“The cat’s name was General Sterling Price(62)”.
-Sterling Price was a lawyer, governor and general in the mid 1800’s. He is best known for his victories in New Mexico and Chihuana and his losses at the Battles of Pea Ridge and Wesport. Earlier in the novel, Portis mentions that Mattie’s father “fought with determination at the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern”, which is the same battle as the Battle of Pea Ridge. Cogburn also fought in the battle, against Sterling’s army, and defeated him. The author most likely had Cogburn name his cat after the general that he beat to show that Cogburn is a proud and cocky man who likes to flaunt his victories and make other people seem smaller than himself. This characterizes Cogburn well.
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