1836 - 1897

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• Birth	25 May 1836	Mecklenburg Co., N.C.
  Gender	Male
  Died	13 Sep 1897	Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL
  Buried	Cobb Confederate Cemetery in Jemison, Chilton Co., AL
  Person ID	I868	Master
  Last Modified	14 Jul 2008 13:54:28
  Father	John Rufus Shelby, b. Abt 1817, Mecklenburg Co., NC
  Mother	Mary Ann (Mollie) Deaton, b. Abt 1815
  Family ID	F22	Group Sheet
  Family	Elizabeth Malone Cobb, b. 20 Oct 1842, Calera, Shelby, Alabama
  Married	17 Sep 1861	Shelby Co., AL
  Children	> 1. William Cobb Shelby, b. 11 Aug 1861, Dallas Co., Alabama > 2. Alice Paralee Shelby, b. 12 Mar 1866, Clanton, Randolph Co., Alabama   3. Cora Elizabeth Shelby, b. 7 Oct 1867, Randolph, Alabama   4. Mary Frances Shelby, b. 1872, Dallas Co, AL   5. Ala May Shelby, b. 1875, Dallas Co, AL   6. Wallace Shelby, b. 1879, Dallas Co, AL   7. Leola Shelby, b. Between 1880 and 1890, Dallas Co, AL   8. Maude Shelby, b. Between 1880 and 1890, Dallas Co, AL
  Family ID	F184	Group Sheet

• Photos	Tombstone: Capt. William Houston Shelby

• Notes

  Muster roll Civil War May 5, 1862 Camp Goldwaite Shelby Co., Alabama. Company F., 31st Alabama Infantry Regiment. 3rd Lt., James A. Cobb, Commander. Organization of the Army of Tennessee, Commanded by General John B. Hood, C. S. Army, December 10, 1864. NOVEMBER 14, 1864-JANUARY 23, 1865.--Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLV/1 [S# 93] Organization of the Army of Tennessee, Commanded by General John B. Hood, C. S. Army, December 10, 1864. NOVEMBER 14, 1864-JANUARY 23, 1865.--Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLV/1 [S# 93] LEE'S ARMY CORPS. Lieut. Gen. STEPHEN D. LEE. JOHNSON'S DIVISION. Maj. Gen. EDWARD JOHNSON. Deas' Brigade. Brig. Gen. ZACH C. DEAS. Pettus' Brigade. Brig. Gen. EDMUND W. PETTUS. 20th Alabama, Col. James M. Dedman, Capt. John W. Davis 23d Alabama, Lieut. Col. Joseph B. Bibb. 30th Alabama, Lieut. Col. James K. Elliott, Col. Charles M. Shelly 31st Alabama, Lieut. Col. Thomas M. Arrington, Col. D. R. Hundley (William Houston Shelby in the Company)James Cobb organized this company and later resigned. Capt. William Houston Shelby was under Col's. Arrington and Hundley). 46th Alabama, Capt. George E. Brewer. Note: William Houston Shelby was in Pettus' Brigade, Stevenson's Division, Breckenridge's Corps. in the Battle of Chicamauga on Missionary Ridge of Lookout Mountain, just inside the Georgia-Tennessee state line. The information below is from the records of the Battle of Chicamauga State Park, pg. 368, 382, 383 and 384: "Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Pettus was the commanding officer. Under Brig. Gen. Pettus were: the 20th Alabama under Capt. John W. Davis; the 23rd Alabama under Lieut. Col. J. B. Bibb,; the 30th Alabama under Col. Charles M. Shelly; the 31st Alabama under Col. D. R. Hundley; and the 46th Alabama under Capt. George D. Brewer. Clayton's Brigade, Stewart's Division, Breckinridge's Corps, Col. J. T. Holtzclaw commanding officer. Under Col. Holtzclaw were: the 18th Alabama under Maj. Shep Ruffin; the 32nd Alabama under Capt. John W. Bell; the 36th Alabama under Col. Lewis T. Woodruff; the 38th Alabama under Col. Charles T. Ketchum; and the 58th Alabama under Lieut. Col. John W. Inzer. At the opening of the engagement, 24 Nov this brigade was on the top of the mountain. At half after 12 o'clock noon, Gen. Pettus was ordered with three regiments, the 20th, 31st and 46th Alabama to proceed to the Craven's House. Arriving where this tablet stands (at Craven's house), he found Walthall's Brigade holding the line from this point to the Palisades. Gen. Pettus immediately filed his line to the left in the rear of Walthall's and, moving forward relieved it, and held the position. Gen. Pettus also extended his line 150 yards below the road to connect with the left of Moore's Brigade. Later Walthall having replenished ammunition, returned to Pettus' line and was engaged with it until the close of the battle at night. At 8 P.M. Holtzclaw's Brigade (Clayton's) of Stewart's Division, relieved Walthall's Brigade and the 20th and 31st Alabama. At 2 A.M. the 46th Alabama withdrew from the mountain with Moore's and Holtzclaw's Brigades, which covered the Confederate retreat. Casualties: Killed, 9; Wounded, 38; Missing, 9. During the night of Nov 24th Pettus' Brigade was ordered from Lookout Mountain to the extreme right on Missionary Ridge, reaching Tunnel Hill about 10 A. M. of the 25th. It took position south of front. Its right connected with Cumming's Brigade, and its left joined Wilson's Brigade of Walker's Division. From this position is engaged the right of the enemy in his several assaults. Casualties at this position: Killed, 8; Wounded, 55; Missing, 8." From "Yours, Mine and Theirs, A listing of Civil War Soldiers connected with Chilton Co. AL" by Ben Roberts w/ Nell Thomas, Betty Collins & John D. Glasscock, page 125: WILLIAM H. SHELBY: Burial: Cobb Confederate Cemetery, Chilton Co. AL Information: Paralyzed for about 3 years. Military 1: Bet. 1861 - 1865, CSA, 2ndLt/Capt, Co. G/C, 31st Ala. Inf. Enlisted at Mims Crossroads Military 2: November 21, 1863, Captured at Vicksburg and signed the oath, resigned Nov. 21, 1863. (Can't be true if he was in the Battle of Chicamauga on Lookout Mt. Nov 24 and 25 of 1863-MCM2003) Obituary: September 23, 1897, Obituary: 'Banner' Sept. 23, 1897. "William Houston Shelby was my great-great- grandfather. He was born on 25 April 1836 and was married to Elizaabeth Malone Cobb. He was a Captain in the Civil War and served in the Vicksburg Campaign." (Source: Jack A. Gowan. 234 Williams Rd. Rose Hill, NC 28458. Ph & Fax (901) 532-2417. Member of SAR. Alabama Marriages, 1800-1920, Records 139558-139558 of 149224: Spouse 1: Wm. H. Shelby Spouse 2: Elizabeth M. Cobb Marriage Date: 17 Sep 1861 Marriage Place: Shelby Co. Performed by: JP Surety/Perf. Name: Johnathan C. Huckabee From "The Shelby Legends and Folk Stories" by Ernest Perry Bell: "...When James Madison Shelby family and that of his sister, Ann Selina Shelby Henderson, departed Selma, Alabama, for Texas, they left behind a number of brothers and one son, James Adams Shelby. Communication in 1869 was slow and travel slower, hence over the years, contact was lost with these members of the family in Alabama. Therefore our knowledge of the Alabama Shelby Legends and Folk Stories is meager indeed. We are indebted to Mrs. O. W. Kaiser of Rt. 4, Box 32, Victoria, Texas for the following. Mrs. Kaiser is the Great-Great-Granddaughter of John Rufus Shelby, older brother of our James Madison Shelby and Ann Selina Shelby Henderson. "Captain William Houston Shelby, attached to the 31st Alabama Infantry Regiment, carried his company int the Battle of Chicamauga in Georgia with the aid of a cannon purchased in England with the jewels of his wife's family. They fought valiently with the aid of the cannon until the ammunition gave out and then stood off the Yankees with rifle bullets until they were all gone and then fought the enemy using their rifles as clubs. At sunset "The Lady Cobb" was still in possession of Captain Shelby. (Captain Shelby's wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Malone Cobb and the cannons were generally named after wives). The famous cannon now stands on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee." (Note: In Nov 2004 I attempted to find the cannon and was told that they were not identified. And that, following the end of the Civil War the canons were taken to the North and stored. When the battle sites became part of the national park system, they were brought from the stockpile without identification. They could be either northern or southern cannons for there was no way to tell. MCM2003) "John Rufus Shelby and Mary Ann Deaton had a daughter named Eddy who sickened and died when twelve years old. Just before her death a flock of mourning doves came to the window of her room. Eddy asked that they be let in. The birds fanned her with their wings -- cooed and kissed her and stayed with her until death shooed them away--. Grandmother Shelby said she would have never believed it had she not seen it with her own eyes." From: Heritage of Shelby Co., AL: "Shelby Springs: Five miles above Calera and on the Montevallo-Vincent Highway, as well as the Southern Railway, was Shelby Springs. It was named for the county. Early on, the Indians had great faith in the healing qualities of the springs and considered them sacred. After the settlling of Alabama, the Springs became a famous summer spa and resort, 'for its healing waters.' The Alabama and Tennessee Rivers Railroad reached this resort by 1853. During the Civil War the site and hotel and cabins were used as a Confederate Camp, and then a Confederate Hospital. The area remained a resort after the war until the depression of 1929, and by 1937 was private property. Nearby is the Old Confederate Cemetery, resulting from the days it was a hospital, now restored by the Shelby County Historical Society and the William Houston Shelby Sons of the Confederate Veterans Camp #1537. A memorial service is held here yearly at the end of April." Notes on Nathan Bedford Forrest Cavalry command: Forrest distinguished himself at the Battle of Fort Donelson inFebruary 1862. His cavalry captured a Union artillery battery and thenhe broke out of a Union Army siege headed by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S.Grant. Forrest rallied nearly 4,000 troops and led them across theriver. A few days later, with the fall of Nashville imminent, Forresttook command of the city. Industry included millions of dollars worthof heavy ordnance machinery. Forrest arranged for transport of boththe machinery and several important government officials.[12] A month later, Forrest was back in action at the Battle of Shiloh(April 6 to April 7, 1862). He commanded a Confederate rear guardafter a lost battle. In an incident called Fallen Timbers, he drovethrough the Union skirmish line. In the midst of Union troops withouthis own troops, he emptied his pistols and pulled out his saber. AUnion infantryman hit Forrest in the side with a rifle shot. Forrestwas said to be the last man wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.[citationneeded] By early summer Forrest commanded a new brigade of green cavalryregiments. In July, he led them into Middle Tennessee under orders tolaunch a cavalry raid. On July 13, 1862, his men joined the FirstBattle of Murfreesboro, and Forrest is said to have won thisbattle.[citation needed] According to a report by a Union commander: “ The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas Rangers[8th Texas Cavalry, Terry's Texas Rangers, ed.], Colonel Wharton, anda battalion of the First Georgia Rangers, Colonel Morrison, and alarge number of citizens of Rutherford County, many of whom hadrecently taken the oath of allegiance to the United States Government.There were also quite a number of negroes attached to the Texas andGeorgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in theseveral engagements with my forces during the day.[13] ” Forrest rarely lost a cavalry battle during the war. Forrest andGeneral Braxton Bragg, commander of the Army of Tennessee, did not getalong, though. In their postwar writings, both Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee stated the Confederate highcommand had failed to adequately use Forrest's talents.[citationneeded] Promoted in July 1862 to brigadier general, Forrest was given commandof a Confederate cavalry brigade.[14] In battle, he was quick to takethe offensive, using speedy deployment of horse cavalry to positionhis troops, where they would often dismount and fight. He usuallysought to circle the enemy flank and cut off their rear guardsupport.[citation needed] In December 1862, Forrest's veteran troopers were reassigned by Braggto another officer, against his protest. Forrest had to recruit a newbrigade, composed of about 2,000 inexperienced recruits, most of whomlacked weapons. Again, Bragg ordered a raid, this one into westTennessee to disrupt the communications of the Union forces underGrant, threatening the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Forrest protested that to send these untrained men behind enemy lineswas suicidal, but Bragg insisted, and Forrest obeyed his orders. Onthe ensuing raid, he again showed his brilliance, leading thousands ofUnion soldiers in west Tennessee on a "wild goose chase" trying tolocate his fast-moving forces. Forrest never stayed in one place longenough to be located, raided as far north as the banks of the OhioRiver in southwest Kentucky, and came back to his base in Mississippiwith more men than he had started with. All of them were then fullyarmed with captured Union weapons. As a result, Grant was forced torevise and delay the strategy of his Vicksburg Campaign significantly. Forrest continued to lead his men in small-scale operations untilApril 1863. The Confederate army dispatched him into the backcountryof northern Alabama and west Georgia to deal with an attack of 3,000Union cavalrymen under the command of Col. Abel Streight. Streight hadorders to cut the Confederate railroad south of Chattanooga,Tennessee, to cut off Bragg's supply line and force him to retreatinto Georgia. Forrest chased Streight's men for 16 days, harassingthem all the way. Streight's goal became simply to escape pursuit. OnMay 3, Forrest caught up with Streight's unit east of Cedar Bluff,Alabama. Forrest had fewer men, but repeatedly paraded some of themaround a hilltop to appear a larger force, and convinced Streight tosurrender his 1,700 exhausted troops.[15] Forrest served with the main army at the Battle of Chickamauga(September 18 to September 20, 1863). He pursued the retreating Unionarmy and took hundreds of prisoners. Like several others under Bragg'scommand, he urged an immediate follow-up attack to recaptureChattanooga, which had fallen a few weeks before. Bragg failed to doso. After Forrest and Bragg had a confrontation that included hisdeath threats against Bragg, Forrest was re-assigned to an independentcommand in Mississippi. He was promoted to the rank of major generalon December 4, 1863.[16]

• Sources

  [S2] Imported GEDCOM file. [S1] Imported GEDCOM file.