Washington telegraph., 1863-11-25

= Col. SHELBY'S OFFICIAL REpoR1 This
dashlng and sagacious officer is Colonel III
the Confederate service, and Brigadler
General in the Missouri State Guard In this
latter capacity lie united the State troops with
his Confederate command in his late expedi
tion into Missouri, and as such made report
to Gov. Reynolds, who has furnished us copy
Off Tor publication. We learn that the credit of
this bold exploit attaches mainly to General
Shelby, as the project of making this incur
sion, 600 miles in the rear of the enemy to
Boonville on the Missouri river, Immediately
after the fall of Little Rock. originated with
him. lie left Arkadelphia with but 600 men,
ana at no time did his force exceed fifteen
hundredi We are glad to learn that his supe-
rlo1 officers, Gems. Marmaduke, Holmes and
Kirby Smith, have joined Gov Reynolds in a
request 10 the President to comm ssion him as
Confederate Bri igadier, en- account of his
numerous dist ingui shed services, and espe-
clal'y his late expedition, one of the most bril-
liant successes in this war;
HEADoUARTERs SHELBy's BRIGADE,
Camp near Washington, Ark,
Nov. 9TH, 1863.
To Mr.. Kimbal, Adj't Gen. of Missouri
GENERAL:-I have the honor of sending you
the following brief summary of my expedition
into Missouri.
l left Arkadelphia on the 23d of September,
and crossed the Arkansas river on the 27th
below Ozark. After brief engagement with
100 Federals, in which | took fifty prisoners
killing and wcunding thirty others. [ passed
through Bentonville and Huntsville RAPIDLY.
and on the 4th of October attacked and can
tured at Neosho, alter 20 minutes fight, 400
Federals, with all their horses, camp and gar
rlson equpage. stores, arms. continued
rapidly through Sarcoxie, Greenville, Stock
ton, HumaEsyIle and Bruers Mill scattering
and driving out militia from all these points
aud on the morning of tine 9Th forced the pas
sage of the Usage at Warsaw From Warsaw
hurried through Cole Camp and Florence to
Upton, where l engaged from 900 to 1000
Federal cavalry, which was soon defeated and
scattered. From Boonville | started west.
| closely Pressed by Gen. Brown, with LOCO
cavalry, aud six pieces of artillery | en-
gagged aud repulsed him, with heavy loss. at
the crossing OF the Lamine and Blackwater
rivers. On the 18th at Marshall in Saline
| county, L found myself opposed by General
Ewing, with four thousand men. consisting of
Infantry, cavalry and aitIIlery. immeuiatejy y
mace herce attack upon him. and was driy-
ing linn beautifully, when Gen. Brown at
tackled my fanks aud rear, with the l. 600
had repulsed the day before. Satisfied it was
madness to contend against 5000 men. with
drew from the ieid in perfect order, after an
engagement OF SIX hours, in which L inflicted
heavy loss upon him. The trail of INV riff
gun was broken during the engagement After
well spikIng 1t, the piece Was abandoned. In
withdrawing from the field, my forces becama
divided re united them on the borders q,
Missouri, unbroken in spirit and full of fob,
as ever. The enemy followed me in bnavv
force to the Arkansas river, fightino my rear
all the time AT Clarksville the nursui,
ended, and l leisurely continued INV wav 70
| this point.
While in Missouri, l captured and paroled
some GOO PRISONERS, took one thousand fine
muies, live thousand horses took and destrov ed
20O Wagons, loaded with all kinds of co.a,nis
sary and quartermaster stores, burnt the La
mine and six other bridges on the main branch
OF the Pacific railroad, besides DESTROYING the
track thirty miles from Upton, tearing down
| telegraph wires, burning water tanks. and in
flicting al the damage in my power.
| recruited un4er Gov. Reynolds orders
from eight hundred to a thousand men. con.
sistng OF Col. Hunters command, numbering
at out 500, and Col. Coffee's, about 400. The Sc
men are now subject to your orders
The people of Missouri are deeply true to
the South and to the Government so worthily
represented by Gov. Reynolds.
The rald was very successful L lost but
few men, and only abandoned nv wagons
when the last round of ammunition had be.u
distributed
Very respectfully,
j. y. SHELBY,
Col Comd'g Expedition.