Joseph Orville Shelby was born on December 12, 1830 in Lexington, Kentucky. The Shelby family was one of Kentucky's wealthiest and influential families. J. O. Shelby attended Transylvania University and was engaged in rope manufacturing until 1852 when he moved to Waverly, Missouri. In Waverly, he engaged in various enterprises including steam-boating on the Missouri and a hemp plantation. Being successful, Shelby became a member of the Missouri's social and political elite.

Early in the Civil War he entered the Missouri State Guard and his assignments included: captain, Shelby's Ranger Company, Missouri State Guard (spring 1861); colonel, 5th Missouri Cavalry (1862); commanding brigade, Marmaduke's Cavalry Division, Ist Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department (summer December 1862); commanding brigade, Marmaduke's Cavalry Division, District of Arkansas, Trans-Mississippi Department January-July 4, 1863 and late 1863-September 1864); brigadier general, CSA (December 15, 1863); commanding division, Army of Missouri, Trans-Mississippi Department (September 18-September 1864); and commanding lst (Missouri) Cavalry Brigade, lst (Missouri) Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department (September 1864-May 26, 1865).

As a company commander he fought at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, and Pea Ridge before being sent back to Missouri to raise a regiment. As a colonel in charge of a brigade in John S. Marmaduke's mounted division, he fought at Prairie Grove and was wounded at Helena. Upon his recovery he was promoted to brigadier general and led a brigade at Jenkins' Ferry.

During Price's invasion of Missouri in the late summer and fall of 1864 he led a cavalry division. When the Confederacy's collapse came he refused to surrender and led part of his force to Mexico where they unsuccessfully offered their services to either side.

Having heard that Lincoln liked the idea of having former Confederate soldiers oust Emperor Maximilian from Mexico, Shelby decided that he had found a way to save their honor, spread their lost Southern empire, and gain riches and glory all at the same time.

Marching from camp at Corsicana, Texas, behind their war-scarred guidon or flag, the brigade passed through Waco, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and other towns, declaring martial law and discouraging looters. In a funereal ceremony they buried their Confederate battle flag in the murky waters of the Rio Grande before heading into Mexico.

But Shelby's men did not want to join Mexican guerrillas to fight the emperor's forces. Identifying themselves as "imperialists," the "Iron Brigade" headed for Mexico City to offer their services to Emperor Maximilian. Along the way they spilled the blood of guerrillas and bandits, and in the name of diehard chivalry, they carried out a fiery, bloody attack on a hacienda to rescue an imprisoned woman. Once in Mexico City, the "Iron Brigade" discovered its march to have been futile, and in a bittersweet final review, Shelby said good-bye. The fate of the brigade's guidon is unknown.

 He then returned to his business interests in Missouri. Shelby began growing wheat near Lexington, promoting railroads and operating coal mines. In 1893, Shelby was appointed U. S. Marshal by President Grover Cleveland and held that position until his death on February 13, 1897.

 In April, 1863, Confederate Maj. General John S. Marmaduke initiated one of the most memorable movements of the war which led to the Battle of Cape Girardeau. He invaded Missouri with 5,000 men and ten pieces of artillery from Arkansas. His forces were organized into four brigades striking in two columns. One column, commanded by General Jo Shelby entered the state to the west while the second, commanded by General Carter entered to the east. The two columns met at Patterson on April 20 and took the town but Federal forces, alerted by artillery fire, escaped north in the direction of Pilot Knob.

  Carter's column, accompanied Gen. Marmaduke, was to attach and defeat Col. John McNeil and a considerable Union force then holding Bloomfield. Shelby's column captured and occupied Fredericktown on April 22, hoping to defeat McNeil if he tried to escape toward Pilot Knob. While in Fredericktown, Shelby sent a detachment to burn the railroad bridge over Big River, which was accomplished after a severe skirmish. Carter reached Bloomfield on April 21st, and McNeil retreated toward Pilot Knob, as anticipated, with Carter in close pursuit. Upon learning that Shelby occupied Fredericktown, McNeil turned his force and retreated toward Cape Girardeau. Carter followed him to within four miles of the city and sent word to Shelby in Fredericktown for reinforcements. The messengers were captured, however, and it was April 25th before Shelby learned Carter was at Cape Girardeau.

  On April 26, Shelby led his troops to Cape Girardeau by way of the Jackson Road and created a demonstration as a diversion while Marmaduke drew off Carter's men by the Bloomfield Road. The demonstration escalated into an artillery duel with Union troops and Marmaduke brought Carter's men around to the Jackson Road to support Shelby. The brunt of the fighting fell on Fort B, the present site of Southeast Missouri State University, which was armed with four twenty-four pound guns. There were four twelve pound guns on a hill to the southwest of Fort B and a line of rifle pits. These were charged by the Confederates. The battle lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. when Marmaduke, finding the town well defended, retreated to Jackson. Accounts of the number killed vary. A marker, located near Broadway and Caruthers Street in Cape Girardeau, reminds visitors of the site of the battle. 

Price's Raid in Missouri - September to October of 1864

In July of 1864, when transfer of A. J. Smith's corps and XIX Corps had weakened federal strength in Louisiana, Kirby Smith directed Taylor to cross with his two divisions to the east side of the Mississippi. After several unsuccessful attempts Kirby Smith accepted the fact that he would have to confine his operations to the area west of the river. He decided to attempt the recovery of Missouri by sending Sterling Price into that state with all available cavalry.

Price left Princeton, Arkansas in August with the cavalry divisions of J. F. Fagan and John S. Marmaduke. Crossing the Arkansas River unmolested between the Federal garrisons at Little Rock and Fort Smith, he marched through Batesville to Pocahontas, in the northeast part of the state. Here he was joined by the cavalry division of J. O. Shelby. With a force that now totaled 12,000 men and 14 guns, he entered Missouri on September 19 and advanced on a broad front. At Fredericktown he concentrated his forces on the 25th. At Pilot Knob (Fort Davidson), on September 27, he was repulsed in a bloody six-hour fight by 1,100 Federals under Thomas Ewing. The losses were approximately 1,500 Confederates and 200 Federals. Ewing secretly evacuated the post during the night, and blew it up.

When Price started his raid, A. J. Smith's corps with a cavalry brigade was aboard transports on the Mississippi for movement to Nashville. (They had been operating against Forrest in Mississippi.) This command was diverted to assist in the defense of Missouri. Price advanced toward St. Louis, but the arrival there of A. J. Smith's troops precluded his attacking the city. Ewing, meanwhile, had been conducting a delaying action, while Pleasonton with 7,000 cavalry and eight guns advanced to his support. Price wheeled to the west, along the south bank of the Missouri River. Destroying sections of the Pacific R.R. as they went, the confederates occupied Hermann on October 5; by-passed Jefferson City, October 7, and took Boonville, October 9. Shelby captured Glasgow, October 15, having forced the surrender of over 400 Federals under Colonel Chester Harding, Jr. The same day Shelby captured Sedalia after stampeding about 700 men under the command of Colonel J. D. Crawford.

Although thousands of state militia had been mobilized, Price continued westward, skirmishing daily, but unopposed by any organized resistance. Pleasonton followed to his rear, while A. J. Smith's troops and Colonel J. E. Phelps's Missouri militia moved on his south flank. Meanwhile, in the pre-election confusion of Kansas an order had been issued mobilizing 10,000 militia. Some of these regiments refused to cross into Missouri, but J. G. Blunt moved eastward with the 2nd Colorado and 16th Kansas. Twenty miles east of Lexington, at Waverly, Missouri (Shelby's hometown), Blunt made contact with Price's leading brigade. (This was "Shelby's Brigade," under M. Jeff Thompson, who had succeeded David Shanks when the latter was mortally wounded on October 6.)

Federal resistance was now stiffening. There were actions at Lexington, October 19; Little Blue River, October 21; and Independence, Big Blue (Bryam's Ford) and State Line October 22. Federal General Samuel Curtis, commanding the Department of Kansas had now come forward and had been driven from his initial position along the Big Blue on October 22, when Shelby found an exposed flank. During the night of October 22-23, Curtis organized a new line along Brush Creek, just south of Kansas City and Westport. Price now had Federals to his front and rear. Although he had an open route of retreat to the south, he elected to attempt to use his central position first to defeat the forces of Curtis to his front and then turn and destroy the forces of Pleasonton and A. J. Smith. The next day the Confederates were defeated in the battle of Westport, Missouri, which has been called by some, the biggest Civil War Engagement west of the Missouri.

After retreating for 61 miles, Price halted to fight a costly rear-guard action at Marais des Cygnes, Kansas on October 25. Confederate Generals Marmaduke and W. L. Cabell were captured along with four colonels, 1,000 men, and 10 guns. Other delaying actions were fought the same day at Little Osage or Mine Creek, Kansas, and at the Marmiton, or the battle of Charlot, Missouri. Price again turned at bay near Newtonia, Missouri on October 28, delaying the pursuit three hours and almost capturing Blunt.

Price made an arduous detour through Indian Territory to avoid Fort Smith. On December 2, he re-entered the Confederate lines at Laynesport, Arkansas, with 6,000 survivors of the ordeal. In summing up his operation Price said, "I marched 1,434 miles; fought forty-three battles and skirmishes; captured and paroled over 3,000 Federal officers and men; and captured 18 pieces of artillery. Although he admitted the loss of only 10 guns, about 1,000 small arms, and fewer than 1,000 prisoners, he had lost closer to 5000 stand of arms, all his cannon, and the greater part of his army. Governor Reynolds of Missouri, who had accompanied Price, released to the press a scathing criticism, accusing Price of "glaring mismanagement and distressing mental and physical military incapacity." Organized Confederate military operations in the Trans-Mississippi region had ended, although guerrilla operations continued unabated.