van dorn was replaced by maj. gen. john c. pemberton, and price, who had become thoroughly disgusted with van dorn and was eager to return to missouri, obtained a leave to visit richmond, the confederate capital. there, he obtained an audience with confederate president jefferson davis to discuss his grievances, only to find his own loyalty to the south sternly questioned by the confederate leader. price only barely managed to secure davis's permission to return to missouri. not at all impressed with the missourian, davis pronounced him "the vainest man i ever met."