Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2017 A Forgotten Confederate: John H. Ash's Story Rediscovered Heidi Moye Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Part of the Military History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Moye, Heidi, "A Forgotten Confederate: John H. Ash's Story Rediscovered" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1565. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1565 This thesis (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A FORGOTTEN CONFEDERATE: JOHN H. ASH’S STORY REDISCOVERED by HEIDI MOYE (Under the Direction of Anastatia Sims) ABSTRACT A historical study of a southern family living in Savannah, GA from shortly before the election of 1860 through the Civil War years based on the journals of John Hergen Ash II (1843-1918). INDEX WORDS: John Hergen Ash, Savannah, GA, Antebellum South, Civil War, 5th Georgia Cavalry, Georgia Hussars, Estella Powers Ash, Laura Dasher Ash, Eutoil Tallulah Foy Ash A FORGOTTEN CONFEDERATE: JOHN H. ASH’S STORY REDISCOVERED by HEIDI MOYE B. A., Georgia Southern University, 2012 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS STATESBORO, GEORGIA © 2017 HEIDI MOYE All Rights Reserved 1 A FORGOTTEN CONFEDERATE: JOHN H. ASH’S STORY REDISCOVERED by HEIDI MOYE Major Professor: Anastatia Sims Committee: Lisa Denmark Sue Moore Electronic Version Approved: Spring 2017 2 DEDICATION For my nanny, Laura Valeria Thigpen Davis. Fiercely independent, headstrong, and hardworking, my southern grandmother taught me to love the feel of Georgia dirt between my toes and the chirping of birds in the morning while sipping coffee on the porch. I miss her everyday. For my mama, Robin Lisa Davis Moye. From one of my earliest memories when my mother took me to a library and placed a book in my tiny hand, she has nurtured in me the joy of learning, the love of literature, and a passion for history. These two extraordinary women have always been my role models. I hope I’ve made them proud. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It would have been impossible for me to complete a work like this without a sturdy support network. My family have been invested and interested since the very beginning when we knew next to nothing about the Ash family. Panda, my sister, rode with me in my brother’s truck that day. She was the very first to collaborate with me as we talked through the possible scenarios of how a mother and three children all died on the same day. More than that, she’s my only favorite sister. My mom has been a rock of support and one who I could always share the latest discovery with. The two of us have spent many hours chatting about the things we still don’t know, but can only imagine. My dad always wishes me the best of luck, and he graciously gave me his antique writing desk that he’s used to write his sermons for as long as I can remember. Of course, it was Josh, my brother, who lent me his old pickup to ramble in. Not that I didn’t have a car of my own, but there’s something about those vented side windows and lack of power steering that made dirt road riding just a little bit better. And then there’s all of the others in my life who have ever rode with me out to the cemetery to visit the Ashes and hear tidbits of their stories. Family and friends have indulged me by listening and always supporting me through the years. My supervisor in the Office of Admissions here at Georgia Southern walked into my office one afternoon and slapped an application on my desk. “You are going to college.” She insisted, “It isn’t an option.” With that, my little side project of being curious about the Ash family became an academic pursuit. In my current Georgia Southern home, the Regents Center for Learning Disorders, my work family has been incredibly flexible, kind, interested, and supportive. Thank you all for being respectful of 4 my closed door, but most of all for welcoming me back into the circle when I come up for air. You guys are my unsung heroes. Donna, Jane, G.B., and Ben, descendants of John and Lula Ash, have been so generous as they’ve shared stories of their family with me. Jane was the first to learn of my interest, and she gave me helpful hints of newspaper articles to look up. G.B. and I have exchanged many thoughtful emails about John’s military service and where to look for its surviving artifacts. Likewise, Ben has also shown great interest and welcomed me into his home. Donna and I spent a wonderful summer afternoon together pouring over papers and “likenesses” that she has in her possession. It has been such a privilege to get to know the living members of the Ash family and I’m grateful to them for sharing their antecedents with me. During my time as a student in the Department of History, I’ve learned much from the faculty. Working with my thesis committee has been an especially rewarding experience. I like to call them my dream team. Sue Moore first listened to my Ash story under the shade of massive oak trees at Mont Repose in South Carolina as we paused for lunch while cleaning that massive kitchen unit in the heat of summer. Her enthusiastic questions sparked a renewal in my research. Lisa Denmark found herself roped into working with me as I took her American Readings course. Her insistent pushing that her students dig harder and read more literature to gain a full understanding of the subject made that class one of the most enjoyable of my college experience. When she recommended that I read Dwelling Place by Erskine Clarke, it opened my eyes to Southern history in a brand new way. My chair, Anastatia Sims, has been a godsend in every sense of the word. If there were only one single person to give credit to, she would 5 be the one I’d thank. For the past couple of years, she has mentored me through every research and writing hurdle I’ve faced. She’s selflessly given me hours of office time and exchanged countless emails discussing issues both big and small. Perhaps most important of all, she has truly believed in me. When I faced months of writers block so severe that I wasn’t sure if I could ever write another word, she patiently and carefully helped me work through it. Through the writing process, she has been an expert editor. Her suggestions have endowed a depth and clarity in these pages that I couldn’t have accomplished on my own. This work is as much hers as it is mine. It would have been much more difficult without her guidance and mentorship. Last, but certainly not least, my best friend in the whole world helps keep me sane even when I drive her crazy. Krystina, you are the best. Thank you for listening to my endless ruminations and still wanting me in your life. I am grateful for you. Oh, and there’s one more little person who I wish to acknowledge - my niece, Addison, my favorite ginger midget. Every time she’s eagerly enquired, “Aunt Heidi, when will you finish ‘your book’?” it has pushed me to return to the writing table once more. Though her little ginger brother, Brody, has only been with us a little over a year, he has brought so much joy into my life. Though this thesis is complete, the telling of the Ash story is still incomplete. I find comfort in knowing that I can continue to count on all of you for support as I work to finish this manuscript. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………………. 3 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….... 8 Discovery & Purpose………………………………………………….... 8 2 FAMILY BACKGROUND…………………………………………………. 14 Matthias Ash…………………………………………………………… 14 George A. Ash I………………………………………………………... 16 John H. Ash I…………………………………………………………... 25 George A. Ash II……………………………………………………….. 36 3 JOHN H. ASH II: PRE-CIVIL WAR……………………………………….. 50 Yellow Fever…………………………………………………………… 50 Election of 1860 & Secession………………………………………….. 60 4 CIVIL WAR…………………………………………………………………. 88 Transition from Civilian to Soldier…………………………………….. 88 Summer of Discontent………………………………………………... 142 Burst of Activity……………………………………………………… 158 Back to the Isles……………………………………………………..... 169 A Wedding and a Honeymoon………………………………………... 181 War Gets Real………………………………………………………… 190 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED 5 LIFE AFTER THE WAR………………………………………………...... 206 Interim………………………………………………………………… 206 Heartrending Tragedy………………………………………………... 208 Conclusion……………………………………………………………. 215 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………….. 220 APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………... 225 Figure 1 Gravestone of Laura Ash and children……………………………… 225 Figure 2 Close up of Inscription……………………………………………… 226 Figure 3 Gravestone of John H. Ash………………………………………….. 227 Figure 4 Gravestone of Eutoil Tallulah Foy Ash……………………………... 228 Figure 5 Grouping of Family Stones…………………………………………. 229 Figure 6 John H. Ash in Uniform…………………………………………….. 230 Figure 7 John H. Ash, clean-shaven………………………………………….. 231 Figure 8 John H. Ash…………………………………………………………. 232 Figure 9 John H. Ash…………………………………………………………. 233 Figure 10 Eutoil Tallulah Foy Ash…………………………………………… 234 8 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Discovery & Purpose Late one summer afternoon more than a decade ago, I was cruising around in my brother’s 1960s model Ford pickup truck with the windows down. The dust from the Georgia dirt road kicked up beneath the tires and blew in through the open windows.