The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-14
Anecdotes of Shelby.

"No man could ride with 10 Shelby
for four years and be worth his salt at
anything else," said Maj. j F. Stone
street to-day. 81 did it, and ought to
know. l have not been worth killing
since"
Maj. Stonestreet was an associate of
Gen. Shelby in bis boyhood, and was
with him through the war. Perhaps
no man in Kansas City had more in
innate acquaintance with the dead
general, says the Kansas City Star.
Shelby was essentially military"
Maj. Stonestreet went on. He loved
the life. Its dangers, labors, rough liv-
ing and brilliant successes suited him
down to the ground. If he had been
30 placed that all of his years could
have been spent in war he would have
been the happiest man on earth. To
him 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 campaigning many, very many,
of them were killed. He was not SEN
timental 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 of raid
ers,' which it must be confessed they
earned. Hard riding and fighting
made hard appetite, and they were
no respecters of other peoples pigs and
poultry. Once we were half starving
in Arkansas. Shelby and l rode down
to the White river to water our horses.
A detachment OF the troops was doing
the same thing just below US. Among
them was Dick Gentry, now of Kansas
City. He was gallant private and
good fellow. Slung across his saddle
was a sack, carefully tied and bleeding
at one end.
"What have you got there?' de-
manded Shelby.
"Been havin' my clothes washed"
said Gentry.
"' You'd better get back to camp
said the general, or your clothes will
bleed to DEATH"
"Gentry was put in the guardhouse.
That night quarter of fresh pork
found its way to Shelby's tent. Il
haven't an idea where this came FROM
he said, as he looked at it hungrily,
g but 60 round to the guardhouse, or
derby, and tell 'em to turn Gentry
loose. There's no use in keeping a
man shut up all of his life for little
laundry
eve were down in Texas" con-
tinued Mr.. Stonestreet, when we got
the news of Lincoln's assassination.
The men were on review, and the in
telligence went down the line like
flash. Some of them foolishly cheered.
" Boys said General Shelby, sit
ting erect on his horse, with one hand
raised in air and his head barred, this
is the heaviest blow yet dealt US. Lin
coins slaughter was the act of a mad
man. If he had lived he would have
been just and generous to the South
"Msjor General Holmes was in COM
mand OF our part of the trans Missis.
sippi department. He was q West
Pointer. President Davis was q West
Pointer also, and thought that no man
could be soldier unless he bore the
hallmark of that academy. Therefore
he appointed Holmes, who was a gen.
tleman and we'll meaning, but stiff
necked and dull. Holmes sent for
Shelby.
General he said, when the cav
airy leader appeared, your men have
been stealing, and it must be stopped.
They are thieves
"'Sir,' said Shelby, whoever told you
80 lies
"I believe it is true,' said Holmes.
" Why?' asked Shelby.
GO Because everybody says so.'
"'Do you believe thing when every
body Syy1 says syg, SOP
"Do you know what everybody
says about your
"'1 do not. What do they say9"
GO They say that you are - old
FOOL and Shelby walked out.
General Shelby was soldier only.
AS 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 wouldt do. 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 beset by hangers-on
who had known him in war time. He
seemed never to weary of them or to
learn that they were leeches."