The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13
HerOism of a Newspaper Reporter,

From Wilkes Spirit ofthe Times.
AN UNCONSCIOUS HERo.-The notice, by
the dailies, that General Hooker desired to
appoint George W. Smalley of the Ia.i-
6cne, on his staff, an acknowledgment of
the great merit of his report of the battle
of Antietam, reminds US of personal in
terview we had with General Hooker,
which in justice to General Hooker and to
Mr.. Smalley, we feel it to be our duty to
rec!te. The General was laid up with his
wound, but on the occasion referred to, he
was we'll enough to be bOlstered in a chair
and was engaged in writing letter. Our
conversation soon turned to the battle of
Antietam, when he referred, with consid-
cradle enthusiasm to what he character
lied as the wonderful account of the battle
given by the reporter for the Tribune.
cit was perfect reproduction of the scene
and all its Incidents, " said he, "and it is a
marvel to me how you writer's can perform
such tasks" l asked the General if he
knew who the reporter of the Tribune
was. Il saw him first upon the battle
field" was the Generals reply. "I
first noticed him when we were in
the hottest portion of the battle,
quite early in the morning My at
tention was then attracted to civilian.
who sat upon his horse, in advance of my
whole staff; and though he was in the hot
test of the fire, and the shot and shell were
striking and suffering around us like SO
much hail, he sat gazing on the strife as
steady and undisturbed as if he were in
quiet theatre, gazing at scene upon the
stage. In all the experience which have
had OF war, never saw the most expert
enced and vetern soldier exhibit more tran
quill fortitude and mistaken valor than was
exhibited by that young man. Twas con-
cerned at the needless risk which he invi-
ted, and told one of my aids to order him
in our rear. Presently all my aids had left
me, on one service and another; whereup-
on, turning to give an order, found no
one but this young stranger at my side. l
then asked him if he would oblige me by
bearing dispatch to General Mcclellan,
and by acting as my aid until some of my
staff should come up. He rode off with
alacrity through the hottest of the fire,
returned with the answer, and served me
as an aid through the remainder of the
fight, till l was carried from the ground"
IAhu Ills HdlIIc, Ueuerdl &! lie was
young man, recently from college, named
George W. Smalley; and I am writing to
him nOw.''
Those who know the noble nature of
General Hooker will therefore wonder but
little that one ofhis first acts, when placed
in chief command of the Army of the Po-
tOmac, was to ask to have George w.
Smalley placed upon his staff:
The writer of this has never seen George
W. Smalley, but he deems it simple act
of justice to relate this interview.
Mr.. SMAILEY's deservedly famous &C.
count Of the battle at Antietam, was
written on the cars on the way from the
battlefield to New York, after the loss OF
two nights sleep, and the exhaustine ex-
element of the day OF battle. All that ia
said of his gallantry on the battlefield is
true. His horse was twice wounded, a
MIME ball passed through his coat, grazing
his body, and he was struck by piece Of
shell. If he accepts position on General
HooKER's staff, his bravery and intelli-
gence will give him distinction.