Edwin served in Company C Bracketts Minnesota Cavalry during the Civil War

Edwin (aka Erwin in military records) Y. Shelley, whose residence was in St Paul
MN, at age 34 joined the Union Army at St Paul, Ramsey County, MN as a 1st
Lieutenant. On 11/4/1861 he was commissioned into "K" Co. IA 5th Cavalry and
promoted to Captain on 2/1/1862. He was transferred out on 2/25/1864 into "C"
Co. MN Brackett's Cavalry and later discharged on 3/24/1865. Edwin drown in the
Mississippi River in 1904.

For history on Brackett''s Cavalry go to //libguides.mnhs.org/cwmu/cavalrybrackett

For more information on Civil War soldiers and units contact us on the Colonel
Colvill Camp 56 Facebook page. To experience MN Civil War history
http://firstminnesota.org/
Sources include: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Graves National
Registration Database www.suvcw.org
* Historical Data Systems, Inc., which used:
- Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-65
- Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion
- Photo courtesy of Wayne Jorgenson
- Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866
- Research by Roger Norland
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
NOTES: C A P T A I N S H E L L E Y ' s C A V A L R Y C O M P A N Y

The Third Company of Minnesota Cavalry, commanded by Captain Erwin Y.

Shelley and Lieutenants Mortimer Neeley and Robert W Peckham, has been in
service nearly two years and now number seventy-four men, but only fifty are
present for duty, the balance being detailed for other duties in the department, and
in the hospitals.
Lieutenant Peckham has been absent on recruiting service since July 22, 1862. For
more than a year the company was stationed at Fort Heiman, on the Tennessee
River, but for about six months, it has been in the front; performing most arduous
service, as will be seen from the following record for a portion of the month of
October:

Oct 4 – Leave camp near Winchester and march to Deehard Station – distance three
miles.

Oct 5 - March to Elk River bridge and camp two miles above, on the right bank.
Company patrol the Manchester and McMinnville roads, and picket the same.
Distance marched from Deehard to encampment, six miles; aggregate distance of
patrols, twenty-eight miles.

Oct 6 – March at daylight and reach Tullahoma at 9 A M. After a short halt take the
Wartrace Road to Duck River bridge to which point the force under Colonel
Coburn had fallen back leaving Wartrace and the stockade defending the bridge
near the town to the enemy. Under the direction of Colonel Patrick the regiment
moved rapidly up to the bridge just abandoned, but which was already in flames,
and encountered the enemy, apparently in small force, between the burning
stockade and the town. A charge of the regiment in line cleared the way to
Wartrace. The rapid movement of the charge carried nearly the entire line past the
road which the enemy had taken, thus leaving him on our left flank.

A left wheel placed the company – its position being the extreme left – upon this
road and the advance in the new direction brought it to the banks of a creek, the
opposite being the more elevated and covered with timber, which at this moment
blazed with fire, and a fearful storm of bullets from the ambushed enemy fell into
and about its ranks, which it seemed impossible could escape utter annihilation.
With remarkable promptness the fire was returned and one platoon being
dismounted and partially covered by a few trees replied briskly with their
breechloaders. Several volleys were fired with regularity by the enemy, eventually
scattering and finally ceased altogether by his precipitate retreat; the action lasted
about 15 or 20 minutes. The enemy left his position before the support which had
been ordered up had arrived but the company held every inch of ground which it
occupied when the first volley was fired. The force opposed was ascertained to be
a portion of Wharton's Brigade, the remainder being close proximity. Distance
marched 37 miles.

Oct 7 – March to Shelbyville and join the pursuing column under General Crooks.
Battle fought at Farmington.

Oct 8 – Pursuit kept up. Reach Pulaski and encamp – the rear guard of the enemy
having just left town. Distance marched 31 miles.

Oct 9 – Regiment in the advance. K Company Second Cavalry, take the road at
daylight. Skirmishing commenced four miles from Sugar Creek. Company
dismounted as "skirmishers on foot," and placed by Major Brackett – in command
of the advance – on the right of the line of skirmishers. The enemy's skirmishers
were rapidly pushed back across Sugar Creek to their main lines, when their
position was charged by the regiment (5th Iowa) lead by Colonel Patrick, scattering
the rebels in every direction, and keeping up the charge for nearly two miles,
capturing many prisoners and a large quantity of arms. Pursued them to Lamb's
Ferry. Wheeler had already crossed his artillery and trains. Distance marched forty
miles.

Oct 10 – Wheeler escaped his cavalry fording the river. Remain in camp at
Rogersville.

Oct 11 – March to Athens and camp two miles beyond on the Huntsville road –
distance nineteen miles.

Oct 12 – March to Huntsville; distance twenty-five miles.

Oct 13 – March to the crossing of Flint River, on the road to Bellefonte. Prepare to
pursue "Rhoddy," and send away unserviceable horses and men unfit for duty.
March to the Fayetteville Road, distance twenty miles.
Oct 14 – Information received that "Rhoddy" has recrossed the Tennessee River –
pursuit abandoned. March to Meridiansville on the Salem Road, distance twenty-
five miles.

Oct 15 – March through mud and rain to Salem, distance twenty-three miles.

Oct 16 – Division ordered back to Flint River. March to New Market, distance
eighteen miles.

Oct 17 – Reach the crossing of Flint River and go into camp, distance sixteen
miles.

Oct 20 – Draw rations of Government – none drawn since Oct 4th, sixteen days
having subsisted wholly on the country during the entire march. Ordered out on a
scout; start at sunset(Regiment).

Oct 21 – Marched all night, capturing a few prisoners during the night; reach
Athens at daylight and return to camp; reach camp at 9 P M, distance marched
seventy miles.

Note: Brackett's Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry, Companies A, B & C were

serving as part of the 5th Iowa Cavalry at this time.
(source, St. Paul Weekly Pioneer & Democrat, Friday, November 20, 1863, p. 3)
Submitted by Roger Norland