Customer Reviews

Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade

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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

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.

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!!

I've read 63 biographies of Civil War Generals and was really excited to read about the great "Jo Shelby". Granted much detail was povided but I constantly asked myself during the book, OK what just happened, or after the charge, what happened next, or why did he cover the retreat when two paragraphs ago thet were winning the battle. I personally like to read a book on Civil War Generals and learn what makes them successful or what happened that caused their failure. Much was spoken of his success but little was written about how he acheived it. There was a good deal of information about Jo after the war but after reading this I knew Jo Shelby was a fine officer and well respected leader but I couldn't remember from reading the book "Why" he was so well respected. Way to much info was left out.