The New York herald., 1862-01-25
NEWS FROM MISSOURI.
Interesting Correspondence Between the
Rebel General Price and Major
General Halleck,

ST.. LOUIS, Jan. %, 1892
The following 10 the correspondence which has taken
place between Generals Price and Haleck -
HEADQUARTERS, MISSOURI STATE GUARD,
SPRINGFIELD, Jan. II, 1862
GENERAI-l have received information that you, as
Major General commanding this department. have either
ordered allowed the Of citizens In pursuit OF
their usual and peaceful avocaons and that men, ON
taken prisoners the Farsas border and conveyed to
Fort Leavenworth ar1 such and for other estab
lished offence or cr..ns, have been shot.
ders have been subject TO the thing whenever and
wherever they have shown themselves, and that in
others they have been by military coercion forced into
servude unknown 70 international and civilized usages
in such cases.
have obtained information that individuals and par
ties Of specially appointed by 10 destroy rail-
roads culvers and bridges by tearing them up burn
ing. &C. have been arrested and subjected TO general
court martial for alleged crimes which all the laws Of
warfare heretofore recognized by the civilized world
have regarded as distinctly proper and lawful.
have learned thatsuch persons, when tried, II con.
victed OF the offence or offences as stated are viewed
as lawful subjects for capital punishment.
These statements cannot believe to be correct But
let understand each other the subject Do you in
tend TO continue the arrest OF citizens engaged In their
ordinary peaceful pursuits and TO treat them traitors
and rebelsY n will you make exchanges with for
such as may or will make for similar casess
Do you intend TO regard members Of this army as por
deserving Of death whenever and wherever they
may be captured2 will you extend to them the recog
nzed rights Of prisoners Of war by the code Of civilized
warfareP
Do you regard the destruction Of important roads for
the transportation OF facilities for military purposes
the legal right OF . bolligeront?
Do you intend regard men whom have specially
spached to destroy roads, burn bridges, tear up eu
vcrts, &C., amenabe to an enemy's court martial,
will you have them tried usual, by the proper civil
authorities according the statutes Of the Slater
STERLING PRICE, Major General.
Commanding tho Department Of Missouri.
The following is General Haleck's reply
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
CT Ion Ian (
General SnRIlNG PRICE, Commanding, &c.
GESERAI-Your letter, dated Springfield, January IL,
Kansas frontier and at Fort Leavenworh not under
my command. In regard to them I respectfully refer
you to Major General David Hunter, commanding the
Department OF Kansas headquarters Fort Leaveuworth.
You also complain that individuals and parties OF men
especially appointed and instructed BY you TO de-
stroy railroad culverts and bridges, BY tear;
and subjected to general court martial for the alleged
crimes. This statement is in the main correct When
they will be tried and If found guilty will certainly be
punished, whether acting under your special appoint
ment and instructions not. You must be aware Gene
raj that no order o yours can save from punishment
spes marauders robbers, incsndiares guerrilla bands
&C., who violate the laws Of war; You cannot give i'm
muny to crimes. But let fully understand each other
on this point II you send armed forces, wearing the
garb OF soldiers, and duly organized and enrolled e
gitimate belgerents, TO destroy railroad bridges &C
as military act, shall kill them possible in open
warfare; or. capture them we shall treat them
prisoners OF war; But II is well understood that you
have sent Numbers OF your adherents in the garb OF
peaceful citizens and under false pretences through
lines into Northern Missouri TO rob and destroy property
Of Union men, and burn and destroy railroad bridges
thus endangerng tho lives Of thousands and this too
without military necessity possible military advan
tsge Moreover peaceful citizens Of Missouri quietly
working on their farms, have been nstgated BY YOU
emifsares to take up arms insurgents, and rob- plum
der and commit arson and murder They do not
under the garb Of soldiers but under false preences
in the guiss Of private ctizsns. You certainly will
pretend that guilty Of such crimes although spe
appointed
the rights and mmunities ordinary prisoners OF
you do, will you refer to a single authority tn
laws OF war which recognises such q claim. am dai
expecting instructions respecting the exchange OF prison
OF will communicate with you that suhjec
they received. H. W. HAII.ECK.
Major General, Commanding Department