The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-05-22
ANECDOTES or SHELBY.
An Old Comrsde Tells OF tho Famous
Confederate Fighter.

Major Stoncstrect was al associate Of
General Shelby in his beytood and was |
with him through the war. Perhaps no
man in Kansas City had q more init
mate acquaintance with tie dead gen
eral.
"Shelby was essentially military
Major Stonestreet went Gu. she loved
the life. is dangers, lahors, rough liv-
ing and brilliant successes suited him
down to the ground. r. he had been SO
placed that all Of his years could have
been spent ii war, he would have been
the happiest man on earth. To hi,1 the
soldiers life was the happiest Of lives, |
the soldiers death the death Of deaths.
He was fond of his men, but he did not
spare them. In his four years of cam
palgnlng many, very many, of them
were killed. He was not sentimental
about it. They took their chances. he
used to say. He exposed them TO no
dangers that he did not share himself.
He, too, took his chances.
He was morbidly sensitive about the
conduct of his men, the more SO that
they bore the reputation CT raiders
which, it must be confessed, they earned.
Hard riding and fighting make a hard
appetite, and they were no respecters of
other peoples pigs and poultry. Once
we were bali starving in Arkansas.
Shelby and [ rode down to the White
river to water our horses. 4 detachment
of the troops was doing the same thing
just below as. Among them was Dick
Gentry, now Of Kansas City. He was a
gallant private and a good fellow.
Slung across his saddle was a sack, care
fully tied and bleeding at one end.
What You got theTc?' demanded
Shelby.
"sBeen havin my clothes washed
said Gentry.
"'Yo1'd better get back to camp
said the general, or your clothes will
bleed to death
Gentry was put in the ~guardhouse.
That night a quarter of fresh pork
found its way to Shelby's tent. 7
haven't an idea where this came FROM
he said IS he looked at it hungrily, but
go rocnd to the ~guardhouse, orderly,
and tell 'em to turn Gentry loose.
There'snouse in keeping a man shut up
all of his life for a little laundry
'We We're down in Texas continued
Mr.. Stoncstreet, when we got the news
OF Lincoln's assassination. The men
were on review, and the intelligence
went down the line like a flash. Some
of them foolishly cheered.
boys, said General Shelby, sitting
erect On his horse, with one hand raised
in air and his head barred, this is the
heaviest blow yet dealt us. Lincoln's
slaughter was the act CT o mailman. If
he had lived, he would have been just
and generous to the south
Major General Holmes was in COM
mand CT U part Of the transmississippi
department. He was a West Pointer.
President Davis was a West Pointer also,
and thought that no man could be q sol
der unless he bore the hallmark Of that
academy. Therefore he appointed
Holmes, who was a gentleman and well
meaning, but stiff necked and dull.
Holmes sent for Shelby.
General, he said when the cavalry
leader appeared, your men have been
stealing, and it must be stopped. They
are thieves
"'Sir,' said Shelby, whoever told
you SO lies
81 believe it is true, said Holmes.
"'Why?' asked Shelby.
"'Because everybody says so.'
".Do you believe a thing when every
body says so?:"
"'I do
edo yen know what everybody says
about you?'
"'I Go not. What do they say?'
"'They say that you are a id old
fool. And Shelby walked out.
What is more" continued Mr..
Stonestreet, "Shelby was right. Men
can't fight and starve toe.
General Shelby was a soldier only.
As a man of business he was a failure.
Into business life he brought the same
bold policies that distinguished him in
war times, the same dash and the same
recklessness, and they w~ouldn'tdo. He
would lend money to anybody who asked
for it, taking no security, and to have
served in his command was an open
road to his purse. To the day Of his
death he was beget by hangers on who
had known him in wartime. He seemed
never to weary of them or to learn that
they we're leeches. kansas City Star.
A Man of Parts.
Nh. Duksne-Young Mr.. Homewood
is about as smart d man as you'll find
in a days journey.
Mr.. Gtaswcll-So?
eyes, sir. Ee can give editors points
on he7r to run newspapers"
s"Poct.:! Every nan ia the city can do
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