Shelby's Division
Joseph O. “Jo” Shelby was a famous Confederate cavalry general. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 12, 1830, to Orville and Anna Boswell Shelby. His father was a wealthy planter and hemp rope producer.
When Joseph was five, his father died, and his mother remarried to Benjamin Gratz, a wealthy merchant and land owner. Joseph attended Transylvania University and was groomed to become a successful businessman.
After receiving a large inheritance at the age of twenty-one, Shelby moved to Waverly in Lafayette County, Missouri. Together with his step-brother, he founded the Waverly Steam Rope Company. The company produced hemp rope using slave labor.
Shelby also owned a seven-hundred-acre plantation worked by slaves. On July 22, 1858, he married his distant cousin, Elizabeth N. Shelby. Together the couple had seven children.
By 1860, Shelby’s finances were in decline largely due to his own poor management. He was forced to sell the rope company, plantation, and his slaves.
Like many pro-Southern Missourians, Shelby was angered by the Battle of Little Big Horn in St. Louis. During the incident, Union General Nathaniel Lyon’s militia fired upon a civilian mob and killed twenty-eight people. In response, Shelby recruited a large number of men from Lafayette County, Missouri, to support the Confederacy by serving in the Missouri State Guard. Shelby and his troops fought at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and later at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas.
Recognized for his leadership skills and talent, Shelby was quickly promoted, and given command of the “Iron Brigade,” so named for their toughness. In 1863, he was promoted to brigadier general in the Confederate States Army, and continued to lead his men against Union forces until the end of the war.
As the Confederacy crumbled, Shelby led six hundred of his men south to Mexico. The Emperor Maximilian granted Shelby and his men permission to found a colony called “Carlota” outside of Vera Cruz, Mexico. After the Emperor Maximilian was overthrown, Shelby returned to the United States.
He began farming in Lafayette County, Missouri, and later moved to Bates County, Missouri. In 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed Shelby U.S. Marshal of the Western District of Missouri.
By this time Shelby had put the war behind him. He selected an African-American to serve as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. When critics complained, Shelby declared, “I am right in what I have done, and by the right I propose to stand.”
He also voiced regret for his actions in the Border Wars, telling historian William Elsey Connelley, “I was in Kansas at the head of an armed force. I was there to kill Free-state men. I did kill them. I am now ashamed of myself for having done so. I had no business there. No Missourian had any business there with arms in his hands.”
Shelby died of pneumonia on his farm near Adrian, Missouri, on February 13, 1897, and was buried in Kansas City, Missouri.
Text by Kimberly Harper with research assistance by Garrett Walker: http://shsmo.org/historicmissourians/name/s/shelby/
SHELBY'S DIVISION
Brigadier General JOSEPH O. SHELBY
Shelby's Brigade
Colonel DAVID SHANKS.
Colonel MOSES W. SMITH.
Brigadier General M. JEFF. THOMPSON.
5th Missouri Cavalry, Colonel B. Frank Gordon.
11th Missouri Cavalry, Colonel Moses W. Smith.
12th Missouri Cavalry, Colonel David Shanks.
Elliott's (Missouri) Cavalry, Colonel Benj. Elliott.
Slayback's (Missouri) Cavalry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo W. Slayback.
Collins' (Missouri) Battery, Captain Richard A. Collins.
Jackman's Brigade
Colonel SIDNEY D. JACKMAN.
Jackman's (Missouri) Cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel C. H. Nichols.
Hunter's (Missouri) Cavalry, Colonel De Witt C. Hunter.
Williams' (Missouri) Cavalry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel D. A. Williams.
Schnable's (Missouri) Cavalry Battalion,
Lieutenant Colonel John A. Schnable.
Collins' (Missouri) battery (one section), Lieutenant Jacob D. Connor.
Unattached
46th Arkansas (mounted), Colonel W. O. Coleman.
Tyler's Brigade
Colonel CHARLES H. TYLER.
Perkins' (Missouri) Cavalry, Colonel Caleb Perkins.
Coffee's (Missouri) Cavalry,* Colonel John T. Coffee.
Searcy's (Missouri) Cavalry, Colonel James J. Searcy.
HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S DIVISION,
Doniphan, Mo., September 19, 1864
Colonel L. A. MACLEAN:
I arrived here with my command at 3.30 o'clock this evening, and am encamped in and around the place. A Federal scout about 100 strong came into town this morning at 10 o'clock, burnt it, and left again rapidly. They were supposed to be either from Ironton or Patterson, and had no intimation of our approach, so the citizens say. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson with forty men fought them long enough this morning to prevent them from burning the mill one mile below the town. I will send 150 men, under Johnston, to surprise and attack them at daylight in the morning, believing they will encamp at Ponder's Mill to-night. Although this mill is directly on your road, yet the distance from where you will encamp to-night will be too great for you to reach them, and, therefore, I have taken the liberty to send after them. Am I right or not? Johnson has recruited 100 Missourians in the last week, and I have ordered him with his men to report to his regiment. I send him because he is well acquainted with the country. I desire to make due apology to General Fagan for trespassing on his line of march. Johnson will join him to-morrow.
Very respectfully,
JO. O. SHELBY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
Let me know where you will camp to-morrow night by return courier.
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HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S DIVISION,
Patterson, Mo., September 22, 1864.
Colonel L. A. MACLEAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: I reached Patterson early to-day and found about seventy-five Federal cavalry in the place who were charged by Colonel Elliott; 14 killed and several wounded. There had been two companies of infantry here also, but they left yesterday morning, taking all their supplies with them, and the cavalry had been saddled for two days. I only traveled ten miles to-day, consequent upon my being so much in advance of the main body. I would respectfully ask permission to make a forced march to-morrow upon Fredericktown to prevent the removal of the stores there. If this should be granted you will please inform me by courier; otherwise I will not reach that town until day after to-morrow. The Federals from Patterson went in that direction. I shall burn the fort here, with all the barracks and stables, together with a large number of tents left standing. They have evidently heard of our approach. I captured the telegraph apparatus at this post, and have secured the battery, magnets, and everything necessary to open communication at any point. Let me know where you will camp tomorrow night.
Very respectfully,
JO. O. SHELBY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
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HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S DIVISION,
Fredericktown, Mo., September 24, 1864.
Colonel L. A. MACLEAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Missouri:
COLONEL: After a forced march of thirty-three miles I reached Fredericktown last night, while the lightning and the rain and the cold northwest wind told of winter rapidly approaching. One hundred and fifty Federals had been stationed here, but they left for Pilot Knob early yesterday morning, and the merchants had commenced moving their stores two days before my arrival, so between the fleeing Federals and the terror-stricken citizens Fredericktown was stripped as bare of supplies as a dark and rainy sea. I send you the Republican of the 21st, which tells, and there is no doubt of it, that General A. J. Smith is in Saint Louis with a force. They are mostly infantry, however, and cannot be in our way. Plenty of forage here, but nothing else. The stern rigors of war have preyed upon the country, and suffering and exhaustion follow in the train. In my occupation of Patterson 15 more Federals were killed than I at first reported. I shall remain here until your arrival.
Very respectfully,
JO. O. SHELBY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
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Numbers 94. Report of Colonel Sidney D. Jackman, Jackman's Missouri Cavalry, commanding brigade.
HDQRS. JACKMAN'S Brigadier, SHELBY'S DIV., ARMY OF MO.,
Clarksville, Tex., November 30, 1864.
On the 8th and 9th of September, by an order from General Shelby, I moved in the direction of Hookrum, near which point I camped for several days. On the 14th I received orders to move to Pocahontas. I reached its vicinity on the 17th and encamped at Bollinger's Mills, on Fourche de Mas. On the 19th I moved to Doniphan, on the border of Missouri. The town had been recently sacked and evacuated by a small force of the enemy. Under an order from General Shelby I furnished a detail of thirty men to Colonel Johnson, who started in pursuit and overtook him some twenty miles distant. During a little engagement that followed we sustained a loss of 2 men killed and 5 wounded. (Remaining portion of the report has been removed due to length and no additional reference to Doniphan, Pitman Ferry or Ripley County)
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. D. JACKMAN,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Major EDWARDS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S DIVISION,
December-, 1864.
COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report, embracing a detailed account of my operations in Missouri during the recent expedition of General Price:
On the 12th of September I moved camp from Sulphur Rock, Ark., toward Pocahontas in anticipation of the arrival of the army, and on the 19th, after having received my instructions, started for Missouri, and encamped in Doniphan. Before arriving there, however, couriers from Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, of Marmaduke's command, brought information that 100 Federals were in the town and pressing him back. I immediately started forward sufficient re-enforcements, but the enemy fled before reaching them, burning the helpless and ill-fated town. That night I dispatched 150th men under Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson to pursue the vandals. They came upon them early the next morning [20th], attacked, scattered, and killed many of them. I pushed on then rapidly for Patterson, destroying on the way the bloody rendezvous of the notorious Leeper, and on the morning of the 22nd I surrounded and charged in upon the town. Its garrison, hearing of my advance, retreated hastily, but not before many were captured and killed, and some supplies taken. All the Government portion of Patterson was destroyed, together with its strong and ugly fort. (FORT BENTON)
By a long and forced march the next day Fredericktown was reached to prevent, if possible, the removal of the goods there; but the news had outstripped our fastest horses, and nothing was left but the shadow. A scouting party from my command, under Captains Johnson and Shaw, dashed into Farmington, surrounded a strong court-house held by thirty Federals, and captured them, with great quantities of goods.
Remaining three days at Fredericktown, I started early on the morning of the 26th for the Iron Mountain Railroad, the heavy clouds overheard dark and portentous with impending destruction, and encamped five miles from the doomed track, the whistle of the familiar locomotives sounding merrily and shrill on the air as if no enemy were watching and
waiting for the coming daylight.
Early in the dim morning Colonel Benjamin Elliott was sent to Irondale to destroy the bridge there, and Colonel B. Frank Gordon to the three bridges over Big River, below, while with the rest of the command I struck the road equidistant between the two points. As my advance came in sight a locomotive thundered by with one car attacked loaded with soldiers fleeing from the wrath to come, which was immediately fired upon. Some slight obstructions had been placed upon the track by the advanced scouts, which delayed the train a few moments, but before any force could possibly have been brought up the locomotive went fleeing on, urged by hands that feared the avengers of blood.
Gordon and Elliott did their work well, as they ever do, and Elliott, after destroying the splendid bridge at Irondale and helping himself to what supplies he needed, commenced upon the track. Gordon burnt the first of this three bridges without opposition, but at Mineral Point a brigade of Smith's infantry seemed inclined to oppose him. Going straight at them they made but little fight, and retreated rapidly toward Saint Louis. The fine bridge there was then burned and one still farther down, and now the work of destruction began in earnest. The whole command was deployed in a new line of battle, called the railroad line; that is, each man took position at the end of a tie, the rails were broken at intervals of a thousand yards, and then when the word was given and the united strength of a thousand hands was taxed great masses and flakes of wood and iron were torn from the yielding bed, lifted up on end, and hurled groaning, grinding, and crashing fifty rods sheer away from the parent grade. Thus for miles and miles a terrible plowshare ripped up the labor of years, and the red flames licked up the debris, with tanks, depots, trestle-work, cord-wood and telegraph wire and poles. After spending five hours in this labor of destruction I recalled all my detachments and spurred away for Potosi. One hundred and fifty Federals were in fortifications there. My advance charged them into the court-house, gained the buildings commanding it, held them there until the artillery came up, when five rounds brought the white flag, and all their arms, with much ammunition and supplies, fell into our hands. The same work of devastation was visited upon the Potosi branch, and the fine deport with seven cars were destroyed.
A scouting party sent out under Lieutenant Plattenberg, numbering thirty men, ran into 100 Federals, killed 10, wounded 17, captured 11, 2 caissons, 30 fine artillery horses with harness complete, 7 wagon, and 23 negroes- a most daring and brilliant affair.
After remaining at Potosi until the next morning, and not receiving orders from General Price, nor, in fact, knowing the result of operations at Pilot Knob, I determined to march there with my entire command. At Caledonia I received orders to be in readiness in an hour to march with General Marmaduke in pursuit of General Ewing. All that night the chase went on, and early the next day Ewing's rear was gained and General Marmaduke, who was in advance, fought him until an hour before sunset, when my command, taking the lead, continued the fight until dark, making a heavy charge all along the line just as darkness shut out all vestiges of daylight. Night alone saved Ewing from capture, and we bivouacked upon the field of Leasburg supperless and rationless. The enemy spent their time in throwing up heavy fortifications, and it was considered best next morning not to renew the attack. September 30 I made a detour round Leasburg and marched hard for the southwest branch, which was reached at Sullivan's Station. Here the deport was destroyed, the track torn up as usual, vast quantities of lumber and cord-wood burned, with 3 passenger and 5 box cars.
...
I am, colonel, very respectfully,
JO. O. SHELBY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
Lieutenant Colonel L. A. MACLEAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Missouri.
Owing to the unfortunate accident of having all my books and papers destroyed of this expedition, there may be inaccuracies in the names of places and the dates of events, but in the whole is generally correct.
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