The Advocate and news., 1898-05-11
How to Treat Newspaper Correspond
entS.


Clure's Magazine. 1t is Of current In
terest, particularly from the fact that
the government has been somewhat trOu-
bled of late by Overzealous correspond
ents at Washington.
| While we were encamped at Cold Har-
Dor, General Meade was very much dis
turbed by a letter published In a Gin
clnnatl paper saying that, after the bat
tle OF the Wilderness, he counseled re-
treat, a course which would have de-
stroyed the nation, but which Grant
prohibited This was entirely untrue.
Meade had not shown any weakness since
moving from Culpepper, nor once inti-
mated doubt as to the successful issue
of the campaign Nor had he lntimated
that any other plan or line would be
more likely to win. The correspondent
who was responsible was with us, and
Meade ordered that, as punishment, he
should be paraded through the lines and
afterWard expelled from the army. This
was done on June 9Th, the correspondent
being led through the army on horse
back by the provost-marshal guard. On
his back and breast were tackled placards
inscribed, "Libeler of the Press"
It was not often, considering the con-
ditions, that correspondents got into
trouble in the army AS rule they
we're discreet Besides this case OF
Meade, | remember now only one other
in which was actively interested; that
was a few months later, after l had re-
turned to the Department. Mr.. Stanton
was annoyed by telegram which had
been published about Sherman's move
ments, and ordered me to send 1t to the
General, 80 that we might know how
much truth there was in 1t. wired him
as follows:
War Department, November 8, 1854.
Major General Sherman, Kingston, Ca;
Following, copied from evening papers,
is sent for your information:
Cincinnati, November 8, 1854.
Yesterdays Indianapolis Journal
says Officers from Chattanooga report
that Sherman returned to Atlanta early
last week with five corps of his army,
leaving two corps in Tennessee to watch
Hood. He destroyed the railroad from
Chattanooga to Atlanta, and is sending
the iron into the former place. Atlanta
was burned, and Sherman is now march
ing for Charleston, South Carolina"
Sherman sent back two characteristic
dispatches. The first ran:
Kingston, Ca, November 10, 1864.
Hon. G. A. Dana:
Despatch Of 9th read. Cant you send
to Indianapolis and catch the fool, and
have him sent to me to work on the
forts? All we'll.
"W. T. SHERMAN,
Major General"
The second:
Kingston, Ca, November 10, 1854.
Hon G. A. Dana,
Assistant Secretary of War:
III indiscreet newspaper men publish
information too near the truth, counter
act It's effect by publishing other para
graphs calculated to mislead the enemy,
such as 'Sherman's army has been much
reinforced, especially in the cavalry, and
he will soon move several columns in
circuit, so as to catch Hoods army
'Sheridan's destination Is not Charleston,
but Selma, where he will meet an army
from the Gulf, etc.
"W. T. SHERMAN,
MAJOR General.
So l telegraphed to Indianapolis, to
General A. p. Hovey, who was stationed
there:
War Department, November 10, 1864.
Major General A. P. Hovey, Indianapolis:
I'm compliance with the request of
Major General Sherman, the Secretary
Of War directs that you ascertain what
persons furnished the information re-
specting Sherman's alleged movement,
published in the Indianapolis Journal of
the 9Th inst. You will arrest them and
send them under guard to such point
in the Department Of the Cumberland as
Major General Thomas may prefer, where
they will be employed in hard labor
upon the Notifications until General
Sherman shall otherwise order"
General HOYey never found the man,