People

Price, Sterling

Virginian born and known affectionately as “Old Pap” he served as a farmer, legislator and Congressman in his adopted state of Missouri. He served in the Mexican War and was elected Governor of Missouri in 1852. Price sided with the pro-Southern Missouri State Guard early in the war. Immensely popular he led the Missouri State Guard to victories at Wilsons Creek and Lexington in 1861

He was appointed a major general in the Confederate army in March of 1862. He suffered a series of setbacks at Pea Ridge, AR, Iuka, MS, Corinth, MS and Helena, AR. He defeated Gen. Steele during his Camden campaign early in 1864 before embarking on his ill-advised raid into Missouri in the fall of the same year. His disastrous raid ended in Texas where he was undergoing a court of inquiry into his actions on the recent invasion when the war ended. Rather than surrender he retreated into Mexico where he supported Emperor Maximillian and his forces. Displeased with his situation, and in poor health, he returned to Missouri an impoverished and broken man.

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