Thoughts on General Sterling Price?

[major bill]

It does not appear that Price was a favorite of Jefferson Davis. Still Major General Sterling Price seemed to have played a major roll in the Western Theater and Trans-Mississippi Theater. Major General Price appears to have performed well in some battles and less so in other battles. He was not completely successful as an independent commander. His large raid of Missouri in 1864 ( Price's Missouri Expedition) is a good example of this. However, I am not sure Price's Missouri Expedition had any real chance of success. Maybe I should say Price had the forces he need for a major raid, but perhaps did not have the forces he needed to capture Missouri. I am not sure capturing Missouri was even a realistic goal. Price did capture wagon loads of military supplies, however, wagon loads of military supplies in Missouri at this stage of the War might be nice but was not a game changer.

 

[archieclement]

It does not appear that Price was a favorite of Jefferson Davis. Still Major General Sterling Price seemed to have played a major roll in theting distrust in others who may veiwed him qs a rivqal. Western Theater and Trans-Mississippi Theater. Major General Price appears to have performed well in some battles and less so in other battles. He was not completely successful as an independent commander. His large raid of Missouri in 1864 ( Price's Missouri Expedition) is a good example of this. However, I am not sure Price's Missouri Expedition had any real chance of success. Maybe I should say Price had the forces he need for a major raid, but perhaps did not have the forces he needed to capture Missouri. I am not sure capturing Missouri was even a realistic goal. Price did capture wagon loads of military supplies, however, wagon loads of military supplies in Missouri at this stage of the War might be nice but was not a game changer.

Heres a thread on the original plan and forces actually made available for the 64 raid I did last year.

Origins and planning of Prices Raid in 64 | Trans Mississippi Theaters

Found this interesting in some recent reading, while originally planned a combined arms operation of 35-40K men when it was scaled back to a mounted raid......the Infantry that was taken out of the raid was to go to Arkansas under John Magruder and attack Steeles isolated outposts in conjunction...

civilwartalk.com

Personally would say he was rather average as a political general, his strength seem to have been in the devotion he instilled in his men, enabling him to get more out of them then anyone else. His forces were often the furthest in the field, even in defeats. As both a popular prewar Missouri Governor and Mexican War hero he was beloved by his Missouri troops.

His weakness as with many political generals is vanity, mixed as to strategy, and in the very fact he was political figure, creating distrust in those who could view him as a potential rival.

 

[leftyhunter]

It does not appear that Price was a favorite of Jefferson Davis. Still Major General Sterling Price seemed to have played a major roll in the Western Theater and Trans-Mississippi Theater. Major General Price appears to have performed well in some battles and less so in other battles. He was not completely successful as an independent commander. His large raid of Missouri in 1864 ( Price's Missouri Expedition) is a good example of this. However, I am not sure Price's Missouri Expedition had any real chance of success. Maybe I should say Price had the forces he need for a major raid, but perhaps did not have the forces he needed to capture Missouri. I am not sure capturing Missouri was even a realistic goal. Price did capture wagon loads of military supplies, however, wagon loads of military supplies in Missouri at this stage of the War might be nice but was not a game changer.

My understanding per T.J.Stiles is that Price was hoping for a pro Confederate rebellion against the Union similar to what Bragg was hoping for two year's earlier in Kentucky. Price was able to get the"Paw Paw Militia" composed of former Pro Confederate Missouri State Guards to defect plus some young men to accompany his men but that wasn't really going to make much difference in securing Missouri for the Union.
In September 1864 the Confederacy was in bad shape so a Hail Mary Pass wasn't the worst option.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

It does not appear that Price was a favorite of Jefferson Davis. Still Major General Sterling Price seemed to have played a major roll in the Western Theater and Trans-Mississippi Theater. Major General Price appears to have performed well in some battles and less so in other battles. He was not completely successful as an independent commander. His large raid of Missouri in 1864 ( Price's Missouri Expedition) is a good example of this. However, I am not sure Price's Missouri Expedition had any real chance of success. Maybe I should say Price had the forces he need for a major raid, but perhaps did not have the forces he needed to capture Missouri. I am not sure capturing Missouri was even a realistic goal. Price did capture wagon loads of military supplies, however, wagon loads of military supplies in Missouri at this stage of the War might be nice but was not a game changer.

Per T.J.Stiles Major General Rosecrans the Union miltary commander of the District of Missouri was well aware of Price's plans although Rosecrans had some difficulty in securing the cooperation of the governor of Kansas to obtain Kansas Milita.
None the less Union troops outnumbered the Confederate troops by better then three to one plus of course most of the Confederate troops were well trained or even armed. Also both General Rosecrans and Curtis were experienced generals who both had achieved military success although of course there was Chickimungua in Rosecrans case.
Has in the case of Kentucky there was no large scale revolt against the evils of Lincolnite Abolitionist oppression.
Leftyhunter

 

[Patrick H]

Per T.J.Stiles Major General Rosecrans the Union miltary commander of the District of Missouri was well aware of Price's plans although Rosecrans had some difficulty in securing the cooperation of the governor of Kansas to obtain Kansas Milita.
None the less Union troops outnumbered the Confederate troops by better then three to one plus of course most of the Confederate troops were well trained or even armed. Also both General Rosecrans and Curtis were experienced generals who both had achieved military success although of course there was Chickimungua in Rosecrans case.
Has in the case of Kentucky there was no large scale revolt against the evils of Lincolnite Abolitionist oppression.
Leftyhunter

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[Booner]

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I thought the same thing.

 

[archieclement]

One unfortunate thing that hindered him with politicians such as Davis, is his name was apparently connected to the Northwest Conspiracy as a possible leader by those entertaining the idea, would assume due to Prices popularity.

However I've never seen any evidence Price himself was connected or involved in it.

 

[Patrick H]

One unfortunate thing that hindered him with politicians such as Davis, is his name was apparently connected to the Northwest Conspiracy as a possible leader by those entertaining the idea, would assume due to Prices popularity.

However I've never seen any evidence Price himself was connected or involved in it.

Northwest conspiracy?

 

[archieclement]

Northwest conspiracy?

there was talk of some midwest states seceding by some copperheads, think like the KGC or OAK it was grossly exaggerated as a threat

Seems any tiny splinter group discussed anything, rumor and paranoia turned it to some huge phantom

Personally I think as much as anything it was promoted by Republicians instead of Copperheads to use the imaginary threat to discredit democrats and gain more power