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THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN.
Although serving the same cause, there never existed an entente corclialebetween the two champions of Missouri and Arkansas ; the two men were toodifferent in their character, education, and military policy to understand eachother perfectly, to agree in their aims and ends, and to subordinate them-selves cheerfully one to the other. McCulloch was a “ rough-and-ready ” man,not at all speculative, hut verypractical, to the point, and richin resources to reach it. In hisyouth he was a hunter and trap-per; he served under Sam Hous-ton , with the artillery, in thebattle of San Jacinto, partici-pated in the Mexican war ascaptain of a company of Texasrangers, and when the war forthe Union broke out, he wasvery active in Texas in secur-ing much war material fromthe United States , and forcingUnited States troops to surren-der. He was a good fighter,energetic in battle, and quickin discerning danger or espyingthe weak point of his antagon-ist; an excellent organizer, dis-ciplinarian, and administrator,indefatigable in recruiting andequipping troops. His care forthem was proverbial, and hisability in laying out encampments was extraordinary, and challenged theadmiration of our troops.
In a strategical point of view, McCulloch was more bent to the defense ofthe Trans-Mississippi region, especially Arkansas and the Indian Territory,which district had been put under his command, than to aggressive move-ments beyond the borders of Arkansas . Price had also had military experiencein the Mexican war, which circumstance, combined with his political position,his irreproachable personal character and sincere devotion to the causewhich he embraced, after the catastrophe of Camp Jackson, had made him themilitary head of the secession forces in the State. Brave, and gifted with thetalent of gaining the confidence and love of his soldiers, he was undoubtedly
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