b. 1845/Milwaukee, WI
West Point ‘64
Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. Lawrence Auburn’s Irregulars, November ‘64
Promoted 1st Lieutenant, Auburn’s Irregulars, January ‘67
Honorable Discharge with unit disbandment in, ‘70
Re-commissioned Captain post-Irregular’s Disbandment, 1st Cavalry, February ‘71
Honorable Discharge, March ‘72
Commissioned Deputy US Marshall, March ‘72
Commissioned US Marshall for Wyoming Territory/District, April ‘73
Reassigned to Inter-district Jurisdiction ‘77
Born to 2nd generation German immigrants in the Milwaukee area who had moved there from Western NY just after the city was incorporated in the early 1840’s. Prominent in helping to bring the railroad to the new city they also had an interest in the cattle/slaughter house industry that fed into the main Chicago hub.
Caleb is the second of 6 children and the middle son. 3 younger sisters and the youngest sibling is the third brother. Older brother Johan followed their father’s footsteps into the family business as an engineer and factory owner.
As an act of rebellion instead of staying in the area and joining the family business, Caleb was accepted to West Point early at the age of 16 in ’61 due to the breakout of the war. When the Reckoning hit in ’63, Caleb showed a steely resolve when dealing with the weirdness going on. A particular knack for completing the command tasks tested on at the academy in unconventional ways caught the eye of the adjunct in charge of officer placement. These factors lead to his early graduation and commissioning in Capt. Auburn’s Irregulars.
Military Service
Oct. ’66- Jan. ’67 – Implemented the “Rio Bravo Incursion”, leading a unit of Irregulars on a string of sabotage missions across the breadth of Texas to the Mexico border before safely leading all but 2 men back to Union lines safely.
Marshall’s Office
May ’72 – Outdraws and bring in outlaw Jesse Ketchum on the streets of Laramie.
Dec. ’72 – Safely rescues territorial governor’s family from the “White Steel” Gang on Christmas Eve after a train robbery gone awry outside of Cheyenne. Captures 3 members of the gang, kills one and 4 escape.
Mar. ’73 – Brings in “Black Jack” Mulligan wanted for murder, arson, rape and diablerie at the cost of two fellow deputies and Marshall “Smiling” Roy Richards after a shoot-out/ritual that saw the deaths of 23 townspeople in Green River, Wyoming Territory. Consequently Caleb is commissioned the next month to fill Richards’ district.
Nov. ’73 – Guns down “Black Jack” Mulligan in northwest Wyoming after the outlaw had escaped federal custody in June ’73. Mulligan rises as a harrowed and escapes later that night.
Jan. ’74 – The remaining members of the “White Steel” Gang massacre the town of New Hope, Wyoming. A settlement of freed slaves who moved west after liberation during the war.
Feb. ’74 – “Black Jack” Mulligan rapes and kills Hailey Rose, Caleb’s paramour, outside of Cheyenne.
Mar. ’74 – In a 5 day span, Caleb brings in the 4 remaining members of the “White Steel” gang all dead from a single gunshot. Doctors treat Caleb for multiple gunshot wounds but not until the final day.
Feb. ’76 – Outdraws “Black Jack” Mulligan after tracking him for over a year. Rumor has it the first shot took the gun out of Mulligan’s hand, the next two went into each knee, the next two into each shoulder before Caleb Ash walked up to Mulligan and put the final round squarely between his eyes. The body was burned later that morning.
