Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-24
GENERAL STERLING PRICE.


Price:
As few people have an idea Of the character of the
give you a hasty pen and ink sketch, as he ap
peared to me during brief interview. He is six
feet in height, with a frame u match, full but not port
y, and straight an Indian His carriage ia marked
with dignity, grace and genleness, and every motion
bespeaks the attitude and presence OF the well bred gen
tsGen. He has a large Websterian head covered WITH
a growth Of thick white hair high, broad Intellectual
forehead ford face, no beard and q mouth among
whose latent smiles you fail 10 discover the iron
will that surmounts all obstacles. His laugh, land it Is
unfre quent) reveals set Of teeth which, like Eth
Aliens would TO draw nails. The striking feature,
however, is his eye-a calm, beautiful blue soulrevea
ing orb, which is at key 10 every emotion Of the
man 1t is an eye which bInched at dagger and
it ia the boast OF his soldiers that ne looked
pityinglY upon the suferings Of his followers.
A passionate lover Of music, the same tender heart
that broods over sweet sounds gives flow to the sympa
thy that is in hs for sr ring human
ity This manifest during the mastery retreat from
EIkhorn. Time aud again did he dismoant from 8
horse TO give place TO some sick or wounded soldier, and
when it was suggested that it would be better 10 leave
these invaids behind his reply as he threw furious
look at the individual, was"No, sir, I'll sacrifice my
whole army, before desert my faithful wounded"
In conversation, Price ID marked specimen of the
sine old English gentleman"-gente, slaVitable, well
informed, and an admirable listener BE speaks quick
" but with caution, and his words laconc and
decisive as bis acts. He reads human nature incentive
IT, aud possesses the faculty of readily adopting
himself to every person with whom be brought in col
tact Accessible to ALL he is kindly democratic with
his soldiers he IL coury with his equals No one can
lay an aront a. the door Of Sterling Price. 1t is This
careful considera ion which has given him firm hold
upon the hearts Of his men.
some idea OF the attachment existing between the
General and his army may be bad from the fact that he
ia where known by the bfectionate sObriQst OF
cod Dad"
III. ~ al If a
the passing soldiers In regiment during ts transit
through Memphis.
"To the old man" was the reply.
Who's the old man ="
"Why, old Dad Price. Haint you heard of him yit ?"
ayes. have but where is he nowg continued the
questioner.
81 don't know where in h-ll he ia now" was the
veterans answer "but wait until We git into a scrim
mage and I'll show you old Dad right In the midst CT
the fire where the lamp posts aud small balls flying
the tbieksst Look the front and you kin always fad
him thar"
of the West give to the long conica shele Of the
my
Tne army OF General Price il made up of extremes
1t is heter geneous mixture Of all human compounds
and represents in its various elements every condition
of Western life There the old and the young the rich
and poor, the high and low, the grave and gay, the
planter and Gborer farmer and clerk hunter and boat
man. merchant and woodsman- men too, who have come
from every State, and been bronzsd in every atitud,
from the mountains Of the Northwest TO the pampas u
Mexico. Americans, Indians hslfbreeds, Mexicans,
Frencbmen, Italians Germans spanards, Poles, and fer
ought knew Hottentots,all are mixed IN the motley
mass who hays rallied around the Tag Of their noble
leader Il ia gathering Of tie Clans ss II they had
heard and responded 10 the stirring Battle Call Of my
poetisal friend Harry Tmrod:
"Hol Woodsmsn by the mountain side,
Hol DSellers Ia the yales
Ho Ye who by the roaring tide,
Have roughened in the gales.
Leave barn ald byre leave kin and cot
Lay by the bloodl5Ss spade,
Lee doik and case and counter rot
And burn your books Of trade"
Nor is this wonderful army less picturesque in point Of
personal attire and weapons.
Every man has come from his homestead fitted with
the best and strongest that loving mothers wives and
sisters could put upon him. And the spectacle presented
ss they are drawn Up in line whether for marching
Inspection necessarily forms an arabesque pattern OF tue
most psrticolored crosd Of people upon which human
EYES ever rested Some in black!ul citizens dress,
with beaver hats aud irock coats some in homespun
drsb some 10 gray, blue and reaksd; some in moth.
ing bat red shirts pants and big top boots some at
tempt display VITA the old-fashioned militia uuiiorl5
of their foreiatboIs; some have banners l)atng from
their ouer walls" in the rear would pass for orr
friend the Gsorgi Msor who used to nothing but
his short collar and pair of spurs.
"Some in rage,
Some in bags,
Ard some 10 velvet goWn4l"
Take them all 10 all, "they rival these hnas 10
shapes that hang upon the walls OF memory in poets
dream"
Aside from the dresI have been iorclbly struck by
the remarkable pei s1Hn.l Of msjorty OF the men
They are heavy large headed rough brown faced f1l
lows, who LOOK as if 10 fight they might weigh ION
apiece, whip their weight in will cats" Fully three
.hs of them are six feet IN height aud very cor
sideraL, portion mere strppngs, ranging 10 age
from fourteen eigh.een Tbs heal;h Of the army is
generally good perhaps better than that OF any other
body of msn in the Gei Yet none have suffered more
harJships encountered more peril, or bsen more de-
prved Of the n6oesssres Of life.
Their weapons aro no. lesl miscellaneous than their
personal appearance. At fret few were armed with
anything but ordinary shot eul1 and rifles, and to =
considerable extent such is the case at present. but it is
proud boast among them that Dad Prices men are
tine only ones who have yet been able to equip them
selves generally from tho spols Of the enemy" Mis-
s5urans and Texans wont walk where they can ride
Consequently unusual proportion OF the army Is cav
hlry bu. these learn to be dsnouned aud turned
to active account infantry. A good move. Nesrly
every man in the division s splendid shot. While
a. Memphis heard bet made that certain boy
fifteen years old In one of the regments, could
not at the distance OF eight hundred yards bit the crown
OF hat four times on, Of Eve with Minnie musket.-
The bet taken by an officer, the hat put up
gun directed to Gre Ten times 10 succession ne pierced
che hat within two inches Of the centre The wager
willingly paid and considerably handed 10 the sharp
shooter aa tribute to his skill As the loser remarked
SIC don't pay very well TO bet on stock you know moth
ing about" The soung mln afterwards remarked to
bysander that he missed anything he could
Such s brief ske.ch Of Price and his noble little ar.
my-the only organized body of msn ia the Conedera-
cy who have thus far lived up to the inspired drop.
pings" part Of which have already quoted
"Come With the weapons at your call,
With musket pike and knife
He Yields the deidest blade Of all.
Who lightest holds his life !"
In conclusion may adj that "DId Price and bis boys
are nov here aId in position where the hand writing
upon che wall" Of their future fam. will 60 down to pos
terty inscribed with the crimson tide they will draw from
the hearts Of the enemy.