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MAJOR-GENERAL STERLING PRICE.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Anomaly of the Missouri Campaign.—Early Life of Sterling Price.—Governor of Missouri.-His Politics.-Formation of "The Missouri State Guard."-Personal appearance of the Commander.-His correspondence with Gen. Harney.—Affair at Booneville.-Gen. Price reinforced by Gens. McCulloch and Pearce.-Battlo of Oak Hill or Wilson's Creek.-Gen. Price's movement upon Lexington.-His success.-Designs against St. Louis.-Why they were abandoned.-Retreat of the Patriot Army of Missouri.-The State joins the Southern Confederacy.-Gen. Price's Proclamation at Neosho.

WHEREVER the history of the American War is known, the names of Sterling Price and "The Missouri Guard" are remarkable. The romantic theatre on which he fought, the anomaly of the Missouri campaign, and its striking exceptions to all the ordinary rules and common apprehensions of military science, constitute a theme of unfailing interest and wondering criticism, peculiar and remarkable, even in a war replete with new operations and startling episodes.

Sterling Price was a native of Virginia, nutrix leonum; but all his adult honours are claimed by the noble State of Missouri, with the flower of whose manhood, led to battle, he adorned his reputation, binding up the fame of commander and of troops in a common story of heroism. Indeed, as subjects of admiration, the commander and his troops cannot be separated; and if he was a hero, so too were the unbought soldiers who fought under his banners, and gave an illustration of manhood unsurpassed in the war.

He was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, on the 14th September, 1809. At the proper age, after passing through a course of home training and schooling, he was sent to Hampden Sydney College, where he went through the then usual course of study. Upon returning home, or soon thereafter, in order to ac

quire a good knowledge of practical business, he engaged as a deputy in the Clerk's Office of his native county. Here he remained two years, and until he was twenty-one years of age. Of an enterprising disposition, he determined to emigrate to the West. Missouri, as being chiefly peopled by Kentuckians and Virginians, seemed to him to afford the best opening and to promise the most congenial associations. He arrived in the State in the year 1830, when the city of St. Louis was but little more than a dépot for the trade with the Indians, and when, with the exception of St. Genevieve, Vide Poche, St. Charles, and a few other villages founded by early French adventurers, the population of the State was extremely sparse, and scattered. He determined to settle in the central portion of the State-the region then known as the Boone's Lick County (so called after Daniel Boone, of historic renown, who died in that region), and now included in the counties of Howard and Chariton. Chariton became ultimately his permanent residence. Soon after his abode was fixed he received an appointment as Brigadier-General of the militia of the State-conferred in consequence of his known taste for military service.

From his earliest manhood Gen. Price espoused the principles of the Democratic party-that Democracy which had Madison and Jefferson for its founders, and so many illustrious men since as its expounders. He was, in short, a Democrat who believed in the sovereignty of the State, the limitation of the action of the Federal Government to the powers expressly granted, and the sovereignty of the people within their respective States. During his life since, he has not departed from the creed of his youth. With these principles, and because of them, he was selected by his fellow-citizens, in the year 1836, to represent them in the General Assembly. In that body he was never noisy or demonstrative; but always the practical and useful member, taking care to understand the nature and bearing of all proposed legislation, and labouring to advance in all respects the public interest. He was again elected a representative in 1840 and 1842, and became the Speaker of the House each session, a position which he filled with ability, decision, dignity, and discretion.

In 1844, he was elected to Congress. In this body he acted always with the Democratic party, keeping his seat until the occurrence of the war with Mexico. This event opened to him the field

of action for which he was most decidedly inclined, and certainly best qualified. He immediately resigned his seat in Congress, and raised a regiment for the war. The details of his operations in New Mexico and Chihuahua, where he had an independent command, are to be found in the official reports. He fought the enemy successfully at Cancada, Lambonda, Taos, and against largely superior forces. At Taos, with three hundred men, he captured the garrison, took 1500 prisoners and vast munitions of war. For these services he was promoted by President Polk to the rank of Brigadier-General. He then moved upon Chihuahua. At Santa Cruz de Rosales, he met and gave battle to Gen. Trias, who had a force of double his own numbers. The fight resulted in the cap ture of the enemy and all his munitions, which were considerable.

A few days prior to this battle a treaty of peace with Mexico had been signed. This was indeed the last battle of the war. Upon his return to Missouri, Price's troops were mustered out at Independence. In his campaign he had undoubtedly shown considerable military abilities, and all those generous and magnanimous qualities which deeply attach the soldier to his leader and commander.

At the next general election after his return from New Mexico, Gen. Price was made Governor of the State by a majority of over 15,000 votes. This was the more honourable in consequence of the peculiar circumstances under which he was nominated by the Democratic party. The position which Col. Benton, the oldest and by far the most distinguished leader in the party, assumed in relation to the power of Congress, over the subject of slavery, had divided the party into two sections, which were rapidly becoming more hostile to each other than to their common opponents, the Whigs. It was certain that if the party remained divided its whole power and usefulness as a segment of the great party of the nation would not only be neutralized, but that the minority of the people would actually wield all the influence which the majority should properly possess and enjoy. Under such circumstance thoughtful men in both divisions of the party saw the absolute necessity of a reunion. To effect this purpose a State convention was called. In that body the two divisions were fully and fairly represented. In such cases it happens that dissensions are far more apt to be engendered by personal ambitions and jealousies than by party differences. The

important and indeed indispensable necessity was to find a gubernatorial candidate who could, without sacrifice of principle, inspire confidence in both sections, and to whose personal character none could take exception. Gen. Price was that man, and it is certain no one else in Missouri could have so fully united the party.

As the Executive of the State all parties then and since have concurred in the conviction that he was the best the State ever had. Firm, dignified, calm, and deliberate, he did nothing hastily or in passion, or prejudice. In all that concerned the honour and the interests of the State he took care to inform himself thoroughly, and to act with energy and promptitude. There are few who do not now admit that all his recommendations for legislation were wise and prudent, and that in all cases where legislation was adverse to his views-especially in reference to the finances and to railroads the consequences have been greatly detrimental to the State and people. He retired from this high position far more popular than when he entered upon it, giving an extraordinary and rare evidence of his merits.

Upon the election of Abraham Lincoln, the State of Missouri called a convention, of which Price, being regarded as the ablest parliamentarian in the State, was elected President, on an avowal of sentiments of attachment and devotion to the Union. Indeed, on the first summons of the convention not a single secessionist could be found in it; and the almost universal sentiment of the State of Missouri was an unwillingness to rush into a dissolution of the Union, until every hope of a peaceful settlement of the question had vanished. Throughout the deliberations of the convention, of which he was President, and up to the very moment when he found the programme of that body was the abolition of slavery, and military coercion on the part of the General Government, Price had upheld the Union of the States, and the integrity of the Constitution, as one and the same thing, and indestructible so long as the organic law was sustained. Secession he ever maintained as a heresy; but the government he considered a contract between the States, to be broken by the inherent right of revolution. At this point he conceived the Constitution had been infringed, its obvious precepts annulled, the Southern States, as a consequence, to be oppressed, and their rights long recognized to be taken from them. He could not long hesitate to enlist his earnest nature on the side

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