Colonel Henry M. Ashby

[C. Cash]

Originally Ashby raised and led the 2nd Tenn. Cavalry(Ashby's) and would go on to lead Ashby's Tennessee Cavalry Brigade (Hume's Division) during the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's March. This brigade was composed of 2 middle Tenn. Units: the 1st Tenn. Cav(Wheeler's) and the 9th Tenn. Bn.....many of Sam Watkins friends/relatives here, and two from East TN...the 5th Tenn. Cav.(McKenzie's) and 2nd Tenn. Cav(Ashby's). He fought these campaigns on crutches and in pain from a wound to his heel suffered on a KY cavalry raid. Ashby was loved by his men who had suffered previously under bad leadership. He was killed(some say murdered) by a Union man during an argument after the war. He was a 1st cousin to Turner Ashby.

 

[C. Cash]

Though he missed this battle due to getting surgery for his heel wound, perhaps Ashbys Brigade's finest hour here preventing the Confederate right from being rolled up at Pickett's Mill. They also played a big part in the defeat of McCook's Raid in late July. So they had critical roles in the only two clear Confederate victories during the Atlanta Campaign. https://www.westerntheatercivilwar....s-tennessee-cavalry-brigade-at-pickett-s-mill

 

[C. Cash]

Not much interest in Ashby or his Brigade apparently but thought I'd keep attaching info about him for some person in the future who might be. Ashby fought much of the War in great pain from a wound to his heel. He strapped a crutch to his horse and kept driving on until the end at Bentonville. He was an able Brigade Commander and loved by his men. Though Ashby was in the hospotal for said wound, his men were largely responsible for saving the Confederate Right at Pickett's Mill. They fought well to defeat McCook's Raid and chased Colonel Brownlow into the Chattahoochie. Later they would oppose Sherman and Kilpatrick during the March to the Sea, nearly capturing Kilpatrick in his nightclothes.

 

[ErnieMac]

Article from the 17 July 1868 edition of the Athens (TN) Post. In February 1869 the acting district attorney in Knoxville declined to prosecute E. C. (short for Eldad Cicero) Camp for Ashby's murder. Several months later Camp was named United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee by the Grant administration.

 

[C. Cash]

Thank you for posting this. A sad end for Col. Ashby. Some swore it was murder and other's self defense on Camp's part.

 

[C. Cash]

Testimony pt. 1

 

[C. Cash]

Pt. 2. Sounds a whole lot like Murder to me, though Ashby would have done well to keep walking.

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

CSA Gen Clanton was killed on the streets of Knoxville following the CW - similar to Col Ashby

 

[C. Cash]

Had not heard of this.....Will have to check this out. Thank you Norman.