FEDERAL LAMENTATIONS

While reading the Official Records covering Price’s Expedition and Federal response to Price’s two-month operation through Missouri in September and October of 1864, I found these three lamentations by Smith, Curtis and Rosecrans most memorable. I share them with you for your reflection and comment:

41-3-445. MG A. J. Smith at De Soto, 11:00 p.m. on 9-28-1864, to MG Rosecrans (at St. Louis):

“I hope it will be the last time I (and my infantry) ever go soldering on railroads.”

41-4-96. MG Curtis at Camp Charlot (near Kansas City), 1:40 p.m. on 10-18-1864, to General Deitzler (at Independence):

“It is the most extraordinary thing in campaigning that we cannot get news from the Lexington scouts.”

41-4-203. MG Rosecrans at Independence, late on evening of 10-23-1864, to MG A.J. Smith on Little Blue (after Smith’ infantry had just marched 25 miles from Lexington since 1 a.m. as ordered by Rosecrans):

“I now regret that I did not follow my better judgement and send you on to Pleasant Hill.”