our future course. Shall we
follow Price, who is crossing the Osage now, or are we to garrison the
important positions upon this line and return to St. Louis and prepare for
the expedition down the river? The General is silent, his reserve is never
broken, and no one knows what his plans are, except those whose business
it is to know. I will here record the plan of the campaign.

Our campaign has been in some measure decided by the movements of the
Rebels. The sudden appearance of Price in the West, gathering to his
standard many thousands of the disaffected, has made it necessary for the
General to check his bold and successful progress. Carthage, Wilson's
Creek, and Lexington have given to Price a prestige which it is essential
to destroy. The gun-boats cannot be finished for two months or more, and
we cannot go down the Mississippi until the flotilla is ready; and from
the character of the country upon each side of the river it will be
difficult to operate there with a large body of men. In Southwestern
Missouri we are sure of fine weather till the last of November, the
prairies are high and dry, and there are no natural obstacles except such
as it will excite the enthusiasm of the troops to overcome. Therefore the
General has determined to pursue Price until he catches him. He can march
faster than we can now, but we shall soon be able to move faster than it
is possible for him to do. The Rebels have no base of operations from
which to draw supplies; they depend entirely upon foraging; and for this
reason Price has to make long halts wherever he finds mills, and grind the
flour. He is so deficient in equipage, also, that it will be impossible
for him to carry his troops over great distances. But we can safely
calculate that Price and Rains will not leave the State; their followers
are enlisted for six months, and are already becoming discontented at
their continued retreat, and will not go with them beyond the borders.
This is the uniform testimony of deserters and scouts. Price disposed of,
either by a defeat or by the dispersal of his army, we are to proceed to
Bird's Point, or into Arkansas, according to circumstances. A blow at
Little Rock seems now the wisest, as it is the boldest plan. We can reach
that place by the middle of November; and if we obtain possession of it,
the position of the enemy upon the Mississippi will be completely turned.
The communications of Pillow, Hardee, and Thompson, who draw their
su