 Shelby akaumba Lafayette County Mounted Rifles nokuda kwebasa reMissouri State Guard uye akasarudzwa kaputeni wekambani, achitungamirira muhondo paCarthage, Wilsons Creek, uye Pea Ridge. Muna 1862, akasimudzirwa kuva colonel uye akabvumirwa kutora chikwata cheConfederate chevatasvi vemabhiza, achidzokera kuLafayette County kuti aite saizvozvo. Pashure pokubudirira kudzosa hurumende yakachengeteka kuArkansas, akapiwa mutungamiri weboka revarwi vakanga vachangobva kuunganidzwa. 