The Portland daily press., 1897-02-22
GEN. SHELBY IN MEXICO.
Romantic Experience of Missouri's Dash.
ing Soldier with Macmillan.

w.
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 typical
american soldier-a free lance among
the lighter and more dashing exemplars
of the art of war-he stood with Sheri-
dan, .Jeb Stuart, Rosser, Custer and the
other dare-devils, who rode to win, in
clouds Of dust and amid the CHATTER OF
sabers. That he did not know how or
when to surrender is not SO much to his
discredit as soldier, as hi, subsequent ac-
tion in running off to Mexico and Offering
his sword to foreign adventurer re.
fleoted upon his American citizenship.
But then his wounds were sore; his years
were few; his am bition boundless, and
his matured good sense had yet to come.
When In 1867, after his experience with
Macmillan, he crept back to Fayette
County, Mo-, and saw some beauty yet
in the stars and stripes, his vision took
a wider scope, and in spite of himself
he had to admit that there was no land
like the land of his birth.
Gen. Shleby's experience in Mexico, at
about the close of Macmillan S regime,
sounds like a 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:
At the close CT the war, when Kirby
Smith, In command Of the department.,
" as anxious to surrender, Gen. Shelby
WAS an advocate of further resistance.
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 s1r-
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
com missioned to ask him to withdraw
as direct commander of the army, which
he did in favor of Gen. Buckner. At
the surrender of tie army, smith sur
rendered to Buckner, and Buck ner sur
rendered to the United States.
Shelby then gathered about him 600
men. They were Missourians for the
most part, and wers willing to follow
their leader to the utmost confines OF the
earth. They determined to go into Mex
loo and take part in the contest then
waging between Macmillan and Jua-
rez. Shelby S march through Texas is
remarkable in many respects. Texas
was a vast arsenal of arms and ammuni-
tion at this time, and his troops were
we'll supplied. Soma returning and dis
bande soldiers at times attempted to levy
contri buttons upon the surrounding
country, but Shelby's stern orders ar
rested them In the oct, and his swift
punishment of depredations left shield
will refuse today rs you refused before,
because you imperialists at heart,
and because, poor simpletons, you imaR-
ined that France and the United States
would come to blows Bah, the Gay for
that has gone by-Louis Napoleon has
slept too long.
IT 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 it best suited him.
At this time the famous emigration
scbeme of Macmillan IS government was
decided upon, and the celebrated colony
of Carlotta formed. Agents were sent to
every place in the South. Land was set
apart for actual American settlers, each
to receive GAO acres. Shelby advised his
men to give up at once any further Idea
of service in Maximilian's army. Many
accented his advice and entered heartily
into the duties of the new life. A few
Joined the imperial army in Sonora.
Gen. Shelby, with headquarters at Cor
dova, became large freight contractor.
Among those in the colony with him