Person Page 246

Sterling Price¹

Photo of Sterling Price in CSA uniform. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Facts and Notes

• Title: General¹
• Birth: 14 September 1809; Prince Edward County, Virginia, USABGO²
• Military: Between 1861 and 1865; See person note¹
• Death: 29 September 1867; St Louis, Missouri, USABGO²

• Note: In Early Settlers of Alabama, James Saunders write the following about Sterling Price:
  "Gen. Sterling Price, of [Missouri], was the son of this William. He attained a reputation during the late war, as a soldier and a man, which was truly enviable. He early took the field with the "State Guards " of Missouri, before there was any Confederate organization in the State. Each division was commanded by a brigadier, with General Price as Commander-in-Chief. His command was composed of the best young men of the State, many of whom had been enured to war in the Kansas troubles. The old General was the centre of attraction in this volunteer army, whose cohesion seemed to depend mainly on his wonderful personal magnetism. He marched, fought, advanced and retreated, in turn, until (having no quartermaster and commissary department) these intrepid young men became "ragged" and "bare-footed." When the battle of Wilson's Creek was at the highest, a tall, red-headed fellow, from the central part of the State, advanced beyond the line to get free from the smoke, and to see how to make a better shot. He aimed with deliberation at a particular man, similarly advanced, and when he saw his man fall, he cried out with great glee, " Them's my shoes!"
  Ever after that, this was the battle cry of the Missouri soldiers. In despite of want and nakedness, they were brave fighters, always rallying around the flag in battle; but, under a lax discipline, were somewhat given to straggliug during the intervals. The authorities at Washington were so much amazed by the movements of this army that after sending first one commander and then another, the Secretary of War dispatched General Halleck to the scene of action. Strong Federal reinforcements were thrown into the State, and General Price was compelled to retreat, first into Arkansas, and then to the Eastern side of the Mississippi river. The following tribute was paid to General Price by a Northern historian: "Price had displayed no small skill in his movements, and it was believed in Richmond that if he had been properly supported he would have secured Missouri to the Confederacy." But it was when his soldiers were "exiles" from their homes that General Price exhibited those high qualities of soul which made him their idol. The solicitude he showed to secure their comfort, or alleviate their sufferings, was so great as to call forth the highest admiration. They entertained the most grateful feelings toward him for his tender sympathy for them in their "orphaned" condition, and called him "Pap." He was a fine illustration of 'The bravest are the tenderest.'"
  

• Related Pages: Veterans

Citations

1. [S21] Saunders, James Edmonds, Early Settlers of Alabama, page 121
2. [S769] Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Price, "Sterling Price," accessed 9 Sep 2018