Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-21
REDHOT JOURNALISM
TRIALS OF A CONFEDERATE NEWS.
PAPER DURING THE WAR.

the Paper's Career Was Closed.
The story Of The Rebel in its wander
ings over the south is one Of interest.
Survivors of the Army Of Tennessee es-
pecially remember the little sheet that
found its way to the camps daily and
inspired the boys to renewed energy and
hope for the cause they deemed the
right. Like the loved and inspiring
Dixie" The Rebel fred the southern
heart by its very name.
The Rebel first saw the light Aug. 1.
1862, in Chattanooga. 1t was four
column folio, published by Franc NJ.
Paul. Thousands of copies were sent to
Bragg's army at Tullahoma, Tenn. and
often the su- ply was inadequate to the
demand, owing to the fact that the pub
lisher's press, drum cylinder, could
not print them fast enough. Often the
press was kept going all day to supply
the demand from the army suffers.
So popular did The Rebel become in
few weeks that the publisher in Octo-
Der, 1859, engaged the young but versa
tile and rising journalist, Henry Wat
terson, to edit the paper. Mr.. Paul
brought to the assistance of Mr.. Waiter
son Mr.. Albert Roberts, a vigorous writ
er and trained journalist of Nashville.
he was q humorous writer, using the
nom de plume of ''John Happy. -
Watterson and Roberts kept The Rebel
at white heat, and the paper grew in
importance and size, being made a five
column paper~hortly after the publica-
ton began. Well does the writer re-
member the eagerness of the army for
the only highly priced paper. The boys
in camp could not rest until its arrival
every morning ON the train from Chat
tanooga.
When General Bragg began his retro
grade movement in the spring of 1868
to Chattanooga. The Rebel was supplied
to the asmy with much difficulty. When
the army arrived there, the paper was
| in still greater demand. In the summer
of that year, however, it became evil
dent that the Federals were coming to
Chattanooga for the purpose Of captur-
| ing that important point. And then il
was The Rebel began its meanderings
| over the south.
| The paper was removed to Marietta,
Ga, Messrs. Watterson and Roberts
staying in Chattanooga for few days
after the plant had been shipped. The
Smelling of Chattanooga in that month
soon convinced the editors that they
too, must go if they would avoid cap
ture by the Federal army, and they lief
to join the paper. Editor In Chief Wat
terson had been sharply criticising Gen
eral Bragg while the paper was in Chat
tanooga. One evening he visited gen
tleman's house in that town, and i
happened that General Bragg was als'
visitor. The two gentlemen had neve
met, and while waiting for the host t.
appear, after being ushered into tn
parlor by servant, Watterson ant
Bragg began casual conversation, whicl
soon turned upon the war. Although h
knew he was in the presence of an off
Ger of high rank, Watterson little sus
pected it was the commander in chic
of the army. He INDUCED in some crit
icisms Of General Bragg as he had bee
doing in The Rebel. The general listen
ed for awhile in almost speeches. won
der, but controlled himself till his fer
critic had abused him for some minutes
when he arose, and addressing Mr.. Wa
terson asked:
"Do you know who I am, sir?''
The editor replied that he had NJ
that honor.
my name is Bragg, SIR" said ii
now fully aroused commander.
Of course Watterson was somewh;
taken aback, but in his most COURT
and chivalrous manner assured Gener;
Bragg that he had not meant TO be O
fensive, but that his criticisms wei
made in good faith and from motives
sincere desire to promote the welfare
the Confederacy. But apologies wei
not asked or given.
General Bragg, however, never forg
nor forgave his critic. After the bait
of Chickamauga, while the paper W;
at Marietta, Watterson continued his a
tacks on General Bragg, who informt
the publisher of The Rebel that unle
o the irate editor were discharged the p
- per could not come into his lines. NJ
Watterson then realized that he mn
seek other friends, for he was not Il
man to retract word nor to be dictate
= to. As editor in chief he would wri
" his sentiments despite any one, so
IS made arrangements to become one
he the staff Of Lieutenant General Leonid
&c Polk. After serving a short time in tn
" capacity Watterson resigned and becar
q editor of one Of the papers published
. Atlanta.
n After an uneventful existence in CIR
us fin for awhile the approach of the Fe
IS. eral army TO Atlanta in July Of I'll
year warned the publisher that he mt
move on if he would keep The Rel
afioat and save bis scalp, so it was tax
to Selma, Ala, that fall.
Hero it was that the eventful par
came to an untimely end with the Co
federacy it had so long and faithful
upheld. l. was in the latter part
April, 1865. that Selma was taken