Civil War History - The South & Western TheatersCheck this forum for all South and Western Theater Questions. Included are the Western, Pacific, Trans-Mississippi, & Lower Seaboard and Gulf Approach Theaters.
Book is now on order, John. Used copy $13 plus $3 S&H.
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Read the first chapter, John. Shelby claimed to have the unofficial authorization of Lincoln, through Frank Blair, to cross the Rio Grande with his troops to join the Juaristas -- and that he wa to take what he wanted and set up whatever he wanted and could hold.
What's up with that?
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Read the first chapter, John. Shelby claimed to have the unofficial authorization of Lincoln, through Frank Blair, to cross the Rio Grande with his troops to join the Juaristas -- and that he wa to take what he wanted and set up whatever he wanted and could hold.
What's up with that?
Ole
I know I am slowly losing my memory but wasn’t Lincoln pushing up daisies long before Shelby started his run to Mexico? Shelby was heading to Mexico in fear of being tossed in prison if was caught or surrendered. It just does not sound right. Who was Frank Blair anyway?
Bill
I know I am slowly losing my memory but wasn’t Lincoln pushing up daisies long before Shelby started his run to Mexico? Shelby was heading to Mexico in fear of being tossed in prison if was caught or surrendered. It just does not sound right. Who was Frank Blair anyway?
Bill: It was explained that Frank Blair approached Shelby with the idea before Lincoln's death, and that Shelby, in his later years, considered that authorization by Lincoln.
Frank Blair, son of Montgomery Blair, cabinet member, was a Union General and Missouri native -- so his access to Shelby and Lincoln is somewhat believable.
There was some cabinet agitation for Lincoln to offer the Confederacy a joint war against the French in Mexico in order to divert the fighting towards a common goal and thus cause the war to peter out. As I recall, Lincoln rejected the idea.
Furthermore, O'Flaherty uses as support for government complicity Sheridan's request for orders to go to Texas and pursue Shelby. Get this: the orders didn't come! -- implying government approval of Shelby's move into Mexico.
By the way. When looking up the footnoted claim, I found onionskin carbons of Roy Basler's review of the book and his review of another work, together with a note from UNCP requesting Basler's review.
(For the youngers who do not recognize "onionskin carbons." Many years ago there were mechanical things called typewriters and there were no Xerox machines. If you wanted a copy of what you typed you put in a sandwich of two sheets of paper with a carbon-paper center. If you wanted more than one copy, you used a thin paper called onionskin to cut down on the bulk.)
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I know I am slowly losing my memory but wasn’t Lincoln pushing up daisies long before Shelby started his run to Mexico? Shelby was heading to Mexico in fear of being tossed in prison if was caught or surrendered. It just does not sound right. Who was Frank Blair anyway?
Bill
I reckon that question about Frank Blair is already answered, so I'll just comment on that "run to Mexico" and "fear of being tossed in prison" part.
You make it sound like a BAD thing.
J.O. Shelby and the Missouri boys in the Iron Brigade had been fightin' the invaders sense before the beginning of the War of Northern Agression. They'd lost everything; homes, farms, friends and families. There was nothing left for 'em back home. The Dang'd Yankees had moved in and taken over all the prime real estate and the Radical Republicans in office were forcin' Southern sympathizers to take an Iron Clad Oath and put up enoromous bonds just to stick around and have reconstruction shoved down their throats.
They fought honorably. They couldn't stand for that kinda treatment. It took courage to cross over the Rio Grande. Real Courage! They weren't afraid of nothin'. They were just doing what they knew how to do and trying to survive.
Regarding his connection to the Republicans in Washington, I'll say that when he came back, he was a strong adovcate for them even though most Southerners were Democrats and he supported U.S. Grant in his run for the White House. Grant respected Shelby so much he appointed him US Marshal for the Western District of Missouri.
Regarding his connection to the Republicans in Washington, I'll say that when he came back, he was a strong adovcate for them even though most Southerners were Democrats and he supported U.S. Grant in his run for the White House. Grant respected Shelby so much he appointed him US Marshal for the Western District of Missouri.
Hey, he wasn't alone, Longstreet joined the Republican party. For this he was snubbed, by ex-confederates, for years.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
A bit more on Shelby. As a 14-year old in Lexington, he hung around with his 19-year old step-brother, Howard Gartz; his cousin, Frank Blair; good friend Gartz Brown who became post-war governor of Missouri; and John Hunt Morgan.
It is interesting to note the impact these five had on the war and its aftermath. Two of them became steadfast loyalists and three cast their lot with the Confederacy. All were close buddies until the time came for each to make his own way in the world.
Just an addition.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Eventually I will learn to check sources rather than rely on memory. Montgomery Blair was Frank's brother. Their father, Francis Blair, Sr. was influential in Washington during the antebellum period. His sons followed him.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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