The rebel general, Sterling Price, had his forces down about Osceola and Warsaw.

I advised General Halleck to collect the whole of his men into one camp on the La Mine River, near Georgetown, to put them into brigades and divisions, so as to be ready to be handled, and I gave some preliminary orders looking to that end.
But the newspapers kept harping on my insanity and paralyzed my efforts.

In spite of myself, they tortured from me some words and acts of imprudence.

General Halleck telegraphed me on November 26th: "Unless telegraph-lines are interrupted, make no movement of troops without orders;" and on November 29th: "No forward movement of troops on Osceola will be made; only strong reconnoitring-parties will be sent out in the supposed direction of the enemy; the bulk of the troops being held in position till more reliable information is obtained." About the same time I received the following dispatch: HEADQUARTERS, ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI November 28, 1881.
Brigadier-General SHERMAN, Sedalia: Mrs.Sherman is here.