The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-08

HIS Amusing Pen Picture OF the
Army Correspondents--Mc
ellis Attempt to Get Them to
with Gen. and Mrs. Butler at
Fortress Monroe.
Sir William Howard Russell, who
represented the London Times in this
country, continues, in the May North
American Review, his interesting recol-
lections of the Civil war. Bull Run
Russell is the name by which he was
known among the war correspondents
of that period. His recollections aIe
scrappy in form, but none the less en-
PERTAINING.
On the 18th of July, 1861, he break
tasted with John Bigelow, who after
ward became United States minister at
Paris. Thurlow Weed, Senator King,
Senator Wilson, chairman of the mill
tary committee, and N. P. Villa were
among those present. Senator Wilson,
says Sir William, inveighed in a marvel
Gus manner against professional SOL
diers, saying, among other things:
They don't understand a war of this
kind. We want men of sense and cour-
age. who understand our political posi-
ton. Meigs, the quartermaster gener-
al? Yes, he's an exception; he's an
able man. What business had McClel-
Ian TO talk of slaves as property? No
officer in this army should give up any
slaves. Army officers were obstructive.
Gen. Scott was too old-he did not I'M
derstand his business. He should have
occupied Harper's Ferry and Manassas
Junction Gap. Cavalry were not want
ed"
The following day he visited Gen.
Mcdowell at Arlington Heights, who
told him that there was no such thing.
as decent map of Virginia. Years
afterward," comments the correspond
ent, Il was assured by French officers
that they could not get good maps Of
the northeast parts Of France" Said
the general to him: THE roads in this
part of the world are very bad, but I
know nothing more than that about
them. l have no cavalry to push a
reconnaissance through the dense and
wooded country which screens the
enemy completely in front of
my lines" That evening the
correspondent visited the White house.
and, in answer to an inquiry about the
camp, told Mr. Lincoln that he heard
"a good many dropping Shots" general
ly forbidden in camp and quarters in
Europe, and that an officer explained
that they are only volunteers shooting
themselves" Well" said the president,
that seems a waste of good material
in every way. However, they will soon
have a chance of making better use Of
their ammunition, I hope"
Correspondents Thick
His picture of the correspondents of
that day shows that men and methods
have not materially changed. He says:
"a great swarm Of correspondents have
settled down in Washington. Any of
ficer who will descant on war is GER
tain to have a circle Of listeners, note
book in hand, and when the fountain
has run out or shuts up, off they rush
to the telegraph office or to the writ
ing rooms, which are filled with chron-
iclers of the gossip of war" Gen. Nc
Dowen told him something about the
correspondents in these words: "There
Is a legion of correspondents to be kept
in order, and 1 have little or no con-
troll over them. 1 have suggested that
they should wear a white uniform to
identify them and indicate the inno-
cence and purity of their business, but
they don't like it, and they are very
angry because I have insisted upon