New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-25
'''N'e d NOS oS iV or r I TWELFTH IowANs
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GENERALS
PRICE AND HALLECK.
81. LOrIs, Thursday, Jan. % Isb2.
The following is the correspondence which haa
taken Mace between Generals Price aud IIalieck:
HEADQUARTERS M.ssol ri STATE G ,gl5

ur,pqrARrEE. M.ssorm STATE GuAKD.}
SIR NGFitLp jan. u, 1872
| GrSyKAL: I have received Information that you.
% or.Geueral commanding this Department, have
either ordered or allowed the arrest OF clihens ~
pursuit Of their usual and peaceful aYocaiois' ara
that men, officers and Trlvates, belonging 70 tulF
army have been taken prisoners on the Kansas DOT
der and conveyed to Fort LeayenwOrth, ahd as suen'
and tor other established CHehsc vi 'ii'"'' ''
been shot, ,.t
I'm sou,e ca.es. have learned tlat my discharge
sodiers have been subject 20 the same tAins wen
ever aud wherever they have shown fhemseNe-' aAu
that IN others they have been by military COERCION
forced uto scryiiude unknown 10 lhteIhaiOIhi anu
civilized u-ages in such cases.
have obtaiued information that individuals ard
parties OF men Tecally appointed and Instructed by
me to des ROY railroads, calyerif, and trldges, ~
tearing them up, burning &c, lave been afmsls Il
and subjected 10 General Court Martial for alleged
crimes. which NIL the laws Of warfare heretofore
recognized by the civilized world have regarded as
distinctly proper and lawful. o..
have learned that such TeHons when tried, u
convicted of the olcrse or oIienses ns stated are
viewed AZ lawful subjects for capital punishment.
These statements cannot believe 10 be correct.
But let us understand each other on this subject.
DO You intend to uue the arrest OF citizens ELL
paqd in their ordinary peaceful pursuits aud 10 treat
ibem az traitors and rebels II 70, VIII Won make
exchanges with me for such az may or VIII make
for similar cases
]
rerrons deserving Of death wherever aud wherever
they may be captured or wild you extend TO them
the recognized rights Of prisoners of war by tue
code of civilized warfare !
DO YOU regard the destruction Of importan. roads
tor the transportation OF facilities for military pur-
roses az tie legal right OF IA beligerent!
DO yoh intend 10 regard men whom have spe-
ally dispatched TO destroy roads burn bridges, tear
up culyeris, &C., ameuable 10 ~ enemy court
martial or Will You have them tired rs usual by the
proper civil authorities, aceOg 10 tne s'aiuses VI
lie Stateg STERLING PRICE,
Msjor General commanding the Department Of Missouri
The following il Gen. Halleck's reply
IiEADer,krIRs. DErARrSESr OF Missouri
81 Loufs, Jan. g. lt2.
Gen STIRLING Pace. Csmmaading, Sc.
GrSERAL: Your letter. dated Springfield, Jan. IL,
il received. The troops, OF which you complain, on
tho Kansas frontiers and AZ Fort Loavenworth are
not under my command In regard TO tnenl, ! re-
.rectt ,llv refer YOU 20 Malor-Gcn. David Hunter,
commanding the Department Of Kansas, Headquar-
tiers Fort Leayenworth. You also complain that
individuals ard parties Of men specially appointed
and instructed by You to destroy railfoAd eulverts
and bridges, BY ieanng them up, burning, &c., have
been arrested aud subjected to general Court Mar
;lal for the alleged crimes. This statement lie in the
main correct.
Where individuals aud parties Of men viollte the
laws Of war, they win be tried, and If found guilty
will certsny he punished, whether sctng under
your succial appointment and Instructions or not.
can ave from punishment sles, maranders, ro0oeis,
incendares guerrilla bauds, &C., who violate the
laws OF war. You cannot give immunity 10 crimes
But let fully understand each other on this point
II YOU send armed forces wearing the garb OF soi-
dieTs and duly organized and enrolled IS ultimate
hellgercnts, to destroy railroad bridges, &C., rs
military act, we shall kill them il possible, III open
warfare; or, if capture them, shall treat them
as prisoners Of war.
Bat il is we'll understood that Won have sent num-
h.rs a.y odd IN nf .tff
and under false pretenaes through our lines uto
Northern Missouri TO rob and destroy property OF
Union men, and burn and destroy railroad bridges,
thus endangering the lives Of thousands, and this,
too wi bout military necessity or possible military
advantage. Moreover peaceful citizens of Missouri.
quietly working their farms, have been Inc igaed
by your emissaries 10 take up arms rs insurgents,
ana rob, plumber and commit and murder.
hev do not even under the garb Of soldiers, but
under false pretenses and in the guse OF private
citizens. You cert inly will not pretend that men
guilty Of such crimes, although specially appointed
aud Instructed by you entitled TO the rights and
imnunities of ordinary prisoners OF war. II do,
will you refer mo to a single authority on the laws
of war which recognizes such claim am daily
expecting instructions respecting the exchange oil
prisoners of war. | will communicate with you on
that subject as soon n they are received.
h. ". HALLECK, Maor.Gcnersl
Commanding Department