Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-21
MEMPHIS WAR PAPER IN '62.
Journalistic Experiences OF Union Sol
diers-"The Weekly Revellle."

journalistic Experiences of Onion Sol.
diers-"Thc Weekly Reveille."
Two or three days after reaching Memphis
was detailed at headquarters, and was di-
rected to take possession OF the first vacant
printing Office in order to print such general
orders as might be received for distribution
70 the various commands The other printer
detailed for this work was companionable
fellow, bright and intelligent, but cratic and
unreliable, and with no very deep convic-
tions. The idea was mutual that while en-
ployed in issuing orders extra time might b
utilized in getting out paper, as there was
no publication of any kind in Memphis, un-
less it might be The Daily Avalanche, which,
of course, was of different views from that OF
the northern soldiery then crowding the city.
The paper was gotten out under the name
of The Weekly Reveille, printed on coarse
paper, and by no means attractive or newsy,
but it had the gossip OF the regiments, 1t had
a flavor of Unionism which could not be de-
MED, and it went like hot cakes, SO much so
that within three days another edition was
issued under the name Of The Semi Weekly
Reveille, to be followed on the second day
thereafter with what blossomed out as The
Tri-Weekly Reveille. These several editions
gave attention to general orders and to news
from the north, clipped from st. Louis papers
of several days antiquity, which were readily
retailed at twenty five cents each, and the
tri-weekly was even more success financially
than the weekly and semi-weekly editions.
In the earlier stages of the war The Daily
Appeal was apparently the leading organ in
the southwest, but when the Union forces
hove in sight of Memphis it shook the dust of
the doomed city from its folds and followed
the fortunes of the Confederate army in its
search for safety. But it left finely ap-
pointed office behind, an Office complete in
every respect, as remembered as this late
date, save press, and one day there came an
order from the general to abandon the little,
dirty, idingy, one horse stand around the
corner and take possession OF The Appeal
building, with all its contents.
Great things were expected Of this ener-
getic advance and so there was Immediately
issued probably the only unquestioned Re
publican Union paper ever before printed in
Memphis. under the stately caption of THE
Daily Union Appeal" 1t was "gally" I'M
dertaking, this publishing daily paper in the
enemy's country without money or credit, or
any special stock of brains; but an editor
from 1.-The Avalanche" was engaged, by the
name of Casuran, or something similar, and
"The Appeal" was launched.
Printers were PLENTIFUL in fact, they could
be found asleep on the office steps at all hours
Of the day and night, and leases" were con-
stantly changing hands, for as fast as one
was 81 or S. ahead he made break for
Goods country as it was termed, meaning
tLo II, Of fhis iptap
desire to reach the north there was a great
kick every pay day against accepting Ten
nessee money, and it was hard pull and fire.
quantity an impossible one to get any other
kind with which to meet their demands. It
is recalled as we'll that the gang at The Ava
lanche office, which did the presswork for
The Appeal, were also terribly exercised about
that Tennessee money, and occasionally they
had cause to be fearful that none was coming.
How The Daily Union Memphis Appeal
managed to live from day to day is nlys-
terry even at this late date, but it did in some
way, and many a printer blessed it for the
opportunity given of chance to secure hon.
est money and trip to Gods country, safe
from wars alarms.
The correspondents Of the great northern
dailies, then waiting for an advance Of the
army, also occasionally volunteered an Gin
tellectual etching" and The Appeal was not
without weight and in1uence-whilei it lasted.
Ny connection, however, was limited, for in
O few weeks there came marching orders for
the regiment, and without giving thought
to the possibility of getting a detail to re-
main in Memphis-these were my callov
days-I turned over my share to a chaplain
and joined my command. Whatever was
the fate of The Union Appeal is unknown,
unless it died from pure inanition. dianap-
ri,