Fall of 1860

On leave in Virginia.

Last night I had the honor of being with a great Virginia gentleman, 
Turner Ashby, at his home near Markham......a place which was located 
on a high hill overlooking the mountains and valleys ......which he 
named Wolfe’s Craig.  It was a nice, warm fall evening with guests 
stopping by to visit Turner, which was normal being as how Turner was 
the socialite he was.  If there was a social event going on around the 
valley, you can bet it was at the Ashby residence.

But this night was strange, after the guests had all left, Turner and 
I sat on his porch discussing politics, one topic I rarely liked to 
talk about.  The discussion got around to secession and how he supported 
the movement afoot for Virginia to secede from the Union. He gave all the 
reasons that our State should follow the other States, if they should 
decide to secede. 

Being a military man from a strong military family I told him I could not 
support such a move.  My father’s father had fought with George Washington 
in the forming of this great country. My father had attended West Point and 
was the Head of Army Engineers until his retirement. Two of his brothers had 
died during the War of 1812 defending this country.  My uncle George was 
commander of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore harbor during this same war and had 
refused to lower the Stars and Stripes, while under attack by the British, 
thus inspiring Francis Scott Key to pen the Stars Spangled Banner. I myself 
had attended West Point Military Academy, but did not graduate. I had fought 
for this country in the Seminole Indian Wars, the Mexican War, and against 
savage Indians in the west.

After going back and forth for most of the evening on the pros and cons....I 
finally told Turner Ashby that there was but one flag that I could fight 
under.....that being the Stars and Stripes.   I then had Turner join me in 
singing the Stars Spangled Banner right there on the porch of Wolfe’s Craig.

Soon I must leave to return to my post in California. It will be a few short 
weeks before I begin this long trip back to my command with the 6th US Infantry. 
I must report back by the end of  December of this year ending a long 15 month 
leave.  Although I will miss my friends in Virginia....I will be back among my 
military friends.......people like the Win ad Almira Hancock.......