Sterling Price
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Price was born near Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia. He completed preparatory studies and attended Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia; studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced; moved to Fayette and later to Keytesville, Missouri; member of the State house of representatives 1840-1844 and served as speaker; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1845, to August 12, 1846, when he resigned to participate in the Mexican War; appointed colonel of the Second Regiment, Missouri Infantry, August 12, 1846; promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers July 20, 1847, and was honorably discharged November 25, 1848; returned to Missouri and engaged in agricultural pursuits on the Bowling Green prairie; Governor of Missouri 1853-1857; State bank commissioner 1857-1861; elected presiding officer, Missouri State convention, February 28, 1861; during the Civil War served in the Confederate Army as a major general; after the war went to Mexico but later returned to Missouri; died in St. Louis, Missouri, September 29, 1867; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Among his more prominent battles during the Civil War were the following: the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the Battle of Corinth II, Missouri, the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, the Battle of Lexington II, Missouri, the Battle of Carthage, Missouri, the Battle of Prairie D'Ane, Arkansas, the Battle of Pilot Knob, Missouri, the Battle of Westport, Missouri, and the Battle of Mine Creek, Kansas.
He commanded the famous Price's Missouri Raid of 1864 during which he led his army of previously Missouri State Guardsmen now converted Regular Confederates out of Arkansas and into Missouri. His first major engagement of the Raid occurred at Pilot Knob in which he unsuccessfully attempted to capture Fort Davidson, thus causing the needless slaughter of many of his men. From Pilot Knob, Price swung west away from his objective of Saint Louis and towards Kansas City. Just southeast of town, Price was boxed in by two separate Federal armies and was forced to fight. In late 1864, Price waged battle at Westport, Missouri. The battle did not go in his favor, and he was forced to retreat to Kansas. Later in 1864, once again, Price was forced to fight, and yet again met defeat at Mine Creek, Kansas. His battered and broken army was forced into permanent retreat to Texas. Instead of officially surrendering, he led what was left of his army to Mexico in exile.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| Preceded by: Austin A. King | Governor of Missouri 1853-1857 | Succeeded by: Trusten Polk |