The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-10-27


Confederate leader would not be true to
the subject nor TO those times without a
hint Of discrimination ut the start Com
pargh with Forests, Shelby's work wins
At times simply guerrilla warfare aud
compared with Jeb Stuart's wantOn out.
lawry, but In comparison with that Of
some Of his antagonists, II was quite rs
legitimate rs theirs and perhaps more
Just
lie was an adopted citizen Of Missouri,
n state Overwhelmingly prOslavery in 1880.
and IL was with him II passion to fight
against coercion. To men Of his stapp In
such crises NntagonisIn only fans the
ruling passion In the Kansas troubles he
led n company Of volunteers In the fight
against free soil. There was no place. then.
for such man outside the Confederate
camps the moment secession raised the
standard Of revolt. lie drew sword us cap
tain Of a company Of home guard cavalry
in 1861, aud Sheathed it as brigadier general
IN the Confederate States army. leading
division. in 1863.
When the war broke out Shelby was
thirty years oil, and WAS doing a small,
manufacturing business in the little town
Of Wnverly, on the Missouri river. lie
promptly raised u company for the no called
'IIone Guard"
His native town was Lexington, Ky,
and John II. Morgan bad been his school
mate and playteliow there. Morgan was
at the lead Of Il cavalry company also, but
his state WAS trying TO live up to the neu
trail dodge, and lie couldn't got gun caps
to supply his men. lie sent to Shelby to
help him out from the St. Louis markets,
but there happened to be an embargo on
shipments Il war stuff just then There
WIS no trouble about finding the caps; the
trick was TO smusgle tLeIn through the
lines 1t was done by packing them in
fowerpotS covered with enough earth TO
keep alive the innocent plants and shrubs
that would serve as passport when the
Union inspector came glCng. Morgan goI
the caps, 10000 Of them, and the world
knows how we'll be used them.
The Missouri Home Guard" was soon
driven to the southern border Of the state,
and its name was changed to Prices Army
OF Missouri Shelby was sent buck to his
old home on Missouri river, theR oaensi
bly, Union territory, to recruit and stir up
things generally for the Confedcrucy.
Several attempts were made to destroy
him while he was thus cut of from his
friends, but he Kept his company uileld
finished his mission and escaped South ia
join Price ut Lexington. After some heavy
lighting along the Missouri and Kansas
border Price was Callel east Of the Misses
Sippi TO help fight the battles Of Beaur
gard and Johnston. Men for the ranks
were the sOrest need just then, and tho
cavalry q 4,ndoned their horses to do duty
on foot. Shclby's company followed suit
and served rs Infantry at Cornith until
their one year Of service expired. Then
Shelby was commissioned TO raise reg
ment Of cavalry and to go back to his old
stamping ground 10 the heart Of Missouri
10 do It.
The Mississippi river above Vicksburg
was In Union control and picketed by gun
boats, and every place Of Importance in
Missouri was gHrrisoned by Shelby's bitTe
enemies Nevertheless he accepted the job
and marched his men to the bank opposite
Helena, Ark. A Union gunboat patrolled
the river there, and Shelby's men, bloom.
ing In bright gray uniforms and fully
equipped, pitched camp and threw out sen.
tinels and scouts almost under the shadow
Of Uncle Sans grim monitors. In the
dead Of night six volunteer pulled skin
silently across, reeonnoitered the town
found a trusty haven and arranged for
breakfast to be ready before daylight fol
Captain Shelby and his band. The Rp
polntment 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. lodging Union pieket'