civk000028p0160 |
Previous | 160 of 461 | Next |
|
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
Loading content ...
60 SHELBY AND HIS MEN; OR,
roads, and upon the dark, clammy soil of the cotton-fields. The
future had nothing in store but intolerable beef, everlasting rain-
storms, and a life of cooped-up starvation and misery. Suffering
yet great pain from his wound, Colonel Shelby determined to ob-
tain permission for an expedition to Missouri, that he might
strike a series of rapid blows, recruit his decimated and war-
worn ranks, and keep alive in the hearts of his friends that spirit
of opposition and hatred of Federal rule worthy to be ranked
among the best virtues of the human heart.
Wait a little, said Shelby to one of his natures-his selfish
nature-wait a little. They think I can command a regiment
very well, and, under orders, maybe a brigade, but they do not
know what thoughts are burning in this brain of mine. Wait
until I am alone with my own men on the great prairies of Mis-
souri, where blood, and courage, and physical endurance have
free and powerful sway. Red tape shall fall away from my su-
periors like burnt tow, and I will electrify and dazzle the army.
They fear for my freezing-these delicate commanders of ours.
Not when hourly fights keep the blood warm, and the long, steady
gallop circulates it fiercely. They speak of danger, too. Yes,
ahead it is dark and terrifying, but I intend to familiarize my
men with it until they can sport with it, court it, and toss it away
as a child does a plaything. What lost White river?-danger.
Helena?-danger. Little Rock?-danger. The Arkansas and
the Washita?-danger, danger, always danger. Dangers are
all around us. In the ague of the swamps, the fever of the
camps, the dearth of food, the bullets of the field, the incom-
petency of generals, and I want to get away a little. Give
me only a thousand men and I will march one thousand miles,
fight one hundred fights-freeze, starve, suffer and endure
-but I will triumph. They don't know Joe Shelby yet-
wait a little. If I ride from river to river-from the Washita
with its lilies to the Missouri with its icicles, what then? If
I kill, wound and capture one thousand men, burn a dozen
forts, gather to the ranks five hundred soldiers, mount, arm,
and equip all-what then? I am lucky, or fortunate, or suc-
cessful. Precisely, and the country needs just some such
luck. She is weak, and emaciated, and tottering fearfully. I
will bring tonics from the North, and cordials, and lint, and band-
ages. Only the tonics will be the music of battle, the cordials
shouts of victory, and lint and binding the great, strapping
bronzed Missourians returning southward with the memories of
great things dared and heroic things accomplished. Wait a
little!
Object Description
| Title | Shelby and his men, or, the war in the west |
| Author | Edwards, John N. (John Newman), 1839-1889 |
| Subject.LCSH |
Shelby, Joseph Orville, 1830-1897 Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Arkansas -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 |
| Coverage | United State -- Missouri |
| Source |
Digital reproduction based on reprint edition republished by his wife Jennie Edwards, Kansas City, Mo. : Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co., 1897 Originally published: Cincinnati, Ohio : Miami printing and publishing, 1867. |
| Language | English |
| Date.Original | 1897 |
| Date.Digital | 2003? |
| Type |
Books and pamphlets |
| Format | JPEG |
| Collection Name | Civil War in Missouri - Monographs |
| Editorial Note | All blank pages have been eliminated |
| Publisher.Digital | University of Missouri Digital Library Production Services |
| Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please contact contributing institution for information. |
| Contributing Institution |
University of Missouri--Columbia. Libraries |
| Copy Request | Contact Ellis Library Special Collection, University of Missouri - Columbia at (573) 882-0076 or email: SpecialCollections@missouri.edu |
Description
| Title | civk000028p0160 |
| Description | 60 SHELBY AND HIS MEN; OR, roads, and upon the dark, clammy soil of the cotton-fields. The future had nothing in store but intolerable beef, everlasting rain- storms, and a life of cooped-up starvation and misery. Suffering yet great pain from his wound, Colonel Shelby determined to ob- tain permission for an expedition to Missouri, that he might strike a series of rapid blows, recruit his decimated and war- worn ranks, and keep alive in the hearts of his friends that spirit of opposition and hatred of Federal rule worthy to be ranked among the best virtues of the human heart. Wait a little, said Shelby to one of his natures-his selfish nature-wait a little. They think I can command a regiment very well, and, under orders, maybe a brigade, but they do not know what thoughts are burning in this brain of mine. Wait until I am alone with my own men on the great prairies of Mis- souri, where blood, and courage, and physical endurance have free and powerful sway. Red tape shall fall away from my su- periors like burnt tow, and I will electrify and dazzle the army. They fear for my freezing-these delicate commanders of ours. Not when hourly fights keep the blood warm, and the long, steady gallop circulates it fiercely. They speak of danger, too. Yes, ahead it is dark and terrifying, but I intend to familiarize my men with it until they can sport with it, court it, and toss it away as a child does a plaything. What lost White river?-danger. Helena?-danger. Little Rock?-danger. The Arkansas and the Washita?-danger, danger, always danger. Dangers are all around us. In the ague of the swamps, the fever of the camps, the dearth of food, the bullets of the field, the incom- petency of generals, and I want to get away a little. Give me only a thousand men and I will march one thousand miles, fight one hundred fights-freeze, starve, suffer and endure -but I will triumph. They don't know Joe Shelby yet- wait a little. If I ride from river to river-from the Washita with its lilies to the Missouri with its icicles, what then? If I kill, wound and capture one thousand men, burn a dozen forts, gather to the ranks five hundred soldiers, mount, arm, and equip all-what then? I am lucky, or fortunate, or suc- cessful. Precisely, and the country needs just some such luck. She is weak, and emaciated, and tottering fearfully. I will bring tonics from the North, and cordials, and lint, and band- ages. Only the tonics will be the music of battle, the cordials shouts of victory, and lint and binding the great, strapping bronzed Missourians returning southward with the memories of great things dared and heroic things accomplished. Wait a little! |
| Source | Shelby and His Men |
| Type | Books and monographs |
| Format | JPEG |
| Identifier | civk000028p0160.jpg |
| Collection Name | Civil War in Missouri - Monographs |
| Editorial Note | All blank pages have been eliminated |
| Publisher.Digital | University of Missouri Digital Library Production Services |
| Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please contact koppk@umsystem.edu for more information. |
| Copy Request | Contact Ellis Library special collection at: SpecialCollections@missouri.edu |
