Battle of Good's Farm

{{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Battle of Good's Farm / Battle of Harrisonburg | partof = [[Jackson's Valley Campaign]], [[American Civil War]] | image = File:Death of Asby at Good's Farm.jpg | caption = The death of Ashby during the battle | date = June 6, 1862 | place = Near [[Harrisonburg, Virginia|Harrisonburg]], [[Virginia]] | result = [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] victory | combatant1 = {{flagicon|USA|1861}} [[Union Army|United States]] | combatant2 = {{flagicon|CSA|1861}} [[Confederate States Army|Confederacy]] | commander1 = [[Percy Wyndham (soldier)|Percy Wyndham]]{{WIA}}{{POW}} <br> [[Thomas L. Kane]]{{WIA}}{{POW}} | commander2 = [[Turner Ashby]]{{KIA}} | strength1 = [[1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment|1st New Jersey Cavalry]] <br> [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment|13th Pennsylvania Reserves]] | strength2 = [[7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment|Ashby’s Laurel Brigade]] <br> [[58th Virginia Infantry Regiment|58th Virginia Infantry]] <br> [[1st Maryland Infantry Regiment (Confederate)|1st Maryland Infantry]] | casualties1 = 154 | casualties2 = 70 }}

The '''Battle of Good's Farm''' was a short [[skirmish]] between the [[Confederate States of America|Confederates]] and the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] in [[Jackson's Valley Campaign]] in the [[American Civil War]]. During the fighting, Confederate cavalry officer [[Turner Ashby]] was killed.<ref name="HMDB">{{cite web|title=The Battle of Harrisonburg|website=HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=40317}}</ref>

== Wyndham’s Attack ==

On June 6, 1862, a company of the [[1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment]] attacked [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] scouts stationed in Harrisonburg. Chasing the enemy to Good’s Farm on the outskirts of town, the company was fired upon by infantry of the [[58th Virginia Infantry Regiment|58th Virginia]] concealed behind two stone walls on either side of the road. The cavalry notified their commander Colonel [[Percy Wyndham (soldier)|Percy Wyndham]], who marched with his soldiers towards the scene of the ambush. They then charged some woods atop a hill where the [[7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment|7th Virginia Cavalry]] under Colonel [[Turner Ashby]] had blocked the road.<ref name="HMDB2">{{cite web|title=Chestnut Ridge|website=HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=253876}}</ref>

As soon as the [[1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment|1st New Jersey]] began their charge the Confederate infantry again fired on them, this time from behind a fence concealed by woods. In an attempt to remove the Infantry, Colonel [[Percy Wyndham (soldier)|Wyndham]] dismounted and led a charge into the enemy line. However, finding the enemy too well concealed and being flanked by [[7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment|Ashby’s Cavalry]], the [[1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment|1st New Jersey]] started a hasty and disorganized retreat. In the end they had left behind Colonel [[Percy Wyndham (soldier)|Wyndham]], 3 Captains, the [[Military colours, standards and guidons|regimental colours]], and about a twelfth of their men.

== Kane’s Attack ==

Meanwhile, Colonel [[Thomas L. Kane]] of the [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment|13th Pennsylvania Reserves]] or “Bucktails”, received permission to rescue the wounded from the field from Brigadier General [[George Dashiell Bayard|George D. Bayard]]. Soon after, Bayard, the [[1st Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment|1st Pennsylvania Cavalry]], and the [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment|13th Pennsylvania Reserves]] moved forward to [[Turner Ashby|Ashby’s]] position.

From his position, General [[George Dashiell Bayard|Bayard]] saw reinforcements from the [[1st Maryland Infantry Regiment (Confederate)|1st Maryland Infantry (Confederate)]] arrive. He promptly ordered the cavalry to fall back and sent a messenger to Colonel [[Thomas L. Kane|Kane]], who had already entered the woods with his men.

The Bucktails hid behind trees at the edge of the woods and began firing into the Confederates, causing a number of casualties and checking their advance. Seeing his men falter, [[Turner Ashby|Ashby]] moved towards the front of the line on foot, his horse having been shot out from under him. He was attempting to rally his men when a combatant shot him directly through the heart, killing him instantly.

The origin of the fatal shot has been lost to history. Soldiers of the [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment|13th Pennsylvania Reserves]] claimed credit, though some accounts blame [[friendly fire]]. Ashby's last words were "Forward my brave men!" He had been nominated for promotion to brigadier general just ten days before his death.

The [[58th Virginia Infantry Regiment|58th Virginia]] and the [[1st Maryland Infantry Regiment (Confederate)]] counterattacked. Flanked and outnumbered, the [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment|13th Pennsylvania Reserves]] retreated. Colonel [[Thomas L. Kane]], wounded in the leg, and Captain [[Charles Frederick Taylor]] were both captured by the enemy.

{{clear left}}[[File:Turner Ashby Monument.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Turner Ashby Monument|Monument]] at the site of Ashby's death]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Good's Farm}} [[Category:Union victories of the American Civil War|Good's Farm, Battle of]] [[Category:Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia|Good's Farm]] [[Category:Jackson's Valley campaign|Good's Farm]] [[Category:Battles of the eastern theater of the American Civil War|Good's Farm]] [[Category:Harrisonburg, Virginia|Good's Farm]] [[Category:1862 in the American Civil War]] [[Category:1862 in Virginia]] [[Category:June 1862]]