Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-02-19
10 SHELBY DEAD.
Noted Confederate Leader Passes
Away in Missouri.
Hands-A Famous March.

KANSAS CITY. No, Feb. l6-General
Joseph Oryilie Shelby the noted cDnfedera.e
piiir-r has Just died here. He was born Ia
Lexington. ky.. in 1881. and at ~ years Of
age came with his parents to Missouri. H
became u manufacturer and slave owner.
When the Kansas dispute came on.
Mr.. Shelby naturally sympathized with
the pro-slayery element and the "bor-
der troubles, which followed. Shelby was
leader in several OF the raids
into Kansas. When actual hostiHffes
began he was known among his neighbors
as Captain Shelby. He raised a company
Of confederate cavalry and entered the
field. starting South TO join General Price.
few weeks later Captain Shelby was com
missioned ~ colonel Of cavalry, and ordered
back 10 Missouri to recruit a regiment. Re
turning with his band Of 100 men. who
hat numerous skirmisheS with federal
bands. Colonel shelby quickly or
ganizei a regiment to which was joined the
three Missouri regiments in a calvary or
ganiZation known as ''Shelby's brigats
This brigade under General Shelby saw much
hard service in Missouri. Arkansas Louisiana
and Texas.
When the news Of Lees surrender
came 10 the confederate army in the
West. General Shelby found himself at the
head uf Il well-elutpped aud thoroughly dis
riplined body Of men. a great many of whom
would not admit that their cause hai been
lost. Shelby, however, succeeded in con
win ing his followers that further fighting
against the government would be useless
and. = an alternative. hr proposed march
to Mexico. there 10 esp0use the cause Of
Maymilian. over thousand men Of his
following readily Joined him. At COrscana
an election was held and Shelby was elected
Il commander.
The column then moved on to Houston,
and then To Austin, the capital Of Texas,
where the confederate government had a
sub-treasury in which was stored 500 600 in
gold and silver General Shelby's regiment
arrived at Austin barely in time 10 save this
treasure from a marauding band of Suerilas
under Captain Rabbi. who had captured the
treasury building and started in to loot.
Shelbys men surrounded the place after
shooting down a number Of maraudtrs, and
drove them of. General Shelby- men
guarded the treasure until the following day.
On the morning following the mayor Of
Austin proposed 70 General Shelby that in
asmuch Is his men were the last organized
body OF the confederacy in Texas, they
should take this confederate money. Gen
eral Shelby positively refused. saying: Il
went into the war with clean hands and by
Gods blessing will 90 out OF the war with
clean hands
From Austin Shelby's band marched TO
san Antonio ana 10 Eagle fass, WntFt theN
crossed into Mexico and resumed their
march. When they reached the city
OF Mexico, MaNimilial had been reign
ing for year. Shelby offered
% take immediate service with his band and
20 recruit an army Of 10000 Americans to
,Ipersede the native troops. bat Maymil-
AN was suspicious and his company was
,o-cet to dishaud. Many Of them settled
in Mexico others went on to the Pa
rilln coast and shipped for California
while some returned to their former homes.
General Shelby became a freight con-
tractor in Mexico. but in 1867 he returned
TO his farm in Missouri, where he lived
Il retired life until 1891 when President
Cleveland appointed him United states
Marshal for the Western District II
Missouri. During the great strike in
1895. when Marshal Shelby was active in
suppre>sing the strikers. he became in
vOlyed in Il controversy with Governor
stone. who contendei that United States
officers and troops We're being used in
violation OF the doctrine ot state rights
the verv doctrine which Shelby had fought 50
bitterly for during the civil war. but to Gov
ernor Stone General Shelby replied that
The question Of state rights was decided
hV the war and settled for all time when
Lee hai surrendered at App0mattoN. In
the recent campaign General Shelby was an
active supporter Of the policy Of President
Cleveland.