Shelby's Raid, also known as Shelby's Great RaidShelby's Great Raid is mentioned multiple times spanning across different books covering the subject. Ride Around Missouri: Shelby's Great Raid 1863, check McLachlan, Sean. 2011. General Jo Shelby: Undefeated Rebel, explore O'Flaherty, Daniel. 2000, page 189. The Great Missouri Raid: Sterling Price and the Last Major Confederate Campaign in Northern Territory refer to Forsyth, Michael J. 2015, page 44. The Fifth Season: General "JO" Shelby's Great Raid of 1863, by Scott, Mark E. 2001., was a Confederate cavalry incursion into Arkansas and Missouri during the American Civil War in 1863. Led by Colonel Joseph Orville Shelby, the raid took place from August 21, 1863, to November 3, 1863, covering over 800 miles across territories in west central and northwest Arkansas, as well as southwest and west central Missouri.
Background In December 1862, the Confederates suffered a defeat at the Battle of Prairie Grove, leading to a retreat and allowing Union forces to seize control of northwestern Arkansas. In January 1863, Fort Hindman, Arkansas fell to Union forces, weakening Confederate positions in the region. Additionally, Confederate attempts to reclaim Helena, Arkansas in July 1863 proved unsuccessful, further diminishing their control over key territories.
In September 1863, the state capital, Little Rock, Arkansas, was captured by Union forces during the Little Rock campaign, leading to the effective control of the Arkansas River Valley. Additionally, on July 3, 1863, the Confederates in the Eastern theater faced a decisive defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg. This defeat compelled General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to retreat, with casualties numbering in the thousands and making Gettysburg one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War.
In July 1863, Union victories at Vicksburg, Mississippi and Port Hudson, Louisiana opened the Mississippi River. The river served as a crucial main route for supplies and communication throughout the South, as well as an essential lifeline for goods traveling north. The succession of strategic battlefield defeats resulted in widespread demoralization and a significant number of casualties, placing a burden on Confederate forces in both the Eastern and Western theaters.
Marmaduke's raids In an attempt to uplift the morale of Missouri rebels, Brigadier General John Sappington Marmaduke initiated raids, targeting Springfield, thought to be lightly guarded, on January 8, 1863. Anticipating a surprise attack, Marmaduke's forces were detected near Dubuque, Arkansas on January 6, 1863, by Union Captain Milton Burch's forces. Burch promptly alerted Brigadier General Egbert Benson Brown, who reinforced the town with Enrolled Missouri Militia units. Facing resistance, Confederate Colonel Shelby conducted regiment-sized attacks, probing for weaknesses in the opponent's battle line. Despite attempts to charge, the Confederate forces realized their numbers were insufficient to overcome the garrison, leading to a retreat on January 9.
In April 1863, Marmaduke initiated a second raid with a 5,000-men force divided into two columns, commanded by Colonel George Washington Carter and Shelby. The objective was to attack General John McNeil's garrison in Bloomfield, Missouri. However, McNeil received advance notice of Carter's approach, prompting him to retreat to the well-fortified Cape Girardeau before Carter's arrival. Despite orders not to pursue McNeil, Carter disobeyed, leading to a minor engagement with artillery bombardment involving both Confederate and Union forces. Subsequently, General Marmaduke decided to order a retreat back to Arkansas. This retreat allowed McNeil to pursue and successfully repel the Confederate forces.
Raid plans Colonel Shelby launched a political campaign to generate and gain approval for his raid. Shelby's men were ready to fight, however final approval needed to come from the Missouri governor. Colonel Shelby presented the idea of the Great Raid to Missouri Governor-in-exile Thomas Reynolds. His objectives extended beyond challenging the perceived Union control in Missouri. The following desired outcomes was presented:Castel, Albert. General Sterling Price and The Civil War in the West. 1968. Reprint. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1996, p. 160.
Bolster his command: Recruiting more Missourians and uplift the morale of pro-Confederate residents. Divert federal troops to Missouri, hindering their reinforcement of the Union campaign in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Governor Reynolds said the following to Shelby: "You must not fail; the buff sash of a Confederate Brigadier awaits the successful issue." Reynolds pledged a promotion to brigadier general for Shelby if the raid proved successful.
The disastrous political climate also facilitated Reynolds' decision in approving the raid, as not to risk upsetting Missouri troops.O'Flaherty, Daniel. General Jo Shelby: Undefeated Rebel. University of North Carolina Press, 2000, pp. 188
Initially hesitant, Marmaduke reluctantly granted authority to Major General Theophilus Hunter Holmes for the proposed raid. Following a tumultuous argument, Holmes eventually conceded and agreed to the plan. General Sterling Price, after officially consenting, forwarded the proposal to General Edmund Kirby Smith for ultimate approval. Shelby received orders to launch the raid despite the uncertainty surrounding the chain of command for the operation. Final approval came from Price on August 21O'Flaherty, Daniel. General Jo Shelby: Undefeated Rebel. University of North Carolina Press, 2000, pp. 191-192.Kirby, Robert L. Kirby Smith's Confederacy: The Trans-Mississippi South 1863-1865. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1972, p. 234.
The raid's advance
Arkansas River crossing On September 22, departing from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Shelby's combined force of 600 to 700 men navigated through Federal territory in Missouri. Shelby's unit reached the Arkansas River, crossing the river on September 27 without detection. They crossed into the town of Rossville where Shelby sent a detachment of scouts to Clarksville, Dardanelle, and Ozark to spot Federal troops. While they passed through Huntsville and Bentonville, they committed sabotage on the telegraph wires located Fayetteville Road, which was destroyed as well.Hulston, John K., and James W. Goodrich. "John Trousdale Coffee: Lawyer, Politician, Confederate." Missouri Historical Review 77, no. 3 (April 1983): 276.
Strategic reinforcement At around October 1, Colonel DeWitt Clinton Hunter joined forces with Shelby's formation at McKissick Spring, Arkansas, bolstering their ranks with 200 newly recruited cavalrymen from southwest Missouri.McLachlan, Sean. "Ride Around Missouri: Shelby's Great Raid 1863." 2011, p. 33. The unified troops, under the command of Shelby, proceeded to Pineville, Missouri, on October 2. There, they encountered Colonel John Trousdale Coffee and his contingent of 400 men, who also joined Shelby's forces. Just north of Pineville, Shelby paused for the night to organize and strengthen his force.
Neosho Now numbering between 1,200 and 1,300 men, Shelby launched an attack on a Federal garrison in Neosho. The garrison hosted an estimated 165 to 185 soldiers from three companies of the 6th Missouri State Militia Cavalry and some Enrolled Missouri Militia, under the command of Captain Charles Bingley McAfee.Liebmann, August George. The McAfee-Skiles-Liebmann Memorial: The History of the Lives and Times of Three American Soldiers and Their Families and Connections. Chicago, Ill.: A.G. Liebmann, 1929. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, p. 69. McAfee recently departed from Neosho where he would encounter Coffee's cavalrymen two miles south of Neosho. McAfee ordered a retreat towards the town where they positioned themselves there. Coffee's men circled the town from the rear while Gordon's men took the right flank, and Shanks' men onto the left flank. Shelby, Hooper, and Hunter directed the artillery fire north towards Neosho in a bid to corner the troops into the center of the town, where the courthouse was located. The garrison fell for the trap and small arms fire was exchanged defending the courthouse. Shebly directed the cannon towards the courthouse, after two shots, Shelby demanded the Federals to surrender. After much protest from McAfee, they surrendered. McAfee surrendered 180 men in his command. McAfee reported Shelby's casualties at five killed and nine wounded. Shelby reported McAfee's casualties as two killed and two wounded. Shelby's forces gained extra weapons, ammunition, food, and clothing.Hulston, John K., and James W. Goodrich. "John Trousdale Coffee: Lawyer, Politician, Confederate." Missouri Historical Review 77, no. 3 (April 1983): p. 276."War of The Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." Series 1, Volume 22 - In Two Parts. Part 1. Washington Government Printing Office, 1888, p. 657, 672. Shelby left Neosho to go travel northeast to Sarcoxie.Sellmeyer, Deryl P. Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, 2007, p. 128.
Stopping at Jones Creek for a five-hour rest, they resumed their journey, passing through Sarcoxie. Once reaching Bowers Mill, the raiders plundered and set ablaze the town, after considering it a safe harbor for Union militias.McLachlan, Sean. "Ride Around Missouri: Shelby's Great Raid 1863." 2011, p. 34.
Greenfield On October 5, Shelby's forces reached Greenfield. Shebly's advanced guard went into brief combat with Capt. E. J. Morris' 7th Provisional Enrolled Missouri. After failing to stop the advance, Morris' men scattered into the dense vegetation before the town was surrounded. Major Wick Morgan, leading a company, from the 7th as well, was near by the town and engaged in skirmish. Shelby eventually took the town, taking four prisoners, twenty-five rifles, horses, provisions from the stores, and burned the courthouse.
Stockton Beyond Greenfield, the town of Stockton lay in Shelby's path. Before Shelby's arrival, the local residents had evacuated their homes, taking all their furniture and belongings with them. There was an expectation that Shelby's forces would engage in destruction as they advanced. Contrary to the expectations, Shelby's forces didn't harm any private property. The soldiers passed by without disturbing the residents' possessions left outside. Shelby's forces fought the Federals guarding the courthouse and proceeded to burn down it down, this engagement resulted in twenty-five killed or captured Federals.Edwards, John Newman. "Shelby and His Men." 1867. Reprint. Waverly, MO: General Joseph Shelby Memorial Fund, 1993. p. 204.
Humansville Shelby's forces arrived at Humansville on October 6, and engaged in minor skirmishes. Journalist John Newman Edwards would recount: " Gordon, swinging around to its rear, cut off the retreat of one hundred and fifty Federal cavalry, and they surrendered after losing 17 killed."Edwards, John Newman. "Shelby and His Men." 1867. Reprint. Waverly, MO: General Joseph Shelby Memorial Fund, 1993. p. 205. After the brief battle with the local Missouri militia, they seized 30 wagons laden with commissary provisions. While at Humansville, Shelby sent a detachment led by Lieutenant Thomas Keithley, who successfully compelled a Federal garrison of 35 men to retreat in Osceola. Keithley then ignited the Federal fort before rejoining at Humansville without incurring any casualties."War of The Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." Series 1, Volume 22 - In Two Parts. Part 1. Washington Government Printing Office, 1888, p. 607,611,674.
Tracking Shelby's movements