The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-30
LITTER FROM GEN. 30 SHELBY.

" Po@AA~
LITTER FROM GEN. 30 SHELBY.
Words of Praise for Ross Burns, Hero of
the Blue.
Gen. Joseph o. Shelby, now of Kansas
City, who led the rebel forces of over six
thousand against the little handful of
men in the narrow lane at the battle of
the Blue, was invited to be present at
the unwilling of the statue today. He
was not able to come but replied to
Howell Jones in the letter below, which
shows the very high regard he had for
his enemy of that day, Captain Ross
Burns.
After the capture, when the Jackman
brigade was about to kill Burns, General
Shelby rode into their midst and draw
ing his sword defended Burns life. HE
is too brave to die that way" he said:
HEADQUARTERS,
UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
MORGAN'S HOTEL. GENESSEE ST.
KANSAS CITY. Mo. May II, 1895.
Joseph o. Shelby, Ma Or- General Mo. Division:
II. 4. Newman, AdJutant-Generala and Chief OF
Staff:
Howell, Jones, ESQ., Topeka, Kan:
My DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt of
your very kind letter of May 2, inviting
me to attend the ceremonies of the dedi-
cation of a monument to the memory
of Captain Burns, who, as commander
of the Topeka battery, so gallantly
resisted by forces at ByrOm's Ford, Mo,
on October %. 1854. l very deeply re-
greet that my official eng agements are
such as to render it impossible for me
to be with you on that occasion to bear
personal testimony to the courage and
worth of the gallant commander of q
battery which so heroically held its po-
sition against the most determined eff
forts of veterans who never knew a
fear.
your letter was read with especial
pleasure because of the announcement
it contained of purpose to erect
monument to the memory of Captain
Burns, for certainly no hero better de-
serves a noble monument as a fit
ting tribute to soldierly virtues.
His defense against my ad-
vance was a most gallant one, and one
executed with mastery skill and superb
courage, and how 80 small battery
could have held my superior forces so
completely in check is a question which
has caused me to wonder greatly, my
only explanation being the splendid mil
itary skill and quick perception dis
played by Captain Burns and the BRAY
cry of his men.
We had advanced, sweeping away all
resistance with such ease as to scarcely
be aware that we were meeting with OPP
position, and without losing a man, until
a cannon shot gave US warning that
the key to the position had been
seized, and that the enemy
was to be dslodged from his
commanding position if we were to pro-
coed without serious loss. They were
posted near the top of an incline leading
down to Little Blue. As they were just
in the edge of wood, we could not es-
innate their mum bers, but we anticipated
meeting a much larger force, as we
could not have believed that their COM
oppose US with so small force as there
afterwards proved to be, and, though ex-
pecting to meet force much larger than
our own, our men advanced to the attack
with full confidence that we needed but
to make the advance to dislodge the
enemy. Yetit was only after forty three
of our men were dead and wounded on
the field when Captain Burns himself
had suffered a severe wound, when their
ammunition was almost spent, that they
were compelled to surrender
And SO it is with great pleasure and
pride, as a soldier, that hear of 80 fit
ting a monument to the memory of the
intrepid leader who inter posed the brave
defense / have briefly sketched, and my
only regret is that l cannot possibly be
with you at its dedication. l greatly APP
preciate the very kind expressions of re-
gard contained in your letter, and
heartily reciprocate your sentiments of
fraternity and good will.
Very sincerely yours,
10 O. SHELBY