The New York herald., 1863-05-17


is progressing encouragingiy, and with every
promise of an early and complete success
The PEN and the sword-Perils OF News
paper War Correspondents. .,,,
The post Of war correspondent to the
newspapers has become rather ticklish \
one Of late. Not only have persons oc-
cupying that position to face all the perils
Of the battle field and ocean, but dangers still
more serious, from which the soldier and sailor
are exempt. Last week four correspondents
hands Of the rebels In attempting to run past
the Vlcksburg batteries In o barge, and have
not e. yet been paroled. The HERALD corre-
spondents have been particularly unfortunate.
Mr.. Finley Anderson. who was captured on
the Queen Of the West, = still In prison at
Alexandria, La, awaiting his trial as . spy.
being the flfth newspaper man now in captivity.
Some three weeks ago Mr. J. H. vosburgh,
whose interesting account Of matters In Rick
mond we published fsw daysago was taken
prisoner on the Rappahannock. During Banks
campaign Mr.. Geo. W. Clarke, another Of our
correspondents, foil into tho hands OF tho
rebels ct Winchester; but. having had Stone-
wall Jackson for his captor, was politely treated
by him, and after . short retention released.
These risks are scarcely 10 be avoided when .
correspondent has proper understanding Of bis
duty. 1t Is his business TO be where he can 500
most; and II h an evidence Of the superior
energy and spirit Of the HERALD correspondents
that these accidents should 90 frequently be-
fall them. "sa cs e
There are, however, other annoyances and
dangers to which they are subject, which, II our
own generals understood their duty ~ well -
they do, might very we'll be spared them. or
these the arrest, trial and expulsion from the
federal lines Of our correspondent. Mr.. Thomas
w. Knox, by General Sherman, and the equally
harsh treatment Of Mr. Denyse, another of our
attaches, by General Hooker, are notable ex-
amples. It is bad sign when generals exhibit
this excessive sensItiveness to criticism. There
has not been an instance yet where stringent
measures have been resorted to against news
paper correspondents that any considerable
success has attended the military efforts of
those enforcing them. Sherman began an inde-
pendent command with failure, and has just
consummated another. Hooker no sooner en-
tered upon his recent unfortunate campaign
than he issued an order increasing the restric-
tions against the press. When, In addi-
ton to such risks, it is taken into considsra-
ton that our correspondents are constantly
Drawing death in the field and on the sea,
It will be admitted that their position
is anything but an enviable one. Liable
to be cashiered or put to hard labor by our own
generals, to be tried and hung a. spies BY the
rebels, or to encounter the dangers without re-
ceiying any Of the rewards or the honors Of tho
soldier, they exhibit an amount Of spirit and
nerve which, perhaps, no other class Of men
are capable of.
It Is fortunate that, whilst some of our Union
generals manifest such dread Of newspaper csf-
respondents, there are others who appreciate
isai "a o. don. ny lss.. s.s
Thus, whom Western general thought proper
to prohibit the circulation Of Chicago paper
In the army at Msmphis-and II any papers
in the United States deserve suppression
it is the Chicago papers, for they lie with .
forty horse power Of fimpudenoe-G General U. 8.
Grant rescinded the order and caused the
general In question to issue . countermand
General Grant ID not afraid of newspaper
criticism. Another reason why generals are
averss to the presence OF correspondents With
their armies ID that members of their stan en-
gagged in speculatiens find them very much
in the way, and that some rival jour
mails desire to get rid Of wholesome comps-
titien and stories with two sides. What an ex-
tsnsive basiness Is being done In clandsstine
cotton will seen be brought to Hight by the in
vestigations Of General Mcdowell, who has
been sent to the Southwest with that view.
The first general who introduced the system
Of prohibiting the presence Of correspondents
with the army was General Halleck, who or
dersd away ell the reporters from Corinth; aud
the public, perhaps, would not have known till
this day Of the evacuation Of that stronghold
being permitted without battle but for the
accident Of one or two Of the gentlemen OF the
press disobeyins tho arbitrary order. When
General Halleck assumed the position OF Gene
ral-ia-Chicf at Washington he attempted to
play the Same role; but the good sense Of
the Prssident put stop TO II. There never
was any trouble with Banks, Burnside, Nc
Clellan, McClernaud, Rosecrans, Hunter, But
Ter or Dix. It d the weakest men who gene
rally play the tyrant Able generals have con-
Adsnce in the justice Of tas press. Where
would be their regulations without the aid OF
the Newspaper correspondents. They are the
historians e. well 90 the critics of their deeds.
TIE HERALD's ADVERTISEMENTS AND THE
EsaLlsH PREss.-The London Reuiep for April
has devoted portion Of its attention to an ad-
vertising feature Of the NEw YoRx HERALD in
an article under the title of "Astrology in
America" In which It gives European fame TO