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Before this incident was closed, the administration of
General Hindman as chief, practically, of the Trans-Mississippi region, though subject nominally to the commander of Department No. 2, came to an end, and the Trans-Mississippi department was created, with a new commander.
Gen. J. B. Magruder had been first selected for this duty, while
General Hindman was yet engaged in his
White river operations.
General Van Dorn, in his letter of June 9th to
President Davis, previously quoted from, also wrote:
I learned a day or two since, that General Magruder had been ordered to the command of the Trans-Mississippi district, and immediately telegraphed you not to send any one at present, as it would have a bad effect.
General Price goes to-morrow to see you, and will explain all on the subject.
I wish here to suggest to you, General, that the love of the people of Missouri is strong for General Price, and his prestige as a commander there so great, that wisdom would seem to dictate that he be put at the head of affairs in the West.
I see the alluring bait to my ambition—the fall of St. Louis, the reclamation of a rich segment of our beloved South from the grip of the enemy, and the glory of that might be mine.
But I shut all this out from me, because I think it is to the best interest of the country to do so. I willingly drop whatever glory there may be in it on the brow of General Price, than whom there is no one more worthy to wear it, and than by whom I should rather see it worn.
General Price learned, on reaching
Richmond, that
General Magruder had been appointed to the command, and he was informed that as soon as his troops could be spared from
Mississippi, he would be returned west as subordinate to
Magruder.
On July 16th, however, to secure ‘prompt action,’ as
President Davis said,
Maj.-Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes was assigned to command of the Trans-Mississippi department.
General Hindman, on August 5th, yet unadvised of the change, wrote to
Adjutant-General Cooper:
I am rejoiced to hear that a separate department has
