Confederate Military History; a Library of Confederate States History Volume 9

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. THE MISSOURI BRIGADE SENT TO THE DEFENSE OP MOBILE--GENERAL CANBY DECLINES AN OPEN FIELD FIGHT--THE TROOPS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI DESPONDENT--MAGRUDER AND SHELBYGENERAL LEE'S SURRENDER--SHELBY ISSUES AN ADDRESS TO HIS TROOPS--GOES TO SHREVEPORT AND PROPOSES A PLAN OF ACTION--IT IS ADOPTED, BUT MISCARRIES--THE MISSOURI TROOPS STAND FIRM--SHELBY GOES TO MEXICO--THE END. the ist of February, 1865, the Missouri brigade, Wunder command of Colonel McCown, was ordered to Mobile. Before it reached there it was joined by General Cockrell, still suffering from his wounds, and General Gates, who had lost an arm. General Cockrell was assigned to the command of the division lately commanded by General French, and Colonel Gates to the command of the brigade. Additions of exchanged prisoners were made to the brigade until it numbered about 400 men. It camped five miles from Mobile until February 24th, when it was ordered to cross the bay at Fort Blakely, where it was put on picket duty on the Pensacola road, upon which General Steele was advancing with an army corps. On this service a detachment of less than a hundred men met and routed a cavalry regiment, which charged and attempted to ride over it. Gen. D. H. Maury was in command of the Confederate forces at Mobile, and his orders were to defend his position as long as he could, and then burn all the cotton in the city and retire. The city and its defenses were threatened by three army corps--two under General Canby and one under General Steele. General Maury with 4,500 infantry, among them the Missouri brigade, and ten pieces of artillery, marched out and offerees DEGREES(R)11" eral Canby battle; but with 40,000 men he declined the off