary foes, and this mimic warfare with its accompa- 
 niments of clattering hoof-strokes, flaunting banners, flash- 
 ing sabres, and the inevitable "Rebel yell," gave the 
 beholder some idea of what could be accomplished by those 
 gallant troopers when engaged in real battle. They did 
 not, at the time, suspect that in less than forty-eight hours 
 they would thus be riding against real foes amidst the din 
 and dangers of actual conflict, and returned to camp that 
 evening in merry mood, thinking only of the gala day which 
 had just closed. 
 
 The several brigades of General Stuart's division spent 
 the following day in their respective encampments in a 
 quiet and uneventful manner. But about 5 o'clock on the 
 morning of June 9th, a large Federal force, under General 
 Buford, drove in the pickets of General W. E.Jones' brigade 
 at Beverly's Ford and crossed the Rappahannock at that 
 point, and shortly thereafter the remainder of General 
 Pleasanton's command, under General Gregg, began to 
 cross the river at Kelly's Ford. General Jones promptly 
 went with his brigade to the support of his pickets, and at 
 the same time General W. H. F. Lee moved his brigade 
 toward Beverly's Ford. General Fitzhugh Lee's brigade 
 moved in the same direction. General Hampton's 
 brigade moved forward toward a central position between 
 the roads leading to Beverly's and Kelly's Fords, and Gen- 
 eral Robertson's brigade advanced on General Hampton's 
 right toward Kelly's Ford. Jones' brigade soon became hotly 
 engaged with the Federal cavalry and infantry that was 
 advancing through the woods along the Beverly's Ford 
 road, and being assisted by W. H. F. Lee's brigade on the 
 left and sharpshooters from Hampton's brigade on the 
 
140 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 right, the Confederates succeeded in temporarily checking 
 the advance of the Federals at this point. 
 
 In a short time the entire Federal force had crossed the 
 river, and General Gregg's division of cavalry, with severa 
 batteries of artillery and three regiments of infantry, 
 advanced from Kelly's Ford toward Fleetwood Heights. 
 General Stuart, with a view to making a stand on these 
 heights, moved forward to occupy them. Two regiments 
 of Jones' brigade led the advance and reached the heights 
 about fifty yards ahead of the Federals, and then ensued a 
 long and hot contest for the possession of the heights. 
 The foremost Federal force was driven back by the 12th 
 Virginia cavalry under Colonel A. W. Harman, but this 
 regiment was in turn driven back by the Federal reserves, 
 and in retiring deranged the ranks of White's battalion, 
 which was advancing to charge, however, the charge was 
 made by Colonel E. V. White in a gallant and vigorous 
 manner, and his battalion broke the advance of the Fed- 
 erals and reached their artillery, but they greatly outnum- 
 bered his small force, and the 6th Virginia cavalry, under 
 Major C. E, Flournoy, was sent to his assistance. This 
 regiment also reached the Federal battery but was unable 
 to hold it. 
 
 At this critical period in the engagement, the gallant 
 Cobb's Legion under Colonel P. M. B. Young, being 
 directed by General Hampton to charge, came up the 
 steep hill at full speed in obedience to the ringing bugle- 
 notes that had sounded the charge, brandishing their 
 gleaming sabres and shouting the wild Confederate yell. 
 Rapidly nearing their foes, they soon struck the flank of 
 the Federals with the force of a catapult and swept 
 them entirely from the hill in a perfect rout. At the 
 same time, the 1st North Carolina cavalry, under Colonel 
 L. S. Baker, supported by the Jeif Davis Legion, under 
 Lieutenant-colonel J. F. Waring, swept around Colonel 
 Young's left and made several dashing and successful 
 charges, driving the Federals back each time. Colonel L. L. 
 Lomax with the 11th Virginia cavalry charged directly 
 over the crest of the hill, captured three pieces of artiller3^ 
 with their cannoneers, pushed forward to Brandy Station, 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 141 
 
 routed the Federals there and drove them back toward 
 Kelly's Ford, 
 
 The charge made b}' Colonel Young with Cobb's Legion 
 turned the scale of battle in favor of the Confederates, as 
 by means of it the Federals were routed and driven from 
 Fleetwood Hill; the Federal artillery subsequently captured 
 by Colonel Lomax, was prevented from reaching the top 
 of the hill, and the Federal forces were so disordered as to 
 render the work of routing them much easier to the other 
 regiments that subsequent)}' attacked them. 
 
 Just after the Federals had been driven back toward Kelly's 
 Ford, a large force of Federal cavalry with infantry and 
 artillery rapidly advanced from the direction of St. James 
 church on the Beverly's Ford road and threatened an im- 
 mediate attack on Fleetwood Hill. Jones' brigade was 
 posted behind Fleetwood with artillery on the heights, and 
 his sharpshooters were engaged with the Federal infantry 
 on his left. 
 
 Hampton's brigade was in position on Jones' right, and 
 W. H. F. Lee's brigade was on Jones' left and confronted 
 by Buford's division which, as before stated, had crossed 
 the river at Beverly's Ford and had been temporarily 
 checked early in the engagement b_v the brigades of Jones 
 and \V. H. F. Lee and Hampton's sharpshooters. General 
 W. H. F. Lee attacked the Federals in a series of gallant 
 and vigorous charges with his respective regiments, rout- 
 ing them each time, but, on account of their superior num- 
 bers, had to fall back to re-form his ranks. In one of these 
 charges, he received a severe wound in the leg which 
 unfitted him for duty for some time. 
 
 At this point, the 9th Virginia cavalry made several dash- 
 ing charges, driving the Federals back to the cover of the 
 woods behind them, where they were protected by their 
 infantry supports. 
 
 Ashton was in each of these charges and, as usual, used 
 his sabre well. While engaged in a hand-to-hand fight with 
 two Federal troopers, he w^as slightly wounded by a sabre- 
 stroke from one of them and his position became decidedly 
 critical. Just at this moment, one of his comrades came to 
 his assistance and shot one of his antagonists. Being thus 
 
142 JOEN ASHTON. 
 
 placed on an equal footing with the other, Ashton soon 
 unhorsed him bj a vigorous and well-directed stroke of his 
 sabre, and was thus extricated from his perilous position. 
 At this time, Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, under Colonel Thomas 
 T, Munford, came up and attacked the Federals in the 
 flank. They at once began to retreat and were soon driven 
 across the river at Beverly's Ford. 
 
 Thus closed the most extensive and hotly contested 
 cavalry light of the war, and the brilliancy of the victory 
 won by the Confederates was enhanced by reason of the 
 superior numbers of the Federal cavalry and their large 
 infantry supports. The Confederate forces consisted of 
 four brigades of cavalry, composed of twenty-one regi- 
 ments and five batteries of artillery — Robertson's brigade 
 of cavalry (two regiments) not being engaged in the fight. 
 According to the report of General A. Pleasanton, who com- 
 manded the expedition, the Federal forces consisted of 
 seven brigades of cavalry, composed of twenty-four regi- 
 ments and Orton's company of the District of Columbia, 
 two brigades of infantry, composed of eight regiments, and 
 six batteries of artillery. 
 
 His report shows that his total effective force of cavalry 
 and infantry was ten thousand nine hundred and eighty- 
 one, consisting of seven thousand nine hundred and eighty- 
 one cavalry and three thousand infantry. No report 
 having been given by General Stuart as to the strength of 
 his division, we are unable to state the number of the 
 Confederate forces engaged in the battle, but it was several 
 thousand less than that of the Federals. The official 
 reports of the casualties on both sides show that the Con- 
 federate loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, wasfour hun- 
 dred and eighty-five and that of the Federals was nine 
 hundred and thirty-six. It would seem, however, from a 
 report made by General Pleasanton as to the strength of his 
 forces just two da3^s afterward, that the Federal loss was 
 even greater than reported. The following is an extract 
 from the report: 
 
 "Cavalry and artillery present on review, Warrenton 
 Junction, June 11th, four thousand nine hundred and seven- 
 ty-three; absent on scout and picket, one thousand six hun- 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 143 
 
 dred and eighty; total effective strength of cavalry, June 
 11th, six thousand six hundred and fifty-three." 
 
 This shows that the total effective strength of the Federal 
 cavalry was one thousand three hundred and twenty-eight 
 less on June 11th than when it entered the fight two days 
 before. In the engagement the Confederates, in addition 
 to taking several hundred prisoners, captured a number of 
 horses, three pieces of artillery, four hundred and twenty- 
 one carbines, rifles and pistols, one hundred and fifty-five 
 sabres, and six battle-flags. 
 
 The Federals obtained no definite information in regard 
 to General Lee's movements, and hence their reconnoissance 
 was not only practically useless but caused them to be 
 severely punished for their temerity in making it. How- 
 ever, it revealed to General Hooker the presence, in Culpeper 
 county, of a larger force than he had supposed was there, 
 and hence, on June 11th, he moved the 3d corps of his army 
 to Rappahannock Station and Beverly's Ford, and posted 
 his cavalry along the upper waters of the Rappahannock 
 river. He was still ignorant as to General Lee's object, and 
 supposed that his movements were being directed against 
 his communications with Washington. Having completely 
 puzzled Hooker as to his object. General Lee put his army 
 in motion for Pennsylvania, General Ewell taking the 
 advance with his corps and leaving Culpeper Court-house 
 on June 10th. By June 14th, General Ewell had captured 
 Berryville, Winchester, and Martinsburg, with several 
 thousand prisoners. General Hooker, having received news 
 of General Ewell'smovementsin the Valley, became satisfied 
 that he had been deceived by General Lee, and on the night 
 of June 13th had Sedgwick's corps to recross the Rappa- 
 hannock from its position below Fredericksburg, and the 
 next day his entire army was withdrawn from the line of 
 that river and marched toward Manassas. 
 
 General Lee at once ordered A. P. Hill's corps from F'red- 
 ericksburg to the Valley, and in order to conceal its march 
 and draw General Hooker still farther away from Wash- 
 ington, Longstreet's corps left Culpeper Court-house on 
 June 15th, passing along the east side of the Blue Ridge, 
 and occupied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, thus cutting off 
 
144 JOHN ASlirON. 
 
 Hooker's means of communication with that part of the 
 Valley over which A. P. Hill was to march. In this way 
 General Hooker was drawn away from Washington 
 toward the mountains, and A. P.Hill soon crossed the Blue 
 Ridge and took position at Winchester. By means of these 
 strategic movements, General Lee had, in a masterly manner 
 and in a few days, drawn General Hooker away from the 
 Rappahannock to the Upper Potomac and placed the three 
 corps of his army in strong positions within supporting dis- 
 tance of each other, and from w^hich they could begin their 
 march into Pennsylvania without the risk of interference or 
 attack by General Hooker. As General Lee had succeeded in 
 placing his army in position for its advance into Pennsylva- 
 nia, it was now necessary to conceal and protect the for- 
 ward movement as long as possible; and hence he directed 
 General Stuart to leave a sufficient force on the Rappa- 
 hannock to watch General Hooker and move the main body 
 of his cavalry parallel to the Blue Ridge and on Longstreet's 
 right flank, who was to move near the base of the moun- 
 tains through Fauquier and Loudoun counties. As soon as 
 the Federal army should enter Maryland, General Stuart 
 was to cross the Potomac, moving either east or west of the 
 Blue Ridge as he thought best, and take his position on 
 the right of the Confederate army in its forward move- 
 ment. In consequence of these directions. General Steuart 
 placed Hampton's and Jones' brigades in observation along 
 the Rappahannock and Hazel rivers, with instructions for 
 them to follow the main body of his command as soon as 
 Hill's corps had passed that point, and on June 15th he 
 directed Fitzhu^h Lee's brigade to cross the Rappahannock 
 at Rockford and take the advance of Longstreet's corps by 
 way of Barbeer's Crossroads, and started W. H. F. Lee's 
 and Robertson's brigades to cross lower down the river at 
 Hinson's Mills. The movement thus begun resulted in a 
 series of hotly contested engagements between the Confed- 
 erate and Federal cavalry in which our hero took an active 
 part; and hence, its progress may prove of interest to the 
 
 reader. 
 
 Ashton's wound being a slight one, he was ready for duty 
 in a day two after he received it, and marched with his 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 145 
 
 regiment when it left camp on June 15th. As the Federals 
 had retired to Centerville, General Stuart proceeded with- 
 out interruption to within a few miles of Salem, and there 
 bivouacked for the night. On June 17th, Fitzhugh Lee's 
 brigade moved toward Aldie for the purpose of holding the 
 gap in Bull Run Mountain in order to conceal Longstreet's 
 movements. W. H. F. Lee's brigade was kept near the 
 plains to reconnoitre Thoroughfare Gap, and Robertson's 
 brigade was halted near Rectortown, within supporting dis- 
 tance of the other two brigades. When Fitzhugh Lee's brig- 
 ade arrived within a short distance of Dover, it was halted 
 and pickets were sent forward to the Aldie Gap. These 
 pickets were soon attacked by Federal cavalry advancing 
 from the direction of Fairfax, and driven back on the brig- 
 ade, which took position west of Aldie. At the same time 
 that this attack was made, General Stuart, who was at 
 Middleburg, received information that the Federals were 
 advancing on Middleburg from the direction of Hopewell. 
 He had only his staff and a few pickets with him, and re- 
 tired toward Rector's Crossroads, sending orders to Colonel 
 Thomas T. Munford, commanding Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, 
 to watch the road to Aliddleburg, and also sent orders for 
 General Robertson to march at once for Middleburg, and 
 Colonel John R. Chambliss, commanding W. H. F. Lee's 
 brigade, to take the Salem road to the same place. The 
 attack that was made on Fitzhugh Lee's brigade near 
 Aldie resulted in a desperate and bloody engagement in 
 which the Federals were repulsed with loss, the Confed- 
 erates holding their position until General Stuart's dispatch 
 to Colonel Munford rendered it necessary for him to retire 
 on account of the threatened attaclc from the Federal force 
 at Middleburg. The Federals had been so thoroughh^ pun- 
 ished that they did not attempt to follow Munford. Gen- 
 eral Robertson arrived at Middleburg about dark and was 
 at once ordered to attack the Federals. This he did, and 
 with his two regiments drove them out of the place and 
 pursued them for several miles on the Hopewell road. 
 Colonel Chambliss, approaching Middleburg from that di- 
 rection with W. H. F. Lee's brigade, intercepted the fleeing 
 Federals and captured the greater part of one regiment. 
 
U6 JOUN AsnroN. 
 
 General Stuart occupied Middleburg that night, and on June 
 18th took position around the place with W. H. F. Lee's and 
 Robertson's brigades, while Fitzhugh Lee's brigade took 
 position at Union, on General Stewart's left. The Federals 
 soon made such advances on General Stewart's left that he 
 thought it necessary to leave Middleburg, and did so, keep- 
 ing out pickets near to the enemy. As Hampton's and 
 Jones' brigades had not yet arrived, Stuart did not wish 
 a general engagement, and devoted his attention to procur- 
 ing information of the movements of the Federals through 
 scouts and reconnoitering parties. In one of these expe- 
 ditions, our old friend Mosby, whose gallant achievements 
 had won for him the rank of major about three montlis 
 before, with his accustomed daring, penetrated the Federal 
 lines and captured Major Stirling, of General Hooker's 
 staff, bearing dispatches from the latter to General 
 Pleasanton at Aldie. The dispatches disclosed the fact 
 that Hooker was greatly concerned about Aldie; that 
 Pleasanton occupied the place with both cavalry and in- 
 fantry, and that a reconnoissance in considerable force was 
 contemplated in the direction of Warrenton and Culpe])er 
 Court-house. General Stuart at once dispatched this infor- 
 mation to General Hampton, who was coming by wa3'' of 
 Warrenton from the direction of Beverly's Ford, and di- 
 rected him to meet this advance at Warrenton. General 
 Hampton did this and easily drove back the Federals, but 
 was prevented from pursuing them in consequence of the 
 approach of night and a heav3^ storm, under cover of which 
 they retreated. On the morning of June 19th the Confed- 
 erate pickets beyond Middleburg were driven in on Robert- 
 son's and W. H. F. Lee's bi'igades, which were posted to the 
 west of the town,pnd the Federals advanced with a large 
 force of cavalry and dismounted men deployed as infantry. 
 The force consisted of three brigades, composed of twelve 
 regiments, under General D. McM. Gregg, and greatly out- 
 numbered the two Confederate brigades, which contained 
 only six regiments. The Federal attack was met in a 
 spirited and determined manner, but they finally obtained 
 possession of a piece of woods in front of the Confederate 
 line, and although the Confederates met and repelled every 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 147 
 
 effort of the enemy to advance from this position, vet 
 whenever they charged the Federals, they were subjected to 
 a heavy carbine fire from these woods, and also a furious 
 fire from the Federal artillery beyond. General Stuart, 
 therefore, withdrew his command to a more advantageous 
 position about a half mile farther back and waited a re- 
 newal of the attack, but the Federals did not again attack 
 him that day. 
 
 On the evening of that day Jones' brigade arrived and 
 was posted near Union, Fitzhugh Lee's brigade being still 
 farther to the left, watching Snicker's Gap and the Snickers- 
 ville pike. General Hampton's brigade arrived on June 20th, 
 but too late for General Stuart to attack the Federals 
 that day. There was continuous skirmishing on the left 
 beyond Goose Creek, and the 5th Virginia cavalry, under 
 Colonel Rosser, drove the Federals across the stream in a 
 brilliant manner. Having been reinforced by Jones' and 
 Hampton's brigades. General Stuart was anxious to 
 attack the Federals as soon as possible, but the next day 
 (June 21st) being Sunday, he decided to suspend hostihties 
 and devote the day to rest. The Federals, however, 
 showed no regard for its sanctity, and about 8 o'clock that 
 morning they renewed the attack. 
 
 General Pleasanton had, the day before, learned from a 
 captured infantryman of Longstreet's corps that Long- 
 street had passed through Ashb;y's Gap into the Shen- 
 andoah Valley on June 19th, and that only Stuart's 
 division of cavalry was east of the Blue Ridge. In conse- 
 quence of this information, he sent a dispatch to General 
 Hooker requesting permission to take his entire corps and 
 attack Stuart the next morning (June 21st), and also 
 asked for a division of infantry to aid him in the move- 
 ment. Both requests were granted, and General James 
 Barnes' division, consisting of three brigades of infantry 
 with one battery, reinforced General Pleasanton's corps 
 at 3 o'clock on the morning of June 21st. General Pleas- 
 anton advanced with his entire corps and one brigade of 
 infantry, the latter being on the left of Gregg's column of 
 cavalry, on the Ashby Gap road. 
 
148 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 General Stuart sent forward the brigades of Hampton 
 and Robertson, and they occupied a strong position which 
 they could easily have held against a force of equal size 
 with their own, or against cavalry alone; but although 
 they repulsed the attack of the Federals and gallantly 
 maintained their position for a long time, the Federal 
 cavalry greatly outnumbering them and being aided in the 
 attack by a brigade of infantry which moved around on 
 their right flank, it became necessary for them to retire 
 from that position. Hence, General Stuart directed General 
 Hampton to withdraw to the next height in rear of him as 
 soon as his position should be hard pressed, and ordered 
 Colonel Chambhss and General Jones to resist the Federals 
 as far as possible and for the latter to connect with Hamp- 
 ton's left and, retiring with the main body,efl'ect a junction 
 with it at Upperville, where Stuart contemplated a more 
 determined stand than could be made with his forces sep- 
 arated as they then were, the several brigades of his divis- 
 ion being from four to six miles apart. 
 
 While retiring from the first position before Middleburg, 
 one of the pieces of Captain J. F. Hart's battery of horse- 
 artillery had the axle broken by a shot from a Federal gun 
 and had to be abandoned, and in referring to the matter in 
 his official report. General Stuart said : "It is the first piece 
 of my horse-artillery that has ever fallen into the enemy's 
 hands. Its full value was paid in the slaughter it made in 
 the enem3?'s ranks, and it was well sold." 
 
 The next stand made by General Stuart was on the 
 west bank of Goose Creek, and although his two brigades 
 were again attacked by a superior force of Federal cavalry 
 and the brigade of infantry, he repulsed the attack with 
 considerable slaughter, checked them for awhile and then 
 withdrew his command in plain view of them and under 
 the fire of their guns. In the meantime, the brigades of 
 Jones and W. H. F. Lee had become hotly engaged with 
 another heavy column of Federals, and were gradually 
 retiring toward Upperville, and before they reached that 
 place, the enemy had passed up so close as to render it 
 hazardous for these brigades to attempt a junction there, 
 and also made it necessary for Hampton's and Robertson's 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 149 
 
 brigades to move out immediately to the west of Upperville 
 to avoid being flanked by the Federals through the medium 
 of the various roads converging at that place. On 
 account of the women and children in the place, the Con- 
 federates were anxious to avoid a conflict in the village, 
 but the Federals, reckless of the injury that might be done 
 to these helpless persons, and seemingly taking advantage 
 of this disinclination of the Confederates to fight there, made 
 a furious attack on the rear guard. In an instant a part 
 of General Hampton's brigade, led by its peerless comman- 
 der, wheeled about and charged the Federals with their 
 accustomed dash and bravery, and drove them back in the 
 greatest confusion, killing, wounding, and capturing a 
 great many of their number. After this repulse. General 
 Stuart leisurely retired to the mountain gap west of 
 Upperville and took position to dispute any further 
 advance of the Federals. They made no attack, and went 
 into camp at Upperville that night. The next morning 
 they retired and were pursued to within a short distance of 
 Aldie, a number of them being captured. General Stuart 
 resumed his position at Rector's Crossroads and remained 
 there until June 24th. In his official reports of the several 
 engagements at Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville, from 
 June 17th to June 22d, General Pleasanton was quite 
 boastful as to the achievements of the Federals, claiming 
 in substance, that they had defeated the Confederates in 
 every engagement with heavy loss to the latter, as com- 
 pared with that of his own troops. This claim was made 
 during the excitement incident to his surroundings and 
 before he had obtained full and reliable information as to 
 the casualties among his own and the Confederate troops ; 
 for the official tabulated returns of these losses show that 
 in those engagements, the Federal loss was eighty-three 
 killed, three hundred and twenty-eight wounded and four 
 hundred and sixty-seven captured or missing* and the Con- 
 federate loss was fifty-six killed, two hundred and seventy- 
 nine wounded, and one hundred and sixty-six captured or 
 missing. Moreover, the Confederates were not "defeated" 
 at all in the proper sense of that word, for while it became 
 necessarj' for General Stuart to retire three or four miles 
 
150 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 in order to get together his widelj^ separated brigades, this 
 was done in good order in the face of largely superior 
 forces, and when he had thus concentrated his forces, the 
 Federals failed to attack him and retreated, leaving him 
 master of the situation, as he was still in possession of the 
 mountain gaps and the section of country which he had 
 been protecting in order to screen Longstreet's movements. 
 On the night of June 24th, General Stuart left Robert- 
 son's and Jones' brigades to watch the Federals, and with 
 the brigades of Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee and W. H. F. 
 Lee, moved out from near Salem Depot on his march to the 
 Potomac. His first objective point on the route was 
 Dranesville, and in order to reach that place it was 
 necessary for him to pass through Bull Run Mountains. 
 Learning that General Hancock's corps occupied Thorough- 
 fare Gap, General Stuart moved with his command to 
 the right of that point and succeeded in passing through 
 Glasscock's Gap and marched toward Haymarket. As 
 they neared that place they found that Hancock's, corps 
 was passing through there toward Gum Spring, and Gen- 
 eral Stuart opened on his moving column with artillery, 
 doing considerable damage to his train and disabling one 
 of his caissons, which was abandoned. Sending a dispatch 
 to General Lee informing him of General Hancock's move- 
 ments, General Stuart retired to Buckland in order to de- 
 ceive the Federals as to his own movements. He had at first 
 contemplated passing west of Centerville, but the presence 
 of the Federals in that quarter caused him to decide to 
 cross the Bull Run lower down and march through Fairfax 
 for the Potomac. On the next day he marched through 
 Brentsville to the vicinity of Wolf Run Shoals on the 
 Occoquan, where he halted for the purpose of grazing his 
 horses. On the following day (June 27th), he marched for 
 Fairfax Station, sending General Fitzhugh Lee with his 
 brigade by Burke's Station with instructions to rejoin the 
 main command at Fairfax Court-house, or farther on if 
 circumstances should so require. 
 
 Near Fairfax Station, General Hampton's front regiment, 
 the 1st North Carolina, charged a detachment of Federal 
 cavalry called "Scott's Nine Hundred," and killed, wounded, 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 151 
 
 and captured the greater part of them. On reaching Fair- 
 fax Court-house and receiving a communication from Gen- 
 eral Fitzhugh Lee, General Stuart became satisfied that the 
 main body of the Federal army had moved tov^ard Lees- 
 burg, and that the remainder had retired to the fortifica- 
 tions of Washington, and hence that the chances were 
 favorable for his march to the Potomac between the rear 
 of the Federal army and Washington. Reaching Dranes- 
 ville late that afternoon, General Stuart ordered Hamp- 
 ton's brigade to march at once to Rowser's Ford on the 
 Potomac, W. H. F. Lee's brigade remaining at Dranesville 
 to await the arrival of Fitzhugh Lee's brigade. Hampton's 
 brigade crossed the Potomac early that night, but 
 reported to General Stuart that it would be impossible 
 for his artillery to cross at that ford, and this opinion was 
 also expressed by several citizens of the vicinity. However 
 General Stuart, with his accustomed sanguine disregard 
 for opposing difficulties and dangers, decided to make an 
 effort to cross his artillery at that point, and before 12 
 o'clock that night, by indomitable energy and perseverance, 
 in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, every gun 
 was carried safely over the river and the entire command, 
 bivouacked on the Maryland side of the stream. 
 
 A lock-gate in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was soon 
 broken, and steps were taken to intercept boats. About a 
 dozen were intercepted, and the following morning several 
 boats loaded with negro troops and army stores were cap- 
 tured by the rear guard of Stuart's command. Realizing 
 the importance of joining the Confederate army in Penn- 
 sylvania as soon as possible, General Stuart resumed his 
 march northward early on the morning of June 28th, send- 
 ing Hampton's brigadeby way of Dranestown to Rockville, 
 while he, with the two other brigades, took the direct route 
 to the same place. General Hampton reached Rockville in 
 advance of the main body, having captured several small 
 parties of Federals and a number of wagons and teams on 
 the route. While the main body of the command was on 
 the way to Rockville, the advance guard of W. H. F. Lee's 
 brigade, in which Ashton happened to be at the time, had a 
 running fight with the New York cavalry, whose picket, 
 
152 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 as the reader will remember, captured Ashton near Fox's 
 Ford on the Rappahannock the preceding November and 
 was in turn captured by Mosbv. The horses of the Con- 
 federates were in bad condition and greatly jaded, while 
 those of the Federals were fresh and in good condition, and 
 hence the latter soon distanced the former and bore their 
 riders beyond the reach of their pursuers. Ashton was still 
 riding the corporal's horse which Mosby had given him, 
 and the result of the chase brought vividly before his mind 
 the unfavorable contrast between his horse's condition and 
 speed then, and what they were when its former owner was 
 captured by Mosby. 
 
 There was a Federal force at Rockville, but they retreated 
 on the approach of the Confederates, and General Stuart 
 immediately took possession of the town. Soon after he 
 had occupied the place, a long train of wagons approached 
 from the direction of Washington, and, although those in 
 charge of them made a desperate effort to escape with the 
 w^agons, every one of them was captured. There were more 
 than one hundred and twenty-five wagons and teams and 
 the hindmost wagon was within four miles of Washing- 
 ton, the train being eight miles long. Under some circum- 
 stances this capture would have been not only valuable 
 but also a fortunate one, but the time and labor subse- 
 quently devoted to the safe conduct of the train, as well as 
 its presence with his command, retarded General Stuart's 
 movements and rendered his operations less successful than 
 they would otherwise have been. Having paroled about 
 four hundred prisoners at Brook ville. General Stuart 
 pushed forward that night to the Baltimore and Ohio rail- 
 road, and Fitzhugh Lee's brigade readied the railroad 
 about daylight the next morning. The bridge at Sikesville 
 was burned, and the track torn up at Hood's Mills. That 
 afternoon the head of the column reached Westminster and 
 had a skirmish with a squadron of the 1st Delaware cavalry, 
 in which Lieutenants Pierce Gibson and John W. Murray, 
 of the 4th Virginia cavalry, were killed. Although they had 
 fallen in a strange land, it was evident that their deaths 
 had occurred in the midst of those who sympathized with 
 the cause in defense of which they had given up their lives; 
 
JOHN AS ETON. 153 
 
 for some of the ladies of the place requested that they might 
 have the privilege of superintending the burial of these 
 gallant young soldiers. Their request was granted, and 
 these noble women enjoyed the melancholy pleasure of pay- 
 ing a loving tribute to the South, and honoring her dead, 
 by superintending the burial rites of two of her fallen 
 heroes. 
 
 On the following morning (June 30th), General Stuart 
 marched directly toward Hanover, W. H. F. Lee's brigade 
 being in advance, Hampton's brigade in the rear of the 
 wagon train, and Fitzhugh Lee's brigade on the left flank. 
 About 10 o'clock a. m., the head of the column reached 
 Hanover, Pennsylvania, and was attacked by a large force 
 of Federal cavalr3^ The 9th Virginia cavalry was in 
 advance and met this attack by a gallant and vigorous 
 charge, and not only repulsed the Federals, but drove them 
 in confusion through the town and captured many 
 prisoners. Ashton was among the foremost in the charge, had 
 several close encounters with Federal troopers and unhorsed 
 more than one of his antagonists. Moreover, he rendered 
 his captain a timely service which, doubtless, saved his 
 life; for while the latter was hotly engaged in a saber con- 
 test with one of the Federal troopers, another Federal 
 came to his comrade's assistance and was in the act of 
 
 dealing Captain B a blow with his saber, wlien 
 
 Ashton caught the descending saber on his own, parried a 
 fierce and vigorous thrust made with it at himself , and with 
 a rapid and well-directed right cut cleft the Federal's right 
 jaw in twain and instantly unhorsed him. Ashton's con- 
 duct throughout the fight was marked by the greatest 
 gallantry, and evoked unstinted praise from the oflBcers and 
 men of his company. The Federals ralhed their forces and, 
 as only a portion of Stuart's command had arrived, suc- 
 ceeded in regaining the town; but when General Hampton's 
 brigade arrived, they were again attacked and driven from 
 the place. The Federals did not retreat, but moved around 
 to the left of Stuart's command and continued to press 
 the left flank with dismounted sharpshooters. The im- 
 mense wagon train captured by the Confederates, and 
 about four hundred prisoners who had beencaptui-ed since 
 
154 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 those were paroled at Brookville, now became the source 
 of great embarrassment to General Stuart; but having 
 reasons to believe that the Confederate army was near the 
 Susquehanna river, he thought that he could save the train 
 by making a detour to the right by Jefit'erson, and hence 
 put Fitzhugh Lee's brigade at the head of the column with 
 instructions to push on with the w^agon train through 
 Jefferson to York, and communicate as soon as possi- 
 ble with General Lee's army, and directed Hampton's 
 brigade to bring up the rear of the column. In this order 
 the command continued the march throughout the entire 
 night, and it was exceedingly trying to both men and 
 horses on account of the many hardships experienced during 
 the past fifteen days of constant service. Entire regiments 
 slept in their saddles, and in some instances the men fell 
 from their horses, being completely overcome by fatigue 
 and sleepiness. General Stuart reached Dover, Pa., on the 
 morning of July 1st, but could obtain no deiinite informa- 
 tion as to the location of the Confederate army. In the 
 afternoon he arrived at Carlisle, and found that it was 
 occupied by a considerable force of Federal militia con- 
 cealed in the houses with a view to entrapping the Confed- 
 erates upon their entrance into the place. General Stuart 
 did not wish to subject the town to the injurious conse- 
 quences of an attack, but as his men were entirely out of 
 rations it was necessary that they should olitain a supply 
 of food, and hence he sent in, under a flag of truce, a de- 
 mand for the unconditional surrender of the place with the 
 alternative of a bombardment if his demand should be 
 refused. The demand was refused, and after placing his 
 artillery in position he repeated the demand. It was again 
 refused and he was forced to shell the town, but none of 
 the buildings except the United States cavalry barracks 
 were burned. 
 
 General Stuart was still uninformed as to the where- 
 abouts of General Lee's army, but during the night received 
 a dispatch from him stating that the army was at Gettys- 
 burg and had been engaged that day with the advance of 
 the Federal army. He at once sent an order to General 
 Hampton to march ten miles that night toward Gettysburg 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 155 
 
 and, arranging for the other brigades to reach there early 
 the next morning, he started in person for the place that 
 night. 
 
 General Hampton arrived at Gettysburg July 2d, just in 
 time to meet and check a movement of the Federal cavalry 
 upon the rear of the Confederates, by way of Hunters- 
 town; and his brigade, by a series of gallant charges, 
 routed the Federals and defeated their purpose. General 
 . Stuart took position that day on the York and Heidlers- 
 burg road on the left wing of the Confederate army. 
 
 On the morning of July 3d, in pursuance of instructions 
 from General Lee, he moved forward to a position to the 
 left of, and in advance of General Ewell's left, where an 
 elevated ridge commanded a wide plain of cultivated fields 
 between that point and the base of the mountain spurs, 
 where the Federals were posted. His command had been 
 increased by the addition of General Jenkins' brigade, and 
 he moved this and General W. H. F, Lee's brigade secretly 
 through the woods with a view to an attack on the rear 
 of the Federals; but Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's bri- 
 gades, which had been ordered to follow Stuart, unfortu- 
 nately marched out into the open ground and thereby dis- 
 closed the movement and caused a counter-movement of 
 the Federals to meet it. Before General Hampton reached 
 General Stuart, the Federals deployed a heavy line of 
 sharpshooters and advanced toward Stuart's position. In 
 the meantime, Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's brigades had 
 become hotlj engaged as dismounted skirmishers. The Fed- 
 erals sent forward a small force of cavalry and were about 
 to cut off a part of the Confederate sharpshooters, and 
 General Stuart ordered the 9th Virginia cavalry to quickly 
 charge this cavalry force. The regiment promptly re- 
 sponded to the order and made a gallant and irresistible 
 charge. At the same time the 1st Virginia cavalry made a 
 similar charge on the left ; but having gone too far, their 
 jaded horses failed under the prolonged strain upon them, 
 and the Federals, perceiving this, turned upon them with 
 fresh horses. The 1st North Carolina and Jeft' Davis Legion 
 were sent to their support, and this hand-to-hand fighting 
 gradually involved the greater portion of Stuart's com- 
 
156 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 mand and continued until the Federals were driven from 
 the field with heavy loss, including many prisoners. Gen- 
 eral Hampton, ever foremost in the fray, was twice 
 wounded in this engagement and in consequence thereof 
 had to leave the field. During that night General Lee with- 
 drew the main body of his army to the ridges west of Get- 
 tysburg and on the next night began his march back to the 
 Potomac. 
 
 General Stuart having received from General Lee instruc- 
 tions as to the order of march, disposed of the cavalry in 
 such manner as to cover and protect the flanks of the retir- 
 ing army. The brigades of Jenkins and W, H. F. Lee 
 under the immediate command of General Stuart, pro- 
 ceeded by way of Emmitsburg and Cavetown toward Ha- 
 gerstowm and, after one or two skirmishes on the route, 
 reached the latter place on July 6th. General Stuart found 
 a large force of Federal cavalry in possession of the town 
 and at once attacked them. At this time the Confederate 
 wagon trains were at Williamsport, six miles from Hagers- 
 town, and were unable to cross the Potomac on account of 
 the swollen condition of the river. Being satisfied that the 
 Federals contemplated an attack on Williamsport for the 
 purpose of capturing these trains. General Stuart deter- 
 mined to defeat their purpose, if possible, by a vigorous 
 attack on them. They were finally driven out of Hagers- 
 town and at first took the road to Sharpsburg, but after- 
 ward turned into the one leading to Williamsport. W. 
 H. F. Lee's brigade was pushed down the Williamsport 
 road after the Federals, and Robertson's and Jenkins' bri- 
 gades, taking the left of the road, moved parallel with 
 Lee's brigade. The 9th Virginia cavalry was in advance 
 and, when the order was given to charge, it dashed for- 
 ward along the pike at full speed and soon struck the Fed- 
 eral column with irresistible force, driving it back in great 
 confusion. 
 
 The charge was a brilliant one, and the fighting, though 
 brief, was furious and sanguinary, and Ashton engaged in 
 the same with even more than his usual zeal, energy, and 
 gallantry. His usually calm and quiet countenance was 
 aglow with excitement and enthusiasm, his whole body 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 157 
 
 was instinct with animation, his soul seemed to be imbued 
 with the spirit of battle, and he rushed into the thickest of 
 the fight with headlong impetuosity, apparently uncon- 
 scious of danger and bent solely on the destruction of his 
 foes. Riding at the head of the column, he was one of the 
 first to reach the Federal troopers and at once began to use 
 his saber with telling effect, cutting right and left with 
 lightning-like rapidity; and almost every stroke of his 
 flashing blade disabled the unfortunate foeman on whom 
 it fell. His comrades had long known and marked his skill 
 and gallantry in battle, but they had never before seen him 
 display such impetuosit\' and seemingly reckless bravery as 
 characterized his conduct on this occasion. The Federals 
 did not long withstand the vigorous onslaught of the Con- 
 federates and soon began to retreat. At this time Jenkins' 
 brigade, which, as before stated, was moving parallel with 
 W. H. F. Lee's brigade on the left of the road, was hurried 
 up to attack the Federals in the flank, but several fences 
 obstructed their m.arch and delayed their movements to 
 such an extent that the Federals had time to rally their 
 forces and obtain a sheltered position behind a crest of 
 rocks. Jenkins' brigade was then dismounted and at once 
 advanced on the Federals and soon drove them out of the 
 position which they had taken. As soon as they were dis- 
 lodged by the dismounted men, the mounted men renewed 
 the attack upon them and drove them back. The Federals 
 made one effort at a countercharge, which was bravely met 
 and completely repulsed by a fragment of the 5th North 
 Carolina cavalry under its gallant commander, Colonel 
 James B. Gordon. Immediately after this, Colonel L. L. 
 Lomax arrived with the 11th Virginia cavalry, of Jones' 
 brigade, from the direction of Cavetown. Moving his reg- 
 iment parallel with the pike tm til within about five hun- 
 dred yards of the Federals, he turned into the pike under a 
 heavy fire from the Federal batteries, advanced rapidly 
 toward the Federals, and when within two hundred yards 
 of them, his regiment began a charge that was a gallant 
 and effective one, resulting in the complete rout of the Fed- 
 erals and the capture of a number of prisoners. By this 
 vigorous and persistent attack. General Stuart not only 
 
158 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 inflicted a severe blow on the Federals, but also, as he had 
 expected, caused them to raise their siege of Williamsport, 
 and thereby saved the army trains congregated at that 
 place; for they hastily left that night by the Downs ville 
 road. 
 
 On the next day (July 7th), General Stuart proceeded to 
 Downsville, and on the following day advanced toward 
 Boonsborough. At Beaver Creek Bridge, the Federals 
 were first encountered on the Boonsborough road by 
 Jones' brigade, and from that point to Boonsborough, the 
 fighting was continuous, Hampton's, Fitzhugh Lee's, and 
 W. H. F. Lee's brigades participating in the same. Owing 
 to the fact that the ground was very soft from the effects 
 of recent heavy rains, cavalry operations were impracti- 
 cable, and most of the fighting was done on foot. It was 
 done in a gallant and spirited manner by the Confederates, 
 and the}' steadily drove back the Federals before them. 
 
 The 9th Virginia cavalry furnished its quota of dis- 
 mounted men to act as sharpshooters in driving back the 
 Federals, and Ashton was among the first to dismount 
 and press forward to the attack. He was an excellent 
 shot and did good service with his carbine during this for- 
 ward movement. Just as the Federals reached the out- 
 skirts of Boonsborough in their retreat, and while Ashton 
 was in the act of firing, he was wounded by a shot from a 
 carbine. The ball entered his left shoulder just below the 
 collar-bone and passed out at the point of the shoulder- 
 blade, inflicting a painful and dangerous wound. He was 
 at once taken to the rear and carried with other wounded 
 Confederates to Williamsport. There his wound was ex- 
 amined and dressed and his condition rendered as comfort- 
 able as possible. 
 
 Owing to the swollen condition of the Potomac, General 
 Lee had not yet begun to move his army across the stream, 
 which was too deep to be forded, and his pontoon bridges 
 had not been laid. However, the wounded were being car- 
 ried over in ferry-boats, and on the following day Ashton 
 was taken across in that manner. On the night of the 
 13th and the morning of the 14th of July, the entire army 
 crossed the river and after several skirmishes, principally 
 by the cavalry, resumed its former line along the Rappa- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 169 
 
 hannock on July 25th, but ultimately occupied the line of 
 the Rapidan about August 4th. 
 
 In the meantime, Ashton had been subjected to a trying 
 and painful experience. After he was carried across the 
 Potomac on July 9th, he remained near that point until 
 the army crossed the river. On July 15th he was carried 
 to Bunker Hill, about twelve miles north of Winchester, 
 where the army encamped until July 21st, and during that 
 time arrangements were made for the removal to Staunton 
 of all of the sick and wounded soldiers who could bear trans- 
 portation. Although Ashton's wound was exceedingly pain- 
 ful and caused him intense suffering, he insisted on being taken 
 to Staunton, as he had a horror of again falling into the 
 hands of the enemy. His request was granted, and in com- 
 pany with other wounded soldiers, he was transported up 
 the Valley turnpike to Staunton. At Mount Jackson and 
 Harrisonburg wayside hospitals had been established, and 
 at each of these places Ashton remained for a day or two, 
 and his wound was redressed, and he was refreshed with 
 food and much-needed rest. 
 
 The ladies at these places were exceedingly kind to the 
 sick and wounded Confederate soldiers, bringing them 
 food and drink suitable for their condition and doing all in 
 their power to alleviate their sufferings. Indeed, such had 
 been the conduct of the noble and patriotic citizens all 
 along the route from "Winchester whenever they had oppor- 
 tunities for ministering to the sick and wounded of the 
 retiring army. This was the second time they had mani- 
 fested their kindness and liberality in contributing to the 
 necessities of the sick and wounded of the Confederate 
 army ; for in the preceding September, after the battle of 
 Sharpsburg and General Lee's return from Maryland, the 
 sick and wounded of his army were transported from 
 Winchester by way of the Valley turnpike. Nobly and 
 generously did the people along the route respond to the 
 calls that were thereby made upon their kindness and liber- 
 ality ; and many a war-worn, battle-scarred Confederate 
 veteran to-day holds in highest honor and in his heart 
 blesses the patriotic, generous, self-sacrificing and kind- 
 hearted citizens of the Shenandoah Valley. We might add, 
 in passing, that in contrast with this feeling of honor and 
 
160 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 gratitude for the kindness and generosity of these noble 
 citizens, there is also in the hearts and minds of those Con- 
 federate veterans an ineradicable feeling of utter condem- 
 nation and abhorrence of the barbarous, brutal and cruel 
 conduct of General Sheridan in his treatment of those citi- 
 zens and the wholesale destruction of their property dur- 
 in,!^ the fall of 3 864, whereby that once beautiful and pro- 
 ductive valley was almost made a desert. 
 
 In order that the reader may see that this comment on 
 Sheridan's conduct is just, and that the effect of his bar- 
 barous deeds has not been exaggerated, we will let him 
 speak for himself by quoting from the dispatch sent by 
 him just after he had driven General Early back to Staun- 
 ton in September, 1864, and withdrawn his own army be- 
 hind Cedar Creek. In that dispatch, he sa^'s : 
 
 "In moving back to this point, the whole country, from 
 the Blue Ridge to the North Mountains, has been made en- 
 entirely untenable for a rebel array. I have destro^-ed over 
 two thousand barns filled with wheat and hay and farming 
 implements, over seventy mills filled with flour and wheat; 
 have driven in front of the army over four thousand head 
 of stock ; and have killed and issued to the troops not less 
 f'nn three thousand sheep. This destruction embraces the 
 Luray Valley and the Little Fork Valley, as well as the 
 main valley." 
 
 Asking the reader to excuse this digression we will return 
 to Ashton. After arriving at Staunton, he was allowed 
 to remain there for a few days and was then transferred 
 over the Virginia Central railroad to Gordonsville, reaching 
 that place on August 1st. Gordonsville, at this time, was 
 a distributing point for the sick and wounded soldiers, and 
 from there they were sent to the various general hospitals. 
 On the day after his arrival at Gordonsville, Ashton was 
 sent, in company with a number of other wounded soldiers, 
 to Richmond, and arrived there in the evening of that day. 
 He was assigned to the hospital at which Ruth Middleton 
 and Bertha Gray were doing duty as volunteer nurses two 
 months before, but they were not there at this time. In 
 order that the reader may understand the cause of their 
 absence, it will be necessary to relate something of their 
 experience since they last appeared in our story. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 161 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A few days after the suicide of Sergeant Paul, alias Ed- 
 ward Craft, Captain Carrington returned to his command, 
 which was then near Culpeper Court-house and about to 
 start on the march to Pennsylvania. These few days had 
 been rife with happiness to him and Bertha, and their part- 
 ing was exceedingly sad to both, as they felt that it might 
 be a final one. For several days after Carrington's dejDart- 
 ure, Bertha was very sad and dejected, but on June 11th 
 her feelings were greatly revived b}' the receipt of a letter 
 from him, written the night before he left Culpeper Court- 
 house with Ewell's corps on its march to the Valley. The 
 letter was characterized by a spirit of tenderest devotion 
 that was very sweet and comforting to her heart, and 
 written in such a jo_vous and hopeful strain that it par- 
 tially banished her sadness and tended to restore her cheerful- 
 ness. Carrington promised to write as often as he had 
 opportunities for so doing, but told her that these oppor- 
 tunities would necessarily be quite few^ as the arm}^ 
 was about to invade the enemy's country and it might be 
 weeks before he could send a letter back into the Confed- 
 eracy, and hence that she must not be uneasy shou-ld she 
 fail to hear from him for some time after he had crossed 
 the border. 
 
 It had now been nearly two months since Bertha arrived 
 in Richmond, and she decided to terminate her visit and 
 
 return to B . Hence, a few days thereafter, she bade 
 
 Ruth good-bye and returned to her Southern home. Ruth's 
 interest in her work at the hospital was unabated, but she 
 now had comparatively little to do, as most of the 
 wounded soldiers who were brought to the hospital just 
 after the battle of Chancellorsville, had recovered from the 
 effects of their wounds and been discharged. This gave her 
 a great deal of leisure time, and much of it was spent in 
 walking about the city in company with her devoted little 
 friend, Randolph Slaughter, who took the greatest delight 
 in acting. as her escort and showing her various places of 
 interest in the Confederate Capital. 
 
162 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 About the middle of July, they were one day walking in 
 Capitol Square and, while approaching Clay Monument, 
 suddenly came face to face with a lady and gentleman 
 walking toward them. The lady at once rushed forward, 
 exclaiming: 
 
 "Why, how do you do, Ruth ! You dear old girl. I am so 
 glad to see you !" 
 
 Ruth instantly recognized the lady as Belle Preston, who 
 had been one of her classmates when she attended Augusta 
 Female Seminary, at Staunton, several years before, and, 
 springing forward to meet her, the girls were soon em- 
 bracing each other in a very affectionate manner. After 
 this affectionate greeting was over, Belle introduced the 
 gentleman as her brother, Lieutenant Frank Preston of the 
 
 artiller3^which was then stationed near the city and 
 
 constituted part of the defensive force of the Confederate 
 Capital. Ruth, in turn, introduced Randolph Slaughter to 
 Belle and Lieutenant Preston and opened the conversation 
 by saying : 
 
 "I am delighted to see you, Belle, and have several times 
 thought of writing you to let you know that I was 
 here, so that you might make me a visit." 
 
 "You don't mean to say," said Belle, "that you have been 
 in Richmond for any length of time? What in the world 
 have you been doing? And why did you not come to see 
 me?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Ruth, "I have been here for several months, 
 and my time has been occupied in attending on the 
 wounded soldiers at one of the hospitals, where I am a 
 volunteer nurse. I have really had no opportunity for visit- 
 ing you and, moreover, did not know whether or not you 
 were at home." 
 
 "Yes," said Belle, "I have been at home all the year, and 
 am so sorry that I did not know that you were here ; for if 
 I had, I would certainly have come to see you immediately. 
 I was greatly surprised to find you here, but am not now 
 surprised to learn what you are doing; for, in view of my 
 knowledge of your character, it seems perfectly natural to 
 find you acting the part of a Florence Nightingale. Now 
 that I have found you, I am bent on seeing something of 
 
JOHN ASIITON. ' 163 
 
 you and intend to take you home with me. You need not 
 offer any excuses, for I will not accept them, and 3'ou must 
 get ready to go home with us. Isn't that so, Frank ?" 
 
 Lieutenant Preston replied: "Of course, Belle, we must 
 not try to influence Miss Middleton to act contrary to her 
 sense of duty as to the claims of her patients at the hospi- 
 tal, but, if she can consistently leave them for two or 
 three weeks, I agree with you in thinking that she ought to 
 make you a visit. And I hope. Miss Middleton, that their 
 condition is such that you can safely and consistently 
 with your sense of duty leave them for that length of time; 
 for our family will be deHghted to have you with them 
 and, moreover, the salubrious climate of Lexington and the 
 bracing breezes from the Blue Ridge mountains will be a 
 pleasant and salutary change from the atmosphere of this 
 crowded city and the confinement of hospital duties " 
 
 "I thank both of you," said Ruth, "for your kind invita- 
 tion for me to visit your home, and am glad that I can at 
 this time consistently accept it. Nearly all of the wounded 
 soldiers have been discharged from the hospital where I am 
 performing the duties of a nurse, and hence my services can 
 very well be spared at present. I w^ll, therefore, be de- 
 lighted to make Belle a short visit." 
 
 "I am so glad," said Belle, "and you must get ready at 
 once, for we expect to leave for home to-morrow. Frank 
 has obtained a short leave of absence from his companv,as 
 there is at this time no force threatening Richmond, and 
 his services are not especially needed here." 
 
 Ruth promised to make arrangements to accompany 
 Belle and her brother home the next day, and the parties 
 separated. She at once communicated with the hospital 
 authorities in regard to her contemplated visit, obtained 
 their consent to the same, and made all necessary prepara- 
 tions for her departure. 
 
 The next morning Frank Preston and his sister called for 
 Ruth in a cab, and the three were at once driven to the rail- 
 way station and were soon on their way to Lexington. 
 Ruth received a hearty welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Pres- 
 ton and at once felt at home in the household. She found 
 that Frank Preston had by no means exaggerated the cli- 
 
164 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 matic advantages of Lexington as contrasted with her sur- 
 roundings in Richmond, and soon felt the beneficial effects 
 of her change of locality in an increase of strength, vital- 
 ity, and buoyancy of spirits. Indeed, not only v^as the 
 climate all that could be desired in point of salubrity, but 
 Rockbridge county, in which Lexington is situated, proved 
 exceedingly attractive to her, being one of the most beauti- 
 ful and picturesque portions of the great Valley of Vir- 
 ginia. Lying between the Blue Ridge on the east and Alle- 
 ghany Mountains on the west, and near the foot of the 
 former, the county is quite fertile, its climate is exceedingly 
 healthful, and the country surrounding it is peculiarly beau- 
 tiful and attractive. 
 
 During Ruth's visit, Frank Preston constantly exerted 
 himself to contribute to her pleasure, and before its close he 
 had given her the full benefit of tlie mountain breezes iind 
 beautiful scenery, and taken her and Belle to various points 
 of interest in the county. Among these was the Natural 
 Bridge, whose single arch of solid rock spans a yawning 
 chasm and forms an adamantine causeway across its dizzy 
 depths. Here the party spent several hours in viewing this 
 curious freak of nature, and the attractions of the deep 
 chasm which it spans, whose rocky and perpendicular sides 
 and rugged surroundings present a sight of nature in one 
 of her most weird and picturesque forms. The time 
 allowed for Ruth's stay with, her friends passed pleasantly 
 and swiftlv by, and at its close she was loth to leave 
 them, and would have prolonged her visit but for the fact 
 that she was informed that her services were needed in 
 Richmond in consequence of the arrival there of many of 
 the soldiers who had been wounded during the Gettys- 
 burgcampaign. Hence,onAugust3d, she left forRiclimond, 
 accompanied by Lieutenant Preston, and arrived there that 
 evening. On the following morning she repaired to the 
 hospital, reported for duty, and immediately resumed her 
 work. On entering the ward into which her duties called 
 her, she was shocked to see that every bunk was occupied, 
 and her heart was greatly pained by the sound of an occa- 
 sional groan from some poor fellow who was still suffer- 
 ing from the effects of his wound. 
 
JOHN ASRTON. 165 
 
 Ruth had thought that her familiarity with distressing 
 scenes incident to her service at the hospital was such that 
 she would never be unnerved by them, but on this occasion 
 she was so affected by the sights and sounds around her 
 that it was several moments before she felt equal to the 
 discharge of her duties. Having finally regained her com- 
 posure, she began her work at the entrance to the w^trd an 1 
 moved on down the row of bunks on that side of the room, 
 rendering to each of their respective occupants such service 
 as his case required. She had assisted in dressing several 
 ghastly wounds and looked with pain upon the pinched and 
 haggard faces of a number of soldiers who had been 
 almost reduced to skeletons by loss of blood and intense 
 suffering, and when she arrived near the lower end of the 
 row of bunks, her feelings had become so affected that she 
 was completely unnerved. 
 
 At that moment she approachd the bunk on which Ash- 
 ton was lying. His face was partially turned from her, 
 and he was dozing at the time. As she caught sight of his 
 face, something familiar in its appearance arrested her 
 attention and caused her to stop. In a moment, she 
 quickly and nervously advanced to obtain a better view 
 of his features, and, as she did so, the sound of her foot- 
 steps awakened him. Opening his eyes, he turned his face 
 and looked at her in a startled manner. Starting back in 
 affright, she exclaimed: 
 
 "Great heavens ! Is that an illusion? Or has the grave 
 given up its dead?" 
 
 At the sound of Ruth's voice, Ashton's face was illumined 
 by an expression of happiness, and quickly rising to a sit- 
 ting posture, he joj-ously said : 
 
 "Neither, Ruth, my darling; for 'tis I, John Ashton, in 
 the flesh." 
 
 With a cry of intense gladness, Ruth sprang forward and 
 fell on Ashton's breast, exclaiming: 
 
 "Thank God, my darling is alive," and fainted from 
 excess of joy. 
 
 Ashton called to one of the attendants in the ward and 
 at once had the surgeon and a female nurse summoned to 
 Ruth's assistance. They bore her to the matron's apart- 
 
166 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 ment, and, by the use of proper remedies, she was soon 
 restored to consciousness. About an hour afterward she 
 returned to Ashton's bedside. Although their surroundings 
 prevented a full and free expression of the jo^'ous feelings 
 that filled their hearts, each read in the other's face the 
 sweet story of perfect love and supreme happiness. 
 
 Alutual explanations were given, and, although from 
 what had occurred, Ashton could easily have guessed the 
 contents of Ruth's lost letter, he learned from her for the 
 first time the story it told of her reciprocal love, and Ruth 
 became aware of the fact that it had never reached its des- 
 tination. He also learned why the letter he wrote Ruth 
 just after his return from captivity failed to reach her and 
 was returned to him, that his last letter was never 
 received, and that, in consequence of his reported death and 
 her failure to hear from him, Ruth had mourned for him as 
 dead for nearly a year. This led her to explain her presence 
 at the hospital and the circumstances which had brought 
 about their fortunate meeting. Ashton then explained how 
 he came to be reported among those who were killed at the 
 second battle of Alanassas, and gave Ruth a full account 
 of his capture on that occasion, his experience in the 
 hospital at Washington, the services of MissR in rescu- 
 ing him, as he believed, from imminent death, his removal 
 to Fort Delaware and subsequent escape therefrom and 
 ultimate return to his command. In the hearts of some 
 women Ashton's grateful and glowing account of Miss 
 R 's untiring attention to him during his dangerous ill- 
 ness, and her subsequent services in securing the means for 
 his safe return to the Confederac3^ andhis warm tribute to 
 her worth would have awakened feelings of jealousy; but 
 no such effect was thereby produced in Ruth's heart, in 
 which there dwelt that "perfect lovethatcasteth out fear," 
 and she experienced only emotions of highest admiration 
 for, and deepest gratitude to, this noble and self-sacrificing 
 girl for what she had done, and longed to see and thank her 
 for having saved the life of her lover. 
 
 Ashton naturallj' told Ruth of his sickening disappoint- 
 ment in failing to receive her letter in answer to the one in 
 which he declared his love for her, the harrowing uncer- 
 
JOHN ASTITON. 167 
 
 tainty thereby occasioned as to whether his love was 
 returned, and the almost constant anxiety and despondency 
 that he subsequently experienced in consequence of his con- 
 tinued failure to hear from her. Ruth was deeply affected 
 by the knowledge of all that he had suffered in conse- 
 quence of his failure to receive her letter, and told him how 
 keenly she regretted the unfortunate occurrence. After 
 giving her an account of his service in the army subsequent 
 to his escape from captivity, and the circumstances under 
 which he received the w^ound that caused him to be brought 
 to the hospital, Ashton told Ruth that, notwithstanding 
 the intense suffering which he had experienced from his 
 wound, he did not regret having received it, as it had been 
 the means of revealing her love for him and relieving her 
 from the sorrow occasioned by his supposed death. She 
 was deeply touched by this manifestation of his exalted 
 appreciation of her love, and his absorbing love for her and 
 great solicitude for her happiness, and shed tears of grati- 
 tude and joy at the thought that she was the honored 
 object of such perfect devotion. She expressed the ten- 
 derest sympathy for him in his wounded condition and told 
 him how glad she was that her hospital experience had pre- 
 pared her to render him efficient service in alleviating his 
 suffering and restoring his lost strength. 
 
 Their conversation was greatly prolonged, and when 
 Ruth finally left him, it was done reluctantly and with the 
 assurance that she would return as early as possible the 
 next morning. The reader can readily imagine what cheer- 
 ful feelings filled the mind and heart of Ashton in conse- 
 quence of the incidents of that day; and such is the effect 
 of cheerfulness and happiness on the physical nature that 
 there was a marked improvement in his condition when 
 Ruth arrived at his bedside the following morning. She 
 instantly noticed his improved appearance and joyously 
 said: 
 
 "I am glad to see that you are looking so much better. 
 Some fairy must have given you a draught of the elixir of 
 life during the night." 
 
 "No," said Ashton, "but an angel gave me a sip of the 
 
168 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 elixir of love on yesterday, and its vivifying effects have 
 been magical." 
 
 Blushing at this compliment, Ruth replied: "I saw at a 
 glance that you were looking better, and now I know you 
 are feeling better than when I left you; for persons don't 
 flatter when they are feeling badly. Rejecting as fanciful 
 your idea of the giver, and accepting as a fact the alleged 
 effect of the gift, I, as your nurse, promise you such an 
 abundant supply of the elixir of which you speak as will 
 secure your speedy recovery," 
 
 "A thousand thanks, my darling, for that assurance," 
 said Ashton. "While I did not need it to satisfy me of your 
 continued love, it is very sw^eet and comforting to me, and, 
 in all seriousness, I assure you that the knowledge of your 
 priceless love and the perfect peace and happiness which 
 your presence gives me will greatly hasten my recovery. It 
 is true that my wound is still troublesome and will require 
 some time in which to heal; but the sweet contentment that 
 I experience in your companionship and love will wonder- 
 fully assist both nature and science in the work of 
 healing." 
 
 "It makes me inexpressibly happy," said Ruth, "to know 
 that I can be instrumental in contributing to your happi- 
 ness and aiding in your recovery. And you must now let 
 me begin one branch of this labor of love by dressing your 
 wound." 
 
 Ruth then performed this operation in a very gentle and 
 careful manner, and with that ease and deftness which fre- 
 quent practice in similar work had given her. When she 
 had finished, and Ashton, by both words and looks, had 
 expressed his grateful thanks for her service, Ruth said : 
 
 "I have been so absorbed in my thoughts of you and the 
 happiness I experience in the fact that you were not killed, 
 as 1 had long believed, that I have entirely forgotten to 
 tell you anything about ray cousin, Bertha Gray. Of 
 course, you remember her and would doubtless like to hear 
 about her." 
 
 "Yes," said Ashton, "I remember her with great pleasure, 
 and think of her as one of my best and most highly prized 
 friends. Moreover, if I had not admired and liked her for 
 
JOHN AS ETON. 169 
 
 her intrinsic worth, her perfect devotion to you would have 
 attached mc to her; for, you know, 'a fellow feeling 
 makes us wondrous kind.' Please tell me all about her, as 
 I shall be interested in everj'thing concerning her." 
 
 "Well," said Ruth, "I will begin by stating that she has 
 'met her fate' and is deeply in love. The fortunate pos- 
 sessor of her heart is a handsome, talented, and gaUant 
 officer of the 4th Georgia infantry, and I believe that he 
 fully appreciates her love and is in all respects worthy of it. 
 The gentleman alluded to is Captain Philip Carrington 
 and strange to say, shemet him in this very ward and under 
 circumstances similar to those which reunited us ; for, like 
 yourself, he was brought here in a wounded condition, and 
 Bertha met him while assisting me in my hospital duties. 
 And now I will tell you all about the affair." 
 
 Ruth then proceeded to give Ashton an account of 
 Bertha's visit to Richmond, her meeting with Carrington, 
 and her subsequent experience in the Confederate Capital. 
 
 Leaving her thus engaged, we will give the reader some 
 account of Carrington's experience and the movements of 
 his command after he left Bertha the preceding month. He 
 reached Cuipeper Court-house June 7th in time to rejoin 
 his regiment on its arrival there that day, and resumed the 
 command of his company the next morning. He was 
 exceedingly- popular, both with his company and the entire 
 regiment, and when it became known that he had returned 
 to camp, scores of persons from all parts of the regiment 
 came to his tent to congratulate him on his recovery from 
 the effects of his wound, and heartily welcomed him back 
 to the army. The 4th Georgia regiment, to which he 
 belonged, was in General George Doles' brigade of General 
 Robert E.Rodes' division, and on June 9th the division was 
 moved out toward Brandy Station to support the Confed- 
 erate cavalry in the enga^em^nt which we have described 
 in a former part of our story, but did not take part in the 
 fight, as the Federals had been repulsed and driven back by 
 General Stuart. 
 
 On the next day, the division began its march to the 
 Shenandoah Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge on June 12th, 
 and moved toward Berryville on June 13th for the purpose 
 
170 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 of capturing the Federal garrison at that place. The Fed- 
 erals discovered the movement and escaped by retreating 
 that night. Ascertaining this fact the next day, General 
 Rodes pressed forward to Martinsburg and reached that 
 place late in the afternoon. At this time the cavalry 
 brigade of General Jenkins was skirmishing with the Fed- 
 erals, and General Rodes at once attacked the latter and 
 quickly routed them, capturing five pieces of artillery and a 
 number of horses, and also some commissary stores, artillery 
 ammunition and small arms which were stored in the town. 
 The division marched to Williamsport the next day, and the 
 brigades of Doles, Iverson, and Ramseur were at once sent 
 across the Potomac. The division reached Greencastle, 
 Pennsylvania, June 22d and from that place it marched 
 through Chambersburg to Carlisle, arriving there June 
 27th. Receiving orders on June 30th to rejoin the main 
 body of the army. General Rodes marched to Heidlersburg, 
 and on Julv 1st proceeded to Middletovvn, where he learned 
 that A. P. Hill's corps was advancing on Gettysburg and, 
 by order of General Ewell, the division was moved toward 
 that place. Before reaching the town, the Federals were 
 encountered in large force, and Rodes' entire division was 
 soon engaged in a hot and sanguinary contest with him. 
 Iverson's bri-^ade was in advance on the right center, sup- 
 ported on the right by Daniel's brigade and on the left by 
 Rides' brigade, under Colonel Edward A. O'Neal. In 
 advancing, Iverson's brigade changed its direction to the 
 left and soon encountered a heavy force of Federals 
 stronglv posted in the woods and behind a concealed stone 
 wall and became engaged in a desperate and unequal con- 
 flict with them. Discovering General Iverson's change of 
 direction, General Daniel moved his brigade by the kft flank 
 to support Iverson's right, and soon encountered a large force 
 of Federals whose line of battle was almost at right angles 
 with Iverson's line, and in a few moments the Federals were 
 pouring a destructive fire of artillery and musketry into his 
 o-fni left and Iverson's right flank. About this time Rodes' 
 brigade advanced on Iverson's left and was almost instantly 
 driven back, and the Federals in overwhelming numbers 
 charged Iverson's brigade and captured nearly all of three 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 171 
 
 of his regiments that had not already been shot down. 
 These brave North Carohnians had made a gallant fight 
 and about five hundred of them were lying dead and 
 wounded in line of battle as straight as was ever formed 
 on dress parade. Doles' brigade was on the extreme left of 
 the line of battle and maintained a fierce contest with a 
 much larger force of Feder^ils until relieved by the arrival 
 of G^^neral Early's division on its left. Notwithstanding 
 the fact that General Doles was greatly outnumbered, he at 
 once, and without awaiting orders, attacked the dense 
 masses of Federals in his front and the brigade pressed for- 
 ward with its wonted spirit and gallantry. The 4th 
 Georgia regiment maintained its well-earned reputation for 
 intrepid dash and daring, and Captain Carrington led his 
 company with unsurpassed gallantry in the fierce and 
 vigorous charge that was made on the Federal lines. Wav- 
 ing his sword aloft with flashing eye and glowing counte- 
 nance, Carrington pressed forward in the charge, seemingly 
 unconscious of danger and unmindful of the countless bul- 
 lets that were whizzing around and above him, and the 
 hurtling shot and shell that were being hurled at the 
 advancing lines by the Federal batteries. The contest was 
 hot and desperate, but of short duration, and Doles' brigade 
 rapidly drove the enemy back before them, and in line with 
 the other brigades of Rodes' division, followed the Federals 
 into and through Gettysburg, Doles' brigade being the first 
 to reach the center of the town, and there had two 
 vigorous and successful conflicts in the streets with the 
 retreating forces of the enemy. In this engagement the 
 division captured two thousand and five hundred prisoners. 
 General Rodes having been informed by General Ewell 
 that General Lee did not wish to bring on at that time a 
 general engagement, as Longstreet's corps had not arrived, 
 and the Federals having occupied a strong position on the 
 heights back of Gettysburg, halted his division on the out- 
 skirts of the town and there awaited orders. This position 
 was held by the division until the next afternoon, when 
 about dark an attack was begun but not carried out on 
 account of the fact that there was not full concert of action 
 between this division and the one immediately on its right, 
 
172 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 the latter having attacked and then fallen back by the time 
 the former had driven in the Federal skirmishers. How- 
 ever, General Rodes did not fall back, but established his 
 front line in the plain to the right of Gettysburg and held 
 this position during the remainder of the battle. In the 
 meantime a vigorous attack had been made by otiier por- 
 tions of the Confederate army on the right and in front of 
 the Federal position on Cemetery Hill. The Federals 
 occupied an exceedingly strong position, with their right 
 resting upon two commanding elevations near each other, 
 south and southeast of Gettysburg, the former being 
 known as Cemetery Hill. Their line extended from these 
 two hills along a steep and elevated ridge, parallel with the 
 Emmitsburg pike, for about a mile to another high hill 
 known as Round Top. This ridge and the hills above men- 
 tioned were difficult of ascent, and along the slope there 
 were numerous rail and stone fences which afforded protec- 
 tion to the Federals, who were posted in strong force 
 behind them and also upon the crest of the ridge, which was 
 lined with artillery. The ground in front of the Federals, 
 and over which the Confederates had to pass in making the 
 attack, was mostly open for about three-quarters of a mile, 
 and hence the assault was made under very disadvanta- 
 geous and trying circumstances. 
 The attack was begun against the Federal left by Hood's 
 division of Longstreet's corps, on the extreme right of the 
 Confederate line and followed up by McLaws' division of 
 the same corps, supported on his left by Wilcox's, Wright's, 
 Perry's, and Posey's brigades, of Anderson's division of 
 Hill's corps. The Confederates pressed gallantly forward 
 across the open ground under a heavy and destructive fire 
 of artillery and musketry, quickly drove the Federals from 
 their advance position on the Emrrtitsburg pike to the cover 
 of a ravine and a line of stone fences at the foot of the 
 ridge, and after a severe struggle, dislodged them from this 
 position and drove them to the crest of the ridge, capturing 
 several of their batteries. General C. M. Wilcox's brigade 
 reached the foot of the ridge, having broken two lines of 
 infantry and captured six pieces of artillery on the wa}^ 
 and there had a severe struggle with the Federals for 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 173 
 
 about half an hour, and would have carried the heights if 
 there had been a supporting line at hand, but for lack of 
 support was compelled to withdraw. General A.R. Wright's 
 brigad.e, composed of the 3d, 22d, and 48th Georgia regi- 
 ments and the 2d Georgia battalion, not only gained the 
 crest of the ridge but drove the Federals into a rock^' gorge 
 on the eastern sdde of the same and captured abotit twenty 
 pieces of artillery ; but as there was no protecting force on 
 the left and a brigade on the right having been driven back, 
 Wright's brigade was forced to retire and had to abandon 
 the captured artillery, especially as the Federals had 
 advanced on both flanks of the brigade and' were about to 
 surround it. In the meantime, General Edward Johnson 
 with Jones', Nicholls', and Stuart'sbrigades,of his division, 
 assaulted the Federal position on the steep and rugged hill 
 next to Cemetery Hill, and under a heavy fire drove the 
 Federals into their intrenchnients, a part of which was 
 taken by Stuart's brigade. 
 
 Soon after General Johnson's division became engaged, 
 General Early ordered Ha3's' Louisiana brigade and Hoke's 
 North Carolina brigade, commanded by Colonel I.E.Avery, 
 to advance and carry the Federal works on Cemetery Hill, 
 These two brigades advanced in gallant style across the 
 open ground over which they had to pass under a heavy fire of 
 artillery, attacked and drove back a large force of infan- 
 try at the foot of Cemetery Hill, pressed forward up the hill, 
 and soon broke and drove back a second line of Federals 
 posted behind a stone wall. Again advancing, they reached 
 the third line of Federals posted in rifle-pits behind a strong 
 abattis of heavy timber and having broken this line they 
 quickly gained the summit of the hill and by a rapid charge 
 drove back the Federals on its crest and captured several 
 pieces of artillery, four stand of colors, and a number of 
 prisoners. These brave Louisianians and North Carolinians 
 had fully and gallantly executed General Early's orders and 
 were now in possession of the Federal stronghold on Ceme 
 tery Hill; but as they were entirely without support (that 
 which was expected having failed to arrive), and the routed 
 Federals having been heavily reinforced, they were soon 
 compelled to retire before overwhelming numbers. This 
 
174 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 was done in a deliberate and orderly manner and with but 
 little loss. 
 
 Thus for lack of sufficient support, the Confederates had 
 been unable to hold much of the ground which they had 
 taken from a superior force occupying exceedingly strong 
 and advantageous positions. However, some ground had 
 been gained on the right by General Longstreet, and his 
 troops were so disposed that night as to hold it. The 
 result of that day's operations induced General Lee to believe 
 that, with proper concert of action and with the increased 
 support which the positions gained on the right would 
 enable the artillery to render the assaulting columns, he 
 would ultimately succeed in defeating the Federals; and 
 hence, he determined to renew the attack, the general plan 
 of the same remaining unchanged. General Longstreet, re- 
 inforced by the arrival of Pickett's division, was ordered 
 to attack the next morning, and General Ewell was directed 
 to assail the enemy's right at the same time. On the fol- 
 lowing morning General Longstreet, instead of attacking 
 the Federals in front as was contemplated in General Lee's 
 plan of attack, arranged for renewing the attack by his 
 right, "with a view," as he saj'S in his report, "to pass 
 around the hill occupied b}' the enemy on his left, and to 
 gain it by flank and reverse attack," and had given orders 
 for the execution of this plan, when General Lee reached 
 him and ordered that the assault be made against the 
 main position of the Federals on Cemetery Hill. Before 
 General Ewell could be notified of the delay in General Long- 
 street's dispositions for attacking the Federals, General Ed- 
 ward Johnson had become engaged, and it was too late to 
 recall him. He drove the Federals out of part of their 
 intrenchments but failed to carry their stronghold. The 
 contemplated attack on their left not having been made, the 
 Federals were enabled to hold their right with a force 
 much larger than that of General Johnson, and finally to so 
 threaten his flank and rear as to render it necessary for him 
 to retire to his original position. As there was a force on 
 the extreme left of the Federals which could attack General 
 Longstreet's troops in reverse as they advanced, he thought 
 it necessary to protect his flank and rear with Hood's and 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 175 
 
 McLaws' divisions, and hence he was reinforced by Heth's 
 division and two brigades of Pender's division, of A. P. 
 Hill's corps. General Hill was directed to hold his line with 
 the remainder of his corps, " afford General Longstreet 
 further assistance, if required, and avail himself of any 
 success that might be gained." 
 
 About 1 p. M., the Confederate artillery opened fire along 
 the entire line, and the Federal artillery proraptlj' replied. 
 
 For two hours an incessant and unprecedentedly terrific 
 artillery contest was waged between the opposing armies, 
 and before its close, some of the Federal batteries on the 
 left had been silenced and a number of those at and near 
 Cemetery Hill were disabled or driven off and had to be 
 replaced by fresh ones. At the close of the cannonade, Gen-* 
 eral Longstreet ordered forward the column of attack, 
 consisting of Pickett's division with Wilcox's brigade in 
 rear of its right flank to guard the same, and Heth's divis- 
 ion, under General James J. Pettigrew, supported by Lane's 
 and Scales' brigades of Pender's division, commanded by 
 General Isaac R. Trimble. The position w^hich they were to 
 attack was the Federal stronghold and was occupied by the 
 1st and 2d corps and part of the 3d corps, with other 
 troops in supporting distance. The Federals not only 
 occupied a naturally strong position, but were posted 
 behind barricades erected the preceding night, and rail and 
 stone fences; and hence, as the Confederates had to pass 
 over open ground in making their attack, the dangerous 
 and desperate character of the undertaking in which this 
 assaulting column of about twelve thousand men was to 
 engage, is fully apparent. 
 
 At the word of command, the troops promptly began to 
 advance and moved steadily forward to within seven hun- 
 dred yards of Cemetery Hill, when the Federal artillery 
 along the ridge and on Round Top opened upon them a heavy 
 fire of grape, canister, and shell, which rapidly thinned 
 their ranks. Undaunted by this, the troops quickly closed 
 up the gaps in their ranks and continued to press gallantly 
 forward in almost perfect order, although they had to 
 climb several high fences in their route, and soon met the 
 advance line of the Federals about one hundred yards in 
 
176 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 front of the second line, which was posted behind the rail 
 and stone fences and barricades to which reference has been 
 made. The front line of the Federals was quicklj routed 
 and driven back in confusion on the second line. The Con- 
 federates continued to press gallantly and steadily forward 
 under a destructive fire of both artillery and musketry, 
 reached the strongly intrenched position of the Federals on 
 Cemetery Ridge, engaged them in a hand-to-hand conflict, 
 broke their line at a point where the left of Pickett's divis- 
 ion and Archer's brigade, of Heth's division, charged in con- 
 cert and planted the Confederate flag inside their works, 
 where General L. A. Armistead was killed at the head of 
 his brigade, General R. B. Garnett having been shot from 
 his horse just outside the works. The success of the 
 Confederates was but momentary, for the Federals rapidly 
 reinforced their broken line by concentrating at that point 
 troops from both sides of the breach, and, by a front and 
 flank attack on those who had reached the v^'^orks, soon 
 overpowered and captured the greater part of them, as they 
 were compelled to surrender for lack of a supporting force. 
 That force would have been at hand if General Lee's direc- 
 tions had been fully carried out, and it appears that one 
 who has assumed to criticise that matchless military leader 
 for ordering the assault was to blame for the absence of 
 such supporting force, and the consequently disastrous 
 result of the assault; for General Longstreet not only 
 failed to call for support from General Hill, who had been 
 directed to "afford him further assistance, if required," but 
 also checked a movement which was about to be made by 
 General R. H. Anderson, of Hill's corps, for the purpose of 
 rendering such assistance, as is shown by his report of the 
 engagement, in which he says: "Wilcox's and Perry's 
 brigades had been moved forward, so as to be in position 
 to render assistance or take advantage of any success gained 
 by the assaulting column, and at what I supposed to be the 
 proper time, I was about to move forward Wright's and 
 Posey's brigades, when Lieutenant-general Longstreet 
 directed me to stop the movement, adding that it was useless, 
 and would only involve unnecessary loss, the assault hav- 
 ing failed." 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 177 
 
 If the assaulting column had received from Hill's corps 
 the assistance for which General Lee's instructions pro- 
 vided, and General Longstreet had at the same time moved 
 forward the divisions of Hood and McLaws against the 
 Federal left and thereby prevented the movement of troops 
 from that point to aid in meeting the assault upon Ceme- 
 tery Ridge, instead of holding those divisions in reserve "to 
 defend his flank and rear," the position gained by the 
 assaulting column would have been held, and the battle of 
 Gettysburg, instead of resulting in a repulse of the Confed- 
 erates, would have been a complete victory for them ; for 
 Cemetery Ridge was the key to the entire Federal line, and 
 its possession would have enabled General Lee to rout 
 General Meade's army. 
 
 The brief outline which we have given of the gallant but 
 fruitless assault of the Confederates on the Federal strong- 
 hold conveys but an imperfect idea of the matchless hero- 
 ism displayed by that comparatively small assaulting 
 column in thus storming an almost impregnable position, 
 held by a greatly superior force, and literally lined with 
 artillery which was constantl3' pouring a heavy fire of shot, 
 shell, and canister into the advancing lines, and mowing 
 wide swaths in their rapidly decreasing ranks. Even their 
 enemies were moved to admiration by their chivalrous dar- 
 ing, and in reporting the engagement, paid tributes of 
 praise to their valor and heroism. 
 
 General W. S. Hancock wrote: "I have never seen a more 
 formidable attack." 
 
 General John Gibbon wrote: "The line moved steadily to 
 the front in a way to excite the admiration of every one." 
 
 Colonel Norman J. Hall wrote: "The perfect order and 
 steady but rapid advance of the enemy called forth praise 
 from our troops, but gave their line an appearance of being 
 fearfully irresistible." 
 
 General A. S. Webb wrote: "Their march was as steady 
 as if impelled by machinery, unbroken by our artillery, 
 which played upon them a storm of missiles." 
 
 General Henry J. Hunt, chief of artillery, wrote: "The 
 enemy advanced magnificently, unshaken by the shot*and 
 
178 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 shell which tore through his ranks from his front and from 
 our left." 
 
 During the three days' fighting, the losses were heavy on 
 both sides, those of the Confederates being two thousand 
 five hundred and ninety-two killed, twelve thousand seven 
 hundred and nine wounded, and five thousand one hundred 
 and fifty captured or missing; and those of the Federals 
 being three thousand one hundred and fifty-five killed, four- 
 teen thousand four hundred and twenty-nine wounded, and 
 five thousand two hundred and sixty-five captured or 
 missing. The Federal force greatly outnumbered that of 
 the Confederates, being one hundred and four thousand 
 strong; while the strength of the latter was about sixty- 
 eight thousand. 
 
 Owing to the great strength of the Federal position and 
 the scarcity of ammunition, General Lee would not risk 
 another attack, and as it was exceedingly difficult to 
 procure supplies, it was impossible for the army to continue 
 longer where it was. Hence, after remaining at Gettysburg 
 during July 4th, the Confederate army began to retire 
 toward the Potomac that night. On reaching the Potomac, 
 General Lee found that it was greatly swollen and unford- 
 able in consequence of recent rains, and that a pontoon 
 bridge which he had left at Falling Waters had been par- 
 tially destroyed by the Federals. Hence, his army had to 
 await the subsiding of the waters, and the construction of 
 a new pontoon bridge before a passage of the river could 
 be effected. They were thus detained for four or five days, 
 having occasional skirmishes with the advance troops of the 
 Federals, and on July 12th the main body of GeneralMeade's 
 army arrived. The Confederate army at once took a posi- 
 tion, previouslj' selected by General Lee, covering the Poto- 
 mac from "Williamsport to Falling Waters, and there 
 remained for two days awaiting an attack from the 
 Federals; but the latter, instead of attacking, prepared for 
 an expected attack from the former by throwingupintrench- 
 ments along their entire line. By July 13th the river at 
 Williamsport, although still deep, had become fordable, and 
 the bridge at Falling Waters had been completed; and 
 as further delay would have enabled the Federals to obtain 
 
JOUN ASUTON. 179 
 
 reinforcements, General Lee decided to await an attack 
 no longer, and gave orders for the passage of the Potomac 
 that night. During that night and the following day, the 
 Confederate army safely crossed the river, Ewell's corps 
 fording it at Williamsport and Hill's and Longstreet's 
 corps crossing on the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters. 
 After resting several days near Bunker Hill and Darkesville, 
 the atmy retired up the Shenandoah Valley, crossed the 
 Blue Ridge, and on August 4th took position along the 
 Rapidan. 
 
 During this retrograde movement, the division to which 
 Carrington belonged was ordered to Manassas Gap to 
 relieve Wright's brigade, which was holding the gap against 
 a large attacking force supported by two corps of the Fed- 
 eral army. General Rodes' sharpshooters (about two hun- 
 dred and fifty men) were promptly sent to strengthen 
 General Wright's line, and O'Neal's brigade was deployed 
 behind Wright's brigade about three hundred yards in his 
 rear. The Federals in large force attacked and slowly drove 
 back the front line of skirmishers for a short distance; but 
 were soon checked by the stubborn fighting and fatal fire 
 of this handful of gallant men, who frequently broke the 
 solid lines of the enemy, and finally a few shots from the 
 artillery completely stopped their advance and ended the 
 engagement. During that night, Rodes' division fell back 
 and bivouacked near Front Royal. From this point it 
 resumed the backward march, crossed the Blue Ridge at 
 Thornton's Gap, and reached Madison Court-houseon July 
 29th, and thus ended the part taken by this division in the 
 Gettysburg campaign. While all of the troops who 
 engaged in this celebrated and exceptionally trying cam- 
 paign under the leadership of the matchless Lee won great 
 renown, none are deserving of more honor and praise than 
 the brave and gallant Georgians, Alabamians, and North 
 Carolinians, who constituted Rodes' division. They were 
 almost constantly on the march, or engaged in fighting, for 
 six consecutive weeks, and even when they crossed the Blue 
 Ridge at Chester's Gap on June 12th in the forward move- 
 ment many of the men were barefooted, and long before they 
 recrossed it at Thornton's Gap nearly half of the men and 
 
J 80 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 many of the officers were in like condition. Notwithstand- 
 ing this and the fact that they had to travel over rough and 
 rocky roads during the hottest days of summer, these shoe- 
 less heroes, with bruised and bleeding feet, kept up with the 
 moving column, and in ranks, during its rapid march, and, 
 when they had opportunity for so doing, fought with 
 dauntless courage and unabated zeal and enthusiasm. 
 
 The names and fame of Pickett's and Heth's divisions 
 and Lane's and Scales' brigades of Pender's division are 
 inseparably connected with the battle of Gettysburg, and 
 their intrepid charge against the Federal stronghold on 
 Cemetery Hill, on Juh' 3d, has justly iminortali;^ed them; 
 and alongside of their heroic deeds should be recorded in 
 the annals of war the impetuous charges and determined 
 assaults made by Rodes' division, under a heavy fire of 
 artillery, on the dense masses of infantry pressing it in 
 front and flank on July 1st, and by means of which a 
 force greatly outnumbering this division was completely 
 repulsed, and, by the aid of the brigades of the gallant 
 John B. Gordon and Harry T. Hays and Hoke's brigade 
 led by the brave and lamented Colonel Isaac E. Avery, was 
 routed and driven back through Gettysliurg and compelled 
 to take shelter behind their intrenchments on Cemetery Hill. 
 
 General Lee witnessed the attack made by Rodes' division 
 on that occasion, and afterward said to its brave com- 
 mander, "I am proud of vour division." Such praise from the 
 lips of that peerless chieftain was proof of the dauntless 
 courage and hardy heroism of those on whom it was 
 bestowed. These were the true and valiant soldiers whom 
 Captain Carrington helped to command, and the examples 
 of fortitude, bravery, and patriotic devotion set by officers 
 like himself greatly aided in making these soldiers what 
 they were. 
 
 Carrington had written Bertha several letters after leav- 
 ing Culpeper Court-house on June 10th, and she had an- 
 swered them, but none of her letters had yet reached him, as 
 many letters for the Confederate soldiers were not for- 
 warded while the army was in Maryland and Pennsylvania, 
 and these happened to be among the number. However, in 
 a day or two after Carrington reached Madison Court- 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 181 
 
 house, Tie received the letters and immediately devoured 
 their contents with an avidity and a delight known only to 
 the impassioned and heart-hungry lover. Yielding to the 
 promptings of her impulsive and affectionate nature, 
 Bertha had written with perfect abandon and put her 
 whole heart in her letters, and hence they gave full exjDres- 
 sion to her ardent and absorbing love for him to whom 
 they were addressed, and manifested the deepest and ten- 
 derest solicitude for the safety and happiness of her lover. 
 Carrington was deeply touched by this manifestation of 
 Bertha's love and devotion and, realizing more fully than 
 ever before the rich blessing that he had received in the gift 
 of that pure and unselfish love, his heart was filled with 
 happiness. He at once wrote Bertha a long and loving 
 letter in which he endeavored to give her some idea of how 
 completel}' his love for her had taken possession of his na- 
 ture and become a part of his being, and told of the sweet 
 contentment and perfect happiness that had come into his 
 life through the medium of her love, and of his ever-present 
 Hnd yearning desire to make her supremely happy. In clos- 
 ing his letter, he urged her to visit her cousin in Richmond, 
 as soon as possible, stating that if she should do so he 
 would obtain a short leave of absence from his command 
 and visit her while she was there. On receipt of this letter, 
 Bertha wrote Carrington that she would visit Ruth the 
 last of August or the first of September. 
 
 We will now return to Ashton, whom we left listening to 
 Ruth's account of Bertha's love affair and subsequent 
 experience in Richmond. He was greatly interested in all 
 that she told him about her cousin and Captain Carrington, 
 and especially so in regard to the experience which they had 
 at Hollywood Cemetery that led to the detection and 
 capture of the Federal spy. Sergeant Paul, alias Edward 
 Craft. Although Ashton abhorred the occupation of a sp3' 
 and utterly despised those who engaged in it, yet, after 
 hearing of Craft's confession, the reasons given by him for 
 having engaged in that calling, and the steps which he took 
 to prevent his family from learning of his conduct and 
 fate, he could not avoid feeling a species of admiration for 
 him, and expressed the opinion that he did not think that 
 
182 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 Craft was an utterly depraved man, as he appeared to 
 have been actuated by no sinister or sordid motive in 
 what he had done. Ruth agreed with him in this opinion, 
 spoke of Craft's attractive social qualities, and stated that 
 she had really regretted his death. 
 
 Ashton's wound did not heal very rapidly and was occa- 
 sionally somewhat troublesome; but he did not become 
 disheartened or worry himself about his condition, for, 
 being cheered and made happy by the daily companionship 
 of Ruth, he was content to patiently await the results of 
 the combined agencies of science and nature in their cura- 
 tive processes. It was about the first of September and 
 nearh^ two months after he was wounded before he had 
 sufficiently recovered from .the effects of his wound to 
 authorize his discharge from the hospital. He was still 
 unfit for active service, and, having obtained from the sur- 
 geon a certificate to that effect and a recommendation for a 
 thirty days' furlough, he sent the same to the captain of 
 his company, and shortly thereafter received the furlough 
 thus recommended. After leaving the hospital, he secured 
 a pleasant boarding-place in the city and, of course, became 
 a constant visitor at Mrs. Slaughter's residence, where 
 Ruth was still boarding. 
 
 About this time Bertha arrived on her contemplated visit, 
 and a few days thereafter Carrington came to the city in 
 accordance with his previously expressed purpose of visit- 
 ing her. The avidity and constancy' with which they 
 mutually monopolized each other's society at once indicated 
 that they intended to fully utilize in heart-communion the 
 short leave of absence which Carrington had obtained. The 
 meeting of two such men as Ashton and Carrington would 
 have naturally been cordial under ordinary circumstances, 
 and it was especially so in view of the relations which they 
 respectively sustained to Ruth and Bertha, and the fact 
 that they had thereby been brought into close companion- 
 ship from widely different branches of the army. They at 
 once became good friends, and when opportunity offered, 
 found great pleasure in exchanging recitals of their re- 
 spective experiences in the Pennsylvania campaign. In this 
 w ly they learned that they had fought in close proximity 
 
JOHN ASllTON. 183 
 
 to each other during the battle of Gettysburg when Stuart's 
 cavalry was immediately on the left of Ewell's corps and 
 protected it from the attempted flank movement of the 
 Federals. 
 
 Ruth and Bertha were greatly interested in these conver- 
 sations between their lovers, and their hearts throbbed 
 with enthusiasm and their minds were filled with admira- 
 tion when they heard of the gallant and impetuous attacks 
 made by the Confederates upon the Federals, and which fell 
 short of final success because of inadequate supporting 
 force resulting from a failure to fully execute General Lee's 
 orders. 
 
 The days passed swiftly by, and all too soon for the hap- 
 piness of Bertha and Carrington the latter's leave of 
 absence expired, and the time for his departure arrived. 
 With the assurance that she should hear from him frequently, 
 and the promise that he would visit her as soon as possible, 
 he returned to his regiment about the middle of September. 
 Although Bertha was naturally saddened and depressed by 
 his departure, she bore it better than she had borne their 
 former separation, as there was not at this time any indi- 
 cation of an impending battle, and hence she did not think 
 of Carrington as exposed to immediate danger, as when he 
 started on the Pennsylvania campaign three months before. 
 She had resumed the work of assisting Ruth at the hos- 
 pital, and now devoted herself assiduously to the discharge 
 of the duties incident to the same. Indeed, she insisted on 
 doing the greater part of Ruth's work, and thereby gave 
 the latter more opportunities than she would have other- 
 wise had for being with Ashton, and, moreover, kept her 
 own time and attention so constantly occupied in minister- 
 ing to her patients, that she was prevented from morbidly 
 dwelling on the sadness caused by the departure of her 
 lover. Both Ashton and Ruth fully appreciated this gener- 
 ous thoughtfulness and solicitude for their happiness and 
 were deeply grateful to Bertha for the same. In conse- 
 quence of Ruth's partial relief from her hospital duties, she 
 and Ashton were enabled to spend a considerable portion of 
 each day in private conversations that were in all respects 
 real heart-and-soul communions, which not only intensified 
 
184 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 and strengthened their love, but also revealed to each a 
 thorough knowledge of the other's character. Ashton had 
 thought that he already understood Ruth's character, 
 but during these happy days when, in consequence of Jier 
 warm and trustful love, her inmost soul was revealed to 
 him, he felt that he had but caught a glimpse of the beauty 
 and worth of her moral nature, wherein breadth and depth 
 of thought, refinement and tenderness of feeling, and 
 warmth and unselfishness of affection combined to make 
 the perfect woman. In her he found his heart's high ideal 
 fully realized ; her companionship and love entirely satisfied 
 the wants and longings of his nature and he was perfectly 
 happy. She was also supremely happy, for, in his noble 
 character, embodying loftiness of purpose, strength, depth 
 and tenderness of feeling and ardehcy of affection, she had 
 found her ideal of true manhood and her soul was satisfied. 
 Being thus happy in each other's companionship and love, 
 Ashton and Ruth were almost obliviousof the flight of time, 
 and about the first of October they experienced a painful 
 shock on realizing that his furlough would expire in a few 
 days. His wound had healed, but occasionally he felt some 
 unpleasantness from its effects and was not fully fitted for 
 active service. However, he was unwilling to ask for an 
 extension of his furlough and determined that at its expira- 
 tion he would promptly return to his regiment. His fur- 
 lough extended to October 6th, and on October 5th he left 
 Richmond to rejoin his regiment. The parting between him 
 and Ruth was exceedingly painful, but as duty called him 
 to the front,they bore it uncomplainingly, and neither would 
 have had it delayed at the expense of loyalty to the cause 
 in which he was engaged. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 185 
 
 CHAPTER Xiri. 
 
 Ashton reached his regiment the day after he left Rich- 
 mond and found it encamped on the right of General Lee's 
 army near the Rapidan river. After exchanging cordial 
 greetings with the members of his company and receiving 
 their hearty congratulations on his recovering from the 
 effects of his wound, he at once made inquiry about his 
 horse, and was delighted to learn that the animal vv-as 
 brought safely to camp on the return of the army from 
 Maryland, had since been well cared for by one of Ash- 
 ton's comrades and was now in excellent condition. 
 
 The true cavalryman is always attached to his horse, and 
 Ashton was especially fond of his, both on account of the 
 faithful service which it had rendered him and the peculiar 
 circumstances under which it had come into his possession; 
 for it was none other than Mosby's parting gift to him just 
 after his rescue from the Federal picket near Fox's Ford. 
 
 At this time the Confederate army occupied a position 
 along the south side of the Rapidan river, and the P'ederal 
 army, under General Meade, was lying around Culpeper 
 Court-house and extended to the north side of the Rapidan. 
 There was nothing to indicate that a general movement 
 of either army was imminent, and Ashton looked forward 
 to no other occurrences than those incident to the usual 
 routine of camp life and picket duty. However, 
 "Marse Robert," as his soldiers affectionately called General 
 Lee, was maturing a plan which would soon put the entire 
 army in motion. That plan was to bring on a general 
 engagement with Meade, and in order to increase the 
 chances of success, General Lee determined to turn Meade's 
 right flank and strike him in the rear. Hence, in pursuance 
 of this plan, the infantry and artillery of the army marched 
 toward Madison Court-house on October 9th, and on the 
 following day proceeded by a circuitous route in the direc- 
 tion of Culpeper Court-house, which was reached on Octo- 
 ber 11th, when it was discovered that the Federal army had 
 retreated toward Washington along the line of the Orange 
 and Alexandria railroad. General Lee made another effort 
 
186 JOUN ASHTON. 
 
 to engage General Meade by crossing the Rappahannock 
 and pressing forward through Warrenton, but the latter 
 continued his retreat to Centreville, and there intrenched 
 his army. In the meantime the Confederate cavalry had 
 not experienced the same difficulty as the main body of the 
 army in meeting the Federals, and had had a series of 
 engagements with them. 
 
 As Ashton took part in several of these, we will give some 
 account of the operations of the cavah'y in this forward 
 movement. On October 10th,Buford's division of cavalry 
 crossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford and, after captur- 
 ing a portion of a company of the 1st Mar3dand cavalry of 
 Lomax's brigade, moved up the river toward Morton's 
 Ford. General Fitzhugh Lee (who had recently been made 
 a major-general), with his division, consisting of Lomax's 
 brigade, W. H. F. Lee's brigade, commanded by Colonel 
 John R. Chambliss, and Wickham's brigade, commanded by 
 Colonel T. H. Owen and also with Johnson's brigade of 
 infantry, attacked the Federals early on the morning of 
 October 11th. Lee's and Lomax's brigades moved directly 
 against them, and General Fitzhugh Lee, with Wickham's 
 and the infantry brigade crossed the river at Raccoon Ford 
 and moved down upon their flank and rear. Lomax and 
 Chambliss drove the Federals across the river at Morton's 
 Ford, and pressed them closely in their rapid retreat 
 toward Stevensburg. At this place they attempted to make 
 a stand, but W(.re promptly' dislodged from their position 
 and driven back to Brandy Station. On reaching Brandy 
 Station, General Fitzhugh Lee found a portion of Hamp- 
 ton's division, under command of General Stuart, engaged 
 with General Kilpatrick's division and a part of General 
 Gregg's division, and at once joined in the engagement. 
 Colonel Chambliss ordered Major Waller, commanding the 
 9th Virginia cavalry, to charge the Federals, and it was 
 gallantly and vigorously done. Thus, before Ashton had 
 fully recovered from the effects of his wound, he was again 
 actively engaged in battle, and participated in this charge 
 with his wonted spirit and gallantry. This charge was 
 followed by another by the 13th Virginia cavalry, and the 
 Federals were driven back wnth loss. General Stuart and 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 187 
 
 General Fit^hugh Lee, having united their forces, advanced 
 on the Federals at Fleetwood Heights, where the forces of 
 Buford and Kilpatrick had also been united, and a fierce 
 and obstinate engagement there ensued. The fighting be- 
 came general and there were a series of charges and counter- 
 charges made in rapid succession, the regiments of Lomax's 
 brigade making no less than five in one part of the field, 
 while the Confederate sharpshooters were constantly en- 
 gaged with the enemy on foot. At times these sharp- 
 shooters were entirely surrounded by the Federal cavalry 
 but would not surrender and, bravely defending themselves, 
 were each time rescued by the well-directed charges of the 
 Confederate cavalry. 
 
 The Federals were finally routed and driven back toward 
 the Rappahannock, which they crossed that night. The 
 day had been won by the Confederates by fierce, persistent, 
 and skillful fighting, in which the 9th Virginia cavalry fully 
 boreits part, and Ashton.both in the saddle and on foot, ren- 
 dered gallant and efficient service. On the following morn- 
 ing General Stuart left the 5th Virginia cavalry, under Col- 
 onel T. L. Rosser, and one piece of artillery below Fleetwood 
 for the purpose of meeting any advance that might be 
 made by the Federals toward Culpeper Court-house, and 
 proceeded with Fitzhugh Lee's division and Funsten's and 
 Gordon's brigades toward Warrenton. After a brief but 
 hot engagement at Jeffersonton between the 7th and 12th 
 Virginia cavalry and a regiment of Federal cavalry, in 
 which the latter was completely routed. General Stuart 
 pushed forward to the Rappahannock river and forced a 
 passage of the stream at Warrenton Springs, the 12th 
 Virginia cavalry charging across the river in a gallant man- 
 ner in the face of a heavy fire from the Federals on the op- 
 posite side. This charge was especially creditable to those 
 who participated in the same, as it was made under 
 peculiarly trying circumstances. The regiment expected to 
 cross the river on the bridge at this point, but on charging 
 up to it, discovered that the flooring had been taken up and 
 that the bridge was impassable. Although the troops were 
 exposed to a heavy fire from the Federals across the river, 
 thevdid not become confused or waver in their purpose, but 
 
188 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 turned to the right, dashed down the road to the ford 
 below, plunged into the stream, and pushed rapidly across 
 under a heavy fire from the Federal sharpshooters, a num- 
 ber of whom were captured before they could make their 
 escape. General Stuart soon had the bridge repaired for 
 the passage of the infantry, and sent Funsten's and Gordon's 
 brigades to Warrenton, where they bivouacked that night. 
 
 During that day Colonel P. M.B.Young, of Cobb's Legion, 
 commanding Hampton's old brigade, was the hero of an 
 engagement which occurred near Brandy Station, and in 
 view of the boldness and success of Colonel Young's con- 
 duct and the important results thereby accomplished, we 
 trust that the reader will indulge us in an account of the 
 same. On October 10th, General Stuart engaged the Fed- 
 erals nearly all day near James City with Gordon's and 
 Young's brigades, and ascertaining the next morning that 
 they had retreated, he marched toward Culpeper Court- 
 house with Gordon's brigade, leaving Colonel Young to hold 
 his position at James City until further orders. Colonel 
 Young remained there until the morning of October 12th. 
 and then in obedience to orders received from General Stuart, 
 proceeded to Culpeper Court-house. He arrived there about 
 3 p. M., and just after the head of his column entered the 
 town firing was heard in the direction of Brandy Station, 
 and a courier from Colonel T. L. Rosser, of the 5th Virginia 
 cavalry, reported that the Federals were advancing in 
 heavy force from Brandy Station, having driven Colonel 
 Rosser back from below Fleetwood, where, as the reader 
 will remember. General Stuart had left him with his regi- 
 ment and one piece of artillery the day before. 
 
 A few moments before the firing was heard, the column 
 had halted, many of the troopers had dismounted and details 
 were being made to be sent out after provisions for the 
 men, who were really suffering from hunger, as no rations 
 had been issued to them that day. At the sound of the 
 firing, the troopers hastily remounted their horses, the column 
 was instantly put in motion and galloped rapidly through 
 Culpeper and on toward Brandy Station. As it passed at 
 rapid speed and with clattering noise over the rocky streets of 
 Culpeper, the horsemen were greeted all along the way by 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 189 
 
 the sight of lovely and loyal ladies at almost every door- 
 way enthusiastically waving their handkerchiefs, clapping 
 their hands, and smiling approval on the men in gray. 
 Dashing out of the town, with no slackening of their speed, 
 the Confederate cavalry rode rapidly on in the direction of the 
 firing, which was each moment becoming heavier and ap- 
 proaching nearer to Culpeper. Riding at this rapid pace 
 for about two miles, the Confederates reached a wooded 
 ridge called Slaughter's Hill and Colonel Young quickly 
 deployed his brigade along the ridge, his right resting on 
 the Orange and Alexandria railroad, dismounted about 
 three-fourths of the command as sharpshooters, and had 
 five pieces of artillery placed at intervals along the ridge so 
 as to sweep the road to Brandy Station and both flanks of 
 the Federals, who were seen advancing from the direction 
 ot Brandy Station in heavy force. They had driven 
 Colonel Rosser back some distance and were closely press- 
 ing him when Colonel Young arrived, and just as the latter 
 got his brigade in position, Colonel Rosser's regiment fell 
 back on Cobb's Legion and formed in the rear of the latter 
 regiment, which was on the extreme right of Young's line, 
 and supporting a battery stationed in the Brandy Station 
 road near the edge of a heav3' body of woods. At this time 
 Colonel Young, who had just galloped down his line from 
 the left, halted in frontof Cobb's Legion, made a short and 
 stirring speech to the men, which set them to cheering in a 
 loud and enthusiastic manner, and then galloped back to 
 the left of the line, which was about a mile in length. The 
 cheering begun by Cobb's Legion was taken up and con- 
 tinued by the whole brigade as Colonel Young rode along 
 the line, and its heartiness and volume were calculated to 
 impress the Federals with the idea that at least an army 
 corps confronted them, whereas the brigade numbered only 
 about twelve hundred men. The Federal force, as was af- 
 terward ascertained, consisted of Buford's division of 
 cavalry, several pieces of artillery, and the 5th and 6th 
 corps of infantry, under General Sedgwick, numbering 
 twenty-five thousand men ; and hence the reader will un- 
 derstand that Colonel Young was playing a bluff game in 
 presenting such a bold front to this overwhelming force. 
 
190 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 Just after Colonel Rosser's regiment was driven back on 
 Young's line, the Federals advanced in large force, their 
 front consisting of a heavy line of infantry skirmishers 
 and their center and flanks supported by heavy columns 
 of cavalry. They were met and temporarily checked by a 
 volley from the dismounted sharpshooters and a well-di- 
 rected fire of the Confederate artillery. The skirmishing 
 then became general along the line, and in accordance with 
 instructions from Colonel Young, a constant fire was kept 
 up by the artillery. 
 
 In a few minutes, a heavy force of Federals charged on 
 foot through the woods on the right, and came within a 
 short distance of the edge of the timber, the noise of their 
 many feet upon the leaves with which the ground was 
 thickly covered resembling the sound of a tempest sweeping 
 through a forest in Autumn. On they came, shouting their 
 "hip, hip, hurrahs" in varied tones of unequal volume, but 
 the gallant sharphooters of Cobb's Legion were calmly 
 awaiting them, and when the Federals arrived within short 
 range of this little band of sharpshooters, tlie latter raised 
 the wild Confederate 3'ell and poured a volley into their 
 ranks which effectually checked their farther advance. 
 They had come so close to the battery which Cobb's Legion 
 was supporting that the officer in charge of the gun, fear- 
 ing that it would be captured, ordered it limbered up and 
 started to move it. At this moment Colonel Y^oung came 
 galloping down the line at full speed and, when in about 
 forty yards of the retiring gun, called to the officer in 
 charge of the same, saying: "Where are you going with 
 that gun? Bring it back at once." When Colonel Young 
 reached him, the officer explained his conduct by telling of 
 the close proximity of the enem\'and the consequent danger 
 of the capture of the gun. Colonel Young instantly replied, 
 "Unhmber that gun and put it in position," and when this 
 was done, he said: "Now fire that gun, and keep firing it. 
 It don't make a bit of difference whether or not you see 
 anything. I want a noise kept up here." 
 
 His command was literally and faithfully obeyed, and 
 never was a gun better served or more rapidly fired than 
 that one from then until dark, and although the gunners 
 
JOUN ASHTON. 191 
 
 ■were often without a visible target, the gun was incessantly 
 fired and a continuous noise kept up at that point. The 
 artillery fire and sharpshooting continued until night, and, 
 immediately after dark, in obedience to orders from Colonel 
 Young, the troops built hundreds of fires all along the line 
 of battle and kept them burning through the night. The 
 Federals retreated during the night, the infantry crossing the 
 Rappahannock at 12 o'clock and the cavalry about day- 
 light. The object of this movement on the part of the 
 Federals and the force engaged in the same, will be seen 
 from the following cop}' of an order received that day by 
 General Buford : 
 
 "(Orders.) Headquarters A.rmy of the Potomac, 
 
 October 12, 1863,10:30 a.m. 
 
 "Major-general Sedgwick will, in addition to his own 
 corps, take command of the 5th corps and Buford's divis- 
 ion of cavalry and advance immediately to Brandy Station 
 and take position at the heights there, driving the enemy 
 and holding the position. He will report his progress to 
 the commanding general, and also the force, position and 
 movements of the enemy. 
 
 "By command of Major-general Meade. 
 
 S. Williams, 
 Assistant Adjutant-general. 
 
 "Official copy furnished for General Buford's informa- 
 tion. 
 
 "By command of Major-general Pleasanton. 
 
 "C. C. Suydam, 
 "Assistant Adjutant-general." 
 
 In his official report of tlie movement, General Buford 
 says: 
 
 "At 12 m., the division was across the river again and in 
 motion. After advancing about two miles, the enemy's 
 pickets were driven in, and the advance command skirmish- 
 ing with the enemy. Finding his force insignificant, a 
 general advance was ordered, and he was driven to one and 
 one-half miles of Culpeper. The object of the expedition- 
 being accomplished, the division returned and bivouacked 
 on the left of the infantry near Brandy. 
 
192 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 "At 12 that night the infantry withdrew beyond the 
 Rappahannock, ray division bringing up the rear, and re- 
 crossed by daylight on the 13th," 
 
 As compared with the Federal force, that of the Confed- 
 erates was "insignificant," but the only force that "was 
 driven to one and one-half miles of Culpeper" by the Fed- 
 erals was the one regiment of Colonel Rosser, and when they 
 struck Young's brigade the driving ceased, and their for- 
 ward movement was completely checked. Notwithstanding 
 General Buford's statement to the contrary, "the object of 
 the expedition" was not "accomplished;" for General 
 Sedgwick failed in "driving the enemy" as directed and also 
 failed to advance sufficiently far to enable him to correctly 
 "report the force, position, and movements of the enem}'" 
 to General Meade. Hence "the expedition" was a failure, 
 and the cause of its failure is found in the fact that the 
 Federals did not, as they could easily have done with their 
 overwhelming force, drive Young from his position and 
 thereby ascertain the exceedingly small force that con- 
 fronted them. If they had displayed one-half the gallantry 
 in attacking the Confederates that the latter manifested in 
 meeting and checking their movement, thej' could have 
 easily driven Young back by advancing two hundred yards 
 through the woods on the right of his line and about a 
 quarter of a mile across the open ground on the left of the 
 same, and on reaching his position would have instantly 
 discovered what a mere handful of men were opposing 
 them, as the country was entirely open from that point to 
 Culpeper, and Young's whole command could have been 
 captured or annihilated unless it had sought safety in 
 flight, as there was no supporting force within ten miles of 
 it. If the Federals had thus advanced and then moved for- 
 ward to Culpeper, "the expedition" would indeed have been 
 a success and yielded fruits of which General Meade did not 
 dream when he ordered it; for at that very time the com- 
 missary and quartermaster's trains of General Lee's army 
 •were loading with supplies at the depot in Culpeper, and 
 these, of course, would have fallen into the hands of the 
 Federals, thereby entailing an almost inestimable loss upon 
 the Confederate army. The Federals were doubtless 
 deterred from attacking more vigorously than they did and 
 
JOHN ASHTOJSr. 198 
 
 also from making any farther forward movement, by the 
 marvelous amount of "noise" that Young's command had 
 "kept up," and the impression thereby made that a large 
 force confronted them. Young's bluff game had proven a 
 perfect success, and for months afterward it was a matter 
 of merriment among his men that they had so completely 
 bluffed the Yankees at Brandy Station. 
 
 We will now return to that part of General Stuart's 
 corps with which Ashton was connected, viz.: Fitzhugh Lee's 
 division. After the Federals were driven across the Rappa- 
 hannock on October 11th, as heretofore mentioned, General 
 Fitzhugh Lee, with W. H. F. Lee's and Wickham's brigades, 
 camf)ed near Welford's Ford on the Hazel river that night, 
 and on the following day moved to Fox's Mill on the Rap- 
 pahannock, where he encamped for the night. On October 
 13th he moved by way of Warrenton to Auburn, where he 
 had a slight engagement with a force of Federal infantry 
 which was marching by that place. On October 14th the 
 division marched by way of New Baltimore and Gainesville 
 to Bristow Station, and there encamped that night. The 
 next day it moved to Manassas, where the Federals were 
 found deployed on the plains. Colonel Chambliss, com- 
 manding W. H. F. Lee's brigade, was ordered to advance 
 and take possession of Mitchell's Ford on Bull Run, and 
 this was quickly done by his dismounted sharpshooters in 
 an impetuous charge down to the river under the immediate 
 command of Captain Haynes, of the 9th Virginia cavalry, 
 who was seriously wounded in the charge. On the fol- 
 lowing daj' Lee's brigade moved to the rear of Alanassas, 
 and about sunset it was met by a superior force of Federals. 
 The 9th Virginia cavalry made a gallant charge on them, 
 in which Ashton participated, but the regiment being 
 greatly outnumbered, was repulsed. The brigade then 
 retired to Bristow Station, where it remained until the 
 mormng of October 17th, and then moved to Catlett's Sta- 
 tion. On October 19th the division marched to Buckland, 
 and arrived there in time to participate in the engagement 
 at that place in which General Kilpatrick was so completely 
 routed and came near losing his entire command by means 
 of a trap which had been laid for him by Generals Fitzhugh 
 
194 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 Lee and Stuart. Two da3's before, General Stuart had 
 marched with Hampton's division to the vicinity of Chan- 
 tillj, on the right flank and partly in the rear of the Federal 
 array, and had a skirmish with a portion of General Sedg- 
 wick's corps at Frying Pan Church. On October 18th he 
 retired to Gainesville and toward night moved with the 
 division above Haymarket for the purpose of obtaining 
 forage and supplies, and encamped along the roadside. 
 During the night he learned from his scouts that General 
 Kilpatrick's division of cavalry, with six pieces of artillery, 
 and a column of infantry in the rear, had left Fairfax 
 Court-House the day before and were advancing on him. On 
 the morning of October 19th General Stuart passed through 
 Gainesville and moved back toward Buckland, being closely 
 followed by Kilpatrick whose advance troops were en- 
 gaged with one regiment of Young's brigade until the latter 
 reached Buckland about 10 a. m. General Stuart having 
 crossed Broad Run, placed his artillery and sharpshooters 
 in advantageous positions along that stream and awaited 
 the advance of General Kilpatrick, having determined to 
 hold him in check at that point until General Fitzhugh Lee 
 could come to his support, in accordance with a notification 
 previously given. The Federals made several desperate 
 efforts to force a passage across the stream, but were each 
 timerepulsed by the Confederates. After awhile they ceased 
 their efforts to cross the stream in General Stuart's front 
 and sent out forces on his flanks. About this time General 
 Stuart received a dispatch from General Fitzhugh Lee, who 
 was advancing from Auburn, stating that he was coming 
 to General Stuart's support and suggesting that the latter 
 should retire with HamjDton's division toward Warrenton, 
 drawing the Federals after him, and that he would come in 
 from the direction of Auburn and attack them in the flank 
 and rear. General Stuart at once adopted the suggestion 
 and, sending word to General Lee that he would be ready 
 to turn upon the Federals as soon as he heard Lee's signal 
 guns, he retired slowly with Hampton's division until he 
 reached Chestnut Hill, about two miles and a half from 
 Warrenton. General Kilpatrick, confidently beheving that 
 he was really driving the Confederates, walked right into 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 195 
 
 the trap thus laid for him and followed General Stuart until 
 the latter had reached Chestnut Hill, when the sound of 
 artillery near Buckland indicating that General Lee had 
 arrived and begun the attack, General Stuart, turning 
 back, pressed the Federals suddenly and vigorously in 
 front with Gordon's brigade and on the flanks with 
 Young's and Rosser's brigades. 
 
 This attack was at first firmly resisted by the Federals, 
 but they were so gallantly and impetuously charged by 
 Gordon's brigade (the 1st North Carolina cavalry leading 
 the charge) that Ihey soon gave way and were completely 
 routed. General Fitzhugh Lee had come in on the Auburn 
 pike and struck the Federals on their right flank; Young was 
 moving with his brigade around on their left flank to get in 
 their rear at or near Buckland ; and Gordon, advancing on 
 the Warrenton pike, attacked them in front, as before stated, 
 striking the head of their column near New Baltimore. At 
 this place General Kilpatrick narrowlj' escaped being cap- 
 tured by a member of the 1st North Carolina cavalry. Con- 
 fidently believing, as before stated, that he was really driv- 
 ing General Stuart back with perfect ease, and apparently 
 intrusting the further management of the movement to his 
 subordinates, he stopped at a house in New Baltimore and 
 ordered dinner. Before he had time to partake of the meal 
 that was being prepared for him, his troops had been 
 routed by General Stuart and came dashing down the War- 
 renton pike and on through New Baltimore as fast as their 
 horses could carry tliem. Hastily leaving the house where 
 he had hoped to enjoy an excellent dinner, General Kilpat- 
 rick mounted his horse and started for the pike to join his 
 fleeing troopers in their pell-mell flight. The aforesaid North 
 Carolinian happened to esp\' him, and at once dashed out 
 of the pike to intercept him. This movement caused Gen- 
 eral Kilpatrick to change his course, and wheeling his horse, 
 he galloped off in another direction rapidly followed by the 
 North Carolinian. Being closely pressed bj^ the latter, Gen- 
 eral Kilpatrick dashed into a garden and rode rapidly 
 across it, his pursuer being only a short distance i^ehind 
 him. Indeed he was so close to the fugitive that he could 
 easily have shot and killed him, but, knowing his rank, he 
 
1. 6 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 had set his heart on capturing the general — therefore re- 
 frained from shooting. Just as General Kilpatrick reached 
 the farther side of the garden, and when the North Caroli- 
 nian was within a few paces of him, the horse of the latter 
 stumbled and fell, thereby enabling the fugitive to escape. 
 
 When the Federals were attacked in front and flank, as 
 before mentioned, thej^ turned and fled in the utmost con- 
 fusion; and then began a rapid and exciting chase such as 
 had not before been seen during the Civil War. The routed 
 and demoralized P'ederals were pursued by the Confederates 
 at full speed through Buckland, and for miles be3'ond, one 
 column fleeing toward Haymarket and the other toward 
 Gainesville, until both had been driven behind their infantry 
 supports, a number of the latter being killed and captured. 
 About four hundred prisoners were captured by the Con- 
 federates, and dead and wounded Federals were scattered all 
 along the road for miles. If General Fitzhugh Lee's attack 
 had been delayed for a half hour, and thus given Young 
 time to get in the rear of the Federals, General Kilpatrick's 
 entire division would have been killed or captured. As it 
 was, the route was complete, and the pell-mell flight of the 
 division was afterward described by a Federal writer as 
 presenting "the deplorable spectacle of seven thousand 
 cavalry dashing riderless, hatless, and panic-stricken 
 through the ranks of their infantry." 
 
 The 9th Virginia cavalry participated in the flank attack 
 that was made by Fitzhugh Lee's division, and Ashton was 
 among the sharpshooters who gallantly pressed the Fed- 
 erals on foot near New Baltimore until their ranks were 
 completely broken, and then lemjunting their horses en- 
 gaged in chasing the demoraHzed fugitives in their rapid 
 and disorderly flight through and beyond Buckland. In 
 this, as in previous engagements, he maintained his reputa- 
 tion for dash and gallantry and won the renewed admira- 
 tion of his comrades and commanding officers. 
 
 This engagement, which the Confederates facetiously 
 called "the Buckland races," terminated the brief, but bril- 
 liant campaign of Stuart's cavalry in October 1863, during 
 which they captured between one thousand and five hun- 
 dred and two thousand prisoners, and killed and wounded a 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 197 
 
 great many of the Federals. On the following day the 
 Confederate cavalry recrossed -the Rappahannock and 
 repaired to their respective camps. 
 
 Shortly thereafter the brigade to which Ashton belonged 
 went into camp in Madison county and there remained 
 until the latter part of November, when it and the other 
 brigades of Lee's division moved to the vicinity of Mor- 
 ton's and Raccoon Fords on the Rapidan and relieved Gen- 
 eral Ewell's corps of infantry during General Meade's 
 movement across the river lower down, which resulted in 
 his disastrous repulse at Locust Grove and Mine Run. 
 During Meade's movement against Lee's army, Kilpatrick's 
 division of cavalry crossed the Rapidan two or three times 
 at Morton's and Raccoon Fords, but was repulsed and 
 driven back each time by Fitzhugh Lee's division. On 
 December 2d, the division was relieved by the return of 
 Ewell's corps, and moved back to Madison county. From 
 there a part of thedivision, including the regiment to which 
 Ashton belonged, moved to the vicinity of Charlottesville, 
 on December 12th, for the purpose of going into winter 
 quarters, but left there December 14th to aid in checking 
 the raid of General Averell on the Virginia and Tennessee 
 railroad. Owing to incorrect information given him as to 
 Averell's movements. General Fitzhugh Lee failed to inter- 
 cept or overtake him, and the command returned to camp 
 after a week's hard riding, having marched about three hun- 
 dred miles in pursuit of the enemy. 
 
198 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Just after Ashton's regiment returned to Madison countv, 
 he received a letter from Ruth in which she informed him 
 that her cousin, Bertha Gray, and Captain Carringion were 
 to be married on Christmas eve, and urged him to obtain 
 leave of absence from his command in order that he might 
 be present on the occasion, and also spend the following 
 week in Richmond. Ashton immediately made application 
 for leave of absence during Christmas week, and in due time 
 the same was granted. 
 
 This information in regard to the approaching marriage 
 of Carrington and Bertha naturally aroused in Ashton's 
 heart an intense longing for the speed v consummation of his 
 his own engagement with Ruth Middleton, and he was 
 prompted to write the latter urging that there might be a 
 double wedding on the occasion, in which she and he would 
 take prominent parts. On reflection, he decided that such a 
 request would be supremely selfish, and at once discarded 
 the thought of asking Ruth to link her fate wnth his, under 
 existing circumstances. While he knew that Bertha would 
 make a great sacrifice in marrj'inga soldier in active service, 
 he also knew that this sacrifice would not be so great as 
 that which Ruth would have to make if she should marry 
 him ; for he was but a private soldier in the cavalry, which 
 was usually on the outposts of the army and liable to be 
 moved from place to place at any time, w^hile Captain Car- 
 rington was an infantry officer, wath more privileges and 
 much better pay than he enjoyed, and, moreover, w-ould be 
 in a position to have his wife with him during a consid- 
 erable part of the time, especially in the w'inter months. 
 TTaving thus in a measure stifled his longing for a speedy 
 marriage with Ruth, and summarily curbed |his incHnation 
 to request the same, Ashton consoled himself for his dis- 
 appointment in the matter b\^ thinking of the inestima- 
 ble blessing which he enjoyed in the possession of Ruth's 
 love, although Ihe time of their marriage was indefinite, 
 and, philosopher-like, resumed the discharge of his daily 
 duties with his wonted alacrity and cheerfulness, looking 
 
JOHN ASRTON. 199 
 
 forward with gladsome anticipation to his enjoyment of 
 Ruth's companionship on the occasion of Bertha's marriage 
 to Captain Carrington. 
 
 As Carrington has found a permanent place in our story, 
 and we have really come to like the brave, bright, and 
 genial fellow, and hope that the reader has done likewise, it 
 is natural and, we trust, pardonable, that some account 
 should be given of his rriovement-s since his return to the 
 army at the expiration of his visit to Bertha in September. 
 
 From that time till October 9th, his regiment remained 
 quietly in camp near the Rapidan,and he had no experiences 
 worthy of notice. On that day, as the reader will remem- 
 ber, the infantry and artillery of the Confederate army 
 marched toward Aladison Court-House, and the brigade 
 (Doles') to which Carrington belonged participated in the 
 flank movement thus begun, but had no serious fighting to 
 do, as General Lee failed to secure a general engagement 
 with the Federal army. After the Confederate army re- 
 turned from this movement. Doles' brigade was stationed 
 near Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock, and participated 
 in the engagement at that point on November 7th, which 
 preceded the unfortunate capture of a part of Hays' and 
 Hoke's brigades on the north side of the river above the 
 ford. On November 27th the brigade was actively engaged 
 in conjunction with General Edward Johnson's division in 
 the fight at Payne's farm near Locust Grove, where the 
 Federals under General French were repulsed with consid- 
 erable loss. The next day the brigade rejoined Rodes' 
 division on Mine Run, and after the Federals had been 
 repulsed all along the line and begun their retreat on Decem- 
 ber 2d, Carrington's regiment took an active part in fol- 
 lowing them up in their retreat, and nineteen of the sharp- 
 shooters of the regiment charged about three hundred Fed- 
 erals posted behind an embankment on the plank-road, and 
 captured one hundred and thirty-seven of them. On 
 November 27th in the fight at Payne's farm, this regiment, 
 in conjunction with the 12th Georgia, rendered timely and 
 efficient service to General G. H. Stuart's brigade. It was 
 nearly dark, General Stuart's brigade had been engaged for 
 some time, was hard pressed, and its extreme left about to 
 
200 JOHN A SET ON. 
 
 be overpowered by superior numbers, having exhausted its 
 ammunition, when the 4th and 12th Georgia regiments 
 were ordered to its support. Moving forward at a double 
 quick, they charged the Federals, drove them back and re- 
 established the Confederate line, relieving the left of Stuart's 
 brigade from the heavy pressure that was upon it. After 
 this Carrington and the other members of his regiment had 
 no heavy fighting during General Meade's farther demon- 
 strations along Mine Run, and the Federals having crossed 
 the Rapidan and made good their retreat, the regiment, 
 together with the remainder of the brigade, returned to 
 Morton's Ford and resumed the position which it had 
 occupied when relieved a few days before by a part of Gen- 
 eral Fitzhugh Lee's division. Ashton and Carrington had 
 thus twice been in close proximity to each other within 
 less than a week; but, as they were not aware of the fact, 
 they did not meet or have any communication with one 
 another. 
 
 At this time Bertha Gray was at home, where she had gone 
 a few days before to make preparations for her approach- 
 ing marriage. She had remained in Richmond assisting 
 Ruth in her hospital duties until the last of November, and 
 then returned home for the purpose just mentioned. Ruth 
 had been constantly engaged at the hospital ever since 
 Ashton 's departure to rejoin his regiment, but her duties 
 at this time were not so taxing as when he left, as many of 
 the soldiers who were wounded in the Gettysburg campaign 
 had been discharged from the hospital, and, consequently, 
 she had some leisure time every day. During the preceding 
 month, Belle Preston spent a week with her, and both girls 
 derived much pleasure from the visit. Belle was at once 
 impressed by the fact that Ruth was much brighter and 
 happier than when the latter visited her the preceding sum- 
 mer, and having expressed her gratification at this change, 
 Ruth was led to explain its cause. As the girls had l)een 
 intimate friends at school and there formed an enduring 
 attachment for each other, the utmost confidence now ex- 
 isted between them, and hence Ruth did not hesitate to 
 relate the sad experience which she had before meeting Belle 
 in thesummer,and the subsequent events that had wrought 
 
JOHN ASHTON. -201 
 
 such a complete change in her appearance and feelings. She 
 told Belle of her love for Ashton, her long settled opinion 
 that he was dead, the singular manner in which she had 
 discovered her mistake as to his supposed death, their subse- 
 quent engagement, and the great happiness that she experi- 
 enced in loving and being loved by him. On being asked by 
 Belle at what time she expected to marry him, Ruth stated 
 that she did not expect to marry him until the close of the 
 war, as, from her knowledge of his character, she was sat- 
 isfied that he would consider it selfish for him to request an 
 earlier consummation of their engagement, and hence would 
 not do so. Having thus alluded to Ashton's character, 
 Ruth was thereby led to give a description of the same, and 
 as the description was based on a thorough knowledge of her 
 subject and somewhat influenced by her love, it impressed 
 Belle with the idea that Ruth's lover was a remarkable and 
 exceptional man, and caused her to express an earnest desire 
 to meet and know him. Ruth informed her that she would 
 soon have an opportunity for gratifying this desire, stat- 
 ing that Bertha wished her to attend her marriage and that 
 Ashton would be present on the occasion. 
 
 It had been arranged that the marriage should occur in 
 Richmond, and Mrs. Slaughter's family were looking for- 
 ward with pleasurable anticipations to the coming event, 
 and making suitable preparations for the same. While 
 Ruth rejoiced with Bertha in the happiness which she had 
 found in Carrington's love, she was at times saddened bv 
 the thought that her cousin's approaching marriage would 
 terminate their almost lifelong companionship and thereby 
 make her own life for awhile a comparatively lonely one. 
 Hence she looked forward to that event with mingled emo- 
 tions of pleasure and pain. The intervening time between 
 the close of Belle Preston's visit and Bertha's return to 
 Richmond was spent by Ruthin the customary discharge of 
 her hospital duties and in aiding the Slaughters in the prep- 
 arations that were being made for Bertha's marriage. As 
 before stated, the marriage was to occur on Christmas eve, 
 and Bertha arrived in Richmond a few days before that 
 time. Carrington, Ashton and Belle, and Lieutenant Preston 
 reached the city on December 23d, and, in accordance with 
 
202 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 an arrangement previously made, all of them repaired to 
 Mrs. Slaughter's residence that evening. Lieutenant Harris 
 of the artillery, who, as the reader will remember, intro- 
 duced Sergeant Paul to the ladies at Mrs. Slaughter's, was 
 also present. When it was discovered that Sergeant Paul 
 was an impostor and spy, Kate Slaughter, in her im- 
 pulsive wa^', became very indignant and was greatly dis- 
 pleased with Lieutenant Harris for having brought Paul to 
 the house, and scolded him for what she termed his lack of 
 prudence in the matter; but on reflection she recognized how 
 naturally the mistake had been made by Harris and prompt- 
 ly apologized for her hasty condemnation of his conduct, 
 and they were now good friends. 
 
 In view of the occasion that had called them together and 
 the pleasant relations which existed between them, it is 
 doubtful as to whether a happier party could have been 
 found within the bounds of the Southern Confederacy 
 than was assembled that evening at Mrs. Slaughter's resi- 
 dence. Their surroundings, too, were such as to inspire 
 cheerfulness and gayety ; for the house was brilliantly 
 lighted, blazing fires were burning in the grates, and the 
 rooms were tastefully decorated with branches of holly 
 and sprigs of mistletoe, whose fresh green leaves, together 
 with numerous vases of beautiful flowers in various parts 
 of the house, presented a gladsome picture, suggestive of 
 sweet springtime, and in delightful contrast with the snow- 
 clad world without, where the wintry wnnds were shrilly 
 whistling through the shivering branches of the leafless trees. 
 This joyous picture had its counterpart in the breasts of those 
 who were delightedh' feasting their e\'es upon its animat- 
 ing beauties, for in the midst of cold and drear3' winter 
 the coming Christmas-tide and the occasion which called 
 them together, had brought warm and gladsome springtime 
 to their hearts. Forgetting for the time the scenes of strife 
 and bloodshed on the battle-fields, and the privations and 
 hardships of camp life which some of them had but recently 
 left, and with which all were more or less familiar, they gave 
 themselves entirely up to the enjoyment of the occasion. 
 
 For a time the conversation was general and the members 
 of the party remained together engaged in liveh' chat and 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 203 
 
 merry jest; but after awhile the law of affinity began its 
 operation, and soon they were sitting apart or promenad- 
 ing in pairs, as follows: Ashton with Ruth, Carrington 
 with Bertha, Lieutenant Preston with Kate Slaughter, and 
 Lieutenant Harris with Belle Preston. 
 
 Although Lieutenant Harris had known Belle only a 
 short time, having formed her acquaintance during her vis- 
 it to Ruth the preceding month, he was charmed with her 
 girlish impulsiveness and imaffected warm-heartedness, frank 
 and sunny disposition, and bright and sprightly intellect, and 
 had become deeply interested in her. Indeed it was appar- 
 ent to those who witnessed the devoted air which marked 
 his conduct toward her, and the absorbing interest with 
 which he talked to her, that if he had not already succumbed 
 to the power of the divine passion, he was in a fair way of 
 yielding to its sway. The same was also true as to the ef_ 
 feet that had been produced on Lieutenant Preston by the 
 many virtues of high-spirited, headstrong, and yet charm- 
 ing Kate Slaughter, whose acquaintance he had assiduously 
 cultivated since meeting her the ])receding summer. As the 
 conversations of the several couples, though deeply inter- 
 esting to the parties therein, would not, perhaps, entertain 
 the reader, we refrain from repeating them. 
 
 After partaking of a delicious supper and spending an 
 hour or two in general conversation, interspersed with some 
 of Ruth's soul-enchanting songs, the party dispersed for the 
 night, looking forward with delightful anticipations to 
 their reunion at the wedding on the following evening. The 
 next morning dawned clear and bright, and Bertha, accept- 
 ing this as a favorable omen, felt that no expectant bride 
 could ask for a more auspicious wedding-day than that 
 which had been vouchsafed to her. 
 
 The marriage was to occur at 8 o'clock p. m., at Mrs. 
 Slaughter's residence, and only those who were gathered 
 there the preceding evening and the officiating clergyman were 
 to be present. Shortly before that time the entire wedding 
 party had assembled, and at the appointed hour Carrington 
 and Bertha were duly united in the holy bonds of matri- 
 mony. After the congratulations and good wishes of the 
 assembled guests had been extended to the happy pair, the 
 
204 JOUN AS ETON. 
 
 partj repaired to the dining-room and partook of a sump- 
 tuous repast, the savory substantials and delicious delicacies 
 of which would have satisfied the most exacting taste of a 
 confirmed epicure. It is needless to say that they did full 
 justice to the wedding supper, and at its close were in that 
 proverbially happy frame of mind which a delicious feast 
 invariably produces. The evening passed pleasantly and 
 swiftly by, and at its close it was agreed that the party 
 should go sleigh-riding on the morrow. Hence, shortly 
 after breakfast, the next morning, the entire wedding party 
 were swiftly gliding over the snow-clad streets of the city on 
 their way to the countrj'. They drove out toward Meadow 
 Bridge on the Chickahominy river, passing by and examin- 
 ing the fortifications north of the city and catching a 
 
 glimpse of the artillery, with which Lieutenant Preston 
 
 was connected. Some of the company, recognizing Preston, 
 waved their caps and in hearty tones wished the party a 
 merry Christmas. They were certainly having a merry 
 Christmas, and the sweet-toned sleigh-bells making glad 
 music on the clear, crisp air, found an echo, as it were, in 
 the still sweeter joy -bells that were softly ringing in their 
 happy hearts. After crossing the Chickahominy at Meadow 
 Bridge, the party drove out beyond Mechanicsville, and 
 after passing over a part of the ground where the fierce and 
 bloody battle of June 26, 1862, was fought, returned to 
 Richmond by the Mechanicsville turnpike. During the re- 
 mainder of the Christmas holidays the members of the 
 wedding party were together every day, and the time was 
 passed in a round of gaieties that rendered it one of the 
 happiest wrecks of their lives. With its close the parting 
 hour drew nigh, and their hearts were saddened at thought 
 of the separation that must ensue with the coming of the 
 New Year. 
 
 New Year's day dawned fair and bright, and shortly after 
 breakfast all of the party were assembled at Mrs. 
 Slaughter's residence for the purpose of bidding each other 
 good-bye. The beauty and brightness of the day and the 
 feeling of joyousness which the New Year invariably 
 inspires, tended to counteract the natural depression 
 which they felt in view of their approaching separation, 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 205 
 
 and they managed to keep up a show of cheerfuhiess to the 
 last. As Carrington's regiment was in winter quarters, 
 and not expected to move until the opening of the spring 
 campaign, it was arranged that his wife should return with 
 him, and he had secured a pleasant boarding-house for her 
 near the encampment of the regiment. At last the parting 
 hour arrived and the parties separated after bidding each 
 other an affectionate good-bye. 
 
 Belle Preston went to her home in Lexington, and Lieu- 
 tenants Preston and Harris returned to their respective 
 commands. Carrington and Bertha traveled by rail to 
 Rapidan Station, and from that point by a hired convey- 
 ance to their temporary home near Morton's Ford. 
 
 Ashton had accompanied them as far as Gordons ville and, 
 having there bidden them good-bye, proceeded to Char- 
 lottesville. On reaching Charlottesville he found his horse 
 awaiting him, in accordance with instructions previously 
 given in regard to the matter, and from there he rode out 
 to the encampment of his regiment. As he rode along he 
 lived over in imagination the happy hours recently spent 
 with Ruth, and intensely longed for the time when he could 
 claim her as his wife. As he was still fixed in his purpose 
 not to request the appointment of this time until the close 
 of the war, he had no hope of its speedy arrival, for the fall 
 of Vicksburg and other reverses to the Confederate array 
 in the Southwest during the preceding summer and fall, and 
 the unsuccessful issue of the Gettysburg campaign so 
 greatly' encouraged the North in the prosecution of the war 
 that an indefinite continuation of hostilities was probable. 
 In view of this fact, and the poorly clad and half-starved 
 condition of General Lee's army, Ashton regarded the out- 
 look as exceedingly gloomy, and for the moment was 
 greatly depressed. However, he soon shook off this feeling 
 of despondency and rode into camp that evening in a com- 
 paratively cheerful frame of mind, ready for the prompt 
 and faithful discharge of any duty that might be as 
 signed him. 
 
 Wnen Ashton left Richmond, Ruth keenly felt the pangs 
 of their separation and was naturally heavy-hearted for 
 several days after his departure. But she did not let this 
 
206 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 feeling of depression deter her from, or unfit her for her 
 work, and resumed her labors at the hospital with una- 
 bated interest and elficiency. 
 
 We have alluded to the condition of the Confederate army 
 in Virginia, and will farther state that at this time it was 
 deplorable, as the soldiers were daily experiencing the great- 
 est hardships and suffering. They did not have sufficient 
 clothing to protect them against the cold and inclement 
 weather, and, the meager supply of food received by them 
 being entirely inadequate to meet the demands of nature, 
 many of them were half-starved. The horses in both the 
 cavalry and artillery also suffered greatly for lack of food, 
 and many of them were entirely imfit for service. 
 
 Some time before this Victor Hugo's masterpiece in litera- 
 ture, "Zes Miserables," had found its way into the army and 
 was extensivelj' read by the soldiers. An Anglicized pro- 
 nunciation of the title so forcibly suggested and aptly 
 described the wretched condition of the troops, that they 
 promptl}' and pertinently dubbed themselves "Lee's Misera- 
 bles," and both the name and the wretchedness which it 
 implied clung to them during the remainder of the war. 
 
 The deplorable state of affairs to which we have referred, 
 naturally caused a number of desertions from the army, 
 but, to the honor of that peerless army be it said, nearly all 
 of the troops bore their hardships and sufferings with 
 uncomplaining fortitude and displayed a degree of patriotic 
 devotion and exalted heroism that has never been equaled 
 in the annals of war. The winter passed by without any 
 general or important engagement between the two armies; 
 but the Federals made two efforts to capture Richmond by 
 means of raiding parties. The first effort was made under 
 the direction of General B. F. Butler, who was in command 
 of the Federal forces on the Peninsula. His plan was to 
 send a raiding party of cavalry up the Peninsula to sur- 
 prise Richmond, which he believed was practically defense- 
 less ; and in order to cover this movement and thereby increase 
 thechances of its success, the Federal army on the Rapidan 
 was to make a demonstration against General Lee's army 
 lyingsouth of that stream. The Federal raiding party, under 
 General Wistar, marched up the Peninsula and reached Bot- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 207 
 
 tom's bridge on the Chickahominy on February 6th, ISS^, 
 but, finding that the road to Richmond was strongly 
 guarded, advanced no farther, and returned from the expe- 
 dition without having accompHshed anything by the move- 
 ment. In pursuance of the plan before mentioned, the 
 Federal army on February 7th made a demonstration against 
 General Lee's army along the lower fords of the Rapidan, 
 failed to accomplish anything by the movement, and lost 
 several hundred men. 
 
 A second and more serious attempt to capture the Con- 
 federate Capital was made about three weeks after the first 
 had failed. At that time an expedition consisting of four 
 thousand cavalry was organized and equipped with great 
 care for the purpose of capturing the city and releasing 
 the Federal prisoners who were confined there. General Kil- 
 patrick had command of the expedition, and an important 
 part in the same was assigned to Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, a 
 young officer who had previously won distinction by his 
 skill and daring. The plan marked out fcjr the movement 
 was as follows : 
 
 A column under General Custer was to advance on Char- 
 lottesville for the purpose of drawing attention from the 
 main body, which was to march to Beaver Dam Station on 
 the Virginia Central railroad. On arriving at Beaver Dam 
 Station, the main column was to be divided, a part of the 
 troops, under General Kilpatrick, moving on Richmond 
 along the north bank of the James river, and the remain- 
 der, under Colonel Dahlgren, crossing to the south side of 
 the stream, were to march down the right bank of the same, 
 release the prisoners at Belle Isle, recross the river, burn 
 the bridges, and rejoin Kilpatrick in the city, destroy the 
 city and kill President Davis and his cabinet. The move- 
 ment was begun on February 28th, and General Custer 
 attempted to carry out the part assigned to him by march- 
 ing toward Charlottesville, but on arriving in the vicinity 
 of the place, he was repulsed and driven back by Stuart's 
 Horse artillery and at once retreated to Madison Court- 
 house. On reaching Beaver Dam Station, the main column 
 of the Federals divided, and Kilpatrick, with the greater 
 part of the same, marched toward Richmond, while Dahlgren 
 
208 JO UN ASHTON. 
 
 with five hundred picked men, moved toward the James 
 river. Kilpatrick approached Richmond by the Brook 
 turnpike, but seemingly made no real effort to capture the 
 city, and without much show of fighting, changed his course 
 and marched down the Peninsula, Dahlgren reaciied the 
 James river, but found that itcould not be forded, and moved 
 toward Richmond on the Westham plank-road, moving par- 
 allel wnth that stream, expecting to join Kilpatrick near the 
 city. He arrived within four miles of Richmond on the night 
 of March 1st, only a short time after Kilpatrick 's retreat, and 
 was met by a small force of department clerks and laborers 
 in the government workshops that had been hastily col- 
 lected and armed to aid in defending the city. Colonel 
 Dahlgren, with his five hundred picked horsemen, was per- 
 fectly confident that he could easily disperse the small force 
 opposing him and ordered his men to charge "the militia." 
 The charge was made, but the result was very disappointing 
 to the over-confident officer who ordered it, for "the militia" 
 boldly stood their ground and received the chaa-ge with a 
 well-directed fire which emptied about a dozen saddles, 
 repulsed the raiders and scattered them in confusion. Dis- 
 comfited by this bold and vigorous reception, Dahlgren did 
 not renew his attack on the Confederates, but moved off 
 around the city for the purpose of reaching the road lead- 
 ing down the Peninsula in order that he might escape by 
 that route, as he now realized that the expedition had failed, 
 and that he was in imminent danger of capture. A part of 
 his command succeeded in making their escape by that 
 route, but during his retreat Dahlgren and about one hun- 
 dred of his men became separated from the rest of the com- 
 mand, and on the night of March 3d rode up to the camp 
 of a detachment of the 24-th Virginia cavalr\- and some 
 horse-guards and militia who w^ere on the watch for them. 
 As soon as Dahlgren saw the Confederates he ordered them 
 to surrender, but instead of doing this they poured a volley 
 into his ranks, killing him instantly, and routing his com- 
 mand, which fled in confusion, leaving their dead com- 
 mander behind them. These fugitives werecaptured thenext 
 day, and thus terminated a well-planned but poorly exe- 
 cuted raid which threatened the capture and destruction of 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 209 
 
 Richmond. If the Federals had reached Richmond on the 
 morning of March 1st, it would have been captured and 
 destroyed, as there was then no sufficient force at hand to 
 prevent their entrance into the city. 
 
 On Colonel Dahlgren's person were found an address to 
 his command, some special orders, and his privajie note- 
 book, from the contents of which it clearly appeared that 
 the murderous and incendiary design of killing President 
 Davis and his cabinet and burning the Confederate Capital 
 had been deliberately planned, and that ample preparations 
 for its execution had been made before the raid began. 
 
 Copies of these documents were published In the Rich- 
 mond newspapers and their authenticity was subsequently 
 denied by Colonel Dahlgren's father and others; but the 
 denial was not sustained by proof, and the genuineness of 
 the papers was fully established by a report from General 
 Fitzhugh Lee, who personally delivered them to the War De- 
 partment, and also by a lengthy statement of Edward W. 
 Halback, a school-teacher, giving a full account of the 
 circumstances under which Colonel Dahlgren was killed, 
 and how, immediately after his death, the papers were 
 taken from his person by WilHam Littlepage, one of Mr. 
 Halback's pupils, about thirteen years of age. Moreover, 
 circumstantial evidence of Colonel Dahlgren's incendiary 
 design is furnished by a communication of his addressed to 
 Major-general Hooker, May 23d, 1863, in which he asks 
 permission to prepare and attempt a cavalry expedition 
 similar to the one we have described, and says: "The 
 object of the expedition would be to destroy everything 
 along the route, and especially on the south side of the 
 James river, and attempt to enter Richmond and Peters- 
 burg. If the general proposition should meet with your 
 approval, I will submit more minute details." 
 
210 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 On May 4th, 1864, General U. S. Grant crossed the Rapi- 
 dan with the Federal army and began a movement that 
 resulted in a series of the severest and bloodiest battles of 
 the war. Having already devoted so much space to descrip- 
 tions of the various operations of the commands to which 
 Ashton and Carrington respectively belonged, we will 
 refrain from giving a detailed account of the series of en- 
 gagements in which they participated during General 
 Grant's movement from the Rapidan to the James, in which, 
 with an army of one hundred and forty-eight thousand 
 men that was constantly being recruited and reinforced, he 
 was repeatedly repulsed by General Lee with an army of 
 originally about sixty thousand men which was gradually 
 being decreased, and received but few recruits or reinforce- 
 ments. In this movement General Grant lost in killed, 
 wounded, and captured fifty-four thousand nine hundred 
 and twenty-six men without accomplishing his purpose of 
 getting between General Lee's army and Richmond, and 
 was finally forced to transfer his army to the south side of 
 the James and take a position which he could have occupied 
 with scarcely the firing of a gun; and by November 1st, 
 1864, when he suspended for a time active operations in 
 front of Richmond and Petersburg, his loss had reached the 
 enormous aggregate of eighty-eight thousand three hundred 
 and eighty-seven men. While General Grant, during this 
 movement, was constantly endeavoring to flank General 
 Lee and get between him and Richmond, it is true that this 
 was not his sole or ultimate object ; for his purpose, as he has 
 expressed it, was not only "to beat Lee's army, if possible, 
 north of Richmond, then, after destroying his communica- 
 tion north of the James, to transfer the army to the south 
 side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he 
 should retreat," but also "to hammer continuously against 
 the armed forces of the enemy and his resources, until, by mere 
 attrition, if in no other way, there should be nothing left to 
 him but submission." Although General Grant did not sue- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 211 
 
 ceed in his first object of "beating Lee north of Rich- 
 mond," being constantly repulsed in every engagement from 
 the Rapidan to the James, and sacrificed more than a third 
 of the army with which he started, in transferring it to the 
 south side of the James and placing it in a position to 
 "besiege Lee in Richmond," yet the hammering process 
 which he had inaugurated resulted in incalculable and 
 irreparable injury to the Confederate cause; for much 
 valuable property and army stores were destroyed, and the 
 places of the Confederate soldiers who were killed, wounded 
 and captured by the Federals could not be filled. Indeed, it 
 was by means of this hammering process and as the result 
 of "mere attrition" that the hitherto invincible array of 
 Northern Virginia was ultimately vanquished, and it required 
 the constant efforts of almost four times its numbers for 
 nearly twelve months to accomplish this result. 
 
 Many gallant men and officers of General Lee's army lost 
 their hves during the campaign from the Rapidan to the 
 James, and among the latter was General J. E. B. Stuart, 
 the prince of cavaHers, who was mortally wounded on May 
 11th, 1864, at Yellow Tavern while engaged in chectiing 
 General P. H. Sheridan's raid on the Virginia Central rail- 
 road and the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac rail- 
 road. It is supposed that he was shot by John A. Huff, of 
 Company E, 5th Michigan cavalry and formerly of Berdan's 
 sharpshooters, who was himself mortally wounded shortly 
 afterward at Haw's Shop. This regiment and others of 
 Custer's brigade were severely' punished by General Hamj)- 
 ton at Haw's Shop, May 28th, and also defeated by Hamp- 
 ton at Trevilian Station, June 11th; but the destruction of 
 Custer's entire brigade would by no means have compen- 
 sated the Confederacy for the loss of its great cavalry com- 
 mander. It is true that there was a worthy successor to 
 the illustrious and lamented Stuart, and the command of 
 the cavalry corps was soon given to General Wade Hamp- 
 ton, who was, in all that constitutes the ideal soldier and 
 commander, the peer of his predecessor, but the Confederacy 
 had urgent need for the services of both of these matchless 
 men, and the loss of General Stuart was irreparable. 
 
212 JOHN ASRTON. 
 
 After General Grant's armj- had reached the James river 
 and commenced crossing it at Wilcox's Landing on June 
 14th, he at once proceeded to Berniada Hundred and gave 
 General B. F. Butler orders for the immediate capture of 
 Petersburg, knowing that the possession of this place by his 
 army would force General Lee to abandon Richmond. In 
 accordance with the instructions given by General Grant, 
 General W. F. Smith, commanding the 18th army corps, a 
 division of negro troops under General Hinks and a division 
 of cavalry under General Kautz, was ordered to march that 
 night to Petersburg and capture the city. General Smith 
 began his march as directed, and arrived in front of the 
 Confederate pickets near Petersburg before daylight the 
 next morning, but made no assault on the main lines until 
 late in the afternoon. The city was practically defenseless 
 against the force that then assailed it, the Confederate 
 force consisting of only a part of General Wise's brigade, 
 the militia of Petersburg and four batteries of artillery; 
 but the gallant defense made by this little band doubtless 
 caused General Smith to suppose that the garrison was a 
 large one. The Federals made three assaults which were 
 repulsed, but the fourth assault was successful and by dark 
 the entire line of outer works for a distance of more than 
 two miles had been captured. General Hancock's corps 
 arrived just after dark and, although he outranked General 
 Smith, he waived this fact and offered the services of his 
 troops to the latter, believing that General Smith best un- 
 derstood the situation of affairs and what disposition 
 should be made of the troops under the circumstances. If 
 General Smith had now seized the opportunity offered for 
 so doing, he could easily have entered the city and taken 
 possession of it. But he failed to do this, merely used the 
 fresh troops of General Hancock to relieve a part of his 
 own in the captured works and awaited the arrival of Gen- 
 eral Grant, who was marching on Petersburg \yith the rest 
 of his army. General Grant arrived the next morning, and 
 by his orders an attack was made at 6 o'clock that afternoon 
 by three corps of his armv, and the fighting continued all 
 night, resulting in the capture of one line of works; but 
 General Lee had, in the meantime, succeeded in reinforcing 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 213 
 
 the troops who were defending the city, and the further 
 advance of the Federals was completely checked. He ar- 
 rived there that night with the greater part of his arm3' 
 and soon recaptured the line of works that had been taken, 
 and drove the Federals back to their original line. They re- 
 newed the attack on June 17th, and theentireday was spent 
 in heav\' fighting, the Confederates constantly repulsing the 
 repeated assaults that were made on their works. General 
 Grant's entire army having arrived, he ordered a general 
 attack on the morning of June 18th; but his opportunity 
 for a successful assault had passed, for General Lee had 
 constructed a strong interior line of works immediately 
 ground the city, and on the next mornitig withdrew from 
 his former line to this one, which proved to be impregnable. 
 Having ascertained that the works which he expected to 
 assail were abandoned. General Grant ordered an assault 
 upon General Lee's new line, and the attack was made 
 about noon by a part of the 2d corps and promptly re- 
 pulsed. After that attacks were successively made by the 
 2d, 5th, and 9th corps of Grant's army, and each attack 
 was repulsed with heavy loss to the Federals. General 
 Grant now realized that it would be impossible for him to 
 capture Petersburg by a direct assault, and hence he 
 determined to besiege the cit}', and his army proceeded to 
 envelop it toward the South Side railroad as far as possi- 
 ble without attacking the Confederate fortifications. This 
 knowledge had been obtained by General Grant at immense 
 cost, for in the several assaults made on the Confederate 
 fortifications he had lost nine thousand six hundred and 
 sixty-five men, as shown by the Federal official reports. 
 
 We refrain from a description of the memorable siege 
 whicTi was thus begun and continued from June 18th, 1864, 
 to April 2d, 1865, during which period General Lee with a 
 poorly clad, half-starved, and defectively armed force of 
 less than forty thousand troops successfulU' held a fine forty 
 miles in length against a well clothed, well fed, and per- 
 fectly armed force of more than three times their numbers. 
 The marvelously successful resistance made by this band of 
 heroes to the constantly recurring assaults of the myriad 
 hosts assaiHng them, and their daily deeds of valor have 
 
214 JOHN ASRTOJSr. 
 
 never been equaled in the history of the world. Even to the 
 last General Grant's powerful army failed to carrj'- the 
 Confederate works by assault and General Lee finally aban- 
 doned them on the night of April 2d, 1865, only because of 
 the fact that General Grant had moved his army to a point 
 from which he could flank the Confederate army on its 
 right and reach its rear, unless General Lee retreated from 
 Petersburg and Richmond. 
 
 We will now return to Carrington and Ashton and give 
 some account of the movements, during the siege of Rich- 
 mond and Petersburg, of the commands to which they 
 respectively belonged. Carrington's regiment had distin- 
 guished itself in the several battles in the Wilderness and at 
 Spottsylvania Court-house, and also in the other engage- 
 ments occurring during General Grant's movement from the 
 Rapidan to the James. It was by a sharpshooter of this 
 regiment that General Grant's best corps commander, Gen- 
 eral John Sedgwick, was killed on May 9th, 1864<, near 
 Spottsylvania Court-house. 
 
 Immediately after General Grant reached the James a large 
 Federal force under General David Hunter began a movement 
 on Lynchburg, and in order to meet this movement it 
 became necessary for General Lee to detach a part of his 
 armv. Ewell's corps, to which Carrington's regiment be- 
 longed, was detached for this purpose, and General Jubal 
 A. Early was placed in command of the same, as General R. 
 S. Ewell was at the time unlitted for active service in con- 
 sequence of wounds v^hich he had previously received. 
 
 General Early reached Lynchburg June 17th and the next 
 day met and repulsed an attack made by General Hunter on 
 the Confederate works around the place. Hunter retreated 
 the following day and was so closely pressed by Early that 
 he did not return by way of the Valley but took a morecircui- 
 tous route through Western Virginia. This left the Valley 
 of Virginia comparatively clear of Federal troops and 
 enabled General Early to carry out instructions previously 
 received from General Lee to cross the Potomac and 
 threaten Washington. Hunter retreated toward Lewis- 
 burg, and Early followed and harassed the fleeing Federals 
 until they had passed through Botetourt county, some of the 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 215 
 
 Confederate cavalry pursuing them as far as Newcastle. 
 Early then moved to the vicinity of Staunton and on June 
 28th started down the Valley on his contemplated expedi- 
 tion across the border. 
 
 Thus Carrington was again to pass over much of the 
 ground that he had traveled about a year before on the 
 march to Pennsylvania, and he naturally thought of the 
 hardships and dangers to which he and his fellow-soldiers 
 had been exposed during that disastrous campaign. The 
 thought of these, however, did not lessen his interest in or 
 dampen his ardor for the cause which he had espoused, and 
 although he felt that the expedition on which General Early 
 had started would not, on account of his small force, ac- 
 complish any great results in the enemy's country and 
 might terminate in disaster, yet he knew that an invasion 
 of Maryland would cause the detachment of troops from 
 General Grant's army to meet it, and thus materially aid 
 and greatly relieve the beleaguered Confederate army at 
 Richmond and Petersburg, and in order to accomplish this 
 desirable result he was willing to endure any hardship and 
 encounter any danger. General Early marched rapidly 
 down the Valley and by July 3d had captured Martinsburg, 
 a large quantity of army stores, and a number of prisoners and 
 on the next day captured Bolivar Heights, and that night 
 the Federals evacuated Harper's Ferry. On the following 
 day General Early crossed the Potomac into Maryland and 
 on July 8th began his movement on Washington. On the 
 next day, after driving the enemy's pickets through Fred- 
 erick City toward Monocacy Junction, General Early 
 attacked and completely routed the Federals on the Mo- 
 nocacy river, where they occupied two block-houses and 
 a strong line of earthworks. On July 10th the Federals 
 retreated toward Baltimore, and the Confederates, after 
 destroying the iron bridge across the Monocacy and the 
 block-houses at Monocacy Junction, continued their march 
 toward Washington. On July 11th the division to which 
 Carrington belonged (Rodes') advanced to the border of 
 the District of Columbia, engaged the Federal skirmishers 
 and drove them into the fortitications of Washington. 
 General Early found the Federal fortifications exceedingly 
 
216 JOHN ASRTON. 
 
 strong and too fully manned to justify an assault upon 
 them with his small force, and hence refrained from making 
 such an assault and encamped that day in the vicinity of 
 Silver Spring. 
 
 McCausland's brigade of cavalry advanced into the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia by the Georgetown road and engaged 
 the Federals near Tennallytown, about three miles from 
 Washington, and at the same time Colonel Mosbj' with his 
 command made a demonstration at Chain Bridge on the 
 Virginia side of the Potomac. General Early spent July 
 12tb in front of Washington, and during that day Carring- 
 ton's regiment took part in a heavy skirmish with the 
 enemy on the Seventh street turnpike. That night General 
 Early began to retire from before Washington, continued his 
 backward movement the next day, recrossed the Potomac on 
 July 14th, and slowly retired up the Valley toward Stras- 
 burg, reaching that place July 2 2d, after having had 
 several skirmishes with the Federals who had cautiously 
 followed his retiring army. The movement on Washington 
 caused great excitement in the North ; and it was generally 
 believed that Early would capture the city. This he would 
 doubtless have done if the troops defending Washington 
 had not been promptly and heavily reinforced by General 
 Grant, who sent to their relief the 6th corps from the 
 armies besieging Richmond and Petersburg, and the 19th 
 corps which had just arrived in Hampton Roads from the 
 Gulf Department. On July 24th General Early began another 
 movement toward the border, and by the 29th had driven 
 the Federal forces in the Shenandoah Valley across the 
 Potomac, and on the following day McCausland's brigade 
 of cavalry made a raid into Pennsylvania and burned the 
 town of Chambersburg in retaliation for the repeated out- 
 rages of the Federal troops in Virginia. In consequence of 
 this movement, General Grant greatly increased the forces 
 against which General Early had been operating, by adding 
 to them the 6th and 19th corps and Torbert's and Wilson's 
 divisons of cavalrj' which were detached from the army of 
 the Potomac, and on August 7th General P. H. Sheridan 
 was placed in command of the arm}^ thus constituted, and 
 consisting of at least forty thousand men. To oppose this 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 217 
 
 large army General Early had only about eight thousand 
 and five hundred infantry, less than three thousand cavalry, 
 and thirty-six pieces of artillery, and hence about the mid- 
 dle of August he was forced to retreat up the Valley to 
 Fisher's Hill. General Anderson, with Kershaw's division 
 of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's division of cavalry, coming 
 to the assistance of General Early, August 17th, the two 
 Confederate columns advanced on the Federals, drove them 
 back through Winchester and, pursuing them the following 
 day, forced them to withdraw to Harper's Ferry and Mary- 
 land Heights. 
 
 On September 15th General Anderson started to Culpeper 
 Court-house with Kershaw's division, leaving General Early 
 near Winchester with his original small force to oppose 
 General Sheridan's large arm}^ -which at the time was 
 between Charlestown and Berry ville and occupied a favora- 
 ble position for a successful attack on the Confederate 
 forces in the event that General Early should make any dis- 
 position of his troops that would invite an attack. This 
 he did by committing the blunder of posting Ramseur's 
 division of infantry and Wickham's division of cavalry at 
 Winchester, Breckinridge's division of infantry, and Lomax's 
 division of cavalry at Stephenson's Depot, about five miles 
 from Winchester, and marching with Rodes' and Gordon's 
 divisions to Martinsburg for the purpose of destroying the 
 Baltimore and Ohio railroad, thus scattering his forces over 
 twent}' miles of territory and greatly hazarding their 
 destruction in detail if attacked by the largely superior 
 forces of his enemy. About this time General Grant came 
 from City Point to Charlestown to confer with General 
 Sheridan as to -whether an attack should be made on Gen- 
 eral Early's forces, and after ascertaining their widely 
 scattered condition he at once ordered the attack. It was 
 made at daylight on September 19th, and at that time 
 General Early was returning from his expedition to Mar- 
 tinsburg, but had not reached Winchester, Gordon's division 
 being twelve miles away at Bunker Hill, and Rodes' divis- 
 ion being at Stephenson's Depot, where it had arrived the 
 night before on its way back from Martinsburg. The 
 attack was made by the 6th corps and Wilson's division of 
 
218 JOHN ASHTON 
 
 cavalry and was met by Rarnseur's division consisting of 
 about fifteen hundred men, and Wickham's division of 
 cavalry consisting of about the same number of men ; and 
 this little band of heroes bravely held their ground against 
 sixteen thousand infantry and twenty-four pieces of artillery 
 and three thousand cavalry, successfully resisting for 
 hours the repeated attacks of the Federals, and holding the 
 latter in check until the arrival of General Early with 
 Rodes' division. Immediately thereafter Gordon's division 
 arrived, and at this time the Federals had massed a heavy 
 force on Ramseur's left and were pressing forward for the 
 purpose of overwhelming him. General Early at once 
 attacked the advancing columns with Rodes' and Gordon's 
 division and rapidly drove them back with great slaughter. 
 The charge made by Rodes' division was led by Gen- 
 eral Rodes in person, and as Carrington advanced with 
 his company to the attack of the Federals, he marked with 
 pride and enthusiasm the fervid zeal and reckless daring of 
 his brave commander, gallantly leading his troops against 
 at least three times their number. While thus leading them 
 he was killed, and his loss was deeply mourned, not only by 
 his own division, but also by the entire army. The Federals 
 in front of General Early made no further attack for some 
 time, but in the afternoon a heavy force of cavalry 
 advanced on his left Hank from the direction of Charles- 
 town by way of Brucetown and Stephenson's Depot, and 
 although this force was checked by General Breckinridge's 
 division, yet as soon as the firing was heard from this 
 direction, which was in rear of Early's left flank, the infan- 
 try all along the line began to fall back and the Federal 
 infantry again renewed their attack. This was repulsed by 
 General Early and he could still have remained master of 
 the field if he had only had suflicient cavalry to check the 
 progress of the overwhelming force of Federal cavalry 
 that was pressing toward his rear; but as he lacked this 
 force the Federal cavalry turned his left flank and his men 
 again began to give wa^^ and he was forced to retire 
 through Winchester. He promptly formed line of battle 
 near the town, reorganized his army and deliberately re- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 219 
 
 tired to Newtown, and on the following day fell back to 
 Fisher's Hill. 
 
 The Federals claimed that in the battle of Winchester 
 they won a great victory, but if the comparative losses of 
 the two armies be made a test of the truthfulness of this 
 claim it will be found groundless ; for the official reports of 
 the casualties on both sides show that the Federal loss in 
 killed and wounded was four thousand six hundred and 
 eighty, and that of the Confederates was one thousand 
 seven hundred and seven. On September 22d General Early 
 was flanked in his position at Fisher's Hill and compelled 
 to retreat up the Valley with the loss of twenty-four killed, 
 one hundred and ninety-four wounded, and several hundred 
 prisoners, and twelve pieces of artillery. He had no 
 further engagements of importance with the Federals until 
 the morning of October 19th, when, after a long and 
 arduous flank movement during the preceding night by 
 Gordon's, Raraseur's (formerly Rodes'), and Pegram's divis- 
 ions, under the immediate command of General Gordon, the 
 rear of the Federal army on Cedar Creek was reached, 
 and, by a simultaneous attack by Gordon's forces in the 
 rear and Kershaw's division in front, the 8th and 19th 
 corps of Sheridan's army were completely routed and one 
 thousand and three hundred prisoners and eighteen pieces of 
 artillery captured. The 6th corps was shortly afterward 
 attacked and, after making some resistance, fell back be- 
 yond Middletown. The successful movement thus begun 
 would soon have terminated in a glorious victory but for 
 the inexcusable and insubordinate conduct of many of the 
 Confederates, who abandoned the pursuit of the routed 
 Federals and stopped to plunder their captured camp. Gen- 
 eral H. G. Wright was in command of the Federals, on 
 account of the temporary absence of General Sheridan, and 
 after retreating a short distance beyond Middletown he 
 rallied his men, re-formed his line, and awaited the expected 
 advance of General Early. The advance was not made, as 
 General Early's ranks had been so depleted by the absence of 
 the camp plunderers that his force at the front was insuf- 
 ficient to authorize an attack. About this time General 
 Sheridan arrived on the field and, after waiting some time 
 
220 JOHN A SET ON. 
 
 for General Early to attack him and finding that he did not 
 advance, put his armj- in motion to attack the Confederates 
 and regain his captured camp. 
 
 The attack was at first gallantly met and the force in 
 front of the division to which Carrington belonged (now 
 Ramseur's) was driven back, but subsequentl3^ Gordon's 
 division, on the left, gave way and then Kershaw's and 
 Ramseur's divisions also gave way through fear of bein^ 
 flanked when they perceived Gordon's line falling back. 
 Carrington, in common with other officers who had kept 
 their wits about them, endeavored to check their retreating 
 troops and some of them were rallied and made another 
 stand against the Federals. However, it was only tempo- 
 rary, for soon the left again gave way, the brave and gal- 
 lant Ramseur was shot down while courageously com- 
 manding his division, and the entire command became 
 demoralized and precipitately retreated in a disorderly and 
 panic-stricken manner, heedless of threats and deaf to 
 entreaties that were earnestly made by their officers. Al- 
 though Sheridan did not follow with his infantr3', and the 
 organized efforts of five hundred men would have saved 
 the captured artillery, wagons, and ambulances of the Fed- 
 erals and Early's own guns, which had all been earned 
 across Cedar Creek, yet the Confederate troops were so 
 completely demoralized and panic-stricken that a small 
 force of Federal cavalry crossed the creek without oppo- 
 sition, and was allowed to pass through the Confederate 
 troops and the retiring train upon the pike, tear up a bridge 
 in front of the latter and thus capture the greater part of 
 the artiller3' and a number of ordnance and medical wag- 
 ons and ambulances. The^glorious victory of the morning 
 had been converted into an inglorious disaster in the after 
 noon by the lack of discipline and the cupidity of the Con- 
 federates, which caused them to abandon the results of 
 their signal success at the outset, and their subsequent 
 strange and causeless panic when the Federals returned to 
 attack them. That this panic was causeless is shown by 
 the fact that when it began the Confederate loss in killed, 
 ^oui^ded and prisoners had been exceedingly small, and at 
 the close of the engagement amounted to only about two 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 221 
 
 thousand men, while that of the Federals was five thou- 
 sand six hundred and sixty-five men. 
 
 This battle practically terminated Early's operations in 
 the Valley, which Sheridan's barbarities, as v^^e have before 
 stated, had rendered desolate, and about two months after- 
 ward the remnants of E well's old corps, under General Gor- 
 don, returned to the army of Northern Virginia and re- 
 joined their former comrades-in-arms in the trenches 
 around Petersburg. There Carrington did his full duty 
 during the protracted siege, gallantly led his company in 
 Gordon's brilliant assault upon and capture of Fort Stead- 
 man on March 5th, 1865, where his new brigadecommander, 
 General Philip Cook, was wounded, cheerfully and hero- 
 ically siiared with his men the hardships and dangers of 
 General Lee's subsequent retreat, and brav^ely led the few 
 survivors of his company in Gordon's final charge upon the 
 Federal lines, just before General Lee's surrender, in which 
 the last piece of artillery taken by the army of Northern 
 Virginia was captured by Cook's brigade, and it was the 
 battle-scarred flag of the regiment to which Carrington 
 belonged that was planted upon the captured gun. 
 
 Immediately after General Lee's surrender, Carrington 
 hastened to Richmond to rejoin his wife, who had been stay- 
 ing with Ruth Middleton during the siege. The latter had 
 remained at her post in the discharge of her hospital duties 
 ever since the bridal party left her on January 1st, 1864, 
 and many Confederate soldiers who were wounded in the 
 trenches in front of Richmond and Petersburg remembered 
 long afterward with warmest gratitude the cheering smile 
 and kindly attention of the pure and noble Georgia girl who, 
 like an angel of mercy, hovered around their bedsides, min- 
 istered to their necessities, and did all within her power to 
 restore them to health and strength. She did not leave her 
 post when the city was evacuated and, while thousands of 
 terror-stricken citizens w^ere hastilj^ fleeing from the aban- 
 doned capital, which was partly in flames, and the streets 
 were thronged with Federal soldiers, and drunken and dan- 
 gerous mobs, wild with want and bent on plunder, she 
 remained behind to minister to the sick and wounded Con- 
 federates in the hospital where she had begun her noble 
 and patriotic work. 
 
222 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Some time after the last mentioned operations of the 
 brigade to which Ashton belonged, its former commander, 
 General W, H. F. Lee, was made a major-general and com- 
 manded a division of cavalry when the campaign opened in 
 May 1864, and General John R.Chambliss, Jr., was in com- 
 mand of the brigade. This brigade participated in the fight 
 at Todd's Tavern, May 7th, the engagement at Spottsylva- 
 nia. May 12th, and in other engagements during General 
 Grant's movement from the Rapidan to the James, and 
 hence Ashton was frequently subjected to the hardships 
 and peril of that exceptionally severe campaign. 
 
 On June 17th General R. E. Lee ordered the brigade to 
 operate with General Wade Hampton who had just de- 
 feated an aggressive movement of General P. H. Sheridan's 
 cavalry on Gordonsville and Charlottesville, General Sheri- 
 dan's object having been to destroy the Virginia railroad 
 from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court-house and from 
 Cobham Station to Charlottesville, unite with General Hun- 
 ter in his attack on Lynchburg (the successful repulse of 
 which by General Early has been previoush- mentioned) and 
 then aid Hunter in reaching General Grant's army. At the 
 time the brigade reached General Hampton, General Sheri- 
 dan had retreated to the White House and started with his 
 command and a large wagon train to cross the James and 
 join General Grant's army. Cham bliss' brigade had a skii-- 
 mish with a portion of Sheridan's command at the Forge 
 Bridges on the Chickahorainj June 23d, and on the follow- 
 ing day that brigade and the brigade of General Martin W. 
 Gary displayed great gallantry in an engagement which 
 General Hampton had with Gregg's division at Saint 
 Mary's Church, and materially aided in securing a complete 
 victory for the Confederates. The Federals were in- 
 trenched in a strong position, but by a vigorous assault on 
 their flank by Chambliss' and Gary's brigades and a similar 
 attack in front by the other troops under the immediate 
 command of General Fitzhugh Lee, they were soon driven 
 from their works in confusion, leaving their dead and 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 223 
 
 wounded on the field. As they retreated, the Phillips and 
 Jeff Davis legions, of Young's brigades, raising "the Rebel 
 yell," bore down upon them with gleaming sabres in one of 
 those resistless charges for which these regiments were 
 noted, and drove them for three miles in a perfect rout. 
 The 12th Virginia and the 42d Virginia battalion partici- 
 pated in a part of this charge, and the Federals were 
 ultimately driven within two and a half miles of Charles 
 City Court-house, a distance of six miles, being pursued 
 until nearly 10 o'clock that night. The attack by Cham- 
 bliss' and Gary's brigades was made on foot, and Ashton 
 was among the dismounted troopers who engaged in the 
 same. For a short time he and his comrades were subjected 
 to a furious fire of artillery and small arms, as the Federals 
 made a stubborn resistance at first; but, undaunted by this, 
 the Confederates pressed gallantly forward, loudly cheering 
 as they charged, and soon drove the Federals from their 
 works, as already mentioned. 
 
 Ashton's conduct throughout the engagement was in 
 keeping with his previous acts of bravery, and he and his 
 comrades had become so accustomed to fighting on foot 
 that their gallant achievements in this engagement would 
 have reflected honor on a brigade of veteran infantry. 
 
 The Federal loss in killed, wounded, and captured was 
 three hundred and fifty-seven, about two hundred of these 
 being killed and wounded, and the entire loss of the Con- 
 federates was about one hundred. The Federals retreated 
 to Douthat's Landing the next day, and on June 27th 
 crossed the James river. Before the crossing was completed. 
 General Sheridan was ordered to march rapidly to the sup- 
 port of General James H. Wilson, who was then returning 
 from a raid, the object of which had been the destruction 
 of parts of the South Side and Richmond and Danville rail- 
 roads for the purpose of breaking General Lee's connections 
 south of Petersburg. 
 
 General Hampton being notified of this raid, also crossed 
 the James and moved rapidly to Stony Creek Depot on 
 June 28th, to intercept General Wilson. Having ascer- 
 tained the route of the Federals, General Hampton marched 
 toward Sappony Church, and soon after crossing Sappony 
 
224 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 Creek the head of the Federal column was charged by Ash- 
 ton's regiment (the 9th Virginia) and driven back behind 
 the church, where the charge was checked by a considerable 
 force of dismounted men posted in a strong position. Gen- 
 eral Chambliss immediately dismounted his men, formed a 
 line near the church and was soon attacked by the Federals. 
 He bravely held his ground and, being reinforced by the 7th 
 Virginia cavalry and about two hundred infantry of Hol- 
 comb's Legion, repulsed the attack all along the line. Young's 
 brigade, under Colonel G. J.Wright, of Cobb's Legion, was 
 dismounted and put in position, and the line thus formed 
 remained unbroken during the night, although the Federals 
 used their artillery freely and made frequent attacks on the 
 Confederates. The Federals had two lines of breastworks 
 and their position was too strong for a front attack, and 
 hence at daylight General Hampton threw portions of 
 Young's and Rosser's brigades upon their left flank, and at 
 the same time General Chambliss attacked with the front 
 line, and in a few moments the Federals were driven out of 
 their works and retreated in confusion, leaving their dead 
 and wounded behind them. They were closely pursued for 
 several miles when, finding that they had taken the road to 
 Reams Station, General Hampton moved by Stony Creek 
 Depot to the Halifax road to intercept them. Soon after 
 crossing Rowanty Creek, he met an advance of Federals 
 who had crossed the Halifax road, and at once charged 
 and routed them with a portion of Chambliss' brigade. 
 Immediately afterward another party of Federals who 
 were crossing the Halifax road were charged by General 
 Hampton with a portion of the 13th Virginia of Chambliss' 
 brigade, and driven back, and Lieutenant-colonel Phillips, 
 of that regiment, was sent forward to get possession of the 
 bridge over Rowanty Creek. Finding that a portion of the 
 Federals had crossed the creek and taken a road leading 
 east. Colonel R. L. T. Beale was sent with two or three 
 squadrons of the 9th Virginia in pursuit of them, Ashton 
 being with the detachment. The Federals were so com- 
 pletel3' demoralized that Ashton and his comrades had but 
 little fighting to do, but had some very hard riding in their 
 pursuit of the fugitives, which continued for four miles and 
 
JOHN ASHTOJSr. 225 
 
 resulted iti the capture of a large number of the Federals 
 and the dispersion of the rest. 
 
 General Hampton had been successful at all points; the 
 Federal force was completely broken and the fragments 
 were seeking safety in flight in various directions when 
 darkness terminated their pursuit. They continued their 
 flight during the night, and, although vigorously pursued 
 the next day, succeeded in rejoining the Federal army. 
 
 In the fight at Sappony Church and during the next day 
 the Federals lost heavily in killed and wounded, and the 
 Confederates captured eight hundred and six prisoners and 
 also one hundred and twent3' -seven negroes whom the Fed- 
 erals were endeavoring to carry into their lines. The loss 
 in Hampton's division was two killed, eighteen wounded, 
 and two missing. 
 
 The pursuit of the Federals w^hicb terminated near Pe- 
 ters' bridge on the Nottaway, closed the active operations 
 of General Hampton's command beginning on June 8th. 
 During that time the command had no rest, was scantily 
 supplied with rations and forage, marched more than four 
 hundred miles, fought the greater part of six days and one 
 night, killed and wounded many Federals, captured over 
 two thousand prisoners, many guns, small arms, horses, 
 wagons and other material of war, and succeeded in defeat- 
 ing two formidable and well-organized expeditions of the 
 Federals. In the accomplishment of this, General Hamp- 
 ton's loss was seven hundred and nineteen killed, wounded, 
 and missing. 
 
 In the operation against General Wilson, Ashton's regi- 
 ment had captured three Federal flags, and Colonel Beale 
 presented tbem to General Hampton, but, owing to the 
 army regulations, the latter could not retain them, and it 
 was a source of regret to him that he had to part with 
 these tokens of the admiration entertained for him by the 
 commanding officer of the gallant Virginians who had so 
 recently begun to operate with his command. 
 
 During the month of July the cavalry on the right of 
 General Lee's army were comparatively inactive, and hence 
 Ashton and his comrades had but little service to perform, 
 except that of picket duty. The infantry of the army was 
 
226 JOHN AS ETON. 
 
 not SO fortunate, for, on the night of July 26th, General 
 Grant sent the 2d corps, under General W. S. Hancock, and 
 three divisions of cavalry, under General P. H. Sheridan, to 
 the rlorth side of the James for the purpose of surprising 
 the troops on General Lee's left, breaking through his 
 lines at that point, and destroying the railroads from near 
 Richmond out to the South Anna. The Federals were re- 
 pulsed by a portion of General Longstreet's corps, and the 
 expedition proved a complete failure. 
 
 This demonstration having caused General Lee to send 
 from Petersburg all of his troops except three divisions, 
 General Grant decided to assault the works in front of that 
 place, hoping that he could carry them and capture the city, 
 especially as "Burnside's mine," which extended under a 
 part of the works in front of Cemetery Hill, was ready for 
 explosion. Hence, about 5 o'clock a. m. on July 30th, the. 
 mine, containing eight thousand pounds of powder, was 
 exploded and blew up a part of the Confederate works, 
 known as Pegram's salient, and occupied by a part of 
 Pegram's artillery and the 18th and 22d South Carolina 
 regiments. The explosion formed a crater one hundred and 
 thirty-five feet long, ninety-seven feet wide, and thirty feet 
 deep, made a considerable breach in the lines, and killed and 
 wounded two hundred and seventy-eight men. The assault 
 was then made by the 9th corps, fifteen thousand two hun- 
 dred and seventy-two strong, under General A.E. Burnside, 
 supported by the 18th corps, fifteen thousand nine hundred 
 and thirty-four strong, under General E. O. C. Ord and the 
 5th corps, eleven thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven 
 strong, under General G. K. Warren— the entire force aggre- 
 gating forty-three thousand one hundred and twenty-three 
 men. To meet this attack the Confederates had only the 
 divisions of Generals Bushrod R. Johnson, E. F. Hoke, and 
 William Mahone, and they were extended along the works 
 a considerable distance on each side of the breach that had 
 been made by the explosion^ General S. Elliott's brigade, of 
 Johnson's division, occupying the salient, and the remain- 
 der of the division the line adjacent thereto, Mahone's divi- 
 sion being on the right and Hoke's division on the left of 
 Johnson's division. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 227 
 
 "When the dense smoke and dust caused by the explosion 
 had cleared away, the Confederates discovered that the 
 advance forces of the Federals had occupied the breach, and 
 thousands of othe troops were pressing forward to their 
 support. Two hundred and lift3^-six men of the 18th and 
 22d South Carolina regiments of Elliott's brigade had been 
 killed and wounded by the explosion, and General Johnson 
 promptly concentrated the remainder of the brigade at and 
 near the breach and sent to Generals Hoke and Mahone for 
 reinforcements. The former could not at first furnish an3- 
 troops on account of the weakness of his line, but after 
 awhile sent the 61st North Carolina regiment, and about the 
 same time General Mahone arrived wath Wright's and 
 Sanders' brigades. In the meantime a furious conflict had 
 been waged in front of and on both sides of the breach in 
 the Confederate line. General Johnson having repulsed and 
 held in check for hours an overwhelming force of Federals 
 with a little more than three regiments of Elliott's brigade, 
 two regiments of Ransom's brigade and two regiments of 
 Wise's brigade, and a part of the artillery. After the 
 arrival of General Mahone two charges were made by the 
 Confederates and the Federals were partially dislodged 
 from their position by 12 o'clock ; and at 2 o'clock p. m. 
 by a third charge they were routed and driven back and 
 the Confederates obtained possession of the crater and 
 the adjacent works, thereby'' completely re-establishing their 
 lines. Before this last charge was made the crater had 
 become densely crowded with Federal soldiers who had 
 there sought safety from the fatal fire of the Confederates 
 and failed to find it, for the latter pressed forward to the 
 edge of the crater and by a rapid and destructive fire made 
 of that place of refuge a veritable slaughter-pen. Hence, 
 when the Confederates entered it in their final charge they 
 found its bottom and sides literally covered with dead and 
 wounded Federals. Their surviving comrades were soon 
 captured, and greatly increased the large number of pris- 
 oners already taken. 
 
 Considering the great disparity in numbers on the side of 
 the Confederates, and the signal success achieved by them, 
 this was one of the most notable victories of the Civil War, 
 
228 JOHN A8HT0N. 
 
 and the brave and successful defense of the breach in their 
 lines bj' General Johnson and his gallant little band against 
 the assaults of the 9th corps should take rank in military 
 annals with the courageous conduct of "Leonidas and his 
 brave three hundred at the pass of Thermopylae." 
 
 The loss of the Federals, as reported by General Meade, 
 was four thousand four hundred killed, wounded, and miss- 
 ing; and the Confederate loss was about one third .as 
 great. 
 
 In a communication to General Meade, August 1st, 1864, 
 General Grant referred to this movement of the Federal 
 army as a "miserable failure," and said: "So fair an op- 
 portunity will probably never occur again for carrying 
 fortifications. Preparations were good, orders ample, and 
 everything, so far as I could see, subsequent to the explo- 
 sion of the mine, shows that almost without loss, the crest 
 beyond the mine could have been carried." 
 
 This inference of General Grant's might have been correct 
 if "the crest beyond the mine" had been defended by hireling 
 soldiers, but was entirely groundless in view of the fact 
 that it was defended by patriots, whose courage was 
 phenomenal and who were fighting a cause dearer to them 
 than life. 
 
 In August Charabliss' brigade was moved north of the 
 James to the left flank of General Lee's army. As it passed 
 through Richmond on the route, Ashton secured an hour's 
 leave of absence from his regiment for the purpose of visit- 
 ing Ruth Middleton. She was still boarding at Mrs. 
 Slaughter's, and hadbeenconstantly engaged in the perform- 
 ance of her hospital duties since Ashton left her nearly 
 eight months before. Bertha had been with her ever since 
 the opening of theSpottsylvania campaign in Alay and was 
 now, as formerly, assisting her at the hospital. Ashton's 
 unexpected visit was naturally a source of great delight to 
 Ruth and Bertha and the former was deeply comforted by 
 it, as she had been earnestly longing to see him. He 
 received a warm welcome from Mrs. Slaughter and Kate, 
 with whom he was quite a favorite. Randolph Slaughter 
 was not at home, for, although but a lad of fifteen, he had 
 joined the Confederate troops in the Department of Rich- 
 
JOHN ASBTON. 229 
 
 mond, and was serving in the trenches as a member of the 
 2d battalion Virginia Reserves, in General George W. C. 
 Lee's brigade. 
 
 Although there had been great changes for the worse in 
 the affairs of the Confederacy since Ashton last saw these 
 ladies, and they, in the meantime, had experienced many 
 trials and discomforts, he saw no sign of gloom in their 
 faces and found them exceedingly cheerful and hopeful, for 
 they still had an abiding faith in the ultimate success of the 
 Confederate arms, confidently believing that, in accordance 
 with the fitness of things and the operation of the principles 
 of justice, right would finally triumph over might. This spirit 
 of hopefulness and the confidence shown by his lady friends 
 in the final success of the sacred cause for which he was 
 fighting, fired Ashton 's soul with renewed zeal and enthusi- 
 asm, and, although he was just from the field of battle 
 where the unequal contest was being almost daily waged 
 be ween the friends and the foes of that cause, with stupen- 
 dous odds in favor of the latter, he received fresh inspira- 
 tion and encouragement to aid in prosecuting the contest 
 with even greater energy and persistency than ever before. 
 Hence, when his brief visit had ended and he galloped away 
 to overtake his comrades, his heart was not only throbbing 
 with delight in consequence of the joy which he had expe- 
 rienced in being with the object of his love, but it was also 
 filled with increased hopefulness, ardor, and enthusiasm in 
 regard to the heroic contest which the South was waging 
 in defense of her constitutional rights. 
 
 By rapid riding Ashton overtook his regiment in a short 
 time, and was back in ranks long before it reached its place 
 of encampment that evening. He and his comrades learned 
 the next day that the brigade had been transferred to the 
 north side of the James to aid in checking a movement 
 which was about to be made by a large part of General 
 Grant's army against the Confederate line between the 
 Darbytown and Charles City roads. A part of the brigade 
 was posted at Deep Creek on the latter road, and it was 
 suddenly attacked on August 16th by General D. McM. 
 Gregg's division of cavalry and General Nelson A. Miles' 
 brigade of infantry. General Chambliss made a gallant 
 
230 JOUN ASHTON. 
 
 defense with his small force, but was driven back toward 
 White's Tavern by overwhelming numbers, and while 
 bravely commanding his men and stubbornly resisting the 
 advance of the Federals, was killed by some member of 
 Miles' brigade. In a few moments after he fell several of 
 his barbarous foes rushed forward, and in a spirit of vandal- 
 ism cut some of the buttons and ornaments off his uniform. 
 Shortly after this the Confederates were reinforced, and 
 turning upon the Federals they attacked them vigorously 
 and fiercely and drove them back beyond White Oak 
 swamp. The blood of Ashton and his comrades had boiled 
 with fiery indignation when they witnessed the barbarous 
 treatment to which the body of General Chambliss bad 
 been subjected, and in their subsequent attack on the Fed- 
 erals they strove with unwonted vigor and fury to punish 
 the perpetrators of the dastardly deed. They were strongly 
 attached to him and deeply lamented his tragic death. 
 This sense of loss in the death of their gallant leader was 
 not confined to his immediate command ; for General R. E. 
 Lee, in writing to General Hampton August 19th, said: 
 "The loss sustained by the cavalry in the fall of General 
 Chambliss will be felt throughout the army in which, by his 
 courage, energy and skill, he had won for himself an hon- 
 orable name." 
 
 The reader will doubtless remember that during the Get- 
 tysburg campaign Chambliss, then colonel of the 13th Vir- 
 ginia regiment, was commanding the brigade inconsequence 
 of the fact that General W. H. F. Lee had been wounded at 
 Brandy Station, and for some time after General Cham- 
 bliss' death it was known as Chambliss' brigade. As such 
 we will continue to designate it. 
 
 After General Grant's movement north of the James was 
 repulsed, Chambliss' brigade returned to its former position 
 on the right of General Lee's army, and on August 25th this 
 and three other brigades of the cavalry corps, to the com- 
 mand of which General Hampton had been assigned August 
 11th, had a severe engagement with the Federals in their 
 intrenchments at Reams' Station, where they were en- 
 deavoring to destroy the Petersburg and Weldon railroad. 
 In this engagement General Hampton was co-operating 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 231 
 
 with General A. P. Hill, whose force consisted of Cook's 
 and McRae's brigades, under General Henry Heth, Lane's 
 brigade, tinder General James Conner, and Pegram's artillery, 
 and they were opposed by the 2d corps under General W.S. 
 Hancock and General D. McM. Gregg's division of cavalry. 
 The Federals were driven out of their breastworks and com- 
 pletely defeated with a loss of two thousand seven hundred 
 and forty-two killed, wounded , and captured, twelve 
 stand of colors, nine pieces of artillery, three thousand one 
 hundred stand of small arms, and thirty-two horses. The 
 Confederates lost seven hundred and twenty killed, wounded, 
 and captured. General Hampton's command carried 
 one line of intrenchments with great gallantry and captured 
 seven hundred and eighteen prisoners. Chambliss' brigade 
 was foremost in the fray, and Ashton and his comrades 
 fought with such fury and fierce persistency as indicated 
 that they were again bent on severely punishing their foes 
 for the barbarous indignity to which the dead body of their 
 former commander had recently been subjected, and by a 
 singular coincidence this well-merited punishment was being 
 inflicted upon the proper objects of it, for a part of the 
 Federals whom they were fighting consisted of Miles' 
 brigade and Gregg's division o cavalry, some members of 
 which had been the perpetrators of that barbarous outrage. 
 
 In his report of the engagement General Hampton said : 
 "Chambliss' brigade was in advance when we met the enemy, 
 and it was engaged all day, displaying through the whole 
 fight marked gallantry." 
 
 To have won such praise from a leader who was the em- 
 bodiment of valor, and the commander of a corps whose 
 chivalrous achievements have never been surpassed, was 
 proof of the fact that Ashton and his brave comrades had 
 displayed signal courage on this occasion, and they were 
 naturally proud of the commendation received from the 
 bold and gallant leader who had taken the place made 
 vacant by the death of their former corps commander, the 
 daring and chivalrous Stuart. 
 
 For nearly three weeks after this engagement Ashton and 
 his comrades were on outpost duty near Reams' Station, 
 the regiment to which he belonged being encamped about 
 
232 JOUN ASHTON. 
 
 five miles west of that place. On September 13tli, they were 
 summoned to take part in a novel and daring expedition 
 planned by General Hampton, the object of which was the 
 capture of a large herd of cattle which one of his scouts, 
 Sergeant George D. Shadburne, had reported to be grazing 
 near Coggins' Point, on the James river. On the following 
 morning General Hampton took the division of General W. 
 H. F. Lee, the brigades of Generals Rosser and Bearing and 
 a detachment of one hundred men from the brigades of 
 Generals Young and Dunovant, under the command of 
 Lieutenant-colonel Miller, of the 6th South Carolina cav- 
 alry, and marched down the west side of Rowanty Creek to 
 Wilkinson's Bridge and bivouacked there that night. 
 
 In order to accomplish the object of the expedition it was 
 necessary to get in the rear of the Federal army, and this 
 could be done only by breaking through their lines at some 
 point. General Hampton selected Sycamore church, in 
 Prince George county, as the point to be attacked, and on 
 the next day marched rapidly to a place on the Blackwater 
 where Cooke's Bridge had formerly stood, but which, as he 
 knew, had been destroyed; and it was for that reason that 
 he had chosen this route, as he thought that in consequence 
 of the destruction of the bridge the Federals would not ex- 
 pect a'n attack from that direction. A new bridge having 
 been constructed b^' his men, he crossed the stream, and at 
 12 o'clock that night the command resumed its march, Gen- 
 eral Lee going to the left of Sycamore church, General Bear- 
 ing proceeding to Cocke's mill to the right of the church, 
 and General Hampton, with Rosser's brigade and the de- 
 tachment under Lieutenant-colonel Miller, moving directly 
 to the church, General Rosser being charged with the duty 
 of driving the Federals from their position at the church 
 and securing the cattle when that was accomplished. The 
 three columns reached the points to which they were 
 ordered, without being discovered, and at 5 o'clock a. m. 
 on the 16th, General Rosser attacked the Federals. They 
 had a strong position and for awliile stubbornly resisted 
 Rosser's attack, but were finally driven back and completely 
 routed, leaving their dead and wounded on the field and 
 their camp in the possession of the Confederates. In the 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 233 
 
 meantime General Lee, on the left, and General Bearing on 
 the right, had successfully attacked and routed the Federals 
 at the points to which they had gone, thereby insuring the 
 easy capture and safe withdrawal of the cattle, which 
 numbered two thousand four hundred and eighty-six. 
 
 The object of the expedition having been accomplished, 
 General Hampton retired before 8 o'clock a. m., sent the 
 cattle across the Nottaw^ay at Freeman's Bridge and, after 
 defeating the division of General Henry E. Davies, Jr., in a 
 fight on the Jerusalem plank-road, recrossed Rowanty 
 creek at Wilkinson's Bridge, and on the following day 
 arrived within the Confederate lines. The Confederates 
 brought in, as the fruits of the expedition, two thousand 
 four hundred and sixty-eight of the captured cattle, eleven 
 wagons, some valuable stores, including a large number of 
 blankets, three guidons, and three hundred and four pris- 
 oners, two hundred and twelve of whom belonged to the 
 First District of Columbia cavalry, there being among the 
 latter two majors, one captain, and six lieutenants. The 
 capture of the cattle was a windfall for the Confederate 
 troops who were, as usual, on short rations and in a half- 
 starved condition. 
 
 Returning to their former camp, Ashton and his comrades 
 enjoyed a short respite from the hardships and dangers of 
 the battle-field ; but on September 29th, they were unex- 
 pectedly called upon to meet an advance of the Federals 
 near Hatcher's Run, to which point General M, C. Butler's 
 pickets had been driven back that morning. In the fight 
 that ensued the Federals were driven back with the loss of 
 a number of prisonei's, and the Confederate picket-line was 
 re-established. On the following morning General Hampton 
 learned that General Bearing's brigade had been driven 
 from their works and that the Federals were then in pos- 
 session of them. He at once held a consultation with Gen- 
 eral Hetii and they decided to attack the Federals, it being 
 arranged that General Heth should assault them in front 
 and General Hampton should strike them on their left 
 flank. F'or the purpose of executing this plan. General Hamp- 
 ton moved Chambliss' and Barringer's brigades down the 
 Vaughn road to the left of the Federals and occupied some 
 
234 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 works that were found there. In the meantime General 
 Heth's division of infantry had begun their attack, and as 
 the Federals moved up to reinforce their front line their 
 riank was exposed to General Hampton. He at once 
 ordered General W. H. F. Lee to attack them, and the lat- 
 ter, leading his men in person, made the attack with the 9th 
 and 10th Virginia regiments, dismounted, who moved 
 steadily and gallantly forward in line of battle, reserving 
 their fire until very near the Federals. They then coolly 
 delivered a well-directed volley, dashed forward in an im- 
 petuous charge, completely routed the Federals and cap- 
 tured about nine hundred prisoners and ten standards. 
 General Heth's troops were also successful in their attack 
 and the entire Federal force, consisting of the 5th and 9th 
 corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, was driven back with 
 a loss of over two thousand and five hundred men killed, 
 wounded, and captured. In his report of the charge made 
 by his men, General Hampton said : "The whole affair was 
 one of the handsomest I have seen, and it reflects the highest 
 credit on the troops engaged in it." The Federal troops 
 whom these two cavalry regiments had attacked and 
 routed were infantry who greatly outnumbered them, and 
 Ashton and his brave comrades were naturally and justly 
 proud of their brilliant victory. 
 
 Shortly after the termination of this engagement Butler's 
 brigade was attacked on the Vaughn road, and General 
 Hampton at once took the 9th and 13th Virginia regiments 
 and went to the assistance of that brigade. Moving by a 
 short route across the country, General Hampton reached 
 the Squirrel Level road, gained the rear of the Federals, and 
 his two regiments bore down upon them in a rapid and suc- 
 cessful charge. This movement relieved General Butler's 
 troops, and the Federals fell back to a strong position on 
 the Vaughn road. 
 
 In the charge made upon the rear of the Federals, Ashton 
 narrowly escaped death; for his horse, having been mor- 
 tally wounded, fell to the ground with him and for a few 
 moments he was in great danger of being crushed beneath 
 the hoofs of the numerous horses behind him, as some of 
 them dashed over him at full speed. Having regained his 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 235 
 
 feet, Asliton gazed tenderly and sorrowfully at his dying 
 animal and was moved almost to tears as he thought of the 
 numerous hardships and dangers that they had shared 
 together, and realized that the service and companionship 
 of his faithful friend had ended ; for the stricken animal 
 was the horse that Mosby gave him and had borne him 
 safely through many conflicts during the past two years. 
 
 Fora few days after his horse was killed, Ashton thought 
 that he would be forced to join the ranks of the dis- 
 mounted cavalry, as Confederate cavalrymen had to mount 
 themselves, and at that time horses were exceedingly scarce 
 and difficult to obtain. However, after repeated efforts he 
 succeeded in procuring, at a fabulous price, another horse, 
 and was thus enabled to remain with his regiment and par- 
 ticipate in the future operations of the cavalry. Shortly 
 afterward he was again in the saddle, and distinguished 
 himself in an engagement which Generals Hampton and 
 Heth had with the Federals on the Boydton plank-road and 
 at Hatcher's Run on October 27th, in which the latter were 
 defeated and driven back with a loss of one hundred and 
 sixty-six killed, one thousand and twenty-eight wounded, 
 and five hundred and sixty-four captured, the Confederate 
 loss being comparatively small. The Federal force consisted 
 of the 2d, 5th, and 9th corps, under General W. S. Han- 
 cock, G. K. Warren, and John G. Parke, respectively, and 
 General D. McM. Gregg's division of cavalry, while the 
 Confederate force consisted of one brigade of Heth's divis- 
 ion and three brigades of Mahone's division, under General 
 William Mahone, and five brigades of cavalry, under Gen- 
 eral Hampton; and in view of the comparatively small 
 force of the Confederates, their victory was all the more 
 brilliant and remarkable. 
 
 The movement which the Confederates had checked was 
 intended to be one of great magnitude that should result in 
 signal success to the Federal arms, and General Meade was 
 near at hand to watch and directits progress. General Grant 
 also being present during a part of the day. The immediate 
 object of the movement, as shown by General Meade's 
 orders issued October 25th, was to attack with the 9th 
 corps, supported by the 5th, the right of the Confederate in- 
 
236 JORN ASHTON. 
 
 fantry between Hatcher's Run and their new works, which 
 were supposed to be incomplete, and by a secret and sudden 
 assault surprise the Confederates and carry these works, 
 while the 2d corps, aided by Gregg's division of cavalry, 
 was, by a concealed march, to move beyond the Confed- 
 erate right, press onto the South Side railroad and endeavor 
 to seize a commanding position on that road. If the 
 movement had been successful, General Lee's right flank 
 would have been turned, and General Meade wouid have 
 been in his rear with fifty-two thousand men to be encoun- 
 tered outside of intrenchments by the comparatively small 
 force holding the Confederate lines from Hatcher's Run to 
 Petersburg. The consequences would necessarily have been 
 disastrous to the Confederates, especially as General Leecould 
 have seat no reinforcements from the left of his lines, as Gen- 
 eral B.F.Butler, with the 10th and 18th corps, and a division 
 of cavalry under Colonel Robert M. West, aggregating twen- 
 ty-eight thousand men, had made a similar and simultaneous 
 attack on the Confederate lines north of the James on the 
 Darbytown and Williamsburg roads for the purpose of 
 turning the left flank of General Lee's army. General Long- 
 street repulsed this attack with General C. W. Field's 
 division and General Martin W. Gary's brigade of cavalry, 
 and the Federals were defeated with a loss of one thousand 
 six hundred and three killed, wounded, and captured, and 
 eleven standards, the Confederate loss being very hght. 
 General Field having lost only sixty-four men, killed, 
 wounded, and captured. 
 
 In view of the fact that both flanks of the Confederate 
 armj' were simultaneously attacked by the bulk of General 
 Grant's army, it is evident that he hoped by this sudden 
 movement to capture both Richmond and Petersburg, and 
 this view is strengthened by a statement, in a dispatch sent 
 that day to Honorable Edwin M. Stanton, virtually 
 acknowledging the defeat of the movement, where he says: 
 "This reconnoissance, which I had intended for more, points 
 out to me what is to be done.' " Hence, the complete defeat 
 of the movement by Generals Hampton, Heth,and Long- 
 street not only reflected great credit on them and the gal- 
 lant men by whom it was effected, but also prevented 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 237 
 
 incalculable injury to the Confederate cause. General Lee, 
 had, several weeks before, contemplated the probability of 
 such a movement, and naturally feared its consequences, as 
 is shown by a communication to Honorable James A. Sed- 
 don, Secretary of War, October 4th, 1864, asking for rein- 
 forcements, in which he says: "The enemy's numerical 
 superiority enables him to hold his lines with an adequate 
 force and extend on each flank with numbers so much 
 greater than ours that we can only meet his corps, increased 
 by recent recruits, with a division reduced by long and 
 arduous service. We cannot fight to advantage with such 
 odds, and there is the greatest reason to apprehend the 
 result of every encounter." 
 
 The Confederate cavalry under General Hampton were 
 naturally elated at the success which they had achieved over 
 Gregg's cavalry and Hancock's and Warren's infantry in 
 the fight on and near the Boydton plank-road, but to their 
 peerless leader the glory of victory was darkened by the 
 gloom of grief; for his brave and noble son. Lieutenant 
 Thomas Preston Hampton, aid-de-camp, while gallantly 
 leading a charge against the Federals, was mortally wounded , 
 and Lieutenant Wade Hampton received a severe wound. 
 
 After this fight General Hampton's command was not 
 actively engaged with the Federals for more than a month, 
 and during that time Ashton enjoyed a period of compara- 
 tiverest, occasionally doing picket duty on the Rowanty. But 
 on December 7th General Hampton marched with the com- 
 mand to meet a movement of General G. K. Warren's on 
 Hicksford with twenty -two thousand infantry, four thou- 
 sand cavalry, and six batteries of artillery, the object of 
 which was the destruction of apart of the Weldon railroad. 
 The numbers of the Federals were so great that General 
 Hampton could not afford to attack the entire force with 
 his two divisions of cavalry, but he successfully defended 
 Hicksford, saved the bridge over the Meherrin, at that 
 place, interrupted their destruction of the railroad, defeated 
 their cavalry in several skirmishes, and harassed them on 
 their retreat, capturing over two hundred and fift^' 
 prisoners. On their retreat the Federals were guilty of the 
 vilest vandalism, for, as shown by General Warren's report, 
 
238 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 "almost every house was set on fire along the route," and 
 these houses were occupied onlj by helpless women and 
 children. 
 
 This movement closed the active operation of General 
 Hampton's command for 1864-. In January 1865, he was 
 sent with General M. C. Butler's division to join the Con- 
 federate forces in South Carolina and, at the same time, 
 General W. H. F. Lee was placed in command of the re- 
 mainder of the cavalry corps operating on the right of General 
 Lee's army. During that month the division to which Ash- 
 ton belonged had no serious engagements, and was moved 
 down to Belfield in order that forage for the horses might 
 be more easily obtained; but on February 5th, it was sud- 
 denly recalled to aid in checking an advance of the Federals 
 on the Confederate right. On that day the Federals moved 
 in heavy force to Hatcher's Run, forced a crossing at the 
 Vaughn road, and advanced in the direction of Dinwiddie 
 Court-house. The movement was promptly met by the 
 Confederates, and during that afternoon and the next two 
 days there was severe fighting at Armstrong's and Dabney's 
 Mills and other points, resulting in comparatively heavy 
 losses to the Federals. Their force consisted of the 2d and 
 5th corps, parts of the 6th and 9th corps and Gregg's divis- 
 ion of cavalry, but, although opposed by only Pegram's, 
 Gordon's, and Mahone's divisions, and W. H. F. Lee's 
 division of cavalry, was unable to break through General 
 Lee's main line at any point, merely capturing a part of his 
 rifle-pits on the picket-line, and was finally driven back. 
 
 By marching nearly all of the night of February 5th, Lee's 
 division reached the Confederate right in time to meet and 
 drive back Gregg's division on the Boyd ton plank-road, 
 and Ashton and his comrades thus found themselves again 
 fighting the Federals over ground made memorable by for- 
 mer conflicts. 
 
 Although the Federals had accomplished nothing except 
 the extension of their lines a short distance beyond Hatch- 
 er's Run, their movement had been the means of subjecting 
 the Confederates to the greatest hardships ; for the weather 
 was exceedingly inclement and intensely cold, and in con- 
 sequence of exposure to it during this movement, in their 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 239 
 
 half-clad and half-starved condition, the Confederate 
 troops experienced indescribable suft'ering. On February 8th, 
 in a comraunication to Honorable James A. Seddon, Secre- 
 tary of War, General Lee wrote in regard to the suffering 
 of the troops, as follows: "Yesterday, the most inclement 
 day of the winter, they had to be kept in line of battle, having 
 been in the same condition the two previous days and 
 nights. I regret to have to state that under these circum- 
 stances, heightened by assaults and fire of the enemy, some 
 of the men had been without meat for three days, and all 
 were suffering from reduced rations and scant clothing, 
 exposed to battle, cold, hail, and sleet. I have directed Col- 
 onel Cole, chief commissary, who reports that he has not a 
 pound of meat at his disposal, to visit Richmond and see if 
 nothing can be done. If some change is not made and the 
 commissary department reorganized, I apprehend dire re- 
 sults. The physical strength of the men, if their courage 
 survives, must fail under this treatment. Our cavalry has 
 to be dispersed forw^antof forage. Fitz Lee's and Lomax's 
 divisions are scattered l^ecause supplies cannot be trans- 
 ported where their services are required. I had to bring 
 William H. F. Lee's division forty miles Sunday night to 
 get him in position. Taking these facts in connection with 
 the paucity of our numbers, you must not be surprised if 
 calamity befalls us." 
 
 This communication was sent to President Davis for 
 perusal, and on it he wrote the following indorsement: 
 
 "This is too sad to be patientl3' considered and cannot 
 have occurred without criminal neglect or gross incapacity. 
 Let supplies be had by purchase, or borrowing, or other 
 possible mode." 
 
 The foregoing extract from General Lee's communication 
 to the secretary of war will give the reader an idea of the 
 wretched condition of the troops defending Richmond and 
 Petersburg, and the intense suffering that they were daily 
 enduring in behalf of the cause which they had espoused. 
 Instead of improving, the condition of the beleaguered 
 army constantly grew worse, and its numbers were daily 
 decreased by sickness and death resulting from lack of food 
 and clothing, and exposure to the inclement weather, and 
 
240 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 also by frequent desertions caused by the severe hardships 
 to which the troops were subjected and, in many instances, 
 the knowledge of the fact that their loved ones at home 
 were suffering for lack of the necessaries of life. In the 
 meantime the besieging army had been reinforced by the 
 arrival of General P. H. Sheridan, from the Shenandoah 
 Valley, with nine thousand cavalry, and also the addition 
 of large numbers of recruits; and hence, toward the end of 
 March it was evident that General Lee could not hold Rich- 
 mond and Petersburg much longer, especially if General 
 Grant should move his armies to the left and turn the Con- 
 federate right beyond Hatcher's Run. General Grant decided 
 to make such a movement, which was to begin on March 
 29th, as shown by the following extract from instructions 
 issued to Generals Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, March 25th, 
 to wit: "On the 29th instant the armies operating against 
 Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose 
 of turning the enemy out of his present position around 
 Petersburg and to insure the success of the cavalry under 
 General Sheridan, which will start at the same time in its 
 efforts to reach and destroy the South Side and Danville 
 railroad." 
 
 The movement began on the morning of March 29th, and 
 by night General Sheridan's cavalry was at Din widdie Court- 
 house and the left of the Federal infantry line extended to 
 the Quaker road near its intersection with the Bo^^dton 
 plank-road. 
 
 On the next day General Fitzhugh Lee, by order of Gen- 
 eral R. E. Lee, marched with his division of cavalry from 
 Sutherland Station toward Dinwiddle Court-house, via 
 Five Forks, to meet this threatened movement of Sheridan's 
 cavalry. 
 
 General Sheridan was to be supported in his operations 
 by the 5th and 2d corps, under command of Generals G. K, 
 Warren and A. A. Humphreys, respectively, aggregating 
 thirty-eight thousand two hundred and twenty effective 
 men ; and his own force, under the immediate command of 
 General Wesley Merritt, consisted of the 1st, 2d, and 3d 
 divisions of cavalry respectively commanded by Generals 
 Thomas C. Devin, George Crook, and G. A. Custer, and 
 numbered nine thousand effective men. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 241 
 
 In the afternoon of March 30th, General FitzhughLee en- 
 countered the advance of General Sheridan's cavalry beyond 
 Five Forks and drove them back on the main force at 
 Dinwiddle Court-house. During the evening he was joined 
 by the divisions of General W. H. F. Lee and Thomas L. 
 Rosser, and, by order of General R. E. Lee, took command 
 of the cavalry corps, consisting of his own division, com- 
 manded by General Thomas T. Munford and the two other 
 divisions just mentioned. On the following day General 
 George E. Pickett arrived with five small brigades of infan- 
 try, to wit: Stewart's, Corse's, and Terry's of his own 
 division and "Wallace's and Ransom's of General Bushrod 
 Johnson's division, and General Sheridan's large force of 
 cavalry (which had begun to advance) was attacked by 
 the Confederates beyond Five Porks. A severe engagement 
 ensued in which the Federals were finally driven back with 
 heavy loss to within half a mile of Dinwiddie Court-house. 
 The fighting was fiercest at two crossings on Chamberlain's 
 Creek, where the Confederates effected a passage of the 
 stream in the face of heavy forces strongly posted on the 
 opposite side. When the Confederates had forced a pas- 
 sage of the stream and could fight the Federals on equal 
 ground, the latter were rapidlv driven back until darkness 
 closed the conflict. In their reports of the engagement, 
 Generals Sheridan, Alerritt, Devin, Cook, and Custer en- 
 deavored to excuse their complete and disastrous defeat 
 by claiming that they were "forced to fall back before over- 
 whelming numbers," and General Merritt represented that 
 the Confederate force "consisted of Pickett's and Johnson's 
 divisions of infantry, since ascertained to have been over 
 fourteen thousand strong, and all the enemy's cavalry-." 
 
 The unreasonableness of this claim and the incorrectness 
 of General Merritt's statement as to the number of the 
 Confederate infantry engaged in the fight are apparent to 
 any one who is at all inform2d as to the greatly reduced 
 ranks of General Lee's army at that time. More than a 
 month before, to wit: February 28th, 1865, as shown by 
 the monthly returns of the army, the effective force of 
 Pickett's entire division was six thousand one hundred and 
 fifty-seven and that of Johnson's division was six thousand 
 
242 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 two hundred and seventy-seven, making an aggregate of 
 twelve thousand four hundred and twenty-eight, and in the 
 meantime this number had been greatly reduced by losses in 
 battle, sickness, and death, resulting from lack of food and 
 clothing and constant exposure to the inclement weather, 
 and also by numerous and almost daily desertions. More- 
 over, as already stated. General Pickett had with him only 
 three of his brigades and two of Johnson's, all of which 
 were quite small. His entire force was less than four thou- 
 sand men. The Confederate cavalry consisted of seven 
 small brigades containing twenty-six regiments and num- 
 bered something over three thousand men, and hence the 
 entire Confederate force was about seven thousand. Gen- 
 eral Sheridan's force consisted of nine large brigades con- 
 taining thirty-nine regiments, and according to his official 
 report, was nine thousand strong. Therefore, it will be 
 seen that the Federals were not "forced to fall back before 
 overwhelming numbers," but were 'fairly whipped in open 
 fight, and driven back by inferior numbers. This, by the 
 way, was not an uncommon experience with them, as the 
 Confederates had often defeated forces much larger than 
 their own. Indeed, the 5th corps had that day had a similar 
 experience just before Sheridan was driven back by inferior 
 numbers; for General Bushrod Johnson with Aiood^^'s and 
 Wise's brigades of his own division, Hunton's brigade of 
 Pickett's division, and McGowan's brigade of Wilcox's 
 division, attacked and drove back that corps on the Wliite 
 Oak road with a loss of one thousand four hundred and 
 seven killed, wounded, and captured, the Confederate loss 
 being about eight hundred killed, wounded, and captured. 
 In the fight beyond Five Forks the losses of the Confed- 
 erate cavalry were comparatively light, the heaviest loss 
 being in the command to which Ashton belonged (W. H. F. 
 Lee's division), and having occurred while it was forcing a 
 passage of Chamberlain's Creek. Ashton had frequently 
 been under heavy fire, but at this point for a short time, he 
 felt that he and his comrades were being subjected to the 
 heaviest and hottest fire that they had ever been called upon to 
 face; for the Federals occupied a strong and advantageous 
 position on the opposite side of the stream and stubbornly 
 
JOHN ASarON. 243 
 
 defended it until tlie Confederates dashed forward with the 
 utmost gallantry and dislodged them. This being done, the 
 Federals were steadily driven back toward Dinwiddle 
 Court-House, as already stated. 
 
 At daylight the next morning Generals Fitzhugh Lee and 
 Pickett retired to their former position at Five Forks and 
 so disposed their troops as to form connection by a thin 
 line (Robert's brigade of two regiments) on their left with 
 the right of General Lee's army at Burgess' Mill. About 3 
 o'clock that afternoon General Sheridan, having been rein- 
 forced by Mackenzie's cavalry brigade of one thousand 
 effective men and the 5th corps, under General Warren, at- 
 tacked Generals Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee by a flank move- 
 ment on their left, drove Roberts' brigade back across 
 Hatcher's Run, turned General Pickett's leftflank, and drove 
 him back several miles with heavy loss, separating him 
 from General Fitzhugh Lee. The Confederates made a gal- 
 lant defense, but it was impossible for their force of seven 
 thousand men to withstand the combined attack of the 
 overwhelming force of infantry and cavalry assailing 
 them, which consisted of more than twenty-six thousand 
 men and, by reason of greatly superior numbers, had been 
 enabled to flank them. General Fitzhugh Lee remained in 
 position near Five Forks that night and was joined by 
 General R. H. Anderson, with Wise's and Grade's brigades, 
 which had been brought up from Burgess' Mills to reinforce 
 the Confederates at Five Forks, but did not arrive in time to 
 participate in the fight, as they had come by a long and cir- 
 cuitous route. 
 
 On April 3d Generals Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee learned 
 that the Confederate army was withdrawing from the 
 vicinity of Richmond and Petersburg, and began to retire 
 toward Amelia Court-house, the cavalry acting as rear 
 guard on the route. General Fitzhugh Lee had several fights 
 with the advance guard of the Federals in his route to 
 Amelia Court house, which was reached on April 5th. 
 Here he found the main body of the army under General R, 
 E. Lee, and from that point to Appomattox Court-house 
 the cavalry under his command protected the rear and 
 marching flanks of the retreating army, fighting every day 
 
244 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 with uiidimitiished ardor and gallantry, notwithstanding 
 the apparent hopelessness of ultimate success in the un- 
 equal struggle between the weary, half-starved and half- 
 arnied remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia and the 
 myriad of vigorous, well fed and excellently equipped troops 
 that were rapidly enveloping it. These gallant troopers, 
 whose chivalrous achievements in brighter days, under the 
 leadership of Stuart and Hampton, had immortalized the 
 cavalry corps of the Virginia army, now in these dark 
 days of adversity, under their new and valiant leader, dis- 
 played their wonted valor, and successfully defeated the 
 Federal forces with whom they came in conflict at Paineville, 
 High Bridge, Farmville, and beyond the latter place on 
 their route to Appomattox Court-house. In the final con- 
 flict at that place on April 9th, assisted by about one thou- 
 sand six hundred infantry under General John B. Gordon, 
 they drove back Sheridan's cavalry corps until checked by 
 the 5th, 24th, and part of the 25th corps of infantry, num- 
 bering over twenty thousand, under General E. O. C. Ord, 
 who had just arrived on the field, and in his report of the 
 engagement says : "Our cavalry were» falling back in con- 
 fusion," and adds: "We were barely in time." 
 
 In order that the reader may understand the circum- 
 stances under which this conflict occurred, we will briefly 
 narrate the exjberience of the main body of the Confeder- 
 ate army the preceding week. 
 
JOHN A SET ON. 245 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 When General Lee began his retreat on the night of April 
 2nd, he hoped to effect a junction with General Joseph E. 
 Johnston's army, and might have done so if, as he had 
 directed, supplies for his army had been deposited at Amelia 
 Court-house to await his arrival there. But this was not 
 done; hence, when General Lee arrived at Amelia Court- 
 house on the morning of April 4th, he found nothing there 
 on which to feed his army, which had been without food 
 for nearly two days. It rec[uired nearly twenty-four hours 
 in which to procure food for the army, and the time thus lost 
 enabled Generals Sheridan and Ord to get between General 
 Lee and Danville, thereby cutting off that line of retreat, 
 and effectually preventing a junction with General John- 
 ston's army. The only route now open for General Lee's 
 retreat was by way of Farmville, where he ordered supplies 
 from Lynchburg, and he started for that place on the night 
 of April 5th. The scenes and incidents of the next three 
 days presented a pathetic yet thrilling picture of sublime 
 fortitude and heroism that beggars description. Marching 
 by night and fighting by day, pressed from behind by over- 
 whelming numbers of infantry and artillery, and har- 
 assed on the flank by the Federal cavalry, the small 
 remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia underits match- 
 less commander passed through an experience of unparal- 
 leled hardships and suffering without murmuring at its fate, 
 or flinching from the full discharge of duty. The men 
 were so completely exhausted bj^ loss of sleep, fatigue, and 
 hunger that they could scarcely stand up in ranks; 
 and yet in this desperate condition the remnant of General 
 Ewell's command, consisting of Kershaw's and G. W. C. Lee's 
 divisions; and Tucker's naval brigade, and aggregating less 
 than four thousand men, on April 6th at Sailor's Creek, met 
 and for a time repulsed more than five times their number, 
 and not until they were hemmed in on all sides and over- 
 whelmed by numbers did they finally surrender. With the 
 remainder of his army, reduced to two corps, under Long- 
 street and Gordon, General Lee reached Farmville on the 
 
246 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 morning of April 7th, having marched all of the preceding 
 night. He continued his retreat toward Lynchburg that 
 day, and about five miles from Farmville was attacked by 
 the 2nd corps under General A. A. Humphreys, and quickly 
 repulsed the Federals with considerable loss. 
 
 During the night of April 7th and the following day, 
 General Lee continued his retreat, and about dark that 
 evening the head of his army arrived at Appomattox 
 Court-house. There had been no fighting of any conse- 
 quence that day, and as Lynchburg was only twenty-four 
 miles distant, the Confederate soldiers had some hope of 
 reaching that place in safety. This hope, however, was of 
 short duration, for suddenh^ they heard heavy firing in 
 front of them and it was soon ascertained that Sheridan's 
 cavalry by rapid riding had got ahead of them and cut 
 off their line of retreat. On the preceding day General 
 Grant, then at Farmville, believing that General Lee could 
 not possibly extricate the remnant of his army from the 
 overwhelming force that was forming a complete cordon 
 around it, wrote the latter as follows: 
 
 "April 7th, 1865. 
 "General R. E. Lee, 
 
 "General: — The result of the last week tnust convince you 
 of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the 
 Army of Northern "Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is 
 so, and regard it as my duty to shift from m\'self the re- 
 sponsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of 
 you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States 
 army known as the Army of Northern Virginia. 
 
 "U. S. Grant, 
 Lieuten a n t-general . ' ' 
 
 To this General Lee gave the following answer: 
 
 "April 7th, 1865. 
 "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 
 
 "General: — I havereceived your note of this date. Though 
 not entertaining the opinion j'ou express on the hopeless- 
 ness of further resistance on the part of the Army of 
 Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid 
 useless effusion of blood, and, therefore, before considering 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 247 
 
 your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on con- 
 dition of its surrender. 
 
 "R. E. Lee, 
 General." 
 
 General Grant received this note early on the morning of 
 the next day, before leaving Farmville, and immediately 
 replied as follows : 
 
 "April 8th, 1865. 
 "General R. E. Lee, 
 
 "General: — Your note of last evening in reply to mine of 
 same date, asking the conditions on which I will accept 
 the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just re- 
 ceived. In reply I would say that, peace being my great 
 desire, there isbutonecondition I would insist upon, namely, 
 that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified 
 from taking up arms again against the government of the 
 United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, 
 or will designate officers to meetan3' officers j^ou may name 
 for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to j'ou, for 
 the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which 
 the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be 
 received. 
 
 "U. S. Grant, 
 Lieutewant-general. ' ' 
 
 In the note to which this was a reply, General Lee did not 
 intend to convey the idea that he was ready to immediately 
 surrender his army, and, as before stated, had continued his 
 retreat on April 8th and reached Appomattox Court-house 
 about dark that evening. About midnight General Grant 
 received from him the following communication : 
 
 "April 8th, 1865. 
 "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 
 
 "General:— I received at a late hour your note of to-day. 
 In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surren- 
 der of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terras 
 of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emer- 
 gency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but 
 as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all. 
 I desire to know whether your proposals would lead to 
 that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to 
 
248 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but as far as your 
 proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under 
 my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should 
 be pleased to meet you at 10 a. m. to-morrow, between the 
 picket-lines of the two armies. 
 
 "R. E. Lee, 
 General." 
 
 That night Generals Longstreet, Gordon, and Fitzhugh 
 Lee met General R. E. Lee at his headquarters, and the lat- 
 ter explained to them the condition of affairs and showed 
 them the correspondence that had passed between himself 
 and General Grant. A conference was then held, and it 
 was decided that General Fitzhugh Lee with the Confeder- 
 ate cavalry should at daylight attack the Federal cavalry 
 which was reported as obstructing the line of retreat; Gen- 
 eral Gordon was to support Lee and, if only cavalry should 
 be discovered, they w^ere to clear it from the route of the 
 Confederates and open the way for the remainder of the 
 army ; but in case the Federal cavalry should be supported 
 by a heavy force of infantr}^. General Lee was to be at once 
 notified of the fact in order that a flag of truce might be 
 sent to arrange for a surrender of the army. 
 
 Early the next morning. General Grant wrote General Lee 
 as follows : 
 
 "April 9th, 1865. 
 "General R. E. Lee, 
 
 "General: — Your note of yesterday is received. I have no 
 authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting pro- 
 posed for 10 A. M. to-day would lead to no good. I will 
 state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace 
 with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same 
 feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well 
 understood. By the South laying down their arms they 
 ■will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of 
 human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet 
 destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may 
 be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe 
 
 myself, etc. 
 
 "U. S. Grant, 
 
 Li eu ten an t-gen eral . ' * 
 
JOHN ASETON. 849 
 
 In tbe meantime and at daybreak that morning, General 
 Gordon, with the remnant of his corps, consisting of about 
 one thousand and six hundred men, formed a line of battle 
 on the Lynchburg road about half a mile west of Appomat- 
 tox Court-house. The cavalry corps, consisting of about 
 two thousand four hundred horsemen under General 
 Fitzhugh Lee, was formed on General Gordon's right in the 
 following order: W. H. F. Lee's division next to the in- 
 fantry, Rosser's division in the center and Munford's 
 division on the extreme right. At sunrise this compara- 
 tively small force moved forward with their accustomed 
 gallantry and vigorously attacked the Federals in front of 
 them, who proved to be a large force of dismounted cav- 
 alry. The Federals were quickly driven back in great con- 
 fusion with the loss of two pieces of artillery and a number 
 of prisoners. At this time General E. O. C. Ord arrived 
 with two corps and part of a third of Federal infantry, 
 numbering over twenty thousand men, w^ho were immedi- 
 ately thrown into the fight, and the Confederates were 
 compelled to retire before this overwhelming force. Gen- 
 eral Gordon withdrew across the Appomattox river, General 
 W. H. F. Lee retired in the same direction and Generals 
 Rosser and Munford with their divisions moved out toward 
 Lynchburg, having cleared that route of the Federals, and 
 thus escaped capttire. 
 
 The timely arrival of the army of the James under Gen- 
 eral Ord, had thus prevented General Lee from opening a 
 line of retreat toward Lynchburg in accordance with the 
 plan that had been adopted the preceding night; and hence 
 as soon as General Gordon was forced to retire before the 
 Federal infantry he notified General Lee of his situation 
 When General Lee received this message he realized that he 
 could not reach Lynchburg, that further resistance would 
 cause a useless sacrifice of life and that the time for the surren- 
 der of his army had arrived. He at once dispatched a flag 
 of truce to General Sheridan, requesting a suspension of hos- 
 tilities with a view to such surrender, and at the same time 
 sent General Grant the following note: 
 
250 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 "April 9th, 1865. 
 "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 
 
 * 'General :— I recei ved your note of this morning on the picket- 
 line, whither I had come to meet you and ascertain defi- 
 nitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yester- 
 day with reference to the surrender of this army. I now 
 ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in 
 your letter of yesterday for that purpose. 
 
 "R. E. Lee, 
 General." 
 
 The inter view between the commanders of the two armies 
 occurred at the house of Mr. Wilmer McLean, in Appomat- 
 tox Court-house, and there they entered into an agreement, 
 by the terms of which the hitherto invincible Army of 
 Northern Virginia was to take up arms no more against the 
 United States until properly exchanged. When it became 
 known that General Lee had decided to surrender the army, 
 the emotions of the soldiers were indescribable. Their 
 glorious achievements in the past, the constantly recurring 
 victories that had crowned their arms in numerous engage- 
 ments with greatly superior forces, and their indomitable 
 courage had inspired them during the past week to boldly 
 meet and fearlessly fight the overwhelming numbers that 
 were pressing them on flank and rear, and in the face of 
 apparently certain defeat and destruction they had persist- 
 ently cherished the hope of ultimatel_v escaping from their 
 enemies; and hence, when apprised of the fact that they 
 could fight no more, and must lay down their arms, they 
 Vv'cre at first dazed by the startling intelligence and could 
 scarcely realize its full significance, and when they did this, 
 their disappointment and grief were almost heartrending in 
 their effects. While they experienced a feeling of relief in 
 consequence of the termination of the long, harassing, 
 and unequal conflict in which they had been engaged, there 
 was mingled with it an agonizing regret at the failure of 
 the cherished cause for which they had so earnestly and 
 faithfully contended. As General Lee came riding back 
 from his interview with General Grant, his men were com- 
 pletely overcome by the distressing emotions which the oc- 
 casion had engendered, and hundreds of them, regardless of 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 251 
 
 disciplinary regulations, broke ranks, crowded around him, 
 and with tears and sobs told him of their sympathy and 
 affection for him, and struggled with each other in their 
 efforts to obtain a farewell grasp of his hand. He was deeply 
 affected by this manifestation of their love and sympathy, 
 and with tears streaming down his face, he gaid : 
 "I have done what I thought was best for you." 
 They had not questioned this, nor had they for a single 
 moment lost confidence in their noble commander, and now 
 in this dark hour of disaster and defeat, they loved and 
 honored him even more, if that were possible, than in the 
 bright days of his greatest victories. The next day he bade 
 his troops an affectionate farewell in a noble and touching 
 address, and on April 12th, the Army of Northern Virginia 
 was formally surrendered, stacked their arms and furled 
 forever the stainless flag which they had followed so long 
 and loved so well, realizing that their cause was lost, and 
 yet feeling the truth of the poet's strain : 
 
 "Though right trampled, be counted for wrong, 
 And that pass for right which is evil victorious, 
 Here, when virtue is feeble and villainy strong, 
 'Tis a cause, not thefate of a cause, that is glorious." 
 
 Ashton had passed unhurt through the frequent conflicts 
 in which the cavalry had been engaged on its retreat from 
 Hatcher's Run to Appomattox Court-house, and was one 
 of the brave little band of horsemen who boldly rode forth 
 on the morning of April 9th charged with the duty of 
 attacking more than three times their number and opening 
 a line of retreat for the remnant of General Lee's army. 
 This duty was fearlessly and faithfully done, and the Fed- 
 eral cavalry, as before stated, were driven back in confusion 
 before them, until the advance of General Ord's overwhelm- 
 ing force of infantry caused them to retire with the hand- 
 ful of Confederate infantry that had joined in the attack. 
 
 Throughout the brief engagement Ashton had fought 
 with unabated ardor and gallantry in the face of stupen- 
 dous odds, conscious of the fact that he was defending a 
 failing cause; and by his chivalrous conduct added one 
 more leaf to the wreath of laurel which he had won as a 
 true and typical private soldier in the knightliest array the 
 
252 JOnN ASIITON. 
 
 world has ever seen. At the time Generals Rosser and Mun- 
 ford escaped with their commands by the road to Lynch- 
 burg, which had been opened by the Confederate cavalry, 
 General Fitzhugh Lee also rode out with a portion of Gen- 
 eral W. H. F. Lee's division, but Ashton remained with his 
 division commander and was one of the two hundred and 
 ninety-eight men constituting the remnant of that division 
 which surrendered at Appomattox on April 9th. The entire 
 Confederate force which surrendered at that time, including 
 officers, was twenty-eightthousand two hundred and thirty- 
 one, consisting of two hundred and eighty-one at general 
 headquarters, twenty-two thousand three hundred and 
 forty-nine infantry, one thousand five hundred and fifty- 
 nine cavalrj', two thousand, five hundred and seventy-six 
 artillery, and fourteen hundred and sixtj'-six miscellaneous 
 troops composedof detachments of engineers, invalids, naval 
 brigade, provost guards, etc. On the morning of April 9th, 
 when Generals Gordon and Fitzhugh Lee, with their little 
 band of about four thousand men marched forth to open a 
 way for farther retreat, they had with them more than a 
 third of the armed forces of the krvay of Northern Virginia, 
 for, according to the reports of the ordnance officers that 
 morning, there were only seven thousand eight hundred and 
 ninety-two organized infantry with arms, and all of the 
 cavalry participated in the movement. According to the 
 official returns showing the effective strength of General 
 Grant's army on April 10th, 1865, it consisted of one hun- 
 dred and seven thousand four hundred and ninet\'-six men, 
 exclusive of General Sheridan's cavalry corps of about nine 
 thousand men, not included in the report. It was under 
 these circumstances that General Lee was forced to surren- 
 der, and the wonder is, not that he surrendered at that time, 
 but that for six consecutive days, with a half -starved and 
 defectively armed force of about thirty thousand men, he 
 repulsed the repeated assaults of the immense army that 
 was gradually enveloping him, and successfully conducted 
 the retreat of his army for many miles over difficult roads, 
 through a country where it was impossible to obtain food 
 for man or beast. 
 
 As we have before stated. General Lee bade farewell to 
 his troops in a touching address, and as it embodies a just 
 
JOHN ASBTON. 253 
 
 and exalted tribute to the valor and patriotism of those to 
 whom this work is dedicated, we believe that it will find a 
 fitting place in these pages, and, therefore, deem it unneces- 
 sary to apologize to the reader for giving a copy of the 
 address, which was as follows: 
 'General Orders, No. 9. 
 
 "Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, 
 
 April 10th, 1865. 
 
 "After four years of arduous service, marked by unsur- 
 passed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia 
 has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and 
 resources. I need not tell the brave survivors of so many 
 hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the 
 last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of 
 them. But, feeling that valor and devotion could accom- 
 pHsh nothing that could compensate for the loss that must 
 have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined 
 to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services 
 have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of 
 the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes, 
 and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the 
 satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty 
 faithfully performed. I earnestly pray that a merciful God 
 will extend to you his blessing and protection. 
 
 "With an increasing admiration of your constancy and 
 devotion to your country and a grateful remembrance of 
 your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you 
 all an affectionate farewell. 
 
 ''R.E.Lee, 
 General." 
 
 By the terms of the surrender, couriers and mounted men 
 of the artillery and cavalry, whose horses were owned by 
 them, were allowed to retain them, and as Ashton's horse 
 belonged to him, he was permitted to keep the animal, and 
 shortly after the surrender of the army he rode out to 
 where the 4th Georgia regiment was encamped, in search of 
 Carrington, but failed to find him, as he had left for Rich- 
 mond. Returning to where the small remnant of W.H. F. 
 Lee's division had bivouacked, Ashton dismounted and 
 began to make preparations for his departure, and the 
 
254 JOHN ASIITON. 
 
 reader will readily understand that his place of destination 
 was to be Richmond, which, now that the Confederacy 
 had practically fallen, contained in the person of Ruth Mid- 
 dleton,all that to him made life worth living. His first act 
 was to seek out among the disbanded troops every member 
 of his company for the purpose of personally bidding them 
 good-bye, and, although there were but few of them left, 
 this occupied some time, for each one of them had some 
 special and kindly words of adieu for Ashton, whom they 
 greatly honored and admired. These leave-takings were in- 
 tensely sad, and men who had borne the brunt of battle for 
 four years and never quailed under shot and shell or shrunk 
 from threatened sabre-stroke, were now overcome by 
 emotion, and could not restrain their tears at the thought 
 of this final parting and the crushing calamity which had 
 caused it. When Ashton had bidden his comrades good-bye, 
 he mounted his horse and rode ofi" toward Richmond, 
 where he arrived in the afternoon of the third day tiiereaf- 
 ter, and about six hours after Carrington had reached the 
 city. Having secured a lodging place for himself and 
 accommodations for his horse, he at once repaired to the 
 residence of Mrs. Slaughter. There he found Carrington 
 and his wife and Ruth Middleton, and, notwithstanding 
 their sorrowful surroundings, the meeting was a happy one. 
 The soft love-light which he saw in Ruth's tender and 
 trustful eyes, and the glad welcome which she gave him as 
 he grasped her hand, made Ashton almost forget, for the 
 moment, the calamity that had befallen his country, and he 
 thought only of his supreme happiness in possessing the 
 perfect love of the pure and noble woman before him. 
 
 After their greetings were over, the friends began to dis- 
 cuss their plans for the immediate future, and it was 
 promptly decided that the party should leave for Georgia 
 as soon as preparations for their departure could be made. 
 
 In view of the fact that Confederate money had become 
 worthless, the matter of arranging for the payment of the 
 traveling expenses of the ladies and providing for their 
 comfort during the journey home, at once suggested itself 
 to the minds of Ashton and Carrington, but they refrained 
 from mentioning it in the presence of the former. As soon 
 
JOHN ASUTON. 235 
 
 as they were alone, Ashton mentioned the matter to Car- 
 rington and arranged a settlement of it. He informed the 
 latter that he had not had occasion to spend all of the 
 
 money which he borrowed from Mr. R , and still had 
 
 some of the same; that he intended selling his horse in Rich- 
 mond, as it would be difficult and perhaps impossible to 
 obtain transportation for the animal, and that he would 
 thus have ample means to defray the traveling expenses of 
 the ladies, and requested that Carrington accept an 
 amount sufficient for that purpose, concealing from the 
 ladies the source from which it had been obtained. Car- 
 rington agreed to this, and the matter was thus arranged 
 between them. 
 
 Ashton succeeded in selling his horse the next day and it 
 whs with regret and sadness that he parted with the 
 animal for, although he had owned him only about six 
 months, he had become greatly attached to the faithful 
 creature, and nothing but necessity would have induced him 
 to sell the horse. He exacted of the purchaser a jDiomise 
 that he would take good care of him, and that if at any 
 time within the next twelve months he should decide to 
 
 sell the animal, he would write Ashton at B , giving him 
 
 the privilege of purchasing him. 
 
 By the following morningour friends were ready to leave 
 Richmond. Ruth had made a final visit to the hospital and 
 taken leave of her patients, and the many grateful thanks 
 for her kindness to them, and the fervent wishes for her 
 happiness which were mingled with their parting words, 
 showed how truly and deeply they had become attached to 
 her during the time she had patiently and tenderly minis- 
 tered to their necessities. 
 
 After warmly thanking the Slaughters for their many 
 acts of kindness and bidding them an affectionate good-b3'e, 
 our friends were driven to the railway station, and were 
 soon on the way to their Southern home. Their journey 
 was comparatively slow in consequence of the damage that 
 had been recently done by military operations against the 
 railroads south of Richmond, but in the course of a week 
 
 they arrived at B . A few days thereafter the army of 
 
 General Joseph B. Johnston, in North Carolina, surrendered 
 
256 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 to General Sherman, and this event practically terminated 
 the war, as farther resistance to the Federal troops east of 
 the Mississippi was impracticable, and the Confederate 
 force tinder General Kirby Smith in the Trans- Mississippi 
 department was too small to successfully prolong the 
 struggle. 
 
 In the meantime, Ashton had not wasted a single day in 
 fruitless regrets at the fate of the cause for which he had 
 bravely contended for four years, but accepted the result of 
 the struggle as a calamity that must be patiently and 
 courageously endured, and its disastrous consequences 
 overcome by bold and manly effort. 
 
 Hence, on the day after his arrival in B , Ashton began 
 
 to make arrangements for resuming the practice of his pro- 
 fession. He sought an interview with the gentleman .to 
 
 whom he had sold his law library just before leaving B 
 
 to join the Confederate army, and informed him that he 
 desired to repurchase it, but was unable to do so at that 
 time, and would have to ask indulgence until he could make 
 the money to pay for the books. As the gentleman had 
 perfect confidence in Ashtou's integrity, and also in his pro- 
 fessional ability, he unhesitatingly sold him the books and 
 granted the requested indulgence. Having thus secured a 
 library, Ashton immediately opened an office, and through 
 the medium of the village paper announced that he had re- 
 sumed the practice of law. 
 
 On arriving in B , Carrington and his wife had gone 
 
 home with Ruth, intending to remain there only a few days 
 
 and then proceed to E , his former place of residence, 
 
 where he expected to resume the practice of medicine. But 
 the existence of certain circumstances, that were either un- 
 known or not considered at the time, caused a complete 
 change in their x^lans. In order that the reason for this 
 change may be fully understood, it will be necessarj for us 
 to give the reader some account of the financial affairs of 
 Ruth Middleton and her cousin Bertha, and in so doing, we 
 will have to begin at a period antedating the opening of our 
 story. 
 
JOHN ASlITOIi. 257 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 James Middleton and Herbert Gray were intimate friends 
 and classmates at the University of Georgia, where they 
 graduated in 1838. After taking a course of lectures in 
 Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and obtaining a 
 diploma from that institution, Middleton began the prac- 
 tice of medicine in B . Shortly thereafter Gray visited 
 
 Middleton and spent about a month with him. During 
 this time Middleton and Gray formed the acquaintance of 
 Mary and Annie Ansley, daughters and only children of Mr. 
 Robert Ansle^', a wealthy planter who resided about three 
 
 miles from B . They were greatly pleased with the 
 
 Misses Ansley and consequently made frequent visits to 
 "The Oaks," as Mr. Ansley 's residence was called on ac- 
 count of the magnificent grove of forest oaks in which his 
 handsome house was situated. As a result of the acquaint- 
 ance thus begun, the two friends subsequently wooed and 
 won the maidens of their choice, and the following winter 
 there was a brilliant and happy double marriage at "The 
 Oaks" in which James Middleton and Mary Ansley, and 
 Herbert Gray and Annie Ansley respectively, were the con- 
 tracting parties. 
 
 A few months after this evftit Mr. Ansley died intestate 
 and, as his wife had previously died, his two daughters 
 became his only heirs and inherited his entire estate as ten- 
 ants in common. At the time of their marriage there had 
 been no marriage settlement between them and their respec- 
 tive husbands, and hence, under the existing law of the 
 State, the marital rights of their husbands attached to the 
 estate thus inherited and it became the property of the lat- 
 ter. However, Middleton and Gray had no inclination to 
 assert their rights to the property, and promptly proposed 
 to relinquish the same and settle the property on their 
 wives. To this the latter objected and, in that spirit of 
 conjugal love and loyalty that characterized the Southern 
 ladies of their class in those days, insisted that nothing be 
 done that was suggestive of a separate existence of hus- 
 band and wife. Their husbands yielded to their wishes in 
 
258 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 the matter and, as it was desirable that the large and valu- 
 able plantation left by Mr. Ansley should not be divided, it 
 was arranged between Middleton and Gray that they 
 would jointly cultivate it as tenants in common. In ac- 
 cordance with this arrangement, they employed an active 
 and intelligent farmer to take charge of the plantation and 
 the numerous slaves thereon, and conduct all of the farm- 
 ing operations, Gray and his wife taking up their residence 
 at "The Oaks," and Middleton and his wife remaining 
 in B . 
 
 This arrangement was harmoniously and profitably 
 carried out for many years and indeed until the death of 
 the parties to it, which occurred about three years before 
 the opening of our story. Middleton and Gray died the 
 same year, and by their deaths their only children, Ruth 
 Middleton and Bertha Gray, were doubly orphaned, as 
 their mothers had died several years before. At this time 
 Ruth and Bertha were about fifteen years of age, and 
 shortly after their fathers died Mrs. Martha Foster came 
 
 to live with them in B , as we have before stated, and 
 
 had ever since remained in charge of their household 
 affairs. 
 
 The guardian who was appointed for Ruth and Bertha 
 continued the management of their property just as it had 
 been managed by their fathers, and it was still undivided 
 at the time of their return from Richmond. This guardian 
 was the elderly lawyer to whom Ashton had sold his law 
 
 library on leaving B for the army and who, as we 
 
 stated, was exempt from military duty on account of 
 physical infirmity. He had been faithful to his trust and 
 managed the property of his wards as well as could have 
 been expected under the disadvantageous circumstances in- 
 cident to the war. Believing in the ultimate triumph of 
 the Confederate arms and acting in a spirit of loj^alty to 
 the Government, he had each year invested the net income 
 of his wards' property in Confederate bonds. The invest- 
 ments thus made proved to be unfortunate, as the result of 
 the war rendered the bonds entirely worthless, but neither 
 of his wards blamed him for what he had done, as they 
 honored the motives that had controlled his conduct, and 
 
JOHN ASIITON, 259 
 
 knew that he had acted in perfectly good faith toward 
 themseh'es. 
 
 As their slaves had been emancipated and the troops of 
 Sherman, in their march through Georgia the preceding 
 year, had stolen most of the stock and cattle on the planta- 
 tion, and destroyed all of the farm products on tlie place, 
 Ruth and Bertha, on arriving at home, found that they had 
 suddenly been reduced from a condition of affluence to a 
 state of comparative poverty; for although their land re- 
 mained, they had been deprived of the means of cultivating 
 it. However, their condition was much better than that of 
 many other Georgians whose homes lay in the devastating 
 lines of march of General Sherman and his merciless and 
 marauding army, and whose property was entirely de- 
 stroyed, for some of their faithful and affectionate slaves 
 had, b\' carrying off and concealing the same, managed to 
 save some of the stock and cattle on the place and suffi- 
 cient forage to sustain the animals for several months. The 
 family residence at "The Oaks" had also been saved by the 
 forethought of their faithful servants and the deception 
 practiced by the latter on the Federal soldiers, for, on the 
 approach of the Federal army, these negroes induced the 
 white man in charge of the plantation to vacate "the big 
 house," as they called the family residence, and at once 
 took possession of the same, apparently as a j)lace of 
 permanent abode. When the Federal soldiers arrived the\' 
 found the negroes in possession of the house, and were at 
 once informed by the latter that they intended making it 
 their permanent residence until the return of its owners, 
 who were, as they said, "two secesh gals what jined de 
 Confedrick army, er ruther went ter Richmon' ternuss rebel 
 sogers." They had carried into the house their bedding, 
 furniture, etc., and begged the soldiers not to turn them 
 out or injure the building, as they wished to live in it. 
 More, perhaps, for the purpose of aiding in the anticipated 
 humiliation of the absent owners on their return, than 
 from any real interest in or regard for the negroes, the Fed- 
 eral soldiers granted their request and refrained from burn- 
 ing the house. 
 
260 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 The guardian of Ruth and Bertha had also managed to 
 preserve a part of their property, which proved of great 
 value to them on their return. As soon as he ascertained 
 the routes by which Sherman was marching through Geor- 
 gia, he had the few bales of cotton then on the plantation 
 shipped to a point entirely out of the line of Sherman's 
 march, and it was thus saved from capture. 
 
 Immediately after the return of Ruth and Bertha their 
 guardian had a settlement with them and turned over all 
 that was left of their estate, as they were now of age and 
 entitled to the possession of the property. This action 
 necessitated the making of some arrangement for the man- 
 agement of the property, and Ruth suggested to Bertha 
 that the^' should request Carrington to take charge of it. 
 To this Bertha assented, and when Carrington was in- 
 formed of their wishes in regard to the matter he promptly 
 decided to comply with the same. And this is why he 
 changed his plans and did not proceed to his former home, 
 to resume the practice of medicine. 
 
 Having consented to undertake the management of the 
 plantation, Carrington at once began to make preparations 
 for entering upon his new field of labor and, as he had 
 never had any experience in farming, his first step was to 
 secure the services of a practical farmer to aid him in his 
 work. Owing to tlie great scarcity of cotton in the coun- 
 trv, he obtained an unprecedentedly and almost fabulousl3' 
 high price for the few bales before mentioned, and realized 
 from their sale about twenty-five hundred dollars. He was 
 thus enabled to purchase stock, farming implements, etc., 
 sufficient to cultivate a considerable part of the plantation, 
 and also to meet the current expenses of the farm for 
 awhile. He had no difficulty in securing as many laborers as 
 he wished, for nearly all of the former slaves on the place 
 were so much attached to Ruth and Bertha that they were 
 anxious to remain with and work for them on almost any 
 
 terms. 
 
 Having made contracts with as many of the negroes as 
 existing circumstances would authorize him to employ, Car- 
 rington immediately began his farming operations. Al- 
 though it was rather late for the planting of cotton, he 
 
JOHN ASUTOm 281 
 
 determined to plant as much as could be cultivated with 
 the force at his command, as he was satisfied that the 
 price of cotton would be very high the next winter. 
 
 As soon as Carrington had completed his farming ar- 
 rangements, he and his wife and Ruth Middkton moved 
 out to "The Oaks," the dwelling-house there having been 
 put in proper condition for their reception, Mrs. Foster 
 accompanied them and continued to discharge her accus- 
 tomed duties as housekeeper. 
 
 Although deprived of the luxuries and some of the com- 
 forts of life to which they had previously been accustomed, 
 Ruth and Bertha were not only contented but also happy 
 in their country home, and cheerfully practiced such econ- 
 omy as was required by their circumstances and surround- 
 ings. As Carrington had the assistance of an experienced 
 farmer in the management of the farm, he was enabled to 
 secure some leisure time nearly every da^^, and this was 
 spent in reviewing and prosecuting his medical studies, and 
 also in the occasional practice of his profession, to which he 
 was thoroughly devoted. 
 
 Being a skillful physician, the success which marked his 
 practice soon gave him an excellent reputation, and in a 
 few months his practice became so extensive that it occu- 
 pied the greater part of his time and attention. 
 
 Ruth and Bertha were greatly interested in everything 
 about the farm, and took an active part in looking after the 
 poultry-yard and dairy department, and by their skillful 
 management of the affairs therein, materially aided in meet- 
 ing the current expenses of the household. Thus, in a quiet 
 but industrious manner the occupants of "The Oaks" passed 
 the ensuing summer and autumn, the time beng enlivened 
 
 bj' frequent visits from their numerous friends in B . Of 
 
 this number Ashton was, of course, the most frequent visi- 
 tor, and the hours which he was thus enabled to spend 
 with Ruth had been to the lovers the happiest of their lives. 
 
 He had applied himself closely to the study and practice 
 of his profession and, so far as the number of his clients 
 was concerned, had no cause to complain of his business, 
 but, owing to their impoverished condition and the general 
 scarcity of money, his compensation thus far had been by 
 
262 JOHN ASRTON. 
 
 no means proportionate to the work he had done. Several 
 of his cases had been such as required extensive research 
 and the exercise of great skill and judgment in their prepa- 
 ration, and the thorough manner in which they had been 
 prepared, and his skillful and successful conduct of them in 
 the court-room at once established his reputation as a pro- 
 found lawyer and an able advocate. Having thus rapidly 
 risen to a high rank in his profession, he felt satisfied that 
 with the return of prosperous times his practice would 
 become lucrative, and he would have contentedly awaited 
 the arrival of this period but for his earnest longing to con- 
 summate his engagement with Ruth Middleton. 
 
 We have seen how his unselfish love had enabled him to 
 conquer the promptings of this longing and refrain from 
 asking Ruth to marry him during the war, and this same 
 love had now sealed his lips on the subject that was nearest 
 and dearest to his heart, and caused him to refrain from 
 requesting a consummation of their engagement on account 
 of his comparatively impoverished condition. He knew 
 that Ruth's love for him was such that she would unhesi- 
 tatingly marry him even if he were indeed poverty-stricken, 
 but he was unwilling to take advantage of this love, and 
 felt that he had no right to ask her to share his lot until he 
 was able to make her condition in life at least approxi- 
 mately as comfortable as that to which she had previously 
 been accustomed. For a long time he persistently enter- 
 tained this one-sided view of the matter, without for a 
 moment considering that, in thus acting, he was uninten- 
 tionally doing injustice to Ruth and her unselfish love for 
 him, and that to this love belonged the divine right of self- 
 abnegation and sacrifice. He would doubtless have indefi- 
 nitely continued thus to view the matter but for the fact 
 that Carrington, who understood his views on the subject, 
 determined to correct what he conceived to be Ashton's 
 misconception of his duty toward Ruth in view of his un- 
 favorable financial condition. 
 
 In pursuance of this purpose, and in the exercise of the 
 privilege which their intimacy gave him, Carrington soon 
 spoke to Ashton in regard to his relation to Ruth, expressed 
 surprise at their long engagement, and asked him why no 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 263 
 
 steps were being taken to consummate it. Ashton frankly 
 answered his question, and in so doing gave the reasons 
 already mentioned for his conduct in refraining from ask- 
 ing Ruth for a consummation of the engagement. Car- 
 rington told him that these reasons, although unselfish in 
 their origin and character, were entirely one-sided, and by 
 no means sufficient to justify his conduct, that Ruth's views 
 on the subject ought to be consulted, and that she should 
 at least have an opportunity for expressing her ideas and 
 wishes in regard to the matter. Not having considered this 
 view of the subject, Ashton was almost startled by Car- 
 rington's confident presentation of it, and, of course, did 
 not at first accept its correctness. 
 
 Subsequently, however, he realized the reasonableness and 
 correctness of Carrington's views, and determined that he 
 would at least fully explain to Ruth why he had not re- 
 quested a consummation of their engagement, and let the 
 manner in which she received his explanation decide his 
 future conduct in regard to the matter. Having formed 
 this determination, Ashton promptly proceeded to carry it 
 out, and visited Ruth the following day for that purpose. 
 
 On arriving at "The Oaks" he found that Bertha had 
 accompanied Carrington on a visit to one of his patients, 
 and that he would, therefore, have an opportunity for a 
 private and uninterrupted conversation with Ruth without 
 appearing to have sought it. Ruth's welcome was as warm 
 as the most exacting lover could have wished, and the 
 bright and happy smile that illumined her face on meet- 
 ing Ashton was a renewed assurance of the fact that she 
 loved him with her whole soul, and naturally tended to has- 
 ten the explanation which he had come to make. Hence, 
 their happy greetings had scarcely ended before he began 
 to unbosom himself in regard to the object of his visit. 
 After reminding her of his all-absorbing love for her, and 
 reiterating his often repeated assurance as to the unspeak 
 able happiness which her love had brought to him, he told 
 her how, for her sake, he had refrained from asking her to 
 marry him during the war, as he could then offer her noth- 
 ing but his love, and how, for similar reasons, he had for 
 months past been daily battling with the intense longing to 
 
264 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 make her his wife, as his circumstances were such that he 
 was unwilling to ask her to share his lot, which was so 
 much less favorable than that to which she had always 
 been accustomed. He then stated that although he was 
 satisfied that she understood his past conduct and the mo- 
 tives which prompted it, he felt that in justice to her and 
 to himself he ought to frankly converse with her in regard 
 to the matter and fully explain, as he was then doing, why 
 he had refrained from asking for a consummation of their 
 engagement, and assure her that in thus acting he had been 
 postponing his own happiness in order that he might be- 
 come the better fitted to secure her own. 
 
 With quiet mien and downcast eyes Ruth had listened to 
 Ashton's words, and when he finished she modestly looked 
 up her eyes beaming with the unmistakable and yet inde- 
 scribable light of love, and her cheeks roseate with blushes, 
 and said : 
 
 "Yes, darling, I have all the while understood why you 
 refrained from asking for a consummation of our engage- 
 ment, and I appreciate and honor the motive that has 
 prompted you in so doing; but if you had fully compre- 
 hended the workings of a woman's heart, the vicarious 
 character of her love, and the delight which she experiences 
 in making sacrifices for the object of her aff'ections, you 
 would not have so long delayed your explanation and the 
 opportunity now afforded me for assuring you that I will 
 gladly share your lot in life as soon as you may wish, and 
 would willingly do this were you so poor that our future 
 home should be but a hovel." 
 
 "Then, my noble and generous darling," joyously said 
 Ashton, "as the sacrifice which you are ready to make will 
 be one that love not only prompts, but delights in making, 
 I will for once be selfish in my love and ask you to com- 
 plete my happiness by becoming my wife at an early date." 
 
 Ruth willingly promised compliance with his request, and 
 before Ashton left the wedding day way fixed for the latter 
 part of December. 
 
 Ashton had long been happy in the possession of Ruth's 
 love, but, as he rode back to B at sunset on that Novem- 
 ber afternoon, his heart was filled with inexpressible joy at 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 265 
 
 the thought that he would so soon be blessed with the con- 
 stant companionship and daily caresses of the woman who 
 was dearer to him than hfe itself. Although he still re- 
 gretted, for Ruth's sake, that his financial condition was 
 not more favorable, Ashton no longer allowed thoughts of 
 it to trouble him as they had previously done; for Ruth's 
 words had revealed to him that such love as hers neither 
 considered nor valued conditions of life except in so far as 
 they gave to the person who cherished such affection oppor- 
 tunities for companionship with and devotion to the being 
 on whom it had been bestowed. Hence, from this time 
 forward it was with a light and happj- heart that he 
 prosecuted his professional work, which thereb\^ became all 
 the easier and pleasanter to him. 
 
 Ruth had also been rendered very happy by the result of 
 her interview with Ashton, and was almost glad that he 
 was comparatively poor, as that fact had enabled her to 
 manifest the perfect unselfishness of her love by expressing 
 her readiness to share his lot, and would still farther en- 
 able her to prove her thorough devotion to him in acts of 
 sacrifice after their marriage. 
 
 When Carrington and Bertha returned that evenino;, Ruth 
 informed them that the day for her marriage to Ashton 
 had been fixed, and the former joyously declared that for 
 once during the year he would eschew economy and spare 
 no expense in making it "a royal wedding" and worthy of 
 the parties to it. To this Ruth demurred, stating that she 
 did not wish any unnecessary expense incurred in prepara- 
 tions for the event, and preferred that there should be no 
 unusual display on the occasion ; but Carrington good- 
 naturedly, yet firmly told her that, although it was to be 
 her wedding, he proposed to "boss it," and was bent on 
 having his way in regard to the afi'air, and she finally 
 yielded to his wishes. As the intervening time was short, 
 preparations for the approaching marriage were at once 
 begun, and among the first of these w^as the arrangement 
 by Ruth and Bertha of a list of those to whom invitations 
 should be sent. Heading this list were the names of 
 their Virginia friends, Mrs. Slaughter's family. Belle Pres- 
 ton, and Lieutenants Preston and Harris. Immediately 
 
266 JOHN A SB TON. 
 
 following these was the name of Miss Annie R , of New 
 
 Castle, Delaware, whose presence Ruth knew would give 
 great pleasure to Ashton, and for whom she had, on his ac- 
 count, formed a strong attachment, although she had never 
 
 seen her. This allusion to Miss R reminds us to state 
 
 that, by practice of great economy, Asliton had saved 
 enough money to refund the amount borrowed by him 
 from her father, and this had been done the mouth before. 
 
 Shortly after his return to B , he had written to Miss 
 
 R renewing his grateful acknowledgment of the inesti- 
 mable kindness that she had shown him, and this letter led 
 to a correspondence between them which was still in 
 progress. 
 
 About the first of December Ashton received from the 
 gentleman in Richmond, to whom he had sold his horse, a 
 letter in which the gentleman informed him that he had 
 decided to dispose of the animal and, in accordance with his 
 promise, would give Ashton the privilege of repurchasing 
 him. Unfortunately Ashton could not spare the money for 
 this purpose and, with a feeling of disappointment and sad- 
 ness, wrote the gentleman that he was not at that time 
 prepared to purchase the animal. His disappointment was 
 great and he naturally mentioned the matter to his friend 
 Carrington, telling him how anxious he had been to recover 
 his horse. Carrington promptly offered to loan him the 
 money for the purpose of repurchasing the animal ; but 
 Ashton declined his offer, stating that he was unwilling to 
 incur any debt except in a case of absolute necessity, espe- 
 cially in view of his approaching marriage and the increased 
 responsibilities that he would thereby assume. In a conver- 
 sation with Bertha and Ruth the following day Carrington 
 mentioned this matter, and told them how sorry he was 
 that Ashton had been disappointed in failing to recover his 
 horse, and expressed regret that he would not accept a 
 loan of the money necessary to purchase the animal. At 
 the time Ruth did no more than express her sympathy for 
 Ashton in his disappointment; but as soon as she could 
 speak with Carrington privately, she requested him to 
 write at once and purchase the horse for her, stating that 
 she intended that Ashton should have the animal, and 
 ■wished to give it to him as a Christmas present. In com- 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 267 
 
 pHance with Ruth's request, Carriugton iinmediately wrote 
 to the owner of the horse, inclosing a check for the price of 
 the animal and explaining that he was purchasing the horse 
 for Ashton and wished him shipped so that he would arrive 
 
 at B the day before Christmas. In a few days Carring- 
 
 ton received a letter from the owner of the horse, acknowl- 
 edging the receipt of the purchase money for the animal 
 and stating that he would be shipped in accordance with 
 the instructions given. On receiving information of this 
 fact, Ruth was greatly pleased, and, in anticipation, re- 
 joiced over the agreeable surprise which she would thus be 
 enabled to provide for Ashton. 
 
268 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Christmas had been fixed as the time for Ruth's marriage, 
 and the wedding guests from a distance arrived three days 
 before that time. Mrs. Slaughter and Randolph could not 
 come and sent their regrets by Kate. The latter came in 
 company with Belle Preston, Lieutenants Preston and Har- 
 ris, and Miss Annie R , who had joined the other mem- 
 bers of the party in Richmond by an arrangement pre- 
 viously made at Ruth's suggestion. The two gentlemen 
 
 stopped with Ashton in B , and the ladies of the party 
 
 became the guests of Ruth and Bertha at "The Oaks." The 
 meeting between the latter and their guests was a joyous 
 
 one, and the greeting which Ruth extended to Miss R 
 
 was no less cordial than that given to the other girls. As 
 before stated, she had already formed a strong attachment 
 for this girl whom she had never seen, and now, on looking 
 into her pure and noble face, she felt assured that this at- 
 tachment would become still stronger with an increased 
 knowledge of her character. 
 
 The preparations for Ruth's marriage had been vigorously 
 prosecuted, and at tlie time at which the guests arrived 
 there was but little to do outside of finishing the house 
 decorations, and in the completion of those the visitors 
 took an active and efficient part. While engaged in this 
 work the following day the ladies were interrupted by the 
 arrival of visitors from B , who proved to be Lieuten- 
 ants Preston and Harris and Doctor George Hardj', a 
 voung physician with whom Carrington had recently 
 formed a partnership on account of the fact that his prac- 
 tice had so greatly increased he needed an assistant. On 
 discovering in what work the ladies were engaged, the gen- 
 tlemen expressed regret that their visit had been made at an 
 inopportune time, and, suggesting that they would call 
 again, were about to retire, when Kate Slaughter informed 
 them that they could not possibly have come at a more op- 
 portune moment, as their assistance was just then greatly 
 needed, and immediately pressed them into service. They 
 readily and gracefully yielded obedience to her command, 
 
JOEN ASHTON. 269 
 
 and were soon busily engaged in assisting their fair com- 
 panions in the work of decorating the house. As Kate 
 Slaughter naturally appropriated Preston as the person to 
 whom she had the best right to "issue orders," and Harris, 
 following the promptings of his heart, having offered his 
 services to Belle Preston, it fell to Hardy's lot to assist the 
 other ladies. He was too gallant to discriminate between 
 them in the offers of his services, but Ruth and Bertha soon 
 managed to make themselves so indispensable to each other 
 that he was left free to render constant assistance to Miss 
 
 R . In speaking to Hardy of Miss R 's expected 
 
 presence at Ruth's marriage, Carrington had told him of 
 the circumstances under which Ashton had formed her 
 acquaintance, and the services which she had rendered the 
 latter and other Confederate soldiers in the hospital at 
 Washington, and Hardy had naturally become greatly in- 
 terested in her, and formed a strong desire to meet her. In 
 the course of the conversation that occurred between them 
 
 while he was assisting Miss R with the decorations, 
 
 Hardy alluded to what Carrington hadjtold him of her serv- 
 ices at the hospital in Washington, and manifested so 
 much interest in the matter that she was led to speak freely 
 and at length concerning her experience in nursing the sick 
 and wounded Confederate soldiers who came under her 
 care. This experience in some instances had been inexpres- 
 sibly sad, and the recollection of the same was even then 
 harrowing to her heart. Indeed, she could scarcely refrain 
 from weeping as she told of the intense physical suffering 
 of some stalwart soldier who had been stricken down in the 
 full strength of manhood, and of the still greater mental 
 anguish of some beardless boy who had been dangerously 
 wounded in battle, and, having lost all hope of recovery, 
 daily longed for the presence of his parents and lamented 
 the heartrending grief which they would experience when 
 they learned thiit he had died in a strange land, without 
 having had their loving presence and sympathy to sustain 
 him in his last moments. Hardy was deeply affected by 
 
 the recital of such incidents in the experience of Miss R , 
 
 and, being a physician and accustomed to death-bed scenes, 
 he was fully capacitated to understand and appreciate the 
 
270 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 ordeals through which she had pa-sed, and his heart was 
 filled with admiration akin to homage for this pure and 
 noble Northern girl who had thus endured the severest 
 trials, and devoted herself to the service of Southern 
 soldiers because she believed that the^^ were suffering in 
 a just cause. By both word and look he showed how 
 much he appreciated her noble deeds, and how highly 
 he honored her for what she had done, and indeed was so 
 enthusiastic in his manifestation of this appreciation that 
 his expression of the same was only stopped by the discov- 
 ery that her cheeks were suffused with blushes. He imme- 
 diately apologized for his seeming lack of consideration in 
 thus embarrassing her, and explained his conduct by stating 
 that his admiration for her singularly unselfish devotion to 
 a cause that was inexpressibly dear to his heart, had so en- 
 thused him that for the moment he had forgotten that 
 praises due to modesty's achievements should alwaj^s be 
 paid by proxy. The explanation was, of course, satis- 
 factory to Miss R, and she soon recovered from her tem- 
 porary' embarrassment and continued her conversation with 
 Hardy in an easy and unconstrained manner. 
 
 Under the deft handiwork of theladiesand the less skillful 
 but efficient labors of the gentlemen, the task of decorating 
 the house rapidly progressed ; but as the decorations were 
 to be quite elaborate, and extensive, they could not be fin- 
 ished during the forenoon, and the gentlemen were 
 informed that thej' must remain to dinner and aid in com- 
 pleting the work that afternoon. To this they readily as- 
 sented, and in the course of the afternoon the work of 
 decorating the house was fulh' finished. It had been done 
 in such a manner as to amply repay those participating in 
 the same for the time and labor expended in the work; for 
 the wreaths and festoons of cedar, the beautiful branches 
 of holly with their bright red berries, and the fresh green 
 sprigs of mistletoe, which graced the walls of the parlors, 
 dining-room, and spacious hall, and the luxuriant exotic 
 plants and beautiful native flowers that were scattered in 
 graceful profusion throughout the house, presented a sight 
 that would have satisfied the most critical ejx, and de- 
 ligfhted the heart of a veritable connoisseur of the beautiful. 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 271 
 
 On taking leave of the ladies that afternoon the gentlemen 
 told them that, although they had been in their company all 
 day, the service into which they had been pressed had really 
 prevented them from making their contemplated visit, and 
 for this reason, and also as a reward for their labors, they 
 would claim the privilege of calling after tea, but for the 
 fact that the ladies would doubtless need a* full night's rest 
 after the fatiguing labors of the day. Kate Slaughter, in 
 her frank and straightforward way, promptly informed 
 them that she was glad to see that they had been so con- 
 siderate of the comfort of her companions and herself; 
 "for," said she, "you have thereby saved us from the em- 
 barrassment of having to decline such a visit, as I assure 
 you v^e would not in our tiredcondition see any one to- 
 night not even our sweethearts." 
 
 Ruth's wedding morn dawned bright and clear, and, al- 
 though it was Christmas day, it was busily spent at "The 
 Oaks' in final preparations for the marriage that evening, 
 and the wedding feast that was to follow the same. How- 
 ever, the occupants of "The Oaks" did not, in the midst of 
 the bustle and activity incident to the approaching event, 
 either forget or forego the accustomed Christmas dinner, 
 which was enlivened by the presence of their friends from 
 
 B , and was all that could be desired, both as to the 
 
 quantity and quality of the viands and the excellency of the 
 cuisine. 
 
 The hour appointed for the marriage was 8 o'clock that 
 evening, and by 7 o'clock the guests began to arrive. On 
 approaching the house they were greeted by a beautiful and 
 attractive sight, as the magnificent grove surrounding the 
 building was lighted up with Chinese lanterns, and every 
 room in the mansion was brilliantlj^ illuminated. We have 
 alluded to the beauty of the interior decorations at the 
 time they were completed, and they were now rendered far 
 more beautiful by the bright lamplight f alHng upon them ; 
 and hence the interior of the building presented a vision of 
 beauty that was almost bewildering in its brilliancy and 
 loveliness. The spacious double parlors had been converted 
 into one large room by drawing back the sliding doors that 
 divided them, and soon the room was thronged with joy- 
 
272 JOHN ASriTON. 
 
 ous and expectant guests, as it was there that the ceremony 
 was to be performed. At one end of the room a beautiful 
 bower had been constructed of vines and branches of vari- 
 ous evergreens, and from its center hung the marriage bell, 
 composed of bride roses. At the appointed hour, Ruth en- 
 tered the roorn leaning on the arm of Ashton, and they 
 immediately took their positions under the marriage bell, 
 where the ceremony that united their future lives and per- 
 fected their happiness was impressively performed by Dr. 
 Robert Hastings, a distinguished divine, and a personal 
 
 friend of Ashton's, who resided in B . As soon as the 
 
 ceremony was over, there was a hasty gathering of the 
 guests around the bride and groom to extend to the latter 
 their cordial congratulations on the priceless prize which he 
 had won, and to wish the former a happy and cloudless life. 
 Shortly after the last of the numerous guests had partici- 
 pated in this pleasant duty, supper was announced, and the 
 company repaired to the spacious dining-room, where they 
 found awaiting them such an abundance and variety of the 
 choicest and most delicious viands as would have furnished 
 an appropriate feast for royalty itself; for in this, as in 
 other arrangements for Ruth's marriage, Carrington had 
 carried out his determination to spare no expense in mak- 
 ing it a royal wedding. Ample justice was done to the wed- 
 ding feast by those for whom it had been prepared, and at 
 its close they returned to the parlors in a happy state of 
 mind, that fully fitted them for entering with zest into the 
 enjoyment of the farther pleasures of the evening. Al- 
 though the company was a large one, its members were 
 perfectly congenial, and were soon freely and familiarh" 
 chatting with each other in groups or in pairs, according 
 as accident or inclination had drawn them together. Thus 
 the time was spent in friendly chat, and merry jest, varied 
 by music, and an occasional dance. At the suggestion of 
 Kate Slaughter, the festivities of the evening were closed 
 with "the Virginia Reel," and the dance was executed with 
 such vivacity and abandon that the rapidly whirling forms 
 of the dancers presented a sight that was really bewildering 
 to those who were looking on. At its close the company 
 began to disperse, and soon the last of the guests had 
 departed. 
 
JOHN ASH TON. 273 
 
 A few hundred yards in the rear of the mansion there was 
 a large group of cabins called "The Negro Quarter," and from 
 that direction the sound of music and dancing could be dis- 
 tinctly heard, for early in the evening their occupants had ' 
 assembled at several of the larger cabins to celebrate "Miss 
 Ruth's weddin' " and the arrival of Christmas, and were still 
 making merry the passing hours in honor of these impor- 
 tant events. 
 
 Shortly after the guests had retired from the mansion, : 
 the music and dancing at "the quarter" ceased, and soon '. 
 the heads of families among the occupants of the cabins . 
 silently repaired to "the big house" to hang up their stock- 
 ings in anticipation of the accustomed visit of "Sandy 
 Claws," as they called the patron saint of Christmas-tide, j 
 Their reason for not having done this the preceding night ' 
 was the fact that it was Sunday night, and Carrington ; 
 told them to defer the matter on that account, and also on 
 account of the approaching marriage, laughingW suggest- , 
 ing that when "Sandy" came and found that there had been 
 a wedding in the house he would thereby be rendered un- 
 usually jolly and good-humored, and, consequently, they 
 might expect him to be more liberal with his gifts. Hence 
 it was that "the darkies" had not hung up their stockings 
 as usual on Christmas eve, and were now about to engage in 
 that, to them, delightful and momentous occupation. 
 These "stockings" were not stockings at all, but capacious 
 bags, and they were soon dangling from every door-knob, 
 and other projection at the rear of the house, or deposited 
 on the floor of the back veranda. Having thus disposed of 
 them, their owners promptly departed and, in a spirit of 
 loyal trust in the "Massa" and "Missus" of the mansion, 
 resisted a natural curiosity to watch for "Sandy's" appear- 
 ance, and at once repaired to their homes. Their confi- 
 dence was by no means misplaced, for in a few moments 
 after their departure, Carrington and Bertha had with lav- 
 ish hands performed the part of Santa Claus and deposited 
 in the various bags presents that would delight the hearts 
 of both young and old on the morrow. 
 
 In the murky gray of the early dawn numerous figures 
 could be seen issuing from the cabins at the negro quarter 
 
 18 
 
274 JOHN ASHTOJSr. 
 
 and swiftly moving toward the mansion house. The reader 
 will readily understand that they were "the darkies " who 
 had "hung up their stockings" the night before, and were 
 now, as they expressed it,"g\vine ter see what Sandy Claws 
 hed fotched 'em." The eagerness with which they plunged 
 their hands into their respective bags, feeling of and peer- 
 ing at the contents, and the grins of satisfaction and ex- 
 clamations of delight with which they drew forth and held 
 up to view some article that was especially acceptable to 
 them, formed a picture of simple but perfect happiness that 
 was both refreshing to the sight, and suggestive of the fact 
 that, although the result of the war had destroyed the re- 
 lation of master and slave in the South, it had not severed 
 the ties of sympathy and affection which had long existed 
 between them. 
 
 The occupants of "The Oaks" rose with the stm that morn- 
 ing and, after partaking of an early breakfast, began to 
 discuss the question as to how they should spend the day, or 
 at least the forenoon. Carrington told them that he regret- 
 ted that the absence of snow would prevent the formation 
 of a sleighing party, such as they had on the day after his 
 and Bertha's marriage, and proposed in lieu thereof, that 
 they form a riding party, suggesting that a gallop of tenor 
 twelve miles in the crisp morning air would be delightful ex- 
 ercise, and also afford the visitors an opportunity for seeing 
 a part of the country with which they were not familiar. 
 His proposition was promptly accepted, and the execution 
 of the plan suggested was only delayed to await the arrival 
 of Preston, Harris, and Hardy, who had told the ladies, on 
 leaving the night before,thatthey would ride out that morn- 
 ing to ascertain whether they had survived the effects of the 
 evening's dissipation. The ladies at once retired to their 
 rooms to don their riding habits, and Carrington gave orders 
 to his groom to saddle the horses. Ashton's horse, which, as 
 before stated, Ruth had repurchased for him, had safely 
 arrived at B and been brought out to "The Oaks" with- 
 out Ashton's knowledge, an 1 when Carrington proposed the 
 riding party that morning, he had in view the opportunity 
 which it would afford Ruth for giving her husband the 
 pleasant surprise she had prepared for him, and also the 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 275 
 
 fact that he would thus be enabled to immediately enjoy 
 her present. About the time at which the ladies reappeared 
 in their riding suits, Preston, Harris, and Hardy rode up, 
 and in a few moments the horses ordered by Carrington 
 were brought around in front of the house. The ladies of 
 the part}', together with Carrington and Ashton, were 
 standing in a group on the veranda, and after hearty greet- 
 ings had been exchanged between them and the gentlemen 
 who had just arrived, Carrington said: 
 
 "Everything is now ready for our jaunt, and in order to 
 save the gentlemen from the embarrassment of selecting 
 their partners, I will make the selections for them. Doctor 
 
 Hardy will escort Miss R , Lieutenant Harris shall be 
 
 Miss Preston's companion, and Lieutenant Preston will 
 act as Miss Slaughter's escort. As for Ashton and myself, 
 fate has already selected our partners, and neither of us is 
 as yet inclined to 'fly in the face of fortune' with a view to 
 changing them. 'The troop' — excuse the military phrase, — 
 will now mount and ride off in the order named." 
 
 The horses selected for Miss R , Belle Preston, and 
 
 Kate Slaughter were then in turn led up to the horse-block, 
 and the respective escorts of those ladies assisted them to 
 mount and rode off in their company. After assisting his 
 wife to mount, Ashton stepped back to receive from the 
 groom the horse intended for him. On his approach the 
 horse pricked up his ears, began to sniff excitedly and in a 
 moment was whinnying with delight. Surprised by these 
 manifestations of pleasure, and startled by something 
 strangely familiar in the neigh of the horse, Ashton looked 
 up quickly, took a hasty but critical survey of the animal, 
 and almost instantly felt that the faithful friend with 
 whom he had so reluctantly parted, stood before him. In 
 order to be perfectly sure of this, he approached the animal, 
 placed his hand on his neck and in a low tone of voice said : 
 "Mosby." On hearing the name the horse renewed his 
 joyous neighing and gave other manifestations of recogni- 
 tion and delight. Turning to Carrington, Ashton said: 
 
 "I have long known, Phil, that you were one of the best 
 friends I have ever had, but this act of generous thought 
 fulness in securing for me my dear and faithful horse sur- 
 
276 JOHN ASH TON. 
 
 passes any of your many deeds of kindness, and I shall 
 never cease to be grateful for the same." 
 
 "I am really sorry and ashamed, too, John," said Car- 
 rington, "that I do not deserve your thanks and gratitude; 
 for while I might say, without flattering myself, that I 
 would gladly have thus befriended you, the truth of the 
 matter is that I never thought of so doing, and you 
 will have to repeat your thanks and expressions of grati- 
 tude to one who is far more thoughtful and considerate of 
 your happiness than even 'one of your best friends', as 
 you have called me." 
 
 As he finished this remark Carrington glanced toward 
 Ruth and, hastily mounting his horse, rode off with his 
 wife, whom he had assisted to mount while Ashton was ex- 
 amining his horse. Ashton immediately rushed forward to 
 Ruth and, seizing her hand, overwhelmed her with thanks 
 and expressions of gratitude for the generous kindness and 
 loving thoughtfulness which she had manifested in his be- 
 half, and concluded by whispering to her: 
 
 "But for the fact that your mouth is at present beyond 
 my reach, you doubtless would incur the danger of being 
 smothered with kisses." 
 
 Ruth simply said: 
 
 "I am inexpressibly happy that it was in my power thus 
 to please my precious husband and prove my devotion to 
 him on this gladsome day." 
 
 Ashton made no reply, except by an adoring look into 
 Ruth's eyes, and, having mounted his horse, he and Ruth, 
 awed into silence by the great gladness that filled their souls, 
 rode off and soon joined the other members of the party. 
 Although Hardy had, "under orders," ridden away from 
 "The Oaks" at the head of the party, he had even thus 
 early, in some way, managed to drop behind, and was 
 
 now riding with Miss R in the rear of the other couples. 
 
 Appreciating the situation, Ashton and Ruth promptly 
 passed the laggards and left them to enjoy the advanta- 
 geous position which Hardy had chosen. That he con- 
 stantly maintained it during the remainder of the ride, and 
 made full use of the opportunity thus afforded him for pri- 
 vate communion with his companion, our readers will 
 
JOHN ASHTON. 277 
 
 readily infer, and we suppose that none of them will blame 
 the infatuated fellow, for, similarly situated, they would 
 doubtless have done the same. There was never a merrier 
 or more congenial riding party, and, joyously unconscious 
 of the flight of time or the distance traveled, they covered 
 many miles in their exhilarating gallop before turning their 
 faces homeward. In their jaunt they passed the place of 
 Ruth's dangerous adventure with her runaway horse, and, 
 while crossing the bridge that had replaced the one washed 
 away by the freshet and which now spanned the chasm 
 toward which Ruth was being rapidly borne when rescued 
 by Ashton, both Ruth and Ashton were vividly reminded, 
 not only of that fearful ad venture, but also of the subsequent 
 results of the same, which had served to bridge the chasm 
 of grief and gloom separating Ashton from society, and 
 eventually united their hearts and lives in bonds of perfect 
 love, and they almost blessed the memory of the angry flood 
 whose raging waters had thus indirectly contributed to the 
 crowning of their lives with happiness. 
 
 On returning to "The Oaks," the riding party became 
 aware of the fact that the morning's jaunt had sharpened 
 their appetites, and even Hardy did not slight the sump- 
 tuous dinner that was served. 
 
 The lady visitors had promised to spend two or three 
 weeks with Ruth and Bertha, and as Ashton and Ruth had de- 
 cided to remain at "The Oaks," during their stay he insisted 
 that Preston and Harris should also make it their home 
 during that time. A similar invitation was extended by 
 Carrington to Hardy and, the invitations having been ac- 
 cepted, the luggage of the three young men was sent for 
 that afternoon and they were duly installed as guests at 
 "The Oaks." The house-party thus formed naturally and 
 readily planned numerous and pleasant festivities for the 
 holidays, but we will not weary the reader with an account 
 of them. While the arrangement that had been made 
 proved a source of pleasure to all concerned, it was 
 especially delightful to George Hardy, as it gave him ample 
 opportunities for cultivating the acquaintance of Miss 
 
 R , in whom he felt the deepest interest and for whom 
 
 his admiration was daily increasing. Owing to Hardy's 
 
278 JOHN ASHTON. 
 
 profession and its similarity to the occupation in which 
 Miss R had been engaged when at the hospital in Wash- 
 ington, there was a bond of sympathy between them that 
 was naturally conducive to mutual interest in each other; 
 and this fact, together with Hardy's frank manner, ingenu- 
 ous disposition, generous nature and bright intellect, had 
 
 rendered his society exceedingly agreeable to Miss R and 
 
 awakened in her mind the highest admiration for him. 
 Moreover, while she was in many respects an exceptional 
 woman, she was not an exception to the majority of her 
 sex as to the sense of gratification that they experience in 
 receiving the sincere and unselfish admiration of true and 
 noble men, and the reciprocal emotions which are usually 
 thereby awakened. Hence the admiration which Hardy 
 
 felt for Miss R , and made no effort to conceal, was by 
 
 no means an unimportant factor in the forces which were 
 operating for the winning of her favor. Hardy made full 
 use of the opportunities which his stay at "The Oaks" 
 
 afforded him for companionship with Miss R , and 
 
 managed to secure many hours of private communion with 
 her through the medium of morning walks in the adjacent 
 woodlands and horseback rides over the surrounding coun- 
 try. He soon realized beyond all doubt that which, since 
 the day of the riding party, he had felt to be true, viz.: 
 That he deeply and devotedly loved this beautiful and no- 
 ble Northern girl whose life had so unexpectedly touched his 
 own, and he determined that, if it were possible so to do, 
 he would win her heart and hand. Acting purely in accord- 
 ance with the promptings of his heart, and the inclinations 
 of his warm and impulsive nature, Hardy, without know- 
 ing it, adopted the best possible plan for the accomplish- 
 ment of his object by casting caution to the winds and 
 unreservedly manifesting his ardent admiration for Miss 
 R , without a thought as to what would be the conse- 
 quences of his conduct; for he thus plainly showed the per- 
 fect purity and unselfish abandon of his love, which was 
 being freely and lavishly bestowed without any calculation 
 as to the chances of its return. To that extent, although a 
 modest man, he became a bold wooer, and most flesh-and- 
 blood women like such. Indeed, as some one has said: 
 
JOHN ASIITON. 279 
 
 "That which women most love is love," and, therefore, the 
 undemonstrative, cautious, and calculating lover woos in 
 vain the woman who is worth winning; for he really does 
 not know how to love, and fails to give spontaneously and 
 unreservedly that which she most desires. Hence it was 
 that George Hardy, by the ardor of his wooing, showed 
 
 Miss R that he knew how to love, and thus increased 
 
 his chances for winning her heart. His wooing was prose- 
 cuted with unabated ardor and when, a few days before the 
 end of her visit, he declared his love in burning words, tell- 
 ing her that it had become a part of his life, and asked her 
 if she could give him her heart in return, and become his 
 wife, he did not receive "nay" for his answer. 
 
 A few days thereafter the house-party at "The Oaks" 
 was broken up by the departure of the guests, and Ashton 
 and his wife took up their residence in B . 
 
 We have almost reached the end of our story and there 
 remains but little more to be told. In view of what has 
 been said respecting the relations existing between Lieuten- 
 ant Preston and Kate Slaughter and Lieutenant Harris and 
 Belle Preston, the reader has long since naturally and cor- 
 rectly surmised that a yet closer relation would eventually 
 be formed between them ; and hence it is only necessary to 
 state that the respective couples were happily married 
 shortly after their return to Virginia. 
 
 A few months later George Hardy claimed the fulfilment 
 
 of the promise which he had obtained from Miss R , and 
 
 brought her to B as his bride. 
 
 Carrington's farming operations were successfully con- 
 tinued for the benefit of Ruth and Bertha through the 
 medium of an efficient and faithful agent, and, as the coun- 
 try gradually recuperated from the disastrous results of 
 the war, his and Hardy's practice increased in extent and 
 lucrativeness. 
 
 The same was true as to Ashton's practice, and it was 
 only a few years before his accumulation of wealth deprived 
 Ruth of the pleasure which she had often enjoyed in mak- 
 ing personal sacrifices for his sake and thereby assisting 
 him to recover from the injurious consequences of the 
 Civil War. 
 
 The End. 
 
RARE BOOK 
 COLLECTION 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT 
 
 CHAPEL HILL