, 1886-07-30
FROM CAMPFIRE TO CAMPFIRE.

~ u WhF NtWs WINS SthtttFfd
systematically Among the Enlisted.
Is there a single officer giving instruc-
ton at West Point who knows that in all
our armies in the civil wal there was
among the enlisted men, the volunteers,
a system of gathering and distributing
news that beat the information we re-
ceived from division and corps head
quarters, both in time and accuracy? 1t
is a fact. And the system was paralleled
by that of the slaves who walked the
plantations lying within the Confederacy
o. nights. These army news reporters
who walked through the camps at night
to meet other soldiers and gather intel
hgence and discuss the campaign and
make merciless fun and keenest criticism
Of their generals, were almost invariably
Americans, frequently Irishmen. 1 can
not recall ever having met IN these night
ranges men of other nationality.
There was a burning desire among
these men to know how other commands
Jared, and to gather accurate informa-
ton so as to correctly judge of the battles
tide, the progress of the campaign and
the morale Of the army. The enlisted
Wv hi'n vi htitdtS anu butCtSStS long
before they were published in general
orders. The truth is that the privates of
the army-the volunteers without bounty,
l mean-never believed a report that
was published from headquarters unless
it c~orresponded with the information the
"camp-walkers" had gathered. We ex-
pected our generals to lie to us, and we
were never disappointed. 1t was surpris-
ing how quickly important news relative
to n battle or the campainn spread
throughout the army. The news was
carried from campfire to campfire O.
nights, and it was generally reliable and
wonderfully full and accurate.
Often as l sat by the campfire, talk
ing with my comrades, 1 have seen
shadowy forms hurrying rapidly through
the woods or along the roads, and l
knew that men who were hungry for
authentic news were beating the camps
and battle line to obtain it. Frequently
these figures would halt, and then, see
ing our fire with men around it, they
would issue forth from the woods and
join us. They would sit down, fill their
pipes, light them with glowing Goals,
and then, with their rifles lying across
their knees, ask for the Second corps
news. inquire as to our losses and
whether we had gained or lost ground,
and what Confederate command was
opposed to us. They would anxiously
inquire as to the truth of rumors of dis
aster which they might have heard dur
ing the day. They would listen atten-
lively to what we said. audit was a point
of honor not to give false information to
these men. And then they would briefly
tell the Fifth or Sixth or Ninth corps
news, and quickly disappear in the
darkness.
l have often, after a days service at
the guns, walked three miles in the dark
to verify a m that affected our
safety. With do disrespect to these nat
ural-born soldiers and most intelligent
men do record the seemingly incongru-
GUS truth that it was necessary to closely
watch army news-gathers. One and all,
they would steal haversacks. They in
variably combined predatory raids on
other mems portable property with news
gathering. To rob n soldier was to rob a
man who might be killed next day and
would not need property Frank Viii
keson in Chicago Times.