Shelby's Raid (1863)

Joseph O. Shelby

Shelby's Great Raid was an 1863 Confederate cavalry raid through the Trans-Mississippi Theater in the American Civil War. Colonel Joseph Shelby fought numerous skirmishes and caused great disruption in Missouri before withdrawing back to Arkansas. This raid cemented Shelby's reputation as a cavalry commander and revealed that Missouri was still vulnerable to cavalry raids late in the war.

The raid

Shelby's raiders departed Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on September 22, 1863, and the raid did not end until October 26, 1863. Involving 800 soldiers, twelve ammunition wagons, and two pieces of Artillery, the raid was a success. Shelby reported that during the thirty days he killed and wounded six hundred Federals, he had captured and paroled another 600. He had captured and destroyed ten union forts, seizing $800,000 dollars in military supplies, which included 600 rifles, forty stands of colors, 399 hundred wagons, 6,000 horses and mules. He had also destroyed another million dollars in enemy supplies. His own loses would be major, as about one man in six did not return from the raid..

The "Battle of Marshall" and withdrawal

As Union militia were finally beginning to concentrate, a vigorous engagement at Marshall, Missouri, on October 13 prompted Shelby to divide his forces and withdraw from the state.

Results

Jo Shelby was promoted to brigadier general in the Confederate Army as a result of this successful raid. Shelby claimed to have traveled 1,500 miles, inflicted 600 casualties, and captured or destroyed $1 million worth of goods during the raid.

References

Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 22 (Part I), page 621-
McLachlan, Sean. (2011) Ride Around Missouri; Shelby's Great Raid 1863. Osprey Raid Series #25. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-429-1

External links

Denny, James M., The Battle of Marshall

Missouri in the American Civil War

1861	Governor refuses to furnish quota of militia to the United States Seizure of United States Arsenal at Liberty Seizure of United States ordnance stores at Kansas City Capture of Camp Jackson Convention between Brig. Gen. William S. Harney, U. S. Army, and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, Missouri State Guard Engagement at Boonville Skirmish at Cole Camp Engagement near Carthage Skirmish at Athens Martial law declared in St. Louis Battle of Wilson's Creek Action at Dry Wood Creek Siege of Lexington Action at Blue Mills Landing Destruction of Osceola Operations about Ironton and Fredericktown Action at Springfield Engagement at Belmont Missouri admitted as a member of the Confederate States of America Brig. Gen. John M. Schofield, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Missouri Militia Skirmish at Blackwater Creek Action at Mount Zion Church

1862	Action at Roan's Tan-Yard Operations at New Madrid Brig. Gen. Mosby M. Parsons, Mo. S. G., assumes command of the Missouri State Guard Action at Moore's Mill Action at Kirksville Action at Independence Action at Lone Jack Engagement at Newtonia Skirmish at Island Mound Action at Clark's Mill

1863	Engagement at Springfield Engagement at Hartville Action at Cape Girardeau Skirmish at Chalk Bluff Enrolled Militia of Missouri placed under command of Maj. Gen. Schofield Shelby's raid in Arkansas and Missouri

1864	Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, C. S. Army, assumes command of the expeditionary forces at Princeton, Ark. Price's enters Missouri Affair at Centralia Attack on Fort Davidson Action at Glasgow Action at Lexington Action at the Little Blue Action at Independence Action at the Big Blue Engagement at Westport Engagement at the Marmiton Engagement at Newtonia

1865	Negotiations for the surrender of the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department Gen. E. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, surrenders troops in Trans-Mississippi Department

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