Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-26
GEN. FRosrs SHAME SECRET.
What He Actually Said About the Mis-
souri, Border Question.
From, Dc q. Loujs Republican.

From tie 81. Loujs Republican.
A remark concerning the failure Of Gen.
Mccullough to advance into Missouri to
the support of Gen. Price in the latter
part OF 1861, made before the Southern
Historical and Benevolent society Friday
night, led Gen. d. NJ. Frost to make q
brief explanation of the situation in the
We at that time, and why Gen. Price
was not reinforced in Missouri. where, IL
he had remained, he might have soon col
lected ABOUT HIM a considerable army.
The statement resulted in Gen. Frosps
being requested to prepare paper, 10
read before the society, on the failure of
the Confederate government at Richmond
to support any movements In Missouri
and the effect that failure had upon the
Confederacy. The brief statement, con-
corning the stand of the Richmond gov
ernment, made by Gen. Frost was incor-
rectly reported by another paper
much to his annoyance. When ques-
toned concerning this bit OF UNI
written history concerning the rebel
lion, Gen. Frost SAID toia reporter:
s'After l had been taken a prisoner of
war at Fort jackson and released ! start
ed South, thinking that, for time, it
might be pleasant tor me in that section.
AT Plttman's ferry | met Gen. Hardee,
with whom / was intimately acquainted.
He was then in command of about 10000
men at that point; but he was s0rely dis
satisfied with the organization In the
West. In truth there was no organiza-
ton. Missouri did not belong to the Con
federacy, and the Missouri troops were
only trying to defend themselves against
the aggresstons OF the Federal troops.
Gen. Price was then Major General of the
MiEcOI1ri &faFa f1nu -d aud nnpl
few thousand men armed with shOtguns
and squirrel rifles. He was then going
up toward Lexington. Gen. Mccullough
had about $4,000 men in north west Ar
kansas, and he was entirely Independent
in his actions. Gen. Hardee was also GO
ing it alone, and he suggested that ] go
on South to meet Gen. johnson as soon as
he appeared in the West; lay the whole
situation before him, and explain to him
the necessity Of concerted action in the
State of Missouri. Gen. Price moved on
toward Lexington, and at the instance Of
Gen. Hardee | sought
CONFERENCE WITH GEN. ALBERT SID
NEY JOHNSON,
whom met at Columbus, where Gen.
Polk was in command OF a small force.
The conference was prolonged three days,
beginning the day previous to and
ending the day following our receiving
the news of the taking of Lexington by
Gen. Price. Gen. johnson had been CIV
en- absolute control of the Confederate
forces west OF the Allegheny mountains,
but he was careful, considerate, consoi-
entious man, and did not desire TO take
a step that he knew to be contrary to the
desires of the Richmond government. /
at once undertook to convince Gen. Johu-
son that the best interests of the COnfed-
eracy would be served by sending Gen.
Mccullough and Gen. HaTdee TO the sup
port of Prices rabbie army, enabling a
stand to be made on the Missouri river
against Gen. FreemOnts 10000 men then
stationed at st. Louis. On the second
day OF the conference he could only reply
10 the arguments had advanced in favor
OF a campaign in Missouri by saying that
it was contrary to the desire OF Mr.. Davis.
When the Confederate government, with
Mr.. Davis at its head, was established
at Richmond one of the first things
that received consideration was the fixing
ola
BOUNDARY LINE
between the two sections IN the event of
the success OF the war. Mr.. Davis
did not believe that the \ orth would con-
sent to boundary line extending north
from the mouth of the Ohio river to en-
brace the State OF Missouri in the Confed-
GA dSJ3 anu ~ W 90 hOD ACChA-
ed expedient by him TO get into any en-
tangling alliance with that State. An0th-
er slep that the Richmond government
had counselled Gen. johnson against
when he set of for the West was interfer-
ence with the
NEUTRALITY OF THE STATE OF KEN
TUCKY.
Mr.. Davis had an exceedingly fine sense
OF honor, and think that be had made
some promises of nonsin reference In Ken.
lucky in case that State declared its neu-
trality, and he desired Gen. johnson to
consider these promises IN his actions in
the West. Besides, Gen. johnson no
doubt desired personally TO keep the con-
test off his native heath as far as possible,
and being Kentucky man he would not
favor campaign in that State. Gen.
Polk was the only auditor at this confer
enoe, and at It's close he expressed him.
self as stoutly convinced of the expedien-
cy OF some Ofmy views in regard to action
in the W est. Gen. johnson did not express
an opinion of his own GU any point, which
was always his PECULIARLY"
Ibid the Confederate government send
an agent to offer terms 10 Missouri at the
time the State convention was called TO de-
termine whether or not the State should e.
main in the UniOn?
81 believe Mr.. Russell was sent to Mis-
souri, at that time,'' rejoined Gen. Frost,
''but that was while the Confederate gov
eminent was located at Montgomery, and
before Mr.. Davis had given the boundary
line consideration. After the government
was established at Richmond there was
no attempt to embrace Missouri. Gen.
Marmaduke made raid in the State after
that time, bat there was no orders sent
out from headquarters for a. campaign in
Missouri. As Gen. Price fell back from
Lexington, an unsafe position tor him, Nc
Cullough was ordered to advance TO his
aid, and ] thought for a time there had
been concert Of action decided upon west
ofthe river, Dut there was virtually moth
ing done. IL was not the policy OF the
Richmond government to hamper itself
with Missouri, and practically operations
beyond the Mississippi were abandoned"