One hundred fifty years ago, on July 17, 1864, Confederate Gen. J.O. Shelby approves a plan to ransack eastern Arkansas: HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE FORCES, July 17, 1864. Col. A. S. DOBBIN, Commanding, &c. : COLONEL: Your suggestions in regard to breaking up the plantations on the Mississippi River are entirely satisfactory, and I will send you the men desired in two or three days. They would have been furnished sooner but have been absent on a fatiguing march to the railroad, in which the Tenth Illinois Cavalry were routed, with the loss of 50 killed, 100 captured, with the additional gain of 1 wagon, 1 ambulance, and 200 stand of cavalry arms. Your course in regard to deserters coming to your lines is correct, being, in fact, the only way you can dispose of them. You will invariably take duplicate lists of paroles thus given, retaining one yourself, and sending the other to my inspector-general. I wrote two weeks ago to General Buford in regard to Lieutenant Casteel, of which I then informed you, and you can now inform General Buford, if you desire, that if he gives up John Yerby, or any other of our officers or men to be murdered, a stern and immediate retaliation shall be enforced in return. General Buford says in his communication, however, that your officers and men are treated as prisoners of war, only they are very securely guarded. Very respectfully, JO. O. SHELBY, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:00:00 +0000
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