The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-04-22

civil war. none perhaps has so varied
and romantic an experience as Genera
10 Shelby. Greater Generals than he
were In the conflict. more distinguish
ed commanders have passed into his
tory. but taking him by and large. as
a typical American soldicr-a free
lance AMONG the lighter and more dash
ing eXemplaries of the art of war-ht
stood with Sheridan, .Jeb Stuart. ROs
ser, Custer and the other dare-devils
who rode to win. in clouds of dust and
amid the clatter of sabers. That he did
not know how or when to surrender is
not SO much to his discredit as a sol
dier, as his subsequent action in run
ming off to Mexico and offering his
sword to foreign adventurer refiecto
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 expert
ence with MaXimilian, he crept back
to Fayette County, Missouri, and saw
some beauty yet in the stars and
stripes, his vision took n wider scope,
and in spite of himself he had to admit
that there was no land like the land OF
his birth.
General Shelby's experience in Mex
leo, at about the close of Maximilian's S
regime, sounds like a romance. Major
John \. 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 reproducing here. Major Ed
wards said:
"At the close Of the war, when Kirby
Smith, in command of the department,
was anxious to surrender, General
Shelby was an advocate of further re-
sistance. French support, medicines,
ammunition and French gold were
coming by way Of Mexico, and upon
these be based hope. His protest was
unavailing, and the surrender was
made at Shreveport and the army dis
banded. Before the surrender was
made the army became dissatisfied
with General Smith, and General Shell
by was commissioned to ask him to
withdraw as direct commander of the
army, which he did in favor of General
Buckner. At the surrender of the army
Smith surrendered to Buckner. anI
Buckner surrendered to the United
States.
SHELBY then gathered about him 600
men. They were Missourians for the
most part, and We're 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 Maximilian and
Juarez. Shelby's march through Texas
is remarkable in many respects. Tex
as was vast arsenal of arms and am
were well supplied. Some returning and
soldiers at times attempt
ed to levy contributions upon the
country, but Shelby's
stern orders arrested them in the act.
and his swift punishment of depreda-
tons left shield over the neighbOr-
hood, that needed only it's shadow to
insure safety.
when the first Mexican station was
General Shelby sold his can
non, and his men took vote the same
night to decide which of the contending
parties in Mexico they should join.
Shelby was decidedly in favor of join
ing 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 be
allowed himself to be governed by
heir wishes. They crossed the Rio
irande at Eagle Pass and entered
Mexico. \ few days later Shelby was
offered the command of the States of
Nucva Leone and Coahuila, but the Of
'er was declined, as his men had join
ID the imperial forces
Historians say that had General
Shelby accepted this position he would
II all probability have been joined by
thousands of Confederates whose for
unes were to be made, and with that
orce he would have been able to save
IaXimilian or might have become u
lower in MeXicO's affairs.
However that may be, General Shell
~ and his men had many bloody and
ierce encounter with the brigands that
infested Mexico before they reached
he City of Mexico. One of these was
he rescue and liberation of Inez Walk
r, Il beautiful American who had been
in California. She was seen
ears before by Rodriguez, million
ire Spaniard, who took fancy to her
nd abducted her. In the encounter
!e was killed, and the American wom-
n received the protection of Shelby's |
nen.
SHELBY offered his services to the
Emperor. but they were refused. Max
milan was not willing to trust the |
americans in his organized army. 1t |
5 curious fact that General Shelby, |
vhen interviewing MaXimilian's repre-
entative. predicted the situation that |
fterward befell that luckless Emper-
+.
when Shelby gathered his men
bout him and announced the decision
f the Emperor. he said: We are not
wanted, and perhaps it is best so.
hose who have fought as you have
or a principle have nothing to gain in
war Of conquest. ! stand ready to
bide your decision in the matter of |
ur destiny If you say we shall march
0 the headquarters of Juarez, then we
-ill march. You will refuse to-day as
on refused before, because you are
mperialists at heart, and because, poor
you imagined that France
nG the United States would come to
lows. Bah. the day for that has gone
y-Louis Napoleon has slept too long
1T was necessary that the men
hould have Il little money, and Ba
aine. the French general, was applied
D. He gave each man $50, and then
very man went the way it best suited
in.
"a . , lao, 20 Ton,