Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-11
trrou, The Memphis Ara!nncho.j
Hioqraphal Sketch Of Gen. Prico Oh mi9
souri,.

ING DTlllldIlI SlSSCSo w NA"JS
ling Price in Missouri has attracted to nm q
large share of public attention. We are III
debtcd TO Lieutenant. Governor Reynolds, ONT
of his most intimate personal and poill'cal
friends during many years past, Tor some par
ticulars concerning his history, which Will III
terest our readers.
In 1915 Sterling Price resigned his seat a.
a representative from Missouri in the United
States Congress to take command OF 4 reSl'
meut Of Volunteers from that State III INC
Mexican war. He greatly distinguished hIia
self in the battles i'll New Mexico and Ch'hna-
hua. When in 1857 Congress determined to
increase the regular army, with two new Fri
gadier. Generals, one Of those appointments
was offered to Jefferson Davis, and OH his DE-.
Glen sion was rendered to and accepted by tol.
Price, who served during the remainder Of thc
war as General Of the regular army. Had he
retained the position, he would now be senior
in rank to all the officers on the Southern
side.
Retiring to private life at the close OF the
Mexican war, be took no prominent part IN
politics until 1852. In that year the Benton
and anti Benton wings Of the Missouri Dennoc1
racy united on him rs their candidate for Gov.
ernnr, and he was elected b. a triumphant ma
inrity. In his four years suberras"flal tern. ne
distinguished himself for his administrative
ability, obtaining, by almost universal consent,
the reputation Of having been the best cXcc'l-
tive Missouri has ever had. By a JackSonlan
use Of his veto power, he endeavorcd to arrest
cytravaeant loans Of the State credit to build
up mammoth railroad corporations. but, rs by
the Missouri! Constitution, a bill can be passed
ever the veto hv q bare majority OF the whole
number of members elected to each oranch Of
the Legislature, his efforts failed, and the pre-
sent deplorable condition I'll Missouri $ finances
is mainly attributable TO the neglect Of his coilTi'
SELL. As the leader 81 the regular Democracy,
he greatly contributed Ia The overthrow OF
Bentonism in that State. At i:ie close ol MS
gubc-natorial term. in 1856, he was n laror'lc
Of n large portion Of the Democracy for a place
in the United States Senate, but to prevent DIS.
~sensinn IN his party, hr .2~asnanirously yielded
his claims in favor Of James 5. Green, who was,
consequently. elected.
In 1860, in common with the mass OF the
Southern Rights Democracy Of Missouri, ne
supported Mr.. Douglas, though dissenting from
his Squattcr sovereignty doctrines. The re-
suit of the astute course Of the leading South
crn Rights men in Missouri last year-rnuch
misunderstood by those unfamiliar with the
complicated politics Of that Statr-waS to give
the SeccssionistS control Of the State govern
ment in all its branches, and Mr.. Douglas the
unsubstantial compliment Of mine electoral! votes
Nor the Presidency.
At the election prematurely ordered by the
Missouri Legislature for Il State Convention in
February last. and hello, under the almost an
nlhiia.ing influence of the Virginia and Ten
ncssce elections which had preceded it, GJv.
Price was chosen, without opposition, to repre-.
sent his district in that body, and by like unani.
nifty WAS selected TO preside over it. His posi-
ton, as shown by his votes in the Convention,
in March last, WIS that all honorable. peaceful
efforts should be used to bring the Gulf States
back into the late Union, but that on the failure
Of these efforts, the interests, sympathics and
dignity of Missouri demanded that she should
Join her Southern sisters.
On the 10th Of May last thc'brutal conduct
Of Lyon and his llcssians, at the capture Of
Camp jackson, near St. Louis, initiated the war
now going on between the State au thorlti's Of
Missouri AMI the LincolniteS. Governor Price
Immediately repaired TO the Capital OF the
State. and Oh The 10Th accepted from Governor
Jackson the command in chief of the Missouri
forces. The organization of the Missouri mi.
lila not having provided for any rank higher
than that of Iirisadier, the Legislature passed
an net creating one Cilice of Major General TO
command thc whole militia in lime VI war,
and j. was at one. conferred upon Governor
Price.
With his military career since that period
the public is familiar. Previous to the battle
Of bonneville, II" was attacked by Il billions
fever, which prevented lis being near ii,c
scene Of .r:i"n. ~ thr pa:tl. near Spring
field ne magma. ~i:nouSly yielded to the claim al
Brissdirr General McCu!locli, and served IN
der his command; although being a Major Gen
cral, he was his superior in Ta"k. Nothing
more sirikingly exhibits his sells Sacrificing
disposition than this concession; nothing more
clearly shows his standing in Missouri than
the fact that he could afford to make it, with.
out diminishing the unboundcd confidence re.
posed in him by his own troops.
Gen. Price is by birth a Eirsiniaa-[Hc is =
native Of Prince Edward County.-ESQ i
anil by occupation 4 tobacco planter, in Chart.
ton county, No. lie is about fifty years of age.
over six feet in height. Of laIg" build and Il
Stately presence. HIS manners are extremely
polished. gentle and lisnilied; but his heroic
personal courage, so conspicuous at the battle
near Springfield, AID his iron iirmness arc dis
closed by his eyes and massive chin. lie IS
strikingly temperate, and exemplary in all the
relations of life. His most distinguishing char
actcriStics are sound, cautious Judgment, and
energy in action. Modest, making no prctcn-
sions to brilliancy or superiority, he seeks nj.
ways to bring to his AZ! all the talent or cXpc.
ricrcc Of others within his reach; one OF his
first acts as Major General, was TO select for
his A2jutant nm experienced officer who had
resigned from the u. S. Army, and whom he
had previously known only by reputation.
Naturally t~actiturn and sccrctivc, he makes it
difficult for the enemy TO discover his plans -
An excrllent jl1ge Of men, he selects his coun
sellers carefully and $paringlf. In addition he
has the prestige Of SUCCESS. Though neither
Il trimmer for an iutrigner, lc has never been
n candidate for political station wlttmIt ob;aln-
ing it. In Mexico, as more recently in Mis-.
sunri. hc nrrer commanded in 4 battle that hn
did not win. The MiSScurians are rail- ying ~
him in mass. By the latest, though perhaps
exaggerated statements ii the Lincoln presses,
he has nov 10, 600 men under his command.
Tits distinguished man is sometimes Col -
founded with Thomas L. Price, OF No, once Il
General in the militia, and many years ago,
Lieutenant Governor Of the State, and now o
supporter OF The Lincoln government. They
are antipnrlcs in many respects, particularly in
ni!it'cS
from the C.lrniha south Carolinlnn.l
The Women OF Sir.iniu.
If there DC anything: more striking in our re
cent revolution, beyond the remarkable press
ing Of individual enthusiasm in the cause Of the
Confederacy, it is the noble, sci! sacrificing de,
votion o. the women. especially Of Virginia, to
woinan'S duties in the cause. We undrrvaluc
not ollr oTn women, i'll their praisc-*orthy eE
forts to equip the soldier, and SEMI him tic
comforts ur necessities of Sickness rr the camp;
but We have seen the generous attention and
earnest sulicitude Of the women vi Virginia,
from the battlefield temporary hospital TO the