Bill, I am relieved that you are in agreement with me on the 'image' issue with Marmaduke and Shelby. Some years ago I completed a manuscript on Marmadukes First raid which I took further than what has been published to date, taking it to the Raids end. I still have that manuscript which I am told should be published. The issue though is that when I completed my last draft I stumbled upon some new material involving Shelby's entire brigade in the CSR's. There I found the trial transcript in Rathbuns records. That and the real smoking gun to me was no less than Edwards himself who I became convinced had over played his hand (which most researchers know he does anyway). He presented some images that helped me understand events but he misleads us in the actions of the units. When I decided to break down the entire record of Shelb's brigade during the First raid and looked at the returns for Feb. 63 that matters took a different turn. The SW Missouri regiment had virtually ceased to exist after the first raid requiring a complete overhaul of its organization. The trigger that set events in motion seems to be rooted at Prarie Grove. If you are addressing this issue in your work on PG I will be glad to point you at the sources I have uncovered. The conclusions are entirely mine. In defense of my position though I have to add that I have spent a good number of years examining Marmaukes and his officers letters and I have gotten a pretty good feel on how they thought in those days.