218 Southern Historical Society Papers.
From the Times-Dispatch, July 29, 1906.
MET HIS DEATH IN LAST FIGHT,
John William Ashby is Man who Fell at Appomattox in Gordon's Last Assault.
This Question Now Settled Once for All Also the Last Federal Soldier Killed.
The Confederate soldier Ashby, whose gravestone at Appo- mattox bears the mark of "Second Virginia Cavalry," was not of that regiment. Inquiry has elicited the well verified statement that he belonged to Company I, of the Twelfth Virginia Cav- alry, and that he was killed in action when Gordon advanced on the morning of April 9, 1865.
I enclose two communications on the subject, the one from Bushrod Rust, formerly of Company I, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, the other from Captain (now General) R. D. Funkhouser, of the Confederate Veterans.
Here let me say that I am trying to get the names of the Con- federates who fell in the last days of the Army of Northern Virginia, from April 2d to April 9th. I would thank any com- rade to send me the statement of any officer or soldier killed within that period, and I am especially desirous, as chairman of the History Committee of the Grand Camp, Confederate Veter- ans of Virginia, to get a statement of all Virginia soldiers who were killed and wounded within those dates April 2d to April 9th, 1865. I have had collected a number of names which might have been forgotten or lost sight of, and hereby ask any one who has knowledge or information to send it to me at Lvnch- burg, Va.
Very respectfully,
JOHN W. DANJEL.
