A history of the Laurel brigade, originally the Ashby cavalry of the Army of northern Virginia and Chew's battery

Chapter I

Development of the Laurel Brigade from the Seventh Regiment of Virginia Cavalry, enlisted under Col. Angus W. McDonald — Border service under Colonel McDonald and Col. Turner Ashby — Heroic death of Capt. Richard Ashby — Destructive expedition against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal — Chew's Battery attached to the command — Romney winter campaign under Jackson — Battle of Kernstown I7

Chapter II

Daily skirmishes with force of Banks — Addition of new companies and recruits swell the brigade — Jackson orders it divided into two commands, and Ashby tenders his resignation — Jackson revokes the order and Ashby withdraws his resignation — Jackson marches to McDowell and defeats Fremont — Ashby screens the movement from Banks by constant skirmishing in his front — Destroys railroad and telegraph between Front Royal and Strasburg — Attack upon Federal infantry at Buckton, where Captains Sheetz and Fletcher fall— Battle of Winchester and pursuit of Banks — Ashby throws his cavalry between the converging armies of Shields and Fremont and prevents communication between them— Informs Jackson fully of their movements Capture of Sir Percy Wyndham— Death of Ashby—

Cross Keys and Port Republic 48

Chapter III Jackson marches from Brown's Gap to the Chickahominy — His ingenious ruses to deceive Shields and Fremont — Munford screens Jackson's movement and follows him with the Second Virginia Cavalry — Genl. Beverly Robertson succeeds in command of Valley cavalry — Reorganization of the Ashby cavalry — Robertson an organizer and diciplinarian — Brigade leaves

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Valley and joins Jackson near Richmond, July loth, Company B of Twelfth Virginia Cavalry being left in the Valley — Fighting at Gordonsville and Cedar Run — Genl. J. E. B. Stuart leads cavalry in a reconnoissance — Brandy Station — Catlett's Station — Thoroughfare Gap — Sudley Road fight and death of Major Patrick — Second Manassas campaign — Advance into Maryland — Robertson assigned to Department of North Carolina, and Munford again commands the brigade — Poolesville and Crampton's Gap — Affair at Darksville — Capture of Harper's Ferry — Brigade covers Lee's recrossing of Potomac — Raid into Pennsylvania — Col. William E. Jones takes command — Various skirmishes in the Valley — White's Battalion attached to brigade — Snickers Gap and Castleman's Ferry — Company D of the Eleventh at Romney, and capture of Capt. E. H. McDonald — General Jones in command of the Valley District — Expedition to Moorefield — Scarcity of forage — Midwinter diversions in the Valley 72

Chapter IV

Jones' expedition into Western Virginia — Weak men and horses left in camp — Inclement weather and swollen streams — Dangerous crossing of the Potomac at Petersburg — Heroic assistance of citizens — Rev. Richard Davis — Fight at Greenland Gap — McNeil's Rangers co-operate with Jones — Colonel Harman enters Oakland, destroys railroad bridge — Cranberry Summit — Mountaineers unfriendly and bushwhack our column — Capture of Morgantown — Bridgeport and Fairmont — Destruction of oil wells — A river on fire — Return to the Valley — Results of expedition — Cross the Blue Ridge to join "Jeb" Stuart — A grand review — Battle of Brandy Station 117

Chapter V

A short rest — The army of Northern Virginia moves northward — Jones' brigade guards the line of the Rappahannock — Federal cavalry in search of Lee make for the passes of the Blue Ridge — Aldie and Middleburg — Fight at Upperville — Stuart makes famous raid in rear of Federal Army — Jones' and Robertson's brigades left to defend passes of the Blue Ridge — Operations of White's Battalion — In Maryland — Sixth Virginia meets Sixth United States Regulars near Fairfield and defeats the latter — Joy of victory turned to sadness by news of Lee's failure at Cemetery Ridge — Jones and Robertson hold the passes of Jack

Contents e

Mountain— Jones saves Ewell's wagon train— Buford and Kilpatrick thwarted— Fighting between Hagerstown and Wil Hamsport— Gallant charge of the Eleventh Virginia Cavalry— Funkstown and Boonesboro — Williamsport relieved and Lee's wagon train saved — The Seventh Virginia retaliates upon Sixth Regulars—Artillery practice upon a flying target— Lee recrosses the Potomac— The brigade ordered south of the Potomac to cover Lee's communications with Winchester— The Twelfth, under Colonel Harman, on detached service near Harper's Ferry- Capture of Federal picket reserves— Colonel Harman falls into the hands of the enemy — Brigade encamps near Charles Town and engages in reconnoitering and skirmishes — Lee retires up the Valley and crossing the mountains resumes the line of the Rappahannock 147

Chapter VI Brigade returns to watch the fords of the Rappahannock— Differences between General Stuart and General Jones— The latter court-martialed and removed to another field of operations- Personality of Jones and attachment of his troopers— Admiration and loyalty of the men soon won by "Jeb" Stuart— Federals under Meade advance towards Culpeper Court House— Hard and continuous cavalry fighting against Buford and Kilpatrick, in which the brigade now under command of General Lomax takes prominent part— Capt. Samuel B. Coyner of the Seventh Virginia Cavalry killed— Enemy surround and capture one of Thompson's guns of Chew's Battery— A front and rear fight at Jack's Shop— Successful charge against infantry by Company B of the Twelfth Virginia— Second battle at Brandy Station- Fight at Fauquier Surphur Springs— Notable exploit at the Rappahannock bridge— Stuart in a tight place at Auburn- Bold dash and escape of his command 167

Chapter VII A new commander— Sketch of Thomas L. Rosser— The Buckland races— Camp at Flint Hill— At Hamilton's Crossing— Night surprise of a Federal camp — Dash upon Meade's wagon trains in the Wilderness— Back to Hamilton's Crossing— Hard fight at Parker's Store— Watching Meade— Raid around Meade's army —Night attack upon Sangster's Station and death of Captain Cartmell— Brigade heads for the Valley and crosses the Shenandoah— Joins the force of Early at Mt. Jackson— A Merry Christmas in the Valley ig5

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Chapter VIII

Rosser with Fitz Lee — They make midwinter raid to capture cattle for Lee's army — March down the Patterson Creek Valley — Capture a Federal wagon train — Move towards New Creek — Return to Early in the Valley — Fitz Lee with his division returns to the Army of Northern Virginia — Early and Rosser make the Petersburg raid — Returning, the Laurel Brigade camps at Weyer's Cave — Rest and hilarity — Across the Blue Ridge to catch Kilpatrick — Return to Valley — The camp in Rockbridge county — Recruiting -Grant moves his multitudes — A call from Lee — The Laurel joins Lee in the Wilderness — The Sth and 6th of May — Join Hampton at Shady Grove — Yellow Tavern — Death of Stuart 215

Chapter IX

Hampton takes command of cavalry — Milford — Haw's Shop — Atlee's Station — Depleted condition of brigade — Scarcity of food and forage — Grant develops his wearing out policy — Assails Lee's lines of communication — Wilson attempts to cut the Virginia Central Railroad — Fight at Ashland — Heroic act of Maj. Holmes Conrad — Wilson defeated and pursued — Another affair at Haw's Shop — White's Comanches charge Federal breastworks — Hampton sent to meet Sheridan's raiders — The battle of Trevilians — Pursues Sheridan to the North Anna — Hard fare for men and horses — Some types of vandals — Skirmishing near White House — Cavalry against infantry and gunboats — Hanging on Sheridan's flank — White's Battalion detached — Sheridan entrenches at Samaria Church — Is driven out of entrenchments, leaving dead and wounded — Col. Thomas E. Massie of the Twelfth wounded — Pursuit of Sheridan to Charles City Court House 242

Chapter X Hampton marches towards Richmond — Federals cross to south side of James River, and Hampton follows, crossing near Drury's Bluff — Moves below Petersburg — Camp near Reams Station — Intercepts Wilson's raiders, and sharp fight near Sapony Church — Lieutenant Vandiver's account of the engagement — Ruffian marauders — Wilson escapes after punishment and loss — A short rest, watermelons and hospitality — Brigade recuperates by return of men from hospitals and horse furloughs — Fitz Lee with his division sent to the Shenandoah Valley —

COL. R. PRESTON CHEW

Contents y

Hampton kept to hold the hnes on Lee's right— Grant creates a diversion on the north side of the James-Hampton ordered to Culpeper, but was recalled when he reached Beaver Dam- Fight at White Oak Swamp— Brigade returns to south side- Monk Neck's Bridge-Hatcher's Run-Reams Station-The newspaper raid— Hampton's cattle raid 26a

Chapter XI The return to the Valley-Tedious march and wornout horses- Eager to avenge the outrages of Sheridan— Federals devastate the Shenandoah Vallcy-Fitz Lee having been wounded Rosser commands the Cavalry Division-Fight at Mill Creek-Toms Brook-A much-mooted night attempt to surprise and bag Custer— Cedar Creek- Brent's Farm— Fighting on the Back Road-Death of Lieut.-Col. Thomas Marshall-Brigade camps and rest at Fisher's Hill and Timberville-Kershaw's division and Crosby's brigade of cavalry withdrawn from Early's army— Shernlan witli superior numbers hesitates to attack Early 2 ^

Chapter XII

Difficulty of supplying subsistence for Early's army-Plenty beyond the mountains westward— Rosser starts out for New Creek with the Laurels and Payne's brigade-New Creek a Federal stronghold-Rosser joined by McNeil's Partisan Rangers- McNe.l defeats Federals at Parsons Ford-Some unexpected happenmgs-A council of war— Rosser decidcs-The surprise -A successful ruse-Capture of New Creek-Homeward bound with captures, flocks, and herds-Brigade camps near Imibcrville-Moves to near Swopes Depot-Custer with large cavalry force threatens Staunton-Rosser and Payne make night attack on Custer's camp-Back to old camp at Swopes Depot-Lack of forage-Companies detached in order to subsist — Beverly

Chapter XIII

The capture of the Federal Major-Generals Crook and Kelly in the City of Cumberland by McNeil-The capture proposed and planned by John B. Fay, formerly of Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry, but vt the time a member of McNeil's partisan company-Fay with Ritchie Hallar reconnoiters in the neighborhood of Cumberland-They locate the sleeping apartments

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of each of the generals, and Ihe outpost and reserve pickets — The hazards of the undertaking — The surprise and capture — Two future Presidents of the United States narrowly escape — A future judge not so fortunate — Federals pursue but give it up — Prisoners transported to Dixie 341

Chapter XIV

After the return from Beverly, Munford's and Payne's brigades ordered east of the Blue Ridge — Wharton's division of infantry and Rosser's brigade of cavalry only force left under Early in the Valley to face Sheridan — Government supplies almost fail, and home supplies no longer cheer the soldiers — Sheridan lays waste the Valley, and with 10,000 sabres advances — Rosser meets him with 300 men and, aided by high water, retards him at North River — Early withdraws towards Charlottesville, is overtaken, defeated, and his army captured or dispersed near Waynesboro — Rosser attempts to recapture the prisoners, but fails — Rosser made major-general and Dearing takes command of the Laurel Brigade — The trail of Sheridan — Division under Rosser, not over 1,200 men, moves below Petersburg — Federals capture Five Forks — Rosser's division forms rear guard of Fitz Lee's column' — Advancing Federals punished in their onsets — Deep Creek — Brigade, April 5th, with rest of division moves towards Amelia Court House — Soldiers depressed but resolute — Desperate charge of Dearing near Amelia Springs — Desperate fighting by great fighters — Federals driven back into Jetersville — Death of Captains Rutherford and Hugh Mc- Guire — High Bridge — Death of Dearing, Knott, Thompson and others and the wounding of many — White takes command of brigade — Appomattox — The last charge — Brigade disbanded near Lynchburg by Colonel "Lige" White — Remnant of the Twelfth Regiment, under Lieut. Wm. F. Anderson, surrenders at Appomattox 357

Appendix 382

Preface

This history zvas written by the late Capt. William N. McDonald, zvho zvas ordnance officer of the Laurel Brigade. It zvas zvritten at the request of Genl. Thomas L. Rosser, its one time commander, zvho gave to the brigade the name "Laurel," and zvho by his courage, dash, and skill, ill great degree contributed to zivin the fame zvhich made it zjvorthy to be knozvn by that name.

The labor of Captain McDonald in accumulating the data and zvriting this history, extended through the ten years previous to his lamented death on the ^th of January, i8p8. And some idea of the amount and difficidty of the labor undertaken may be gathered from his ozvn zuords, belozjv quoted, from a circidar letter sent to the survival's of the brigade, in his quest for information: "This zvork zvas entered upon zvith the settled purpose of making it an authentic memorial of those zvho composed the Laurel Brigade, but zvith little expectation that the story of the achievements of the command zvoidd equal its measure of fame. The facts necessary to make up the record are difficult to procure. The official reports rarely give details, and after February ist, 1864, fezv if any brigade or regimental reports are to be found. From that time, to the end, there zvas such a giving and taking of blozvs, — such a struggle for the means of subsistence, — that little time zvas left for clerical zvork. There is therefore a gap of more than a lo Preface

year full of stirring events, zvith snvall record of even the general actions of the brigade."

It zvas from the mass of letters received in response to his circular. Captain McDonald chiefly gathered the material for the history. While many of these were clear and explicit, many were contradictory of others, and to gather the actual facts out of multitudes of contradictions, was a labor easier to be imagined than described. While the body of the history zvas practically complete, the manuscript was in its first form and not yet ready for publication when it came into my hands. At the request of a committee of the survivors of the brigade, I undertook the zvork of revieiving the manuscript and preparing it for the hands of a publisher.

In the posthumous preparation of an author's zvork, there is always the temptation to the reviser, to materially alter it in some particular, and here and there to interject something suggestive of himself. Had the disposition to do this possessed me, there zvould hardly have been the opportunity, for the manuscript as I received it, practically covered the achievements of the brigade from Kernstozvn to Appomattox. My work, zvas rather to supply such missing links in the narrative as zvere to be found here and there; to make sucJi corrections as subsequent revelations made necessary, and such additions in the zvay of official reports, and zvell-authenticatcd individual statements, as would add authority and verification to the history. Besides this, there zvas also such a general revision of the manuscript, as the author himself would have given before placing it in the hands of a publisher.

Captain McDonald having been my personal friend as well as a close comrade both in the infantry and cavalry

Preface ii

Qj'ms of the Confederate service, the labor of revising his ivork, has been mingled zvith a great deal of pleasure, and I have endeavored to discharge the duty in a zuay that woidd have been gratifying to him.

It is impossible but tJiat tJiere will be some omissions, both regarding events, and individuals ivorthy of mention, and perhaps a fezu incidents mentioned not exactly in accord with the recollections of some. The lapse of time before undertaking the zvork, the lack of sources of information, and the fallibility of memory must be sufficient excuse for these. The intention of the author zvas to produce an authentic record, free from exaggeration and also from mere rhetorical display. It zvas his intention also to append as complete a roster of the officers and men as coidd possibly be procured. No effort has been spared to carry out this intention. Nevertheless the rolls of some companies are entirely missing and others incomplete, zvhich is greatly to be regretted.

It has been the zvish that every soldier zvho served in the brigade and helped to contribute to its fame, shoidd have honorable mention. Unfortunately, the missing names are likely to be those of the killed or mortally wounded in battle and dropped from the rolls, zvho of all others, if possible, shoidd be especially remembered.

To the comrades who by letters, loan of private diaries, and in other zvays assisted the author and the reviser in preparing this history, zvhosc names are too numerous to mention here, sincere thanks are given. Most of them, hozvever, are mentioned in the body of the work.

It zvas at first the intention, that there shoidd be an addendum to the zvork containing special mention of officers

12 Preface

and privates who rendered conspicuous and meritorious services. But after mature consideration this zi'as considered nnadvisahle and the intention abandoned, for the reason that the Laurel Brigade zcas composed of so many heroic men, that to single out a fezv for special mention, zvould seem in the nature of an invidious distinction.

BusHROD C. Washington.

THE AUTHOR

The late Capt. William N. McDonald, author of this work, was born in i8j4 in Romney, Virginia; ivas educated in his native State, taking the degree of A. M. at the University of Virginia in iS^y, and was elected professor of belles-lettres in the University of Public Schools of Louisville, Kentucky, the same year; the follozving year he was promoted to presidency of the same, and in that capacity was acting superintendent of the schools of Louisville.

In j8^p he resigned and studied lazi.', and in i860 went to Europe as secretary to his father. Col. Angus IV. McDonald, commissioner of Virginia, to report upon the Maryland and Virginia boundary line.

On April ipth, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Virginia Regiment, Stonewall Brigade, in which he served until after the reorganization of the army in 1862. He was transferred to the Laurel Brigade and served as ordnance officer upon the staff of General Rosser. He served the Confederacy with distinguished gallantry during the entire war from the day Virginia seceded to Appomattox. At the time of the surrender he zuas chief of ordnance of Mahone's division of Lee's army, with the rank of captain of artillery.

In 1865 he established the Cool Spring School in Clarke county, Virginia. While there he wrote, in conjunction with Prof. John S. Blackburn, the first Southern school history of

14 The Author

the United States. It was published at their own cost, passed through about twenty editions, and still has a wide circulation.

In 1868 he left Cool Spring to accept his old place as president of the University of Public Schools of Louisville , Kentucky , at an advance of nearly double the previous salary.

hi 18^2 he resigned this position and established the Louisville Rugby School, which for fifteen years was the largest and most flourishing private school for boys west of the Alleghanies. While principal of the same he became editor and half proprietor of the Southern Bivouac, which magazine during his connection with it greatly flourished.

In i88y he left Louisville and established at Berryville, Virginia, the Shenandoah University School, of zvhich he was principal until his death on June 4th, i8p8.

Index To Illustrations

FACES PAGM.

The Author i

Col. Angus W. McDonald i6 '

Genl. Turner Ashby 32

Dr. Nelson G. West 36

Rev. James Battle Avirett 40

Col. R. Preston Chew 44

Ashby's Charge at Middleton 60

Maj. William Patrick 80 <

Genl. Thos. T. Munford '. . . . 88 ^

Brig.-Genl. William E. Jones 104 ,

Maj. Edward H. McDonald 108

Oliver Ripgway Funsten 112

Maj. Samuel B. Myers 120

Col. Richard H. Dulany 128

Col. E. V. White 136

Genl. L. L. Lomax 144

Col. Asher W. Harman 164 .

Lieut. B. C. Washington 176.

LiEUT.-CoL. Thomas E. Massie 184

Genl. Thomas L. Rosser 196

Maj. John W. Emmett 232 -

Genl. J. E. B. Stuart 240

Maj. Holmes Conrad 244

Genl. Wade Hampton 248

Rosser's Defeat of Custer at Trevilians Station 252

Lieut. Philip B. Winston 256

Capt. J. W. Carter 304 ^

Lieut.-Col. Thomas Marshall 320^

Capture of Generals Crook and Kelley 340

Col. M. D. Ball 360

Brig. -Genl. James Dearing 364

Capt. Hugh H. McGuire 2>72

Maj. John Locher Knott 374

Maj. James Thompson 376'

Maj. Foxhall A. Dangerfield 378x

COL. ANGUS w. Mcdonald

Chapter I

Development of the Laurel Brigade from the Seventh Regiment of Virginia Cavalry, enlisted under Col. Angus W. McDonald— Border service under Colonel McDonald and Col. Turner Ashby— Heroic death of Capt. Richard Ashby— Destructive expedition against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal- Chew's Battery attached to the command— Romney winter campaign under Jackson — Battle of Kernstown.

Fourteen months of the War between the States had passed before the troops of Ashby possessed a brigade organization. Their gallant leader was dead and Stonewall Jackson had completed his brilliant Valley campaign. The Federal armies that had gathered from three quarters of the compass for the purpose of annihilating the army of "Stonewall" were now in full retreat; and the opportune moment was availed of to put into brigade form the twenty-six unorganized companies of border troopers which Ashby had commanded. This was effected at Swift Run Gap on the 15th and i6th of June, 1862.

Though it is purposed to confine this narrative, mainly to events that happened subsequent to this date, it is deemed not only proper but necessary, first to give a brief account of what was done by the Ashby cavalry prior to its brigade formation.

In the official reports, this body of troops, as was the rule in the Confederate service, is designated by the name of its commanding officer at the time, and it was not until Genl. Thomas L. Rosser became its commander that it was known by any other name than by that of the brigadier commanding. Influenced, probably, by admiration of its prowess, pride of commandership, and a laudable desire to increase its esprit dii corps, Rosser named it the Laurel Brigade. Subsequently this name was occasionally recognized by the division commanders when they meant to compliment the command for gallant conduct; but by members of other brigades, especially in the cavalry, the name was not used, its assumption being regarded by many as a piece of arrogance.

To what extent the name was deserved history must determine ; but the fact that it is the only name which identifies and generally describes a certain body of Confederate troops, sufficiently justifies the use of it in these pages for the sake of clearness and brevity.

The Laurel Brigade was certainly unique in one respect. It was a growth and not an artificial formation. Brigades, as a rule, were the result of an arbitrary combination of different bodies of troops into a single group by the commanding general of the army. The Laurel Brigade had for its nucleus a few companies which developed into a regiment, and then into a command of brigade proportions. The added strength that constituted the development came from new companies that voluntarily joined, or from the old companies whose ranks overflowing furnished the material for other new companies. The original nucleus, from which by natural accretions sprung the Laurel Brigade, by happy coincidence, was Ashby's old company.

At the breaking out of the war, Col. Angus W. McDonald/ repairing to Harper's Ferry, offered his services in defense of his State and of the Southern Confederacy to General Harper, the commanding officer. Although then sixty-two years of age, Colonel McDonald being a West Point graduate, and having served in the army of the United States, earnestly desired to do what he could for the South. General Harper accepted his offer and committed to him the important duty of guarding the bridges and fords along the Potomac.

The troops assigned to him for this purpose was a company of cavalry commanded by Capt. Turner Ashby, from Fauquier county, Virginia. Dividing it into small detachments, he organized parties who scouted along the border, and sometimes disguised as citizens, actually entered Washington City.

This service was exacting but attractive on account of its comparative freedom from restraint, and the opportunities it afforded for personal adventure.

^Col. Angus W. McDonald, born in 1799, at Winchester, Virginia, was over sixty years old at the breaking out of the Civil War, and just returned to his home from London, whither he had gone as Commissioner of Virginia for information relative to the settlement of the disputed boundary between Maryland and Virginia. A graduate of West Point in the artillery corps, he was assigned by Gen. Kenton Harper, in command at Harper's Ferry, to the duty of guarding the fords and bridges of the Potomac below that point.

Among the troops assigned to him was the cavalry company of Capt. Turner Ashby, whose energy, daring, and soldierly traits so won the admiration of Colonel McDonald that, when authorized by President Davis to raise a regiment of cavalry, he recommended Captain Ashby as lieutenant-colonel of his command. After a few months of active service, being compelled by acute rheumatism to resign his command. Colonel McDonald was assigned by General Jackson to the command of the post at Winchester, and after its evacuation to that of Lexington, Virginia. Upon the approach of the Federal army under General

Encouraged by applications for enlistment in his command, from new companies, Colonel McDonald asked and obtained from the Confederate Government, permission to raise an independent regiment for border service.

Upon his recommendation and probably with Ashby's knowledge and consent, the latter was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and Dr. Oliver Funsten major of the new command, that was soon afterwards known as the Seventh Regiment of Virginia Cavalry.

The necessary complement of companies was gradually obtained, and by the assiduous efforts of Colonel McDonald, the regiment was soon armed and equipped.

The organization of the Seventh was consummated on the 17th of June, 1861.

Because of the distinguished services rendered by this regiment before it was incorporated into the Laurel Brigade, a roll of the original regimental officers and company commanders is worthy of the special place here given to it.

Hunter, having no troops for its defense, he retreated with his son Harry, aged sixteen, to what he supposed a place of safety near Buckhannon, where they were captured after a gallant resistance, in which Colonel McDonald was wounded.

He was treated in the most inhuman manner by General Hunter and his officers, and compelled to ride in an ammunition wagon without springs from Lynchburg to Charleston ; afterwards confined in the Atheneam Prison at Wheeling, West Virginia, handcuffed like a common felon. While there he received great kindness from the Sisters of Charity, and the picture here inserted is a copy of one he had taken for them — the basket in his hand showing their last gift to him as he was leaving to be exchanged.

Arriving in Richmond November 7th, 1864, he rapidly declined from the effects of his ill treatment, and died December ist. He was laid to rest in Hollywood with a son, Capt. C. W. McDonald, who was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. His only brother, Col. E. C. McDonald, died in the Confederate service, and six sons enlisted in the army, two of whom were severely wounded and in prison during the war

Regimental Officers.

Angus W. McDonald of Winchester, Va Colonel.

Turner Ashby of Fauquier Co., Va Lieutenant-Colonel.

Oliver M. Funsten of Warren Co., Va Major.

Angus W. McDonald, Jr., of Hampshire Co., Va Adjutant.

Dr. A. P. Burns, , „ Surgeon.

Rev. J. B. Avirett of Frederick Co., Va Chaplain.

Capt. T. P. Pendleton of Clarke Co., Va., Asst. Quartermaster. Capt. John D. Richardson of Clarke Co., Va Commissary.

Captains of Companies.

Richard Ashby of Fauquier Co., Va Company A.

J. Q. Wingfield of Rockingham, Va Company B.

S. D. Myers of Shenandoah Co., Va Company C.

Macon Jorden of Page Co., Va Company D.

Walter Bowen of Warren Co., Va Company E.

George F. Sheetz of Hampshire Co., Va Company F.

Frank Mason of Maryland Company G.

A. Harper of Shenandoah Co., Va Company H.

Shands of Rockingham Co., Va Company L

William Miller of Shenandoah Co., Va Company K.

The regiment engaged in active service from the day of its organization.

The headquarters of the Seventh was located at Romney, a central point from which to watch the Federal movements in West Virginia, and to operate upon the line of communication afforded by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The first service engaged in was the destruction of the superstructures of this road. So thoroughly was the work done, that scarcely a bridge, culvert, or water station remained on that part of the road extending from Piedmont to the Big Cacapon, a distance of sixty miles.

As the war thickened, border duty became more onerous, and it soon devolved upon the Seventh to g^Jard the Confederate frontier from Harper's Ferry to the head waters of the Potomac, a distance of 125 miles.

The Federal authorities had distributed numerous bodies of troops along this border; and the presence of these menaced the northern frontier with constant raids. The Union men on both sides of the line gave much trouble, carrying information to the Federals and suggesting plundering expeditions, for the purpose often, of gratifying private malice. Some of these overzealous "patriots" were particularly offensive, and their arrest and removal were deemed necessary. It was in an attempt to arrest one of these that Capt. Richard Ashby was killed. He was Col. Turner Ashby' s younger brother and had succeeded him in the command of his old company.

Captain Ashby was the handsomest and most soldierly figure in his regiment, being more robust-looking and more commanding in appearance than even his elder brother. His death, especially the heroic features of it, made a profound and lasting impression upon his comrades ; while the effect upon his brother Turner was transforming.