One hundred fifty years ago, on May 19, 1864, Confederate General J.O. Shelby begins efforts to bring irregular troops and bushwhacker bands into regular service – or else: HEADQUARTERS SHELBYS BRIGADE, Dover, Ark., May 19, 1864. Col. S. D. JACKMAN, Commanding Recruits: COLONEL: You will collect together all squads of men who may be operating in the section of country in which you may be operating, and cause them to enter the regular service; therefore you must make every exertion in your power to bring these men into the service. All men who are on the north side of the Arkansas River and have been paroled, and claim to be Vicksburg and Port Hudson prisoners, must be arrested and put into companies. All men, between the ages of sixteen and fifty who will not voluntarily enter the service must be conscripted and put into a company. You will send details under good officers to arrest all bands of jayhawkers, whether Southern or Union, who may be committing outrages upon the citizens. In all cases where the proof is sufficient against any person or persons who may be or have committed depredations upon the citizens of Arkansas, you will cause them to be shot. All squads and unorganized bands must be broken up. You will subsist and forage your command, giving proper vouchers for everything purchased. By command of Brigadier-General Shelby: W. J. McARTHUR, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 11:00:01 +0000
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