The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-28
GEN. STERLING PRICE.
A PEN PICTURE OF "OLD PAP''
AND HIS ARMY
or Brave Missourians, Who Made SO
/ Many Glorious Records on Both
sides OF the River.
looRnEaroEpErcE on rHr ArrIAI. |


are SON mtn who seem to have been
born with the lsurel on their browe,
and greatnts 80 continues to be thIus
upon them. There is no inter- upton
in their career of glory and tur c. So.
The tribute Of the people is paid to
Them spontaneously, and when they
pass away, it is amid halo that grows
brighter with the frightening years
Of such a type OF man was Sterling
Price.
Leaving his civil pursuits in Mis-
souri, at the beginning OF our troubles,
after havir g been the recipient OF the
highest honors in the gift Of the State,
he entered the service OF bis country
as q general of the Missouri STATE
Guard. OF troops, he had compare
lively noos. o. arms, there was a
ecantiness both in numbers and quail
ity; yet such was the magic of his
name that, Notwithstanding these die
advantages, a few weeks found gath
cred around his standard an array of
brave men, whose fame and prowess
have since become "as household
words" The result of that email but
glorious beginning is upon the records
of the Confederacy. The handful OF
choice spiiis soon swelled to the d.
mansions Of cloud, and the partisan
chief became a major general in the
army, a deserving peer in that noble
cluster of Southern soldiers, Lee,
Besursgsrd, Bragg, Johnston, Hardee,
Polk, Breckenridge, John Morgan,
Rnp. and ooOro ~ ntharo
Let me describe Sterling Price as /
saw him on the field near Corinth, in
1882
He has q large Websterian head,
covered with a growth OF thick, while
hair; q high, bread, intsllec usl fore
head, florid face, DO beard, and
mouth smopg whose latent smiles you
discover the iron will that surmounts
obstacles. His laugh, and it is not
unfrt quent, reveals set of pearly
teeth that recall the remark about
Ethsn Allen's-they would serve to
draw nails. The striking feature,
however, is his eye-a calm, beauti.
fally blue, soul revealing orb which
is at Zoe q key to every emotion OF
the man. II is an eye that never
blarched at danger, and it was the
boast of his men that he neve looked
unpityipgly on their sufferipgs.
Over six feet in height, with frame
to match, full but not portly, and
straight as an Indian, his carriage is
marked with dignity, grace and
gentleness, and every motion bespeaks
the attitude and presence of the well
bred gentleman
A passionate lover OF music, the
game ter der heart that broods over
swet sounds gives flow 10 the sympa-
thy that is ever warm in his nature
for those who are in distress. This
was manifested during his mastery
retreat from EIkhorn. Time and time
again did he dismount from his horse
to give piece 10 some sick or wounded
soldier, and when it Yves suggested that
it would be be ter to leave these in
valids behind, his reply as he threw a
furious look at the individual was:
"No, sir; I'll-sacrifice my whole army
before / desert my wounded"
In conversation the General ia q
marked specimen OF 'the fine old En-
glish gentlemen" He is gentle,
suave and we'll informed, and,
moreover, an admirable listener. He
speaks quickly, but with caution, and
his words when on duty are "a laconic
and decisive as his acts. He reads
human nature iptuitively, and pos
sesses the rare faculty of adapting
himself readily to every person with
whom he is brought in contact. Ac-
ceesible to all, he ia as kindly demo-
cratic with his soldiers as he is courtly
with his official equals. No one can
lay an undeterved sffront at the door
of Sterling Price. 1t is this careful
conside ration Of their feelings that has
given him 30 firm a hold upon the
hearts of bis men.
Some idea OF the attachment exist
ing between the General and his
army may be had from the fact that
he is everywhere known by the sffec-
tionste soubriquet Of cod Dad
Price,"
"Who do you belong TOT" asked an
oficer Of ono of the soldiers OF pass
ing regiment in Memphis.
ITO the old man." vas the reply.
who's the old man2"
"Why, Old Dad Price. Hain't you
heerd CT HIM yitP"
eyes, / have. But where is he
now ?" cont nued the quesiioner.
81 don't know whar in thunder he
is now" vas the veterans answer;
"but wait till We git into a sclimmsge
and I'll show you Cd Dad right in the
midst Of the FIRE, wbar the lamp posts
and the minnies lie flynn the
thickest."
(Lsmp posts was the name the boys
of the West gave to the conical shells
of the enemy
The army of Gen. Price was made
up of extremes-a heterogeneous mix
ure of all human compounds, and rep.
resented In its various elements ev-
cry condition of Western life. There |
were the old and the young, the rich |
and the pcOr, the high and low, the [,
grave and gay, the planter and la
boIer, the farmer and clerk, hunter |
and boatmaD, merchant and woods
TOO, who have gone from |
every State, and been bronzsd In ev.
cry latitude from the mountains OF |
the Northwest 10 the pampss of Mex
leo. Americans, Indians, half breeds,
Mexicans, FTenchmen, Germans, Itsl-
ians, SpaDiaI de, Poles, and for aught |
that is known to the contrary, Hotten-
tots-all had mixed in the motley |
mass who lad rallied around the flag |
Of their leader.
Every man had come from his home |
fitted with the best and strongest that
loving mothers, wives and sisters
could put upon him. And the spec
tacle presented when they were drawn
up in line formed an Arabesque pat.
tern OF the most particolored crowd OF |
people on which human eyes ever
rested. Some we're in black, full Cit
sens dTets, with beaver hats and frock
coats; some in homespun drab; some
In nothing but red shirts, pants and
big top bCols; some attempted a dis
play with the old fashioned militia
Of their iorefathers; some had
banners floating from the outer
walls" in the rear, and now and then
one might pas for our friend the
Georgia Major, whose military attire
WnQ n ahirt oollar aud a noir ~ unura