honor, and especially for integrity of character. He accepted the appointment of inajor-general, but especially spoke of the fact in public that he had not taken the oath of special allegiance to the State of Missouri, under the militia bill; whilst he publicly declared that he was under oath to support the Constitution of the United States.

The importance of the position of General Price, and of his well-known character for integrity and honor, will be apparent from the following statement of the further proceedings of the Legislature.

Although the feeling in the Legislature was very strong in favor of secession, the members did not dare to proceed so far as to attempt to carry the State out of the Union by an act of its own body; and a proposition to call a Convention of the State, although very fiercely opposed, nevertheless prevailed; many members voting for it in a blind trust that the people would return members for the Convention who would favor secession.

self some knowledge of the growing opinion in the State in favor even of emancipation, I felt convinced that the elements of freedom in the State needed nothing more than to be treated with reasonable respect and attention to secure their predominance over the temporary frenzy of the excited Legislature, which was known to have been tampered with by agents sent expressly from the Southern States to invite and urge them to join in their wicked enterprise. Some of these agents, abusing the liberty of speech accorded to American citizens, publicly addressed the legislative body, making nflammatory ap peals to it to drive or commit them into acts of treason against the Government.

In this state of things, on the suggestion of a judicious friend whose patriotism I knew was beyond suspicion, I deterinined to invite an interview with Major-General Price, the presiding officer over the Union Convention of the State, and the commanding general of the entire militia of the State, in the belief that if General Price would assure me that he would act in his public character in harmony with all of his avowed principles, there could be no great difficulty in

The Legislature would not have authorized the Convention, except in the belief that they themselves, as representatives of the people, were rep-preserving the State to the Union, in spite of all resentatives also of the feeling in the State on the question of secession, although that question had not been before the people at the time of their election.

The law authorizing the Convention, having received due sanction, went into operation, and members for a Convention throughout the State were elected the question now being distinctly that of secession; and it was found, when the members assembled, that a very large majority was for the Union and against secession-thus manifesting the true feeling in the State against all the influences of the Governor and the Legislature.

It is impossible to recur to these proceedings without feeling that similar results might have grown out of a similar reference of the question of secession to the people of other States, which were carried out of the Union by the political chicanery of a few violent and desperate demagogues; but this is not a place for comment upon such questions.

Among the members returned for the Convention was Sterling Price, who immediately announced himself a Union man, and was elected as such to preside over the Convention which, in its very first proceedings, declared itself unmistakably for the preservation of the Union, and throughout its session continued to maintain that character.

the machinations of the secessionists. Accordingly I caused it to be communicated to General Price, who was then at Jefferson City, the capital of the State, that I desired to confer with him personally in the city of St. Louis on questions of common interest to both of us. He at once accepted the invitation and came to St. Louis, where, the next morning after his arrival, I met him with a single friend, he also having a single friend with him. These two gentlemen who were witnesses to what passed were General Hitchcock and Major Turner, both of them formerly members of the army, but who were then residing as citizens, General Hitchcock in the city of St. Louis, and Major Turner but a few miles in the country. These gentlemen had both of them been long known to me in the army; they were also well known to General Price, and it was publicly known that they were old and attached friends of each other.

Nothing could exceed the harmony of this meeting. General Price appeared to rejoice in the opportunity of declaring his wishes, and his purpose to maintain the peace of the State of Missouri within the Union, and in subordination to the Constitution of the United States, and as that was also my purpose and duty, we mutually pledged each other to that object in the presence of the two gentlemen just named. General Price declared that he was under no obligations The Convention had been in session for some to the State, as such, which could impede him in weeks, and had temporarily adjourned, just prior the execution of his declared purpose. He exto my resumption of the command in the West-pressed his conviction that he had a personal inern Department. fluence in the State which would enable him to put down all attempts at organizations designed to disturb the peace of the State, and he voluntarily pledged his honor that in case he should hear of any attempt at disturbance, he would himself go personally to the place and address the people, and, if necessary, would disperse

On assuming the command, my attention was first drawn to a consideration of the state of parties and public opinion on the one absorbing topic of union and secession; and, taking the complexion of the recently-elected members of the Convention as a reliable guide, and having my

them by the military power he possessed as the Major-General in command of the militia of the State. He only requested of me that, in case I should hear of any threatened disturbance, I would give him notice of it, and allow him an opportunity of trying his ability to put it down, before using the military force of the United States for that purpose-putting this on the ground of mere poliey, but without attempting to put me under any obligations in the premises; leaving me perfectly free in the exercise of whatever power the Government might confer upon me as the military commander of the department. After we had thus come to an understanding, General Price expressed the opinion that it might tend to quiet the public mind if it were made Known that our meeting had taken place; that it was perfectly amicable, and that we had but one common purpose; to which I assented, and General Hitchcock and Major Turner were then requested by General Price to prepare a paper for us to sign. They retired a few moments and submitted to us a paper, which we mutually signed, expressing in concise but very precise terms the circumstances of our meeting and agreement.

This paper was immediately sent to the press, and I received many evidences of its having given almost universal satisfaction throughout the State.

would make no attempt at a movement in the State, without his approbation. General Price even stated that he had obtained this pledge in writing, giving as a reason-not particularly respectful to Governor Jackson-that he had held his character for fidelity in suspicion; and as this was generally known at the time, Governor Jackson's acquiescence in General Price's demands was attributed to his having come under a wholesome apprehension for his own personal safety, in view of the fact that the State, through its convention, had given its voice decisively against him; this also having its weight with me in the reliance I placed upon General Price as a co-worker with me for the peaceful preservation of the State.

As might have been anticipated, the Governor of the State, immediately upon hearing of the military expedition for his arrest, took care to secure himself by withdrawing from Jefferson City beyond reach. And if the effects of this military expedition had stopped with this fact alone, it would have been fortunate for the State; but, unfortunately, General Price, having no knowledge of the particular circumstances connected with it, looked upon it as a breach of faith against himself, who had, of his own accord, removed the militia on which the Governor might have relied, and it appeared to him as if his meeting me at St. Louis had been designed

as might lay the Governor open to seizure. This was undoubtedly his view of the proceeding, upon which he decided to take part with the Governor against what he regarded as a treacherous act of military despotism. Accordingly, he fled with the Governor, and has since been numbered among the enemies of the Federal Government.

It is important to mention here that the Gov-expressly to induce such an action on his part ernor of the State had assembled at the capital a considerable body of militia, ostensibly for its defence; but these militia were under the immediate command of General Price, and as soon as he and myself had come to the understanding just stated, General Price, of his own accord, and without any suggestion from me, declared that immediately on his return to Jefferson City he would order the militia to their homes, which he did, and now, for some weeks there was perfect quiet throughout the State, and there were no signs of a purpose to disturb the arrangement which General Price and myself had agreed upon, and which, as I believed at the time, and still believe, might easily have been maintained by ordinary prudence in the military authorities then exercising control in the State.

In the midst of this quiescent state of things, what can express my astonishment when Colonel Blair determined to make use of the order to supersede me, which accordingly was laid upon me, and I was deprived of the command.

The subsequent proceedings in the State of Missouri have, in my opinion, fully justified the view I took of the state of public feeling when I resumed the command of the Western department, and I have never doubted that if the measures I adopted had not been violently interfered with, the State might have been spared a vast amount of suffering from military movements, into which she was precipitated by the single act, which, on its face, must necessarily have been futile, by which an attempt was made to seize the Governor, whose influence in the State had wholly departed, and who was, in fact, powerless for evil until driven into rebellion by what seemed to be an act of treachery to General

Immediately upon this, a military expedition was started from St. Louis with the avowed pur-Price. pose of seizing Governor Jackson at Jefferson City.

I omitted to mention at the proper time, that in my interview with General Price, he stated that he would not agree to come down to St. Louis for the interview with me, until he had first obtained the sanction of Governor Jackson; and further, that he had obtained from Governor Jackson his personal pledge that he, Governor Jackson, would give no order to the militia, and

Since the events above recited, I have not been called to take a public part in the war, though holding myself constantly in readiness to obey any order which the Government might think proper to give in relation to me; being now, as I ever have been, devotedly attached to the Union. WILLIAM S. HARNEY,

Brigadier-General U. 8. A.

Doc. 12.

OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA.

MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE'S REPORTS.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 6, 1863.

Adjutant-General of the Army:

}

I HAVE the honor to submit for the information of the General-in-Chief the following report of the operations of this army since the date (July thirty-first) at which the report of the Gettysburgh campaign was concluded. At that date the army was in position on the north bank of the Rappahannock, the enemy being in position about Culpeper Court-House, and between the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. The instructions of the General-in-Chief required the army should maintain this position, assuming a threatening attitude toward the enemy. On the first of August, Brigadier-General Buford, in command of a division of cavalry, advanced from Rappahannock Station, and drove the enemy's cavalry to the vicinity of Culpeper Court-House, where a strong force of infantry being met, Buford was obliged to retire. This reconnoissance, it is believed, had the effect to cause the enemy to withdraw his infantry to the south side of the Rapidan.

About the middle of August a considerable detachment was withdrawn from this army under the orders of the General-in-Chief, for duty elsewhere. On the first of September BrigadierGeneral Kilpatrick, commanding a division of cavalry, proceeded to Port Conway, on the Lower Rappahannock, where, after driving across the river a force of cavalry and infantry which the enemy had on the north bank, he, by means of his artillery, effectually destroyed the two gunboats, recently captured by the enemy on the Potomac, and which they had brought to this point.

The command of all fords was on the south bank, and this obstacle was greatly increased by numerous earthworks and rifle-pits, with batteries in position.

Just as a plan of operations for a flank movement had been matured, it was thought proper to withdraw from the army the Eleventh and Twelfth corps for duty in the South-West; these corps leaving on the twenty-fourth of September. Early in October a portion of the troops withdrawn in August were returned, and about the same time considerable accessions to the force under my command were made by drafted men. On the tenth of October, information being received leading to the belief the enemy was about to make some movement, Brigadier-General Buford was sent across the Rapidan with his division of cavalry, with orders to uncover, if practicable, the upper fords, when the First and Sixth corps, in advance on the river, were ordered to force the passages at these points.

On the tenth, before intelligence of Buford's movements were received, the enemy crossed to Robertson's River, and advanced from Madison Court-House in heavy force, driving in my cav alry. The indications of the enemy's purpose to pass my flanks, and threaten my rear being conclusive, on the eleventh of October the army was withdrawn to the north side of the Rappahannock.

In effecting this operation, the enemy followed the rear-guard of cavalry under Major-General Pleasanton, engaging him from Culpeper CourtHouse to Brandy Station, where, when General Pleasanton being reënforced by Buford, (who had been compelled to recross the Rapidan, after proceeding as far as Morton's Ford,) the enemy was held in check till evening, when the cavalry withdrew.

The reports of the officers with the rear-guard leading me to believe the enemy occupied Culpeper, on the twelfth of October the Sixth, Fifth, On the thirteenth of September, intelligence and Second corps recrossed the Rappahannock, having been received rendering it probable the advancing as far as Brandy Station, while Buenemy was making a retrograde movement, Major- ford's cavalry drove a small force of the enemy General Pleasanton, in command of all the cav- into Culpeper. During the night despatches alry, supported by the Second corps, Major-Gen- were received from General Gregg, commanding eral Warren, crossed the Rappahannock at sev-a cavalry division guarding the upper fords of eral points, and after a spirited engagement with the enemy's cavalry, in which he captured two guns and many prisoners, drove the enemy across the Rapidan, but found it impossible to force the passage of that river. Major-General Warren, with his corps, occupied Culpeper Court-House, taking no part in the engagement, which was entirely a cavalry fight. The result of this movement proved that the enemy had sent Longstreet's corps to the south-west, but still held the line of the Rapidan in force.

On the sixteenth of September the army crossed the Rappahannock and took up a position around Culpeper Court-House, with the advance of two corps on the Rapidan. An examination of the enemy's position proved it entirely out of the question to attempt to force the passage of the river in his immediate front.

the Rappahannock and Hazel rivers, that he had been forced back early in the morning from Hazel River, and in the afternoon from Rappahannock, and that the enemy were crossing at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo in heavy force. As it was too late when this intelligence reached me to attempt to gain Warrenton in advance of the enemy, the army on the thirteenth was withdrawn to Auburn and Catlett's Station, and on the fourteenth to Centreville, This retrograde movement was effected without molestation from the enemy till the fourteenth, on which day he skirmished at Auburn with the Second corps, MajorGeneral Warren, and on the afternoon of that day attacked General Warren at Bristol Station. The attack was most handsomely repulsed by General Warren, who captured five pieces of ar tillery and some four hundred and fifty prisoners.

On the fifteenth of October, the army remained in position at Centreville, the enemy's cavalry and artillery advancing and skirmishing with the Second corps at Blackburn's Ford, and the Third corps at Liberty Mills.

Finding the enemy did not advance beyond Broad River, I was about recrossing Bull Run, when on the sixteenth a severe rain-storm occurred, which rendered Bull Run unfordable and required the sending for the pontoon-bridges, which were in the rear with the main supplytrain of the army.

On the seventeenth, the enemy's cavalry appeared on my right flank, with artillery and reported infantry, indicating a farther attempt to outflank my position; at the same time, reports from prisoners and deserters indicated a movement on the part of the enemy.

The eighteenth was spent in efforts to ascertain the precise position of the enemy, which resulting in the conviction he was retiring, the army was put in motion on the nineteenth, and advanced to Gainesville. Brigadier-General Kilpatrick in the advance drove the enemy's cavalry through Buckland Mills, beyond which he advanced with one brigade as far as New-Baltimore, when a division of the enemy's cavalry came up from Auburn and endeavored to cut off his retreat; General Kilpatrick, however, extricated himself by taking a road to Haymarket, but not without considerable loss, from the superior numbers he was engaged with.

ing Major-General Sedgwick from ascertaining whether the enemy had evacuated his front, the column from Kelly's Ford was obliged to move over to the railroad, to secure the opening of the river at Rappahannock Station. The pursuit was continued to Brandy Station, the cavalry proceeding to Culpeper, where it was ascertained the enemy had retired to his old position on the Rapidan.

A position was taken up from Kelly's Ford through Brandy Station to Welford's Ford, and work immediately commenced on the repairs of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to the Rappahannock. By the sixteenth of November, the road was put in order, the bridge built over the Rappahannock, and by the nineteenth of November the sidings of a dépôt at Brandy Station were constructed, and supplies for the use of the army brought up and delivered. As the subsequent operations of the army were important, and I desire to narrate them in more detail, I shall submit them in a special report.

The casualties occurring in the several affairs herein reported were transmitted to your office at the several times of their occurrence. Very respectfully, GEORGE G. MEADE,

Major-General Commanding.

OPERATIONS AT MINE RUN.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 7, 1863.

Adjutant-General of the Army:
My last reports of the operations of this army
included the twentieth ultimo.
I have now to
submit in continuance of that communication
the following report of subsequent operations to
the present date:

On the twentieth, the army occupied Warrenton without opposition, the enemy retiring to the south bank of the Rappahannock. It was then ascertained the enemy had completely destroyed the Orange and Alexandria Railroad from Bristol Station to the Rappahannock. Through the energy and skill of Colonel McCallum, Superintend- The railroad and the dépôt at Brandy Station ent of Military Railroads, the road was put in being completed, and all the necessary wants of order to Warrenton Junction by the second of the army supplied, arrangements were at once November. At this period I submitted to the made for an advance. The position of the eneGeneral-in-Chief the "project" of seizing by a my was known to be behind his strong intrenchprompt movement the heights of Fredericksburgh, ments on the Rapidan. These were known to exand transferring the base of operations to the tend from the junction of the Rapidan and RappaFredericksburgh Railroad. This not meeting the hannock River to a point as high up as Liberty approval of the General-in-Chief, on the fourth Mills, west of Orange Court-House. An attack in of November the army was put in motion to front had long been impracticable, and the inforce the passage of the Rappahannock. Major- structions of the General-in-Chief confined my General Sedgwick, in command of the Sixth and operations to such tactical manoeuvres as my Fifth corps, advanced to Rappahannock Station, judgment dictated. A movement, therefore, to where the enemy were intrenched on the north immediately turn either flank of the enemy was bank of the river. Major-General Sedgwick at- the question to be decided. I ascertained from tacked and carried the enemy's works, on the reliable sources that the enemy had abandoned north bank, capturing four pieces of artillery the design of guarding the lower fords, but reand some sixteen hundred prisoners. Major- lied for the protection of his right flank on an General French, commanding the Third, Second, intrenched line he had constructed perpendicuand First corps, marched to Kelly's Ford, where lar to the Rapidan, leaving it at Morton's Ford, the advance of the Third corps gallantly forced and extending as far as Bartlett's Mill, on the the passage to the ford, taking the enemy's works road from Robertson's Tavern to Raccoon Ford. on the other side and capturing some four hun- I could hear of no works or defences on the dred prisoners. Finding himself surprised, and Orange and Fredericksburgh turnpike or plankthe passage of the river secured, the enemy with- road. Ewell's corps, estimated between twentydrew during the night. The next day, Novem- five and thirty thousand men, held the line from ber eighth, the pursuit was begun from Kelly's Bartlett's Mill to near Rapidan Station; and Ford; but owing to a fog prevailing, prevent- Hill's corps, over twenty-five thousand strong,

held the left, from Rapidan Station to Liberty proved fatal to the design of having the heads Mills. The plan I decided on was to cross the of columns reach Robertson's Tavern and its Rapidan at the lower fords in three columns, vicinity by the night of the twenty-sixth, as was and by a prompt movement seize the plank-road expected, the corps all crossing, but the heads and turnpike, advancing rapidly toward Orange of columns only proceeding a mile or two before Court-House, thus turning the enemy's works bivouacking. and compelling him to give battle on ground not previously selected or prepared. And I indulged in the hope that in the execution of this plan I should be enabled to fall on part of the enemy's forces before he could effect a concentration, andern about ten A.M., driving the enemy's skirmishthus so cripple him as to render more certain the success of the final struggle. In accordance with this plan orders were issued on the twenty-third for the movement. A storm occurring during the night of the twenty-third, the orders were postponed till the morning of the twenty-sixth, at six A.M. of which day the several columns were directed to move.