The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-17
PRICES INVASION OF MISSOURI.
Reliable Account Of ROSecTans' Oper-
atiOns Against the Enemy.
Number Of Prices Army and His
Losses.
Union Losses and Result OF the
Canpa'gls


ICorrespondence Of the Missouri Republican
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 10, 1864
Since the month of May last it was
well understood that Price would in
wade Missouri, but it was believed that
the militia, assisted by whatever troops
could be spared from Arkansas, would
be sufficient to either repel him or pre-
vent him from inflicting any consider
able amount of damage in the State,
for almost all the troops then under
Major General Rosecrans were ordered
away to assist Sherman in Georgia
This, as a matter of course, left General
Rosecrans pretty much at the mercy Of
circumstances, and he was obliged to
do the best he could, and reap honor
or dishonor with very dull tools. He
had FIVE important posts and depots to
protect, viz: St Louis, Pilot Knob,
Rolla, Springfield and Jefferson City.
Price had at least 10000 (some esti
mates place his force at 25000) effec-
tive men, with, three hundred wagons
of ammunition, and eight pieces of
artillery. He crossed the Arkansas in
perfect safety, under diversion made
in his favor by Shelby behind Steele,
and concentrated at Batesville. From
that poini, there were three routes of
invasion: through West Plains to ROlla;
by Pocahontas to Pilot Knob, or up
White River to Springfield. He chose
that by Pocahontas, perhaps, because
it led more directly to St Louis, as it
has already been demonstrated by the
battle in the Arcadia Valley that Price
was there with his main force, if not
his entire army, and intended dashing
upon this city.
He could strike either st. Louis or
Rolla, once at Pilot Knob, and the adj
ditional advantage may have decided
him TO invade by the Pocahontas route.
Every preparation that could was made,
but it was evident TO the General COM
manding that assistance must be had
from without, and he requested that
the division under Major General A. J.
smith, iust arrived at Cairo, on his way
to Georgia, be sent TO Missouri This
was complied with, and the Sd Division,
10th Army Corps, was sent up 10 Jefer-
son Barracks Just about the time Price
was entering the State. Generals Wash
burn, at Memphis, and Steele, at Little
Rock. had earlier information of Prices
movements than General Rosecrans, so
the former ordered Movers division,
including $500 cavalry under Colonel
Winslow, from Memphis to Duvali's
Bluff, to succor Steele and follow
Price.
As soon as Sanborn reached Rolla,
he and Mcneil were ordered to Jeffer-
son City, as was Fisk, so that when
Price reached the Usage Bridge, he
found before him the combined forces
of those officers, and adequate defenses
TO hold the city against any attack he
could make. BE forced the passage Of
the Usage, and demonstrated on the
capital, but finding it more defensible
than he anticipated, he turned his
forces westward, and fastened 70
Bonneville.
General Fisk was the ranking officer
at Jefferson City, and might have made
better thing Of his opportunity, If he
had had sufficient military skill and
experience to sally forth and attack
Price as he retreated Fortunately, at
this time Pleasonton arrived and as
sumed command. He sent Sanborn
out on the pursuit at once, and waited