Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-23

the rear Find Colonel johnson and
hand him this note" (The note had
been hastily written after the scout
had received his order to mount) The
1 note read:
| Colonel Johnson,-Aiy scout informs
me that youJhave about 5000 men, and
| that you are looking for me. ] have
only 1000 men. and yet | should like
! to make your acquaintance. VIII prob
ably march from my present camp
about ten miles farther to-day, hating
on the high road between San Antonio
and Eagle Pass. Should you desire to
pay me a visit you will find me at home
40. o. SHELBY"
The message reached Its destination.
! Major Moreiand could have been no
more gracious in delivering the letter
/ If 1t had been an invitation to waltz.
johnson was gentleman as we'll as a
! soldier. He bowed his thanks and
promised to be present at the time and
place mentioned by General Shelby. But
that night he ordered his troops to fall
back five miles. Shelby was on time
with his thousand men. as he had prom
| ised. Scanning the prairie with his
glasses he saw nothing but the sky and
| the grasses.
A part of this story is that Johnson
did, at one time. make a move to go
forward. Then he hestated. He said
the war was practically over and he
could afford for the sake of his men,
| and Shelby's as we'll. to be lenient in
the last act Of the drama. And he was.
The battle that was to have been
fought on a polite invitation never oc-
cured. Is there any writer of wars
who can match 1t?
The expedition formed for Mexico
moved on.
French general. Jeanningros. was
| at Monterey. In the garrison were 5000
n
ningros was of the type that believes
that heavens first law is discipline, and
that all others hang thereon. He was
| in Mexico to assist in the construction
of the new empire. Shelby did not know
Las he approached Monterey wheth-
er Jeanningros would receive him with
open hand or with shot To ascertain
the status, Shelby asked Ex-Governor
Reynolds to write letter to Jean
ninsros. Reynolds knew his French
as we'll as he knew his Missouri The
letter he wrote read:
General Jeanningros. commander at
Monterey. Generai.-I have the honor
to report that l am within one mile of
your fortifcations with my comma nd.
Preferring exile to surrender. I have
left my own country to seek service in
that held by His Imperial Majesty, the
Emperor Macmillan. Shall It be peace
or war between US? II the former, and
with your permission, l shall enter
your lines at once. claiming at your
hands that courtesy due from one SOL
dier to another. If the latter. propose
to attack you imm ediately. Very re-
specially yours. 10. o. SHELBY"
The letter was sent under a flag Of
truce. Jeanningros was taking his nip
of absinthe when the message was pre-
scented. After reading the communique
he smacked his lips. brushed his mus
tache and said TO the courier:
| in
mediately He is the only soldier that
has come out of Yankeedom"
To abbreviate the story: Jeanningros
prepared a banquet. His guests were
Shelby. at his right: Reynolds. at his
left: around the table, Magruder, United
States Senator Truston Polk. General T.
c. Hindman, General f. Kirby Smith
and General John r. Clark. One who
was there says that repartea and wit
at the feast was faster than the bub-
bles. for old Jcanningros had his wine
cellar in the garrison, and the vintage
was rare. The aroma of thes room
was still delicious long after the host
and his guests had departed
The incident standing alone would be
of no consequence, but for what oc-
Cured later on.
There was another French general
Depreu!l He was at outs with jean
nnsros. The cause. no matter. He
took his lessons. this pepreuil, from
Bazaine. and Bazaine had warned De-
preu!l to beware of Americans bear
ing gifts in Mexico. They were there
to make war on Macmillan. Shelby
wanted to proceed to Sonora. In fact.
this was agreed to between drinks at
| Monterey AS matter Of courtesy,
| Depreuirs consent was necessary.
Shelby. st his audience with Depreuil.
said, with his characteristic directness:
II have called for permission to con-
. In, q rr1, %
1T is impossible" Depreuil replied.
| May ask the reason" inquired
Shelby. 1T is agreed to by General
Jeanningros."
| DepreuiI. at the mention Of the name
of his superior, foamed over in his
| fZz.
Let the devil fy away with you and
your information" he roared 1T is
the same old game you Americans are
forever trying 10 play-robbing to-day.
killing tomorrow, plundering all the
you shall not stay here. But what
ever you do, YOU shall obey"
Shelby was impetuous In the fray.
In conversation he was the calm be-
fore the tempest. Without tremor in
his voice he replied:
.! imagined that when an American
soldier called upon French soldier
he was at least visiting a gentleman.
One cannot always keep his hands
clean. / wash mine of you because you
are a slanderer and coward"
Depreuirs hand went to his sword.
Shelbys unbuttoned the scabbard OF
his revolver. Depreuil, playing for
time, ordered Shelby 10 take of his
hat.
only to God and a woman, to a
Toward, never" was Shelhy's answer,
spoken on the normal key.
The duel was set for the next morn
ing. That night Jeanningros. on tour
of inspection, entered the town where
Depreul was in command. The quar-
rel between Shelby and Depreul was
the topic OF the garrison. The next
was, that Depreuil had offered an
humble apology to Shelby. II was
Jeanningros's order. There was no
meeting on the field.
Mark how destiny changes the hands