Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11
THE BATTLE-FIELDS,
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.

The Blus ed the Gray Rsvisw lncidsats
Of the Late War. and in . Graphic and
1nssrssting Manner Ten e3 Camp March
and 0aseleeThrilline lncsdsaAA
wanderiu1s of "The Rebel"
The story Of The Rebel in its wan
derings over the South is one of in
terest. Survivors of the Army Of Ten
nessee especially remembered the little
sheet that found its way to the camps
daily and inspired the boys with re-
newed 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. l.,
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 supply was inadequate to
the demand. owing to the fact that the
publishers 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 a
few weeks that the publisher in Octo-
ber. 1862, engaged the young but YER
satile and rising journalist, Henry
Watterson, to edit the paper. Mr.. Paul
brought to the assistance of Mr.. Wat
terson Mr.. Albert Roberts, vigorous
writer and trained journalist, of Nash
Vile. He was humorous writer,
using the nom de plume Of "John
Happily"
Watterson and Roberts kept the Reb-
ell at white heat, and the paper grew
in Importance and size, after the pub
lication began.
Well does the writer, who gives this
account in the Boston Herald, remem-
Der the eagerness of the army for the
highly priced papers. The boys in
camp could not rest until its arrival
every morning on the train from Chat
tanooga.
When General Bragg began his re-
trograde movement in the spring of
'63 to Chattanooga, the Rebel was sup
piled to the army with much difficulty.
When the army arrived there the pa
per was in still greater demand.
In the summer of that year, how
ever, it became evident that the Fed
erals were coming to Chattanooga for
the purpose Of capturing that impor-
tant point. And then 1t 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
sheiling of Chattanooga in that month
soon convinced the editors that they,
too, must so if they would avoid cap
ture by the Federal army, and they
left to join the paper.
Editor-in-C Chief Watterson had been
sharply criticising General Bragg
while the paper was in Chattanooga.
One evening he visited a gentleman's
house in that town, and it happened
| that General Bragg was also visitor.
The two gentlemen had never met, and
While waiting for the host to appear,
after being ushered into the parlor by
servant. Watterson and Bragg be-
gan casual conversation, which soon
turned upon the war. Although he
knew he was in the presence of an
officer of high rank, Watterson little
suspected it was the commander-in-
chief Of the army. He INDUCED in
some criticisms Of General Bragg as he
had been doing in the Rebel. The gen.
eral listened for a while in almost
speechless wonder, but controlled HIM
|: self till his fiery critic had abused him
| for some minutes. when he arose, and,
addressing Mr.. Watterson, asked:
| do you know who am, sir?''
The editor replied that he had not
that honor.
"My name is Bragg, SIR" said the
, now fully aroused commander.
OF course, Watterson was somewhat
/! taken aback, but in his most courtly
and chivalrous manner assured General
/, Bragg that he had not meant to be Of
fensive, but that his criticisms were
made in good faith and from motives
Of sincere desire to promote the well
fare of the Confederacy. But apologies
were not asked nor given.
| HeueIiil DItSS, however, never forgot
nor forgavc his critic. After the battle
ofChickamauga, while the paper was at
Marietta, Watterson continued his at
tacks on General Bragg who informed
the publisher of the Rebel that unless
the irate editor were discharged the
paper could not come into his lines.
! Mr.. Watterson then realized that he
| must seek other friends, for he was not
1 the man to retract a word nor to be
, dictated to. AS editor-in-chief he
, would write his sentiment, so he be.
came one Of the staff of Lieutenant
! General I.eonidas Polk. After serving
n short time in that capacity Waiter
son resigned and became editor of one
! of the papers published in Atlanta.
| After an uneventful existence in Grif-
I, fin for awhile, the approach Of the Fed
| eral army to Atlanta in July of that
4 year warned the publisher that he must
move on If he would keep the Reber