Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-11-17

Confederate leader would not be true to
the subject nor to those times without q
hint of discrimination at the start. Com
pared with Forests, Shelby's work was
at times simply guerrilla warfare, and
compared with Jeb Stuart's wanton out.
lawry, but in comparison with that OF
some Of his antagonists, it was quite rs
legitimate as theirs and perhaps more
justiiiable.
He was an adopted citizen of Missouri
a state overwhelmingly prosavery in 1850,
and it was with him a passion to fight
against coercion. TO men Of his stamp in
such crises antagonism only fans the
ruling passion. In the Kansas troubles he
led a company of volunteers in the fight
against free soil. There was no place, then,
for such a man outside the Confederate
camps the moment secession raised the
standard Of revolt. He drew sword as cap.
tain Of a company of home guard cavalry
in 1861, and sheathed it as brigadier general
in the Confederate States army, leading "a
division, in 1863
When the war broke out Shelby was
thirty years old, and was doing a small
manufacturing business in the little town
of Waverly, on the Missouri river. lie
promptly raised Il company for the so called
"Home Guard"
His native town was Lexington, Ky,
and John II. Morgan had been his school
mate and playfellow there. Morgan was
at the head of cavalry company also, but
his state was trying to live up to the nel-
trail dodge, and he couldn't get gun caps
to supply his men. He sent to Shelby to
help him out from the st. Louis markets,
but there happened to be an embargo ON
shipments Of war stuff just then. There
was no trou BILE about finding the caps; the
trick was to smuSgle them through the
lines. 1t was done by packing them in
howerpots covered with enough Garth to
keep alive the innocent plants and shrubs
that would serve as passport when the
Union inspector came along. Morgan got
the caps, 1901 900 of them, and the world
knows how we'll be used them.
The Missouri 'Home Guard" was sool
driven to the southern border Of the state
and its name was changed to Prices A Army
OF Missouri. Shelby was sent back to his
old home on Missouri river, then ostensi
bly, Union territory, to recruit and stir uT
things generally for the Confederacy
Several attempts were made to destroy
him while he was thus cut off from Iii,
friends, but he kept his company atield
! finished his mission and escaped south t,
| join Price at Lexington. After some heavy
| fighting along the Missouri and Eansa,
| border Price was called east Of the Missls
| sippi to help fight he battles Of Beaur.
gard and Johnston. Men Tor the rank,
were the sorcst need just then, and III,
| cavalry abandoned their horses to do duty
| on foot. Shelby's company followed suit
| and served as infantry at COrnith until
! their one year OF service expired, Wlcu
| Shelby was commissioned to raise a rec
ment Of cavalry and to 90 back 10 his Old
stamping ground in the heart Of Missouri
| to do it,
The Mississippi river above Vickshurq
was in Union control and picketcd by gun
boats, and every place Of Importance il
| Missouri was Earrisoned by Shelbys bite,
enemies. Nevertheless he accepted the iol
and marched his men to the bank opposite
! Helena, Ark. A Union Gunboat patrolleu
the river there, and Shelhy's men, bloom
ing in bright gray uniforms and fully
equipped, pitched camp and threw ont sen
/ tinels and scouts almost under the shadow
7 Of Uncle Sans grim monitors. In til,
/ dead of night sis volunteers pulled "A SIX III
silently across, rccOnnotered the town
found "A trusty haven and arranged fol
breakfast TO be ready before daylight fol
Captain Shelby and his band. The ap
polutment was kept and the breakfast was
washed down with champagne in honor OF
the feat in crossing the river safely. From
/ Helena the company struck out overland
for Little Rock, dodgiug Union picket