Telegram-herald., 1889-12-06
on The BORDER IN '64.
Condensed History OF the Stirring War
Days in Missouri and Arkansas.
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence
CENrRALIA. No. Nov. l9-The failure
of Banks Red river expedition had a dis
heartening effect on the Union cause in
Arkansas In 1864. Gen. Frederick Steele's
force guarded the state. with headquar-
ters at Little Rock. After tho failure
on Red river IN the spring, Gen. Steele aban-
dOned 70 the Confederates all OF Arkansas
south Of the Arkansas river. The Confed-
crates Immediately took possession of all that
nad been abandoned. With renewed hopes
they organized again their state government
in September. 1864, and elected A. p Gar
land Confederate senator from Arkansas TO
the Richmond congress. Hon. A ?. Gar
land was United States attorney general un-
der President Clevelands administration.
An armed invasion Of Missouri by Price
p Is also organized. Gen Rosecrans was at
this time commander of the Union depart
ment Of Missouri, headquarters at st. Louis
The peculiar detective talent for which this
general was noted enabled him 70 ferret out
powerful Confederate conspiracy in Mis-
souri,
The state was filed with members Of a
league variOusly known as knights of the
Golden Circle" American Knights and
Sons OF Liberty" The grand commander
Of the order in the south was Gen Sterling
Price, OF Missouri, known among the soldiers
a. Pap Price. The same secret orEaniza-
ton had also many members and lodges in
the north, notably in the lake states. The
grand commander Of the order in the north
was Clement L. Vallandigham, Of Ohio.
The programme Of the knights Sons"
etc, included the invasion Of Missouri by
Price in the autumn OF 1854 Gathering what
force he WAS able, ne was 10 cross the border
from northwestern Arkansas and suddenly
appear in Missouri. Then, from all over the
state, members Ok the secret ord IT'S named
and other Confederate sympathizers would
flock 10 MS standard, thus forming with the
force he already had large army.
Cen Joseph Shelby had been making
demonstrations in Arkansas as early as June,
and captured one post after another, until no
more than half a dozen important stations
yet remained in Union hands in the fall
of lsC4 Among these stations were Little
Rock, Helena, Van Buren, and Duvalrs
Blu1.
Shelby had 1000 men: northwestern Ar
kansas and southwestern Missouri swarrned
with gueriIas and bush whackers" These
and Shelby's force were both ready 70 join
Price when he should appear.
Rosecrans' secret agents discovered and re-
ported that a strong Confederate force was
ready 70 join Price. Rosecrans laid his dis
covsries before the government at Washing
ton. His representations were disbelieved.
Rosscrsns Information was, however, cor
rect He found. indeed. that the Belgian con-
sui was the state commander In Missouri Of
the diSloyal BODY and arrested him The ar
rest caused great STIR. but it was fully Jus
tifisd bY facts
sept 8 1854. Gen. Washburne. at Mem
phis, gave Rosecrsns information that Price
Was ready 20 invade Missouri A J. Smith,
with his 5000 troops. was then on his way 70
join sherman IN Georgia Halleck halted
him a. Cairo and sent him and dis men hastily
- St. Louis 20 REINFORCE RosecrsnS. Smith
arrived none too soon, for Price was already
0u the border With his Army