Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-11-07
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The Wat and the Newspapers.
Some Of our newly-made Generals have
TOO much of a hatred Of newspapers and
newspaper men for their own good, and
s more than good sense even would allow them
to have. The great commanders, who have
capacity and experience enough TO lead
armies, and to judge what is, and what is not
prsjudicial to the public good, are not troub-
led in that way. Gen. Mcclellan not only
allows them to enter his lines and be present
at his reviews, but gives them position near
his general stat, where they can have the
bsst opportunity for noting at the earliest
moment the true facts in any case Of public
interest. 0fcOurse these privileges are grant
ed with q proper understanding that they
shall use discretion in their reports, and dis
close nothing that be is not ready to have
published. By this mutual understanding
they are enabled to give correct reports of all
matters OF importance. General Wool also
grants all facilities he can to newspaper cor
respondents. Gen Banks does the same, and
Gen. Fremont was courteous and obliging to
al the small army Of representatives Of the
press accompanying his cOlumn-although
perhaps this fact will be set down as another
specimen of his "incapacityH by his enemies.
These men have some due appreciation of the
influence of the press, and the value TO the
country of having correct reports published
OF engagements or movements which have
occurred. But some Of their smaller subor-
dinates put on prejudics of newspaper men
with their epaulettes, and cut loose from all
ameddlesome reporters" with the first -four
ish Of their maiden swords. Patterson was
one Of These. In his memorable campaign,
IN which he spent ten millions of the money
Of the nation, and gave the country in return
q disgraceful defeat, he waged far more des-
perate war upon stray reporters than he did
upon the enemy. The former be threatened
TO shoot and hang, if they were ever caught
within bis lines; the latter he let march un-
molssied to gain rebel victory at Bull Run.
Toe history Of his campaign leaves no room
for wonder that he did not want any news
paper correspondents shout him, to expose
his villainous treachery.
Ge7. Rosecrans was, for a time exceed
ehary OF all reporters, but since he has seen
more of war, and has had a wider field of
vision, he has been more apprecistive of the
real value of intelligent correspondence from
the scene of action.
Gen. Sherman, ommanding IN Kentucky
Is the most ungracious and shOrt-sighted Cen
eral in this respe that we have advices of
at this time. H. has not word to say to
correspondents, except in censure or in re-
fusal to grant desired favors. He will grant
no passes to them, and snubbs them most
grufiy. 1t is said that q representative of
one Of the Eastern papers applied to him for
a pass to follow the army, exhibiting as
voucher, request signed by Secretary Cam
erOn for pass, &c. The Generalrefused point
blank to give him pass and tore the recon-
mendatiOn Of the Secretary of War to pieces
and threw it on the floor. When the report
er said be had supposed the paper would, at
least secure him civil treatment, the reply
was made, 'fLet Cameron attend to his busi-
ness and I will attend to mine" All of
which, upon his part was very foolish and
very TnbecOming gentleman.
Some Of our readers will say, "Served him
right-no business to be there" And yet
these same ones would grumble fearfully, if
there should be big battle any where upon
the war heId, and no reports should reach US
Of It's details, except the dry, official report J
Of the officer commanding. There is great
deal Of the sheerest nonsense said about
newspapers and the war, by those who have
not brains enough to see the folly of tLeir |
own arguments. When the battle of Bulrs |
Run was lost host of fools shouted, "See |
what the newspapers have done, shouting 'on
70 Richmond" ," forgetting entirely the great
fundamental fact that the newspapers which |
ere prominent enough to have any influence |
are the ones that speak the voice of the peo- |
pie, and not alOns their own individual views |
people are known by the papers which |
they support and elevate, and thus the voice |
Of the press becomes the voice of the people
Il was the great voice of the loyal American |
people that shouted, through their journals |
.sS Hou 10 Richmond" And when The battls
was fought, the representatives Of the press
were there to give its history to the world |
and through their efforts, every transaction, |
Of that memorable day is as familiar to the |
whole country as to the soldiers who took |
part in the bloody drama. Thanks to the |
newspaper press TINS war wiz De 80 minute
IL described that the children can discuss its
campaigns as intelligently as scholars and
statesmen could those of the revolution; and
to its efforts, in great measure, is due that
universal knowledge of the true causes Of
the rebellion which has raised loyal army |
of nearly half q million Of men in six
months.
Can. Orsio. U. S. onartermsstsr at Wheel /