PRICE, STERLING (1809-1867), American general, was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, on Sept. 14, 1809. He was educated at Hampden Sidney college and afterwards studied law. In 1830 he removed to Missouri and from 1840 to served in the Missouri State legislature as speaker of the house of representatives. He was elected a U.S. representative in but resigned in 1846 to raise and lead the 2nd Missouri Cavalry Regiment in the Mexican War. In 1847 he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers and made military governor of Chihuahua. He was governor of Missouri, 1853-57, and State bank commissioner, 1857-61. In 1861 he was appointed major general of the State militia. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Price gathered 9,00o Confederate troops at Carthage, Mo., and defeated a small force of Union troops under Franz Sigel. Joined by other troops from Arkansas, Price fought the battle of Wilson's Creek, defeating the Union forces under Gen. Lyons. In the bat
tle of Lexington, shortly afterward, Price captured over 3,000 Union troops, but he was forced to retreat before Gen. Fremont. In March 1862, he was commissioned major-general in the Con federate forces. He commanded under Van Dorn at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., on March 7, 1862, and in several engagements around Corinth, Miss. On July 4, 1863, he fought a sharp battle at Helena, Ark., and later prevented Steele's advance to the Red river. In Sept. 1864 he invaded Missouri and advanced to the environs of both St. Louis and Jefferson City, but was repulsed in his attacks at these places. After the war Price went to Mexico in the interest of a colonization project but he returned to Missouri and died at St. Louis on Sept. 29, 1867.