Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Known as the "Knight of the Confederacy", he was the son of Colonel Turner Ashby who served during the War of 1812 and grandson of Captain Jack Ashby from the Revolutionary War. Educated by private tutors and his widowed mother, he grew up on the family farm "Rose Bank." As an adult, he became a successful and wealthy planter and businessman. Already an accomplished horseman, he competed in English style tournements which he rarely lost. In 1857 he raised a company of volunteers with the task of protecting those working on the railroad through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Manassas, Virginia. In 1859 his volunteer cavalry company went to Harper's Ferry during John Brown's raid and remained in Charles Town until after the trail. When the Civil War broke out he was commissioned a Captain in the Confederate Cavalry and returned to Harper's Ferry with his company as "Ashby's Rangers" of 7th Virginia Cavalry. Shortly after arriving in Harper's Ferry, his brother Richard Ashby was killed by a Union patrol along the Potomac River. In June of 1861 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel commanding ten companies and employeed the first use of horse artillery in the war. Early in 1862 he was promoted again to Colonel and then in May of the same year became Brigadier General of the Ashby Brigade under General Stonewall Jackson. President Lincoln once asked of Union General Nathaniel Banks why his 15,000+ troops were held up crossing a creek, Banks responded simply "Ashby is here." During a skirmish with Union infantry on Chestnut Ridge near Harrisonburg, Virginia in June of 1862 he had his horse, "Tom Telegraph," shot out from under him. Continuing to lead his cavalry on foot he was shot through the heart and died instantly. His body was taken to the Frank Kemper House in Port Republic for viewing, which included General Jackson as one of the mourners. He was buried in the University of Virginia Cemetery, but was moved to Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester in October 1866 where he is buried with his brother.
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Known as the "Knight of the Confederacy", he was the son of Colonel Turner Ashby who served during the War of 1812 and grandson of Captain Jack Ashby from the Revolutionary War. Educated by private tutors and his widowed mother, he grew up on the family farm "Rose Bank." As an adult, he became a successful and wealthy planter and businessman. Already an accomplished horseman, he competed in English style tournements which he rarely lost. In 1857 he raised a company of volunteers with the task of protecting those working on the railroad through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Manassas, Virginia. In 1859 his volunteer cavalry company went to Harper's Ferry during John Brown's raid and remained in Charles Town until after the trail. When the Civil War broke out he was commissioned a Captain in the Confederate Cavalry and returned to Harper's Ferry with his company as "Ashby's Rangers" of 7th Virginia Cavalry. Shortly after arriving in Harper's Ferry, his brother Richard Ashby was killed by a Union patrol along the Potomac River. In June of 1861 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel commanding ten companies and employeed the first use of horse artillery in the war. Early in 1862 he was promoted again to Colonel and then in May of the same year became Brigadier General of the Ashby Brigade under General Stonewall Jackson. President Lincoln once asked of Union General Nathaniel Banks why his 15,000+ troops were held up crossing a creek, Banks responded simply "Ashby is here." During a skirmish with Union infantry on Chestnut Ridge near Harrisonburg, Virginia in June of 1862 he had his horse, "Tom Telegraph," shot out from under him. Continuing to lead his cavalry on foot he was shot through the heart and died instantly. His body was taken to the Frank Kemper House in Port Republic for viewing, which included General Jackson as one of the mourners. He was buried in the University of Virginia Cemetery, but was moved to Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester in October 1866 where he is buried with his brother.
Bio by: Jonathan Coulter
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