Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-29
From the Correspondence of the Charleston Courier
CoRINTH, May Z, 1862,

AoEINTH, may I, 1862.
have lately and conversed with that nobIest
Etoman OF them ALL" Gen. Sterling Price and in ab
s7lce OF other subjects interesting portion of
my letter today is devoted to facts connected VIII this
oattle-tried hero ard his army
There are some men who seem TO have been born
WITH the laurel upon their brows. Greatness is thrust
upon them. y career uninterrupted by aught save
glory and success, Is their brhrght and the tribute
which is their cu9 flows spontaneously from the hearts
ol their Ieio"-men y; such type, Sterling Price is
htng representative Leaving his civil pursuits in
Missouri at the commencement OF troubles after
having been the recipient OF the highest honors in the
glt OF tha State be entered the of bis country as
General of the Missouri State Guard. OF troops he
had comparatively none. Of there was scanti-
ness both in numbers and quality, yet, such the
magic OF his name that Notwithstanding these d;sad
vantags, few weeks found gathered around his stand
ad array OF brave whose fame and proves have
become Household Words The result of that small
but glorious beginning is upon the records of the coun
try The handful oi choice spirits has sweled to the d
mensiOns Of cloud and the partizan chief has become
MAJOR General III the Confederate Army-the dese7v
ing peer OF that noble cluster Beauregard Bragg Har
dee, Polk, Breckenridge and Johnston. He has been en-
gagged in more oattea conquered difficulties turn
Cd aside more obstacles, acd done hard fighting
and tt ctlvc service than all the other Generals since
the began, and to-day occupies place in the afec
tlons OF tie people from which envy, malice detrac
ion have not yet sought t. dsodge him. The star of
destiny that lighted up bis perilous pathway at the be-
ginning has followed his footsteps, ard now rests sn
ngY in its zenith Great achievements are vet D store
for Sterling Price, ad VIXEN toe proper time o1mes as
believe Ii WILL grateful nation will not forget the
besowal OF that reward which is his due.
Some OF your readers may think this admiration ex-
CeSovey warm, bu1 the sentiments uttered above are
the echo OF every heart that has pulsated in the pres
ence of the Missouri General. AS few people have an
idea OF the character OF the will give You hasty
pen and ink sketch, as he appeared to during bref
interview He is over six feet ip height, with frame
to match full but not p0rty, and straight Indi-
an. His carriage is marked with dignity grace and
gentene8s, and every motion bspeaks the attitude and
presence Of tie well bred gentleman. He has large
WebserIan head, covered with growth of thick white
hair high, broad intellectual forehead Gorid face no
beard, aud mouth among whose latent smiles you never
hail to discover the iron viii that sUrmCuns all obsta-
ces. His laugh and il is not cnfrtQuent reveals set
of teeth, which like Ethan Aliens, would serve to draw
nails Tie striking feature however, is bis eye-a
calm, beautifully blue, souPs revealing orb which is at
once key to every emotion Of the man. II is an eye
which ba0ched danger, and it is the boast of
his soldiers that he looked unpityingy upon the
8u1rings Of his followers.
A passionate lover Of music, the same tender heart
that broOds sweet sounds gives flow to the sympa
thy that is in bis nature for suffering human
ty- This manifest during the mastery from
Eikhorn. Tune and again did he dismount from bis
horse to give place to sick wounded soldier and
when it suggested that it would be better TO leave
these nvads behind, his reply he threw furious
ock at the individual, was" No. sir, I'll sacrifice my
whole army before deSect my faithful wounded"
la conclusion, Price is marked specimen of the
fne old Eoglish gentleman "gentle, suavtable, wei
in ormed, and admirable listener. He speaks quick
ly but with caution, and bis words acoDic and
decisive bis acts. He reads human nature incentive
y, and POSSESSES the rare faculty of readily adopting
himself TO every person with whom be is brought il
contact. Accessible 10 all, lie Is kindly democratic
with his soldiers as be is cOury with bis equals N(
one can lay an afront at the door Of Sterling Price
1t is this careful consideration which has given him
drm a hold upon the hearts OF his
S0u3e idea OF the attachment existing between ttt
General and bis army may be had from the fact that
is every where knO"n BY the afctionate soubrlQuet
" Old Dad"
Who d. you belong to ~ asked an officer of one O
the passing soldiers in regiment during its tra0si
through Memphis.
1" TO the old man." was the reply.
Who's the old man 2"
"Why Old Dad Price. Haint you heard of hin
yit?"
Z" Yes have, but wLere is he now ?" continued tn
t questlOner
81 doa't know where in h--li he is now,' was tn
veterans answer, but wait until git into skriu
mage, and II show you Old Dad right in the mds
OF the fe, where the lamp posts and small balls are fly
ing the hckeSt Lock to the front and you kin aWay
: fnd him thar"
Lamp posts, | should observe, is the name the boy
of The West give to the long conical shells Of the
my
Inc army Oi Gen. Price Is made up Of extremes.
is heterogeneous mixture OF all human compounds,
represents in its various elements every condition
t Western LIE. There are the old aud the young, tn
rich ard the poor, lie high and the low the grave
the gay the planter and aoorer farmer and clerk bur
e ter and boatman, merchant and woodsman-mtn, tOC
f who have from every State, and been brOnzed
every latitude from the mountains Of the Northwest
s the pampas of Mexico. Americans, Indians, hal
2 breeds, Mexcans, Frenchmen, Italians Germans
: Spaniards Poles, and for aught know HOtten0ts-
e all are mixed III the motley mass, who have ralhe
around the flag of their noble ead,r 1t is gather
ing of the cars" they had heard aud respo ded
the stirring Battle Gail OF my poetical friend Harr
iimrCd
d "Ho! Woodsmen by the mountain side,
Ho Dweera il the wales,
I Ho! Ye who by the roaring tide,
- Have rousbened III the gales
Leavo barn and byre, leave kin and cot,
Lay by the bloodless spade,
S Let 0esk and case and cOuuter rot,
And burn yOu- books of trade
Nor is this wonderful army less picturesque IN poiI
of personal attire and weapons.
n Every man has come from bis homestead fitted vii
the best and strongest that loving mothers wives an
sisters coud put upon him. Aud the spectacle presen
ed they drawn up in line, whether for marchlL
or Inspection necessarily forms arabesqQe pattern
# the most parti-coI0ed crowd ot people upon Whl(
. human eyes ever rested Some in black-lull eli
Il zens dress, with beaver hats ard frock coats some
hom spun drab in grey, blue, and streaked son
9 in nothing but red shirts, pants and big top boot;
h. some attempt display with the old fashioned mlIlt