Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
In which shelby and Phil. Sheridan
Touch Glssscs


g.. Several years after the Civil War
SheloE and General Phil. Sheridan sat
al table in private room in Wash
ington To fully appreciate this meet
ing We must 20 hack TO the time when
Shelby was organizing his expedition
sheridan wanted TO go TO Texas 10 pre-
vent Shelby from crossing the Rio
Grande. n. did not believe that Shelby
meant TO go 10 the relief of Mexico
Al the same time. to appease Grants
Tears, sheridan warned Mexico to be-
ware OF Shelby. When Shelby arrived
Al NleuNe Leon. on his lay TO Mexico
the iovernor of that State placed Shell
oE ana MS command under arrest, dis
armed them and informed them that
their services were not required in the
country for which they were heading
The Americans we're then released and
Informed that they might 90 where
theE pleased. The War Department in
Washington refused to permit Sheridan
TO go after Shelby and prevent his
crossing the Texas border. The CORE
cident is bound all around with the
req tape which is so plentiful in all the
departments al the National CAPITAL
especially in 1.-THE War Department.
Let us return to the friendly meeting
or the two men in the private room at
Chamberins
Il was very anxious to go after YOU.
Shelby" said Sheridan. as he raised his
glass. In fact, il my request had been
granted by the department YOU would
no, have got into Mexico. The order
10 go after you, for which I almost
prayed was never given. and il was
one of the bitterest disappointments OF
my career"
Il wish you had got your order. for
We found ii mighty lonesome over
there" replied Shelby. as an old-time
smile frightened his face
They filled their glasses again. and
Sheridan in touching his TO Shelby's.
said:
Shelby. believe tina, every man
who went through our war felt lone
some for three years after il was over"
fes. Sheridan retorted Shelby, Ill
is what comes after war that makes IL
hard to bear"
That night they dined with Grant
This account Of the Mexican exnedi-
ton is based upon the private papers
OF the late Colonel John e. Moore. chief
OF Shelbys STAFF, and, after the expedi-
ton, one of the editors OF the Kansas
city Times. Colonel Moore never car
ried out his intention OF writing a his
tory of the expedition, but before his
death he left some data with the author
and gave him personal recollections
that have been of value in the prepara-
ton OF the articles for The Times Dis
patch. Other incidents and data are
from Major John y. Edwards's pub
lished book, now out Of print. "Sheiby's
Expedition to Mexico" Major Edwards
was a member of the expedition and
later was associated with Colonel
Moore as an editor OF the Kansas City
Times.
1t is hoped that these articles will
interest the Confederate Reunion now
about to assemble in Richmond. and
that they will also be of value to the
new generation not only Of the South,
but of the nation.
The author asks the indulgence OF
readers whose recollections may de-
tect such inaccuracies as are inevitable
IN an article written from fragmcn-
tary memoranda of an event far re-
moved from its occurrence. which had
nut one historian, whose loyalty TO his
chlef and the cause in which he was
an ardent participant may have in
some instances, led him from the path
OF concrete facts, permitting, uncon-
sciously, his imagination 10 be his
suide.-Author's note.