Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-19
RoseeraHs' Operations Against Price
During the Invasion OF Missouri
His 0nfeial Report Condensed sn
form OF q 6enerai Order.

UuFing the LnTaAl0n or Missouri
MS 0fieial Report Condensed sn
form OF . General Order.
The hilowibg order, published 10 the
St Louis papers, embraces tbs entire
history Of Gen. Rosscrabs' campaign
against Price, and contains the facts Of
iuteres, 70 be found in any official re-
port that may appear in future:
HEAD'oEs DKPAErxEsr or Mrssocai,
ST Loeis, Dec. 8.
GsaeraE Orders No. 40
|. The reports Of the commanders Of
troops in the late campaign against
Price, delayed till nov By the necessi.
ties OF the case, furnish q record 40
brilliant Of srduous service aud gallant
fighting that the commanding General
deems It duty 70 express to The OH
GERS and men Of bis command bis ads
miratioa of their behasior. and 20 con-
grnsnlase them aud their fellow citizeps
on the results.
II. Vague rumors and threats of al
invasion Of Missouri BIZ Price had been
in calculation for months among rebels,
bushwhackers and 20. A. K'A"
About the 2la Of September the rs-
nors ripened into certainty BY the IN
formation that Price, crossing The Ar.
kansas With two divisions Of cavalry and
three batteries Of artillery, had Joined
Shelby near Batesvills, sixty miles south
Of the line Of our State, and would In
vads as with from 200 to $1,000 vet
eran mounted men.
We bad then about $500 mounted
men for 6eld duty in the Department,
scattsred over coaptry 800 miles long
and 300 miles broad, which, with the
partially organized usw iafantFy regi-
ments and our dismoanted men. cousti-
tated the entire force 70 cover our great
depots at St Louis, Jefferson City, ST
Joseph, Macon, Springfsld, ROlls, and
Pilot Knob, guard car railroad bridges
against this invasion, and protect, as
far - possible, the lives and property Of
oar citizens from the guerrillsa who
swarmed over the whole c0antEy border
ing on the Misssari river Fortunately,
Major Gsnaral A. j. Smiths troops,
passing Cairo towards Sashsills, 1t the
earnest solicitation OF the General Con-
msuding, were ordered 70 halt and op-
pose Price, thus giving rs 4, 500 veteran
irfantry ler asarsi
Ill Unable to concentrate until the
point vas determined where the enemy
would srike, without surrsrderi1z aii
the remaining portion Of The State you
coald only make preliminary prePzra-
tons and await he coming storna, while
the Enrolled Missouri Militia, which had
never jet failed to respond 70 The calls
Of patriotism, prepared 70 defend their
homes against the invader and bis
traitor frieEds in our midst 49,.
". When Springfield appeared sale
from the blow, General Sanboru moved
With ali bis available cavalry 10 rem
force RoIIa. where General Mcneil vas
preparing 10 seears our depots and great
supply trains, while Ewing and his baRd
Of heroes, the young 4Tth MissoaEi Vel
unteer Infantry, desachments Of the LIST,
I'd, and Sd n S. n, and I4th Iowa, By
their grand defence Of Pilot Knob, Sep
tem5er 9th, proved the psesence Of tie
enenJs force IN Southezss hissoari
gave him tbs Erst staggering blow, and
allowed time for the z " 81 and cTti
zsns ef g Louis TO prepare for III ds
( fence, then covered only 5y Genera
] Snith's infantry and three Regiments 0