Turner Ashby was a Confederate cavalry commander in the American Civil War. He was assigned to the Virginia Militia command of Colonel Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. He was responsible for guarding fords across the Potomac River and bridges from Harpers Ferry to Point of Rocks, Maryland.
Background
Turner Ashby was born on October 23, 1828, in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. He was the third of five sons and fifth of nine children of Turner Ashby and Dorothea Farrar Green Ashby, of Rappahannock County. His grandfather, Captain Jack Ashby, an officer in the Revolution.
Education
Turner's education was obtained from his mother, tutors, and Major Ambler's private school.
Career
Turner Ashby entered commercial pursuits, then bought a place near "Rose Bank," and engaged in farming. Stirred by John Brown's raid on October 16, 1859, Ashby gathered some mounted men and rode north. They arrived late on October 19 at Charlestown, where Brown had been jailed.
In January 1860, they returned home after several months spent in picketing the Potomac. Ashby believed in slavery but not in secession. But when Virginia seceded, April 17, 1861, he again rode with his company of horsemen to Harper's Ferry. With his command augmented by infantry and Imboden's artillery, he took post opposite Point of Rocks, performing bridge-guard and scouting duty.
In June 1861, he marched with his company to Winchester, where it was incorporated in the 7th Virginia Cavalry which Colonel McDonald was officially organizing for the defense of the upper Potomac border. From June 18, 1861, to early March 1862, he was engaged in picket and scouting duty, and in minor operations, in the Romney-Bath-Martinsburg-Harper's Ferry region, except for a short time in July, when with part of the 7th, he cooperated with Stuart's cavalry in masking Johnston's withdrawal from Winchester to Manassas. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel about July 23, 1861.
Under the official authority, Turner organized Chew's Horse Battery on November 13, 1861, which formed a part of his command. In November or December, he succeeded McDonald in command of the regiment. From March 4, 1862, when Banks entered Charlestown, to the latter part of April, Ashby, promoted colonel about March 14, covered Jackson's retreat to Swift Run Gap, participating with great credit in the battle of Kernstown.
During Jackson's movement against Milroy in early May, Ashby, with part of his command, watched Banks at Harrisonburg and followed him during his retreat to Strasburg. Leaving a few companies opposite Banks, Ashby, with the remainder, joined Jackson in his march toward Front Royal; moved off and attacked the Federal detachment at Buckton Station; joined Jackson again at Front Royal; and moving on his left toward Middletown, struck Banks' column on the flank in retreat.
Asby took part in the engagement at Winchester, on May 25, and in the subsequent pursuit of Banks toward Harper's Ferry. On May 27, he received his commission as a brigadier general. During Jackson's subsequent retreat up the Valley, on June 6, Ashby, while commanding the cavalry brigade, and fighting a rear-guard action, a few miles south of Harrisonburg, was shot by the enemy.
Achievements
Views
Ashby supported slavery but opposed secession.
Personality
Ashby was enterprising, fearless, a splendid horseman, and a natural leader. He was an ideal light-horse commander in this kind of partisan warfare, combining the instincts of a gifted cavalryman with a bent for daring exploits.
Turner cut a striking figure, called by many the "Black Knight of the Confederacy." He generally rode horses that were pure white or pure black.
Physical Characteristics:
Turner Ashby stood about five feet eight inches in height and probably weighed from 150 to 160 pounds (68 to 73 kg). He was muscular and wiry, rather thin than robust or rugged. His hair and beard were as black as a raven’s wing; his eyes were soft and mahogany brown; a long, sweeping mustache concealed his mouth, and a heavy and long beard completely covered his breast. His complexion was dark in keeping with his other colorings.
Quotes from others about the person
"Later in the evening, I saw a party of cavalry pass by with Ashby's body, crying, most of them, like children." - Captain Campbell Brown
"As a partisan officer I never knew his superior; his daring was proverbial; his powers of endurance almost incredible; his tone of character heroic, and his sagacity almost intuitive in divining the purposes and movements of the enemy." - Stonewall Jackson