Sterling Price

• 1. A Virginia Planter's Son

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  Sterling Price was born on the 20th of September 1809 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. His parents owned twelve slaves and were described as moderately wealthy planters of Welsh origin. The historian Albert E. Castel states he was born on the 11th of September 1809, while Ezra J. Warner provides the date of the 20th of September 1809. He attended Hampden, Sydney College in the fall of 1826 but did not return for the following session. Sources speculate that poor examination grades or financial problems caused his departure. Instead, he studied law under jurist Creed Taylor in Cumberland County, Virginia. Records indicate Taylor's school was not operating during the 1828, 29 term. Price became an assistant to a court clerk in Prince Edward County in 1828. Biographer Robert E. Shalhope notes Price received no more than a minimal legal education. The political climate of Prince Edward County shaped his lasting beliefs about slavery and debt. A mid-1810s surge in tobacco prices had collapsed by the late 1820s, ruining many merchants. Pugh Price moved his family to Missouri where tobacco production competed with Virginia's output. The family reached Missouri in either 1830 or 1831 and settled near Fayette.

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• 2. The Mormon Extermination Order

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  In August 1838, a riot occurred in Gallatin when Mormons attempted to vote outside Caldwell County. Two days later, Mormon leaders Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon led 150 armed citizens to Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County. A local judge refused to sign a statement disavowing anti-Mormon violence. He traveled to Richmond and issued a complaint against the Mormons for starting frontier war. Arrest warrants were issued for three key Mormon leaders who refused custody. Sterling Price attended the trial before Judge Austin A. King on September 7. Along with Edgar Flory, Price wrote a letter stating that Mormon actions had not been as reported. Violence recurred in early October when Mormons burned Gallatin and Millport on October 18. Governor Lilburn Boggs issued the Mormon Extermination Order two days later. The order stated that "The Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state." Price commanded militia forces from Chariton County during this conflict. In November, his men took control of Far West. Price escorted captured Mormon leaders from Independence to Richmond under John Bullock Clark's command. His troops treated prisoners poorly while he did not intervene. Residents of Keytesville met in January 1839 to draft a resolution supporting Boggs's actions.

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• 3. Chihuahua Campaign And Insubordination

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  Price formed the 2nd Missouri Mounted Infantry Regiment as cavalry rather than infantry. Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny wanted it raised as infantry but Price decided independently. The unit left Fort Leavenworth for Santa Fe in summer 1846 and arrived on September 28. Price contracted cholera during the movement and became quite ill in November and December. He suffered intestinal problems for the rest of his life due to this bout with cholera. In January 1847, the Taos Revolt occurred and Charles Bent was killed. Price mobilized troops against the revolt with only 353 men and four mountain howitzers. On January 24, his men defeated a superior enemy force at the Battle of Cañada. After winning the Battle of Embudo Pass, Price reached Taos on February 2. He ordered an artillery bombardment on February 3 followed by a successful attack the next day. Two leaders were captured; one executed later that year and another murdered in prison. Price received promotion to brigadier general in July and became military governor of Chihuahua. Despite orders not to attack Chihuahua, he invaded anyway when reports claimed Mexican forces threatened El Paso. His supply train ran late yet he began the advance regardless. Price pursued a Mexican force that had abandoned Chihuahua City. Many horses wore out and he took only 250 men to Santa Cruz de Rosales. He attacked on March 16 despite hostilities having ended over a month prior. The war effectively ended well before the battle but Price received praise from President Polk.

• 4. Governor And Bank Commissioner

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  Price became Governor of Missouri in 1852 serving until 1857. During his tenure Washington University in St. Louis was established. The state's public school system was restructured and the Missouri State Teachers Association created. Railroads expanded across the state while a geological survey formed. Price refused to accept any salary increase beyond what he had been elected for. He served as Bank Commissioner from 1857 to 1861 securing a rail line through his home county. This line eventually became part of the Norfolk and Western Railway. Before becoming governor, Price cultivated tobacco on the Bowling Green prairie. Popular due to his war service, he won election easily. By 1840 his farming endeavors had become prosperous with several dozen slaves. In August 1840 he was elected to another term in the Missouri House of Representatives. Despite lacking legislative experience, he was unanimously elected Speaker after the legislature convened in November. Claiborne Fox Jackson served as floor leader while Price convinced legislators to support party positions. Shalhope writes that Price elicited almost blind loyalty among many Missourians though opponents considered him vain.

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• 5. From Union Supporter To Confederate General

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  Price convinced superiors to permit invasion of Missouri in fall 1864 hoping to seize the state or imperil Abraham Lincoln's reelection chances. Confederate General Kirby Smith agreed though he detached infantry brigades originally detailed to Price's force. This changed the proposed full-scale invasion into a large cavalry raid. Price amassed 12,000 horsemen and fourteen pieces of artillery for his army. The first major engagement occurred at Pilot Knob where he captured Fort Davidson but needlessly subjected men to high fatalities. From there Price swung west toward Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth. He bypassed Jefferson City cutting destruction across his home state while his army dwindled from losses and disease. Although he defeated Federal forces at Boonville, Glasgow, Lexington, Little Blue River and Independence, Price became boxed in by two Northern armies at Westport. This contest known afterward as "The Gettysburg of the West" did not go his way. He retreated into hostile Kansas facing new defeats as his broken army pushed southward toward Arkansas then Texas. Price's Raid remained his last significant military operation and the final major Confederate campaign west of the Mississippi.

  Rather than surrender Price emigrated to Mexico where he

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• 6. The Gettysburg Of The West

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  attempted to start a colony of Southerners. He settled in Carlota, Veracruz within a Confederate exile colony. There Price unsuccessfully sought service with Emperor Maximilian. When the colony failed he returned to Missouri. While in Mexico Price developed severe intestinal problems that worsened in August 1866 when he contracted typhoid fever. Impoverished and in poor health, Price died of cholera or cholera-like symptoms in St. Louis, Missouri. The death certificate listed cause as chronic diarrhea. His funeral occurred on the 3rd of October 1867 at First Methodist Episcopal Church on Eighth and Washington streets. A black hearse drawn by six matching black horses carried his body. The procession was the largest to take place in St. Louis up to that point. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. During the Civil War a wooden river steamer built at Cincinnati became CSS General Sterling Price before being renamed USS General Price after sinking during the First Battle of Memphis.

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