The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-09-01
REID'S TREACHERY.
BARTERS HIS CceNTRY'S SAFETY FOR
NEWSPAPER GAIN,
D,siked By Grant and Hated BY Rose
Grams.
specIaI to the Plain Dealer.


Grams.
Special to the Plain Dealer.
WASHINGTON, Aug. ga good effort
has been made to glorify Whitelaw Reid
as a war correspondent during the re-
pellion. A sort Of quas-soidier record
has been given him for his journalistic
work during the war. The fact is that
Whitelaw Reid on several occasions did
the uI4on army actual harm by his pres
ence within the lines. Al tho close of the
war he was cordially detesied by most
of the leading officers with whom he had
come in contact. Grant disliked m and
Rosecrans simply abhorred him. He was
tricky and treacherous and earned the
detestaton which he secured. The feel
ing of Reid toward Grant was one of
hearty dislike and it cropped out in many
ways buring tho late war. Later, when
Reid was IN anagiug ditor of the Tribune
in the Grant Greeley presidentian cams
pnign, he Intended TO even up with Gen.
Grant by printing the most abusive edi-
toriais about the great commander,
A specimen OF Reid's lrickery which
caused for him hearty dislike on the
part of Rosecraus occurred after the
battle of Carnifax Ferry. At the con-
clusion of that engagement Rosecrans
held his command at Gauley Bridge, W.
Va, to refreeh and pay tue men. l; was
a great deal of information about the
movements OF Rosecrans by getting cop
ies OF the Cincinnati newspapers. White.
law Reid. the corr spondent OF tho Cip-
cinnati Gazette, then writing over the
name Agate WAS indiscrete in the
character of the news he sent to the paper
II was therefore ordered that the provost
marshal of West Virginia should super
wise all press dispatches sent from the
union liues, the particular object being to
keep watch on Reid.
On one occasion Reid tailed to show up
at headquarters aud ii was presumed that
he had sent nothing, az he had promised
TO submit any dispatches forwarded by
him for publication. A day or two later
Rosecrans was amazed to see in copy of
the Cincinnati e izstte special frcm Reid
in which he showed how readily the
confederates could cut or the commune
cation between Rosecrons' army and the
war department by disabling the telegraph
wires AZ Powell mountain. Rosecrans
knew that this information would reach
the confe derate iiues as soon as II did his
own and he made an investigation which
disclosed the fact that Whitelaw Reid had
surreptitiousiy sent the message without
submitting IL 10 inspection as he had
promised. The fears of Gen. Rosecrans
were realized, for that afternoon the tele-
graph wires were cut and communication
destroyed by the confederates just as Reid
pointed out 1t could be done.
Tho union officers were indignant at
Reid's indiscretiop, as the whole command
WAS in a position OF great danger. White
law Reid was summoned to headquarters
and notified that he must get out and keep
out of the state of West Virginia as long
ss Rosecrans was in military command
there. There was a lumtering coach in
camp which was nj headquarters of Gen.
J. Is. Floyd. Four horses were hitched To
that and Reid was ordered to get inside,
and with an escort OF soldiers who were
Instructed not TO permit him to escape,
he was driven to ClarksburR. There he
was put on government steamer and the
captain was ordered to dump him any
where, SO that he was out Of the West
Virginia territory. This order was obeyed,
and after steaming down the Olio river
Reid was put ashore. The union officers
never forgave Reid for this piece OF
tickery, which is fair sample of his
socallea "glorious military career"