, 1862-01-08

His Experiences in Gen. Prices Eody
Guard.

From the st. Louis Democrat, Gt1l-
A day OF two previous to the capture Of
Camp Jackson, in May last, sixty or seventy
=: Louis eoys, under command e. Of captala an9
Us Body Guard to Governor Jackson,
who lust at that time begun to snuff
danger from afar, and to devise meas-
urcs for his own protection. One Of the young
men detailed for this purpose reached this city
Friday evening, and after singnlarly varied
cxperience-as one Of Jackson's Body Guard,
as IN officer in PRICES army, and es pilgrim
i'll the land Of DiSie-yestcrday morning took
the oath Of allegiance, and forever renouuced
his sympathies for rebcldom. He resigned his
commission in Prices army on the 1st day Of
November, with the intention Of ayailing him
self Of the amnesty act passed by the Couycn-
ton, but instead Of offering himself up at the
time, concluded to take d trip through the
Southern CoDfederacy. He accordingly tray
cled through the principal States Of Dixie, and
finally got beyond the Confederate lines and
made his way TO Washington and from thence
to this city. He is New Yorker by birth,
and has two brothers in the Federal army.
All lis interests are with the North, and so
he came, at last, to tile conclusion that fight
ing for Southern rights, no glory and no pay,
was not Just the thing, and gave it up alto
gethcr. He took part in all IL principal but
Ties which have been fought in this State
Carthage, Wilson's Geek, Drywater and Lex
ington. He was present at the Boonville en-
EaEement, but Tas not allowed to take part
in it, for the reason that Gov. Jackson, just ut
entire Body Guard toprotecr him! At Car
.thage, he Was wounded in the shoulder by
4 shell, but saw enough Of Sigel's method Of
rctreating to convince him that it was ms
terly. At Wilson's Greek he fought beside
Colonel Coleman, Of this city, and was near
hin, when he tcll: One Of colenan's men
dropped percussion cap, and the Colonel
stopped to pick it up. While in the act, a
ball struck him in the shoulder, and passed
lengthwiee nearly through his body, killing
him almost instantly.
This was acknowledged to have been hard
fought battle-the most strongly contested
Of any within the knowledge or experience
cf the old soldiers in Price's army, and it
was only by their immense superiority in
numbers that Price aud McC Culloc1 maintained
their ground. McCulloch was chief in com
nland during the battle, and after the FedeEals
began to retreat, it was understood among the
officers that Price urged 4 pursuit, and that
McCulloch objected, on the ground that Gen.
Lyon had evidently left strong force at
Springfield, and perhaps mined the roads lead
ing thereto. Price finally prevailed upon Nc
Cuiloch to send q cavalry company to recon-
noitre. When they returned they reported
that Springfield had been evacuated, and that
the Fcdcrals were retrcatiug. McCnlloch
then desired to pursue them, but Price re-
fused, and thus the pursuit Was not made.
This WAS doubtless the origin Of what has
been understood as & difficulty between Price
and McCulioch. It was not Of long duration,
however, as If was soon discovered that Me-
Cu1locl was unable to properly manage 4 1nrgc
body Of men, and Price ever afterwards acted
as Commandcr-in~ Chief The confederate loss
at Wilson's Greek, as nearly as could be asccr-
tanned, by tho Confcde1ates themselves, was
SEQ killed and TIA wounded.
at Lexington, considerable apprehension eX-
listed HJn1nT frlra'S men. Near the close ut The
thine days SIEGE" that i Federal force would
make its appearance, in which case surrender,
| or lnglorious retreat, would have resulted, as
the supply OF percussion caps among Prices
men had been almost entirely exhausted, nnd
| they could not have made an effective resist
| ance in consequence thereof No Federal force
| appeared, however, the fort was surrendered
and an ample quantity Of plunder thereby Oh
tanned.
! Our informant states that during the wholt
time, Prices available fighting force has moi
| exceeded s, COO men. He has, at various times
lad as many as Il, GOO or *, 600 men, but ut NJ
time could more than 5000 of lis men be re-
lied on. This number, it is understood, arr
| Of the right sort and ready to fight "til tlt
| last armed foe EXPIRES" but tile remainder
I have served no good puTpose-IIaye been, it
fact, an undisciplincd mob Of camp followers
coming and going at discretion.
The St. Louis boys, who composed Captain
| Eel}ey's company, have been pretty generally
| scattered. Sixteen OF eighteen have become
| occupants Of ''narrow houses,' at variou:
points between Boonyilc and the Arkausa:
| line; others hold positions in the Confederate
| army ut Columbus, Bowling Green, Memphi.
and New Orleans, and the remnant still follow
| Price in his forward and back movement:
through the State
The experiences Of our Informant in tht
South will perhaps, be claboEatcly put tortl
in Il future chapter