The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-04-19
Gen. Sherman and the Reporter.

4 uHtCo LOO te ~. NttftOtUS JOi -1pftt. |
Gen. Sherman and the Reporter.
Among the "bummers" who entered |
Savannah with Sherman's army was a
well known Boston reporter, who had |
gone through the march with him,
taking notes, and contriving to steal
enough poultry and other things for his
support. Tom Miles-though that was
not his name-went prospecting round
the city, and by that mysterious attrac-
ton known to print craft, found him
self in vacated printing Office. 1t pre-
sented a golden opportunity. There
were types and presses and all the par
aphernalia essential to business, with q
form on the press, and Miles, taking
out the editorial and other offensive
matter, filled its columns with healthy
Union sentiment, with the aid of one or
two of the craft whom he had discov-
cred in the army. His leader was a
tory, in which he extolled General Sher-
man as the greatest hero since Alexan-
der, and his army the finest and best
disciplined that the world ever saw.
With this grand flourish of trumpets
the first number was issued, and Miles
lay back in his editorial chair, contem-
plating his work with the belief that he
had achieved the next triumph to Sher-
mans, and wondered what the con-
queror would say when he saw the
praises he had heaped upon him. The
next morning, as the General and his
staff were about taking breakfast, 9 pa
per was handed to him-the Savannah
Republican, think-and he commenc-
ed to read the leader which was so Law
ish in his praise.
"Look here" said he, red and fu-
rious, "What the ID does this mean?
Who knows any thing about this pa
per?"
His Orderly, who had known some
thing about its preparation, explained
to him that it was the work of one of
the literary gentlemen who had follow
ed the expedition.
"Wen," said the General, ago down
to the Office and tell him to discontinue
his paper or I'll put him under guard.
! won't have such cursed stuff printed
about me when can preventit. Abuse
is bad enough, but this is deuced sight
worse"
| Down went the Orderly, and the con-
| fusion of poor Miles was overwhelming
when he got the squelcher from the
| General commanding.
"Why, it was all praise!" said he.
"No matter for that. If it had been
the other way it would have been treat
ed just the same. -
So Miles moved a compromise and
urged the official to express his regrets
and beg the removal of the injunction,
which was promised. The appeal was
successful, and soon the officer came
back to inform him that permission was
granted him to run his paper, on con-
dition that he should never mention the
Generals name again. This was agreed
to, and the paper appeared. After a
day or two an aid came down one morn
ing with an order from General Sher-
man for publication. Miles glanced
over it and handed it back.
aIt can't 90 in, sir,'' said he.
"Why notP'' asked the astonisheC
messenger, who was stranger.
DeCduSo IL uelo OhCl hioA . he'Lio "
it," was the reply.
"That's the reason why it must &C
in" urged the aide. :,
"And that's the reason why it shan't
: He stopped my paper for praising him
and promised him that his name shoult
never appear in my columns again, ant
hang me if it shall"
Miles stood resolute, and the office
returned for orders, expecting the OF
I dering out of q file Of men and an al
' rest, but was astonished to see the Ger
t eral burst into the heartiest laugh an
:. hear him confess that the printer ha
{ the best of it. The messenger wa
{ sent back with conciliatory note, an
T there was no more trouble.--NeD Yor
u World.