NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
November/December 1861
From The Missouri Democrat, Tuesday, November 12, 1861.
PACIFICATION OF MISSOURI.
Proclamation Jointly Issued by Major Generals Fremont and Price.
TERMS OF THE WAR IN MISSOURI.
WHEREAS, Major General Sterling Price, commanding the Missouri State Guard, by letter, dated at his Headquarters near Neosho, Missouri, October 26, 1861, has expressed a desire to enter into some arrangement with Major General John C. Fremont, commanding the forces of the United States, to facilitate the future exchange of prisoners of war released on parole. Also, that all persons heretofore arrested for the mere expression of political opinions, may be released from confinement or parole. Also, that in future the war be confined exclusively to the armies in the field, and has authorized and empowered Major Henry W. Williams and D. Robert Barclay, Esq., to enter into such an arrangement in his behalf.
AND WHEREAS, Major General John C. Fremont concurs with Major General Price,
Now, therefore, It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between Major General Sterling Price, as follows, to-wit:
1st.-A joint proclamation shall be issued, signed by Major General Fremont and Major General Price, in proper person, in the following language, to-wit.
2nd.-Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis, or the officer in command at Benton Barracks is hereby authorized and empowered to represent Major General Fremont; and Colonel D. H. Armstrong, Colonel J. Richard Barret and Colonel Robert M. Renick, or either of them, are hereby authorized and empowered to represent Major General Price, and the parties so named are hereby authorized, whenever applied to for that purpose, to negotiate for the exchange of any and all persons who may hereafter be taken prisoners of war and released upon parole. Such exchange to be made upon the plan heretofore approved and acted upon, to-wit: grade for grade, or two officers of lower grade as an equivalent in rank to one of higher grade, as shall be thought just and equitable.
Thus done and agreed to at Springfield, Missouri, this 1st day of November, 1861.
By order of MAJOR GENERAL FREMONT,
J. H. EATON, A. A. A. G.
MAJOR GENERAL STERLING PRICE, by
HENRY W. WILLIAMS,
D. ROBERT BARCLAY, Commissioners.
PROCLAMATION.
To all peaceably disposed citizens of the State of Missouri, Greeting:
WHEREAS, A solemn agreement has been entered into by and between Major-Generals Fremont and Price, respectively commanding antagonistic forces in the State of Missouri, to the effect that in future arrests or forcible interference by armed or unarmed parties of citizens within the limits of the State for the mere entertainment or expression of political opinions shall hereafter cease; that families now broken up for such causes may be re-united, and that the war now progressing shall be exclusively confined to armies in the field.
Therefore, be it known to all whom it may concern:
I. No arrests whatever on account of political opinions, or for the merely private expression of the same, shall hereafter be made within the limits of the State of Missouri; and all persons who may have been arrested and are now held to answer upon such charges only, shall be forthwith released. But it is expressly declared that nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to bar or interfere with any of the usual and regular proceedings of the established courts under statues and orders made and provided for such offences.
II. All peaceably disposed citizens who may have been driven from their homes because of their political opinions, or who may have left them for fear of force or violence, are hereby advised and permitted to return upon the faith of our positive assurances that while so returning they shall receive protection from both armies in the field whenever it can be given.
III. All bodies of armed men acting without the authority or recognition of the Major Generals before named, and not legitimately connected with the armies in the field, are hereby ordered at once to disband.
IV. Any violation of either of the foregoing articles shall subject the offender to the penalty of military law, according to the nature of the offense.
In testimony whereof the aforesaid Major General John C. Fremont, at Springfield, Mo., on this first day of November, A. D. 1861, and Major General Sterling Price at Cassville on this fifth day of November, A. D. 1861, have hereunto set their hands, and hereby mutually pledge their earnest efforts to the enforcement of the above articles of agreement, according to their full tenor and effect, to the best of their ability.
JOHN C. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding U. S. A.
STERLING PRICE.
Major General Commanding M. S. G.
