Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade [Hardcover]

Deryl Sellmeyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2007

How Jo Shelby's troops grew into the greatest Confederate cavalry brigade west of the Mississippi. Jo Shelby's cavalry unit is considered by contemporary historians to have been one of the toughest cavalry units in the West. A descendant of one of Shelby's Brigade members, Deryl P. Sellmeyer offers an objective and even-handed view of this impressive military leader and his men. The author's decade-long research of Shelby's life and his principal officers is evident as he details the history of Shelby's Brigade from its origin in Missouri through the end of the Civil War and its eventual disbandment in Mexico.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

How Jo Shelby's troops grew into the greatest Confederate cavalry brigade west of the Mississippi.

About the Author

While reading Battles and Leaders of the Civil War in 1977, Deryl Sellmeyer stumbled across mention of a cavalry fight at Prairie DíAne, Arkansas. He recalled the name as a battle mentioned in a brief biography his late grandmother had given him of her grandfatherís life. He realized that her grandfather, a soldier in Shelbyís Brigade, had fought at Prairie DíAne, and he was hooked. He began researching voraciously, and his interest never waned. In 1983, he self-published his first book, Saline County Soldier, a brief biography of his great-great-grandfatherís service in the Civil War. After retiring in 2003, Mr. Sellmeyer completely devoted his time to completing his manuscript of the history of Shelbyís Brigade.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (July 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589804309
• ISBN-13: 978-1589804302
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He should be studied for leadership skills, June 15, 2008

By 

JDC "jchan1947" (Huntsville, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade (Hardcover)

Jo Shelby's life during the Civil War is very interestingly written about by Deryl P. Sellmeyer. Sellmeyer has done a very good accounting of the exploits that many are not aware unless you are a Civil War reader and some even may not know him well if they read Civil War history. What interest me besides the cavalry in the Civil War is the leadership abilities of those chosen to do just that, lead. Some do well and some are dismal failures i.e., Bragg, Fremont, Burnside, and Hood to name a few that come to mind. The author also gives a few insights about why the South fought the war and it was never all about slavary. If you would like to read about a pricipled man this is that sort of leader. He was not willing to set down his priciples after Lee, Johnston, and Smith surrendered and made a futile attempt in Mexico to continue his rebellion.
I believe this is the best and most detailed accurately portrayed book on Shelby. It was written in much detail of the accounts that took place under Shelby and his command. I believe those who have interest in the west of the Mississippi battles and campaigns will find this book of value

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for Civil War buffs!, December 15, 2007

By 

Tammy Hutchings (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade (Hardcover)

Mr. Sellmeyer shows great interest and passion in detailing the history of Shelby's Brigade. Someone in Hollywood should make a movie about General Jo Shelby! Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade tells the tale of how General Joseph Shelby developed three regiments of Confederate recruits into the toughest cavalry brigade west of the Mississippi. This is the first fully factual account of Shelby and his rough riders. Like Civil War icon General Beauregard, who will be forever remembered for firing on Fort Sumter beginning the Civil War, Shelby and a remnant of his brigade will be remembered as the men who refused to surrender and buried their battle flag, and with it the Confederacy, in the Rio Grande River before entering
Mexico, ending armed resistance in the Civil War.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The toughest cavalry unit in the Confederacy!, October 19, 2008

By 

R. Burns (Pocahontas, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade (Hardcover)

This book goes into great detail about the combat actions of Gen. Joe Shelby and his Iron Brigade. It covers nearly all the organized fighting in the ArkLaTex, Kansas and Oklahoma during the Civil War. Of all the cavalry units west of the Mississippi, Gen. Shelby's cavalrymen time and again rescued lesser talented commander's bacon from the fire of numerically superior Union pursuit. Shelby's men lead the charge in nearly every large unit action and covered the Army's rear in retreat. Shelby's men fought Yankee units of greater strength to a standstill time and again. "First In, Last Out" was not invented by the U.S. Army Pathfinders. Joe Shelby's Iron Brigade was doing it long before the current owners of that phrase came into existance! What a book!!