The Van Buren press., 1867-10-11
Prom S. LoHs RsfvsiioaA September Soth
Death Of General Sterling Price.

Niit NlNl NtobSAhal W tAN NNsNA v. w"
eral Sterling Price was but the confrma.
ton of the fears of his friends for sever.
al days past, He had been suffering
from renewed attack of 4 disease con
tractel by him in Mexico, and his symp-
toms were alternately alarming aud hope.
ful, until shortly after two o'clock yes
terday morning when, calmly AID with.
out pain, he expired.
The career OF General Price has been
SO eYentful and distinguished that it will
perhaps be expected of the journalist to
accompany the notice of his death with
a sketch of his life and history 50 far rs
they belong to the chronicles of the times.
Though our materials for this duty are
not so full as we might wish, we never.
theless undertake il, and give to our
readers the principal data within our
reach, gathered from various sources.
Sterling Price was, We believe, q native
(born about the year lSl0) of Prince Ed
wards county, Virginia, but early moved
to Missouri, where he gradually obtained
prominence as lawyer and politician
His first appearance in Ia public character
was in lS45, when he was elected mem
Der of the House of Representatives in
Congress from the then Third District Of
Missouri, serving during the first two
years of President Folks administration.
The Mexican war breaking out, he was
authorized by President Polk to raise
regiment of cavalry for service in Mexico,
was mustured in August II, 1916, and
early in the war marched to Santa Fe
with one of the best volunteer cavalry
regiments raised during the war. 1t was
known as the I'd Missouri Mounted Vol
unteers. Col Price soon distinguished
himself by the prompt manner III which
he suppressed the insurrection of the
New Mexicans and Peubla Indians in his
district of Gen. Kearny's department Of
New Mexico. The insurrection began
on January Ia, lS47, with the murder of
Governor Charles Bent, at San Fernando
de Taos. The news of this and other
outrages reached Santa Fe on January
20, and Col. Price, with 800 men and tour
twelve pcunder guns, marched TO punish
the organized insurgents. He came up
with their main force, numbering fifteen
hundred, on January "a, near the small
village of Canada. Price at once opened
upon them and their village, and after a
brief struggle the rebels were dispersed
with loss Of thirty six killed and large
number wounded Prices loss was only
two killed and six wounded. The pur.
suit was continued up the valley OF the
Rio del Norte, and on January 70, at La
faya, another serious blow was inflicted
upon the insurgents by Price, adding
largely to the number killed and wound
ed, and to the decentralization of the ene-
my. On the Sd of February Price had
reached San Fernando de Taos, the scene
of Governor Bents murder. He found
the insurgents in possession, strongly
fortified, and awaiting an attack. Price
assaulted the position on the 4th and
succeeded during the night in occupying
some abandoned houses commanding the
rebel position. The enemy sued for
terms next day, Price demanded and re
ceived the persons of the chief insur.
gents, and hung them a few days subsc
quently. This brief campaign, which
would to- day be considered so insigniii-
cant as to hardly deserve recital, made
Price Brigadier General Of Volunteers,
bis commission dating July 2Oth, 1877
His second battle in Mexico is known as
that of Santa Cruz de Rosales, and was
properly q seige. The principal battle
of the seige was fought March 10Th, lS4S,
against very superior force of Mexicans
under Don Angel Freas, Governor Of
Chihuahua, and resulted in the capture
of the place and the entire garrison. He
was wounded in an engagement at Cana
da, New Mexico, January oath, lS47.
After the conclusion Of the Mexican
war, Gen. Price was elected Governor of
Missouri, and served four years in that
capacity, from 1853 to 1857, with great
credit to himself and to the State, He
was afterwards Bank Commissioner.
During the excitement in the early part
Of the year 1861, Gen Price was q
staunch earnest and devoted Union man,
using the whole Of his powerful influence
in opposition TO the secession Of this
State from the Union, He was elected a
delegate from the Charlton Distric,
(where he lived) to the Constitutional
Convention, and such was the pronounc-
cd character of his Unionism that he was
elected President Of that body by vote
of IS to Is. This Convention, after re-
fusing by a most decided and almost
unanimous vote to adopt resolutions set
ting forth that there was adequate cause
Tor the secession Of Missouri from thu
Union, adjourned on the 2lst day o.
March, 1861, to the Sd Monday Of thC
following December. Gen Price, will
view doubtless to be instrumental ir
the preservation Of peace, was induced tc
accept the position of Major General o
the militia, under new military bill
passed by the Legislature Matters were
going on in this State without especa
excitement until the 10Th Of May, wher
the ill advised, unfortunate, and we hac
almost said criminal collision at Caml