Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-25
Shelby Raids
In Civil War
Picturesque
Methods Same as Now(
Used by Commands
By DAMON RUNYON


ing about the great raiders OF
the confederacy whoge method
of operation was the forerunner
of the British commando system
of today-the surprise and hit
and run procedure by small
bands that is striking terror to
the hearts of the Nazis in many
places in occupied Europe.
Shelby usually operated with
a greater force than the So
called partisan rangers" led by
John S. Moseby. Turner Ashby
and other confederate chiefs, but
his idea was pretty much the
same. He had hard elders and
hard hitters in his command and
he was long a thorn in the side
OF the federals.
His most picturesque exploit
came after the armies of the
North and South had laid down
their arms. That was a ride
into Mexico with the idea Of
supporting the iuckless Emperor
Maximilian's cause. Macmillan
was the fellow who was placed
on the throne of Mexico by the
French and then left to his own
resources against rising revo.
lutionary tide among the Mexi-
cans and suggestion from the
United States with an enormous
army OF veteran soldiers at its
disposal that IL would not toler.
ate French assistance to the
poor emperor.
SHELBY had crossed the Mexi-
~ can border with a thousand
OF his men at the close of the
Civil War. the Confederates
burying their flag in the Rio
Grande on July 4. 1865.
II was the soldiers themselves
rather than Shelby who decided
their subsequent action. A meet.
ing was held and they voted to
support Macmillan. though
Shelby opposed the move.
However. he yielded to the
wishes of the majority and led
his command from the border to
Monterey in the terrific heat OF
the Mexican summer. He was
accompanied by a number Of
southern politicians seeking ad.
vantages in Mexico. II was q
tough trip for all concerned and
many times when the expedition
reached watering places they
found the springs had been con.
taminated by Mexican guerrillas
who had been there ahead OF
him.
When Shelby finally reached
Mexico City and gained an audi.
ence with MAMMALIAN and of
fered his assistance against
JuareZ, he was turned down.
Whether an acceptance would
have made any difference in the
course OF events is impossible to
say.
Probably not. Anyway, Shelby
returned to the United States
and was appointed United States
marshal for the western division
of Missouri. dying in office.
He was rich landowner and
+. STAKEHOLDER in Missouri in 1861
and refused a commission in the
Union Army TO join the Confed-
eracy. He became a captain,
rising in three years to brigadier
general. He commanded a cav
airy force and campaigned in the
West with Gen. Sterling Price.
fighting at Carthage, Wilson's
Creek, Lexington, Springfield,
Mo. Pea Ridge. st. Charles and
Duvalrs Bluff. Ark.
IN JUNE, 1862, he joined forces
L with Gen. James f. Rains at
Van Buren,, Ark. Bob Burns
town, to invade Missouri. His
men vowed never to lay down
their arms. He dashed into Mis-
souri, and took the outer defenses
of Springfield. then retreated to
Batesville, Ark. On uly 4,
1863. he attacked Helena, Ark,
in an attempt to cut Grants
communications. shelby was
wounded in this raid.
On his recovery he again went
roaring into Missouri and cap
tured Bonneville (Bill Corum's
home bailiwick). Neosho, Bower
Mills. Warsaw. Upton, Stockton
and Humansville. He then with
drew to Camden.
In March, 1864. he was ordered
TO garrison Princeton on the
Saline River line and to cover
all roads leading into Camden.
In the action that followed,
Shelby's force of less than 1000
held Steele's command of IS, 200
all day. They were tremendous
fighters.
Shelby's full name was Joseph
Orville Shelby.
He was impetuous as well as
daring. He had the faculty of
commanding intense loyalty
from his men and that he was
loyal to them is indicated by his
acceptance of their vote for the
expedition into Mexico against
his own better Judgment.
Some of the southerners. still
disgruntled over their defeat, had
a vague idea of setting up a new
regime of their own in Mexico.