The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
--e->le--p-
SHELBY IN MEXICO.
Romantic Experience With Maxi
milan.

milan.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
OF all the conspicuous figures of the
civil war, none perhaps had so varied
and romantic an experience as Gen. 10
Shelby. Greater generals than he were
IN the conflict, more distinguished COM
manders have passed into history, but
taking him by and large, as a typical
American soldier-a free lance among
the lighter and more dashing exemplars
OF the art of War-he stood with Sherl-
dan, Jeb Stuart, Rosser, Custer, and the
other dare-devils, who rode to win, in
clouds of dust and amid the clatter of
saDers. That he did not know how or
when to surrender is not so much to his
discredit as a soldier, as his subsequent
action in running off to Mexico and Of
fering his sword to a foreign adventurer
reflected upon his American citizenship.
But then his wounds were sore: his
years were few; his ambition boundless,
and his matured good sense had yet to
come. When in 1867. after his experience
with Macmillan, he crept back to Fay
cite county, Missouri, and saw some
beauty yet in the stars and stripes, his
vision took wider scope, and in spite OF
himself he had to admit that there was
no land like the land of his birth.
Gen. Shelby's experience in Mexico, at
about the close of Maximilian's regime,
sounds like romance. Maj. John N.
Edwards who some years ago was the
boswell of Shelby's career, dwelt at
length upon his experience with the ILL
starred Austrian. 1t is worth reproduce
ing here. Maj. Edwards said:
AT the close of the war, when Kirby
smith, in command of the department.
was anxious to surrender, Gen. Shelby
90VOCAfA
french support, medicines, ammunition
and French gold were coming by way of
Mexico, and upon these he based hope.
HIS protest was unaVailing, and the sur
render was made at Shreveport and the
army diSbanded. Before the surrender was
made the army became dissatisfied with
Gen. Smith and Gen. Shelby was commits
stoned to ask him to withdraw as direct
commander of the army, which he did in
favor OF Gen. Buckner. At the surrender
of the army Smith surrendered to Buck
ner, and Buckner surrendered to the
United States.
Shelby then gathered about him 600 men.
They were MisSourians for the most part,
and were willing to follow their leader to
the utmost confines of the earth. They
determined to go into Mexico and take
part in the contest then Waging between
Maximilanand Juarez Shelby's march
through Texas is remarkable in many res
poets. Texas was a vast arsenal of arms
and ammunition at this time, and his
troops were well supplied. Some returning
and disbanded soldiers at times attempted
TO levy contributions upon the surrounding
country but Shelby's stern orders arrest
ed them in the act, and his swift punish
ment of depredations left a shield over
the neighborhood that needed only its
shadow to insure safety.
When the first Mexican station was
reached Gen. Shelby sold his cannon. and
his men took a vote the same night to de-
eide which of the contending parties in
Mexico they should join. Shelby was de-
cidedly in favor of joining JuareZ, who
led the revolution, well arguing with his
usual sagacity and foresight that the
United States would never allow a foreign
power to gain a foothold on American
soil. But his men favored the imperial
party, and he allowed himself to be gov
Rio Grande at Eagle Pass and entered
Mexico. A few days later Shelby was
offered the command of the States Of
Nueva Leone and Coahuila, but the offer
was declined, as his men had Joined the
imperial forces.
Historians say that had Gen. Shelby ac-
cepted this position he would in all prob
ability have been Joined by thousands of
confederates whose fortunes were to be
made, and with that force he would have
been able to save Macmillan or might
have become a power in Mexico's af-
However that may be, Gen. Shelby and
his men had many bloody and herce en-
counter with the brigands that infested
Mexico before they reached the City of
Mexico. One of these was the rescue and
liberation of IneZ Walker, a beautiful
American VINO naQ Deen educated IN Cal
ifornia. She was seen years before by
Rodriguez a millionaire Spaniard, who
took a fancy to her and abducted her. In
the encounter he was killed, and the Amer
lean woman received the protection of
Shelbys men.
Shelby offered his services to the en-
peror, but they were refused Maxi
milan was not willing to trust the Amer
leans in his organized army. 1t is GU
rlous fact that Gen. Shelby, when inter
viewing MaXimilian's representative,
Cd he eli a I'd ha-
fell that luckless emperor.
When Shelby gathered his men about
him and announced the decision Of the
and perhaps 1t is best so. Those who
have fought as you have for a principlN
have nothing to gain In war of conquest.
] stand ready to abide your decision in
the matter of our destiny. If you say
we shall march to the headquarters of
Juarez, then we will march. You will
refuse to-day as you refused before be-
cause. poor simpletons, you imagined that
France and the United States would come
to blows. Bah, the day for that has gone
by-Louis Napoleon has slept too long"
1t was necessary that the men should
have a little money, and Bazaine, the
| French general, was applied to. He gave
each man $50, and then every man went
the way II best suited him.
At this time the famous emigration
scheme of Maximilian's government was
decided upon, and the celebrated Carlotta
colony formed. Agents were sent 20 every
place In the south. Land was set apart
for actual American settlers, each to re-
ceive $40 acres. Shelby advised his men
10 give up at once any further idea OF
service IN Maximilians army. Many ac-
cepted his advice and entered heartily into
the duties of the new life. A few ioined
the imperial army at Sonora. Gen. Shell
by, with headquarters a Cordova. be-
came a large freight contractor. Among
those in the colony with him were Ten.
Sterling Price, Gen. Stephens OF Lees
STAFF. Gov. Reynolds, ex-Gov. Allen OF
Louisiana, ex-Gov. Lyons OF Kentucky-
aud Gen. McCausland of Virginia. Tx.
Gov. 1sham q. Harris was also a settler.
Freighting soon proved Improbable, and
he went to Vera Cruz and was fitted nut
with a vessel and instructed 10 sail for
Havana, in furtherance of the COLOMBIA
ricutural implements exported from
America, and returned to Mexico. but
MaXimilan's forces were meeting with
defeat on every hand, and Shelby saw
that the end was near. AT last Maxi
milan sent for Shelby and asked MIN
how many Americans he could summon to
his assistance "
mot a corporals guard" said the ron
eral. You are too late"
Referring more particularly to Gen. Shell
by's intercourse with Macmillan in The
winter Of lse6-67. Maj. Edwards wrote
these interesting details:
When Shelby arrived In Mexico the treas
ury was empty. Macmillan had been
ruling for year. The French held ev-