Benjamin Ashley

Benjamin W. Ashley (April 13, 1844 - October 31, 1926) served as a private in Company A, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.



Personal life
Benjamin Ashley was born April 13, 1844 in Greene County, Tennessee to Cary and Frances (Roten) Ashley. He married first Sarah Jane Brown (1840-1913) with whom he had at least eleven children. He married second Rachel A. Miller (1856-aft. 1920); they had no children.

Civil War service
Ashley enlisted as a private in Company A on April 15, 1864 in Bulls Gap, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in October 26, 1865.

He is described as 21 years old, 6' 1" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a carpenter.

Only one muster roll record for Ashley survives; in July / August 1864 he is listed as present for duty. Ashley was captured on December 22, 1864 at Saltville, Virginia and was never heard from again according to the company descriptive book.

When the regiment mustered out on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville, the records note that he had never been paid and that no discharge was furnished because no record of his muster in could be located. Ashley was furnished with a discharge April 27, 1869 to date from September 5, 1865.

Post-war life
Ashley applied for an invalid's pension on February 28, 1887. He died October 31, 1926 in Sevier County, Tennessee and is buried there in Rector Cemetery. His wife applied for a widow's pension on December 26, 1926.