Ironton Register 19 April 1888 – “Give us some of your experience in the army,” said the reporter to Joshua Ashcraft, who was a soldier in the 2nd Virginia Cavalry.
“It will be a little difficult for me to think up anything now,” said Joshua Ashcraft, “for the narratives given by others of my regiment embrace my “Narrow Escapes.” I was with the hundred bold riders whom Major McMahon told about, going in disguise beyond the rebel lines, and I was in that squad which was cut off by rebs on the Raleigh Pike, beyond Fayetteville, which Capt. Emmons described. Now it will not do to go over these exciting events again, and others that have been narrated, so you will please excuse me, or at least till I can think up something.”
“You were wounded in the war, weren’t you, Mr. Joshua Ashcraft?” asked the reporter.
“Yes, a minnie ball took advantage of me, and I had a very serious time with it, too,” Mr. Ashcraft replied.
“Won’t you please tell me about it?” returned the reporter.
“Well, yes, but there is nothing thrilling about it. Let me see–that was in October 1864, in the Luray Valley, near a little town called Milford, as near as I can recollect. The cavalry operating in that valley had been chasing and re-chasing each other every day or so. First, we would drive the rebs and then they would drive us, and thus we kept see-sawing for some time. Our pickets were within easy range and an equally brisk return of the unpleasant compliment. We were scattered along in thin wood, but every fellow sought the best shelter there was, and made his old carbine ring as often as possible.
“I sheltered myself behind a rail fence about three rails high. It afforded very little protection really, but for some reason, I thought it did, and I banged away from my seven-shooter at every head I observed above the earthworks of the enemy. There was a tolerably clear space in front, and I shot away quite oblivious that I was a better mark for them than they were for me. It was at this moment that occurred the narrow escape which you asked for, and which I promised you should not be thrilling. I had observed one particular head sticking up above the earthworks every little while, and I was intent on getting a shot at that head.
“So I was resting on one knee and crouching behind the rail fence as compactly as possible, with my carbine at rest on the top rail, and my head bent down taking aim at the object that was sticking above the earthworks. I was just on the point of pulling the trigger on that reb when I came to a sudden understanding that he was going for me.”
“His bullet reached me before mine got started. “Zing,” it came and struck the rail in front of me and glancing, caught me on the leg just above the knee, entered and shattered the thigh bone, and then tore through the flesh some four or five inches. It stunned me so, I fell back, and just as I fell back, George Brainard rushed to me, and began to straighten me up. When the ball struck the rail, it broke off several splinters which flew into my face, inflicting several cuts, from which the blood issued freely, so that George, at first, thought I and I popped at each other all through the night and day.
“One time the reb skirmish line was withdrawn, and I was ordered with 20 men, (I was then a sergeant,) to move forward and feel for the rebs and see where they had gone and what they were doing. I pushed on until I discovered them behind their entrenchments, on a gentle knoll, a couple of miles from where our regiment was. I sent back word and about 60 more men were sent forward. These were deployed as skirmishers, and pretty soon there was popping away at the reb heads above the entrenchments was shot in the face, but when he found one of my legs was no good, he went off and got a blanket and brought help and had me toted off the skirmish line, and subsequently back to the regiment. I was then sent to the hospital. This was in October 1964, as I remarked, and I was not able to get out of bed until the following April. One funny thing about the skirmish, was, I was the only fellow hit that day, but I want to add, that it was quite as much as I wanted,” Joshua Ashcraft finished.
Ironton Register 20 February 1879
Joshua Ashcraft has opened out a grocery store at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets.
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