Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-02-17

"F1GHTING JO' SHELBY.
remarkable recuperative powers asserted
themselves and each time he revived.
During all last Sunday night and most
of Monday the patient talked continual
~ in an irrational way. He recognized
those about him, but it was only for
moment when he would again go into
comatoSe or delirious state.
He began to sink rapidly Tuesday
morning and IN few moments his pulse
was almost imperceptible. Until that
moment Mrs. Shelby. who had been con-
startly at the generals bedside, believed
that he would survive, but then she gave
way, Frustrated with grief and physical
and mental strain. Later Gen. Shelby
revived somewhat but remained uncon
scious until death and practically took no
medicine or nOuriShment.
No definite arrangements for the flu
neral have yet been made. but it is be-
lieved Gen. Shelby will be buried in
Kansas City, where his family resides.
'Fighting Jo'' Shelby is the idol of the
ex-Confederates of this country and the
respected friend of every man who ever
wore the blue in the late unpleasantnesS.
10 Shelby'S name would start a cheer in
any Grand Army post i'll the country.
and there is hardly another survivor of
the great armies of the gray of whom
this can be said.
Gen. Shelby comes of distinguished
Kentucky family. He was born in the
neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. in 1881.
Courage, courtliness and chivalry came
to Shelby by Inheritance His grand
father was Isaac Shelby, the first gov
ernor of Kentucky, in whose day the
fighting of Indians was a common occu-
patton. His father was Col. James Shell
by, who played a part at the battle of
the Thames under William Henry Harri-
son, and came out of the war of 1872
with the luster of glorious deeds. He
went to Missouri ffty-three years ago
and settled in Audrain county, where for
q great many years he carried Oh an eX
tensiye business as a planter in connec-
ton with his stepfather.
When the war broke out Gen. Shelby
espoused the Southern cause with all the
ardOr of his nature and deep convic-
ton of the justice of that cause He
entered the service as a colonel, and
during four years of sanguinary struggle
he prosecuted a career which for gal,
lantry and generalship advanced him step
by step until he became a major-generaI
in the Confederate service.
Shelby's Missouri division fought
through Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Texas. When hope be-
came hopeless it was the last orga nized
division Of the Confederate army west of
the Mississippi. Shelby planned to CON
tinue the contest, but his men yearned
for their homes and their families. There
was a dramatic separation on the field
near Corsicana, Tex. There still re-
NAMED with Shelby 500 bold troopers,
and they had an abundant supply of
arms, ammunition ard supplies. They
determined to march into Mexico and be-
come soldiers Of fortune with Juarez or
Macmillan. They marched to Waco and
Austin in well-disciplined band Shell
hU fn b0 in,
Confederate Subtre2Sury a San Antonio
for his soldiers, but he was not a plum
derer and hesitated. Texas bandits car
ried off the treasure before he could
reach San Antonio TO protect it as he
had protected public funds in Austin.
Many exiles were awaiting Shelby at San
Antonio. Among them were Gems
Smith, Magruder, Hindman, Lyon of
Kentucky. Laedbctter and Wilcox of
Lees army, Gov. Murrah of Texas. Gov.
Morehead of Kentucky, Gov. Allen of
Louisiana and Gov. Trusten Polk of Mis-
souri,. Senator Harris of Tennessee and
Senator Vest of Missouri were in that
despairing company.
From San Antonio Shelby led his band
under military discipline to New Braun
felS and thence to Eagle Pass on the Rio
Grande. Crossing to Piedras NagraS the
fugitives sold the cannon, the arms, the
ammunition and the accouterments to the
supporters of Juarez for $4,000 which
was divided pro rata among officers and
men. Several shrewd Germans attemDt-
ed to take advantage of Il Mexican law
and seize all of Shelby's horses having
Mexican brands, and the treacherous
Mexican soldiers supported them in the
scheme The Confederate commander
promptly sounded the call to mount
horses. and the 500 American veteran
only awaited the word to begin p
slaughter The Germans fled and
the Mexicans wilted. Shelby took
vote of his officers to determine
whether they would cast their fortunes
with Juarez, the Mexican patriot, or with
Maximillian, the Emperor sent to Mexico
by Napoleon. They voted for Maxin1il-
liam. The exiles buried their batcle-
SCARED flag in the waters Of the Rio
Grande with fearful ceremonies and
started for Monterey TO join the French
legions At Monterey the command dis
banded Some went to Sonora to fight
against Maximillian. Others went to
California, British Honduras or Brazil,
Shelby and trusty band Of fifty went
to the CitS Of Mexico and then settled
in the Cordova colony of Carlotta. The
expedition proved failure and
Shelby returned to Missouri to
the peaceful pursuits Of The farm. He
was the owner of several Of the most
valuable farms III the state. He was
a Democrat of the most uncompromising
friend of President Cleveland. During
ly esDoused the cause of sound money,
though he refrained from taking any pub
lie stand upon the question.
a II O1,y 4 I It'll