The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 8. Page: 729
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CHAP. XVIII.I CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-CONFEDERATE.
me at length, and the letter is of such a character as to induce me to
send you a copy of it. You will see he expresses himself very freely
of his associate, General Mc(ulloch, and I am constrained to say that
all the information I receive from that quarter (and I am hearing con-
stantly) is in the same vein. In a word, I am perfectly satisfied that
the force now in McCulloch's hands should be controlled by some one
who would co-operate freely and vigorously with General Price, and
that this should be done as early as practicable. So long as the
Federal forces under Halleck are kept occupied by Price in Missouri,
they cannot co-operate with Buell against Johnston, nor be concen-
trated against me on my right or left flank. I hope, therefore, we shall
not fail to occupy him fully with all the resources at our command.
I have sent General Price several batteries and more or less of ammu-
nition. Troops I have none to spare. This army of McCulloch's, as it
appears to me, might be better employed than in the inaction of winter
quarters. The courier who takes this to you is my courier to Price.
Hie is a Western man of intelligence, and highly respectable. He is
also a man of some experience, and you may obtain from him valuable
information of affairs in Missouri.
I remain, faithfully, your obedient servant,
L. POLK,
Major- General, Commanding.
P. S.-I at this moment require a force of 10,000 to occupy and hold
Madrid and Southeastern Missouri. I have only about 1,500 in a fort
which I have built at Madrid; and I require a force of 20,000 between
this and Clarksville, on the Cumberland.
[Inclosure.]
HEADQUiARTERS MISSOURI STATE GUARD,
hSpringfield, December 23, 1861.
Major-General POLK, Columbus, Ky.:
GENERAL: I acknowledge with very great pleasure the receipt of your
letter of the 4th instant. It was handed to me yesterday by Mr. Bur-
ton, who also gave me the information which you desired him to com-
municate to me. I fully agree with you that it is all-important that
we should be kept advised (so far as it may be safe or expedient) of
each other's position, strength, and plans, and shall be glad to aid you
in the accomplishment of that object. Your plans as made known to
me by Mr. Burton meet my full concurrence, and I promise you my
earnest co-operation in the execution of them.
There are two main obstacles in the way of the successful prosecu-
tion of the war in this State, one of which ought to have been long
since overcome and the other of which ought never to have existed, and
the present existence of both of which is due mainly, if not altogether,
to the conduct of General McCulloch: 1st, the fact that the great
majority of those who desire to take up arms on the part of the South
are prevented from doing so by the enemy's occupation of the State,
which closes to them every avenue of approach to my army; and, 2d,
the dissatisfaction which General McCulloch's constant refusal to co-
operate with us has engendered in the minds of the people of Missouri,
and which leads them to doubt whether the Confederate Government
really symiIathizes with and desires to aid them.
The most populous and truest counties of the State lie upon or north
of the Missouri River. Had General McCulloch, in response to my729
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 8., book, 1883; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154611/m1/735/?q=Hart: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.