The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-07
Mrs. Shelby Tells Of Stirring War
Time Experiences; Joins Hus-
band at Front and Later
Goes to Mexico
JOURNEY In WAR
TINE PRECARIOUS
Loves Men Who Followed Gallant
General and Will Always At
tend Reunions; Pays Visit
to Grandma Grigsby

Inc story OF i've years OF nef lie
spent with her husband at the front
and in Old Mexico, was told by Mrs
Elizabeth Shelby, widow of the gen
eral, during her stay in Chickasha. II
was two wears before the close of ths
war that the young wife of the Con
federate general decided to join her
husband, who was commanding forces
in Arkansas. With one companion, an
old friend, besides her two children
and two negro nurse girls, the young
mother set out from her Missouri
home for the south.
At ST. Louis, the very first stop. the
nurse girls left and Mrs Shelby, still
very young woman. was left alone
with her companion in the territory
OF the enemy, determined to reach
the side of her husband. Besides the
loss of the nurse girls at st. Louis,
officials searched the baggage of the
travellers. but they permitted them t.
pass on down the river
Again at Memphis they we're held
up, but this time they were treated
with every courtesy, for they were in
direct contact with the Union officers.
I'VE we're always treated with the ut
most Kindness and regard by officers, !"
the little woman said last night, 1T
was only from soldiers that we came
IN contact with often that we suffered
indignities."
From Memphis, the route of the
travellers lay by rail south and west.
They were told that the railroad was
washed out by floods and that they
would be unable to reach Little Rock,
which was the next stop on the jour
ney. Il told them that had started
to my husband and that ! would not
turn back halt way on the journey,
Mrs. Shelby said I'VE took the train
and found that tracks had been repair
ed just the day before we reached the
flood districts. and we had no diff
Guilty in reaching Little Rock"
1t was at Camden that Mrs. Shelby
joined her husband, and she remained
at the front with him to the end OF
the war. doing whatever she could to
relieve the suffering among soldiers
and administering to the needs of the
officers
II was on the trip toward Old Mexi-
co that some of the hardest privations
were endured by the little woman and
the band she was with They we're
travelling at the greatest possible speed
when word came that the enemy was
attempting to cut off the fleeing Con
federate forces with large numbers,
and the men we're forced to permit the
women ard children of the band to re-
turn to the states
Mrs. shelby returned to her home
not far from tne Mississippi river. II
was not long, however, before she re-
ceivsd word from her husband to join
him at Vera Cruz Again she left her
home, journeyed to New York and sail
ed from there to the Mexican port. This
Shelbys lived in Old Mexico three
years before they returned to the
United States.
was glad to get back?' she said
Truly was. Not until | set foo
on American soil again did realize
just what persons native countr,
really means to one"
Mrs Shelby now spends part of he
time in Kansas City and part of it a
Bovina, Tex. She Is still active, cheer
full and happy, never permitting al
opportunity to do deed that vii
make another happy to pass her by.
II can't help loving these brav
men," she said. "How could 1? The
followed my husband, some of ther
for four years He loved. them, an
they loved him, So long as am abls
] viii attend the reunions of Shelby
brigade
Never was q queen given more hon
age than was given Mrs. Elizabet
Shelby by both the comrades and
the Sons and Daughters OF the Confe,