The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-05-27
REDHOT JOURNALISM
TRIALS OF A CONFEDERATE NEWS
PAPER DURING THE WAR.

His Meeting With General Bragg-How
the Papers 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 it's very name.
The Rebel first saw the light Aug. 1,
1852, in Chattanooga. It was a 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 pub
lisher's press, a 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
q few weeks that the publisher in Octo-
Der, 1862, engaged the young but versa
tile and rising journalist, Henry Wat
terson, to edit the paper. MI. Paul
brought to the assistance Of Mr.. Waiter
sol Mr.. Albert Roberts. a vigorous writ
er and trained journalist Of Nashville.
He was a 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 shortly 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 1858
to Chattanooga, The Rebel was supplied
to the army with much difficulty. When
the army arrived there, the paper was
in still greater demand. In the summer
Of that year, however, 1t became evil
dent that the Federals were coming to
Chattanooga for the purpose of captur-
ing that important point. And then it
was The Rebel began its meanderings
over the south.
The paper was removed to Marietta,
Ga, Messrs. Watterson and Roberts
staying in Chattanooga for a few days
after the plant had been shipped. The
Smelling Of Chattanooga in that month
0 convinced the editors hat they,
too, must go if they would avoid cap
ture by the Federal army, and they left
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 a gen
tleman's house in that town, and it
happened that General Bragg was also
a visitor. The two gentlemen had never
met, and while waiting for the host to
appear, after being ushered into the
parlor by a servant, Watterson and
Bragg began a casual conversation, which
soon turned upon the war. Although he
knew he was in the presence Of an Off
Ger Of high rank, Watterson little sus-
pected it was the commander in chief
Of the army. He INDUCED in some crit
icisms Of General Bragg as he had been
doing in The Rebel. The general listen
ed for awhile in almost speechless won
der, but controlled himself till his fiery
critic had abused him for some minutes,
when he arose, and addressing Mr.. Wat
terson asked:
"Do you know who I 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
f~ensive, but that his criticisms were
made in good faith and from motives Of
sincere desire to promote the welfare Of
the Confederacy. But apologies were
not asked or given.
General Bragg, however, never forgot
nor forgave his critic. After the battle
Of Chickamauga, 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 pa
per could not come into his lines. Mr..
Watterson then realized that he must
seek other friends, for he was not the
man to retract q word nor to be dictated
TO. As editor in chief he would write
his sentiments despite any one, SO he
made arrangements to become one Of
the staff Of Lieutenant General Leonidas
Polk. After serving a short time in that
capacity Watterson resigned and became
editor Of n Of the papers published in
Atlanta.
After an u%neventful existence in Grit
fin for awhile the approach of the Fed