New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-16
CAREER OF MR.. REID
PICTURES ACHIEVEMENT
Continued from first page.

Continued frC
second campaign, which closed with
c.rr,fex Ferry and Gculey Bridge. Again
turned TO Cincinnati and helped to
u;ze the staff of war correspondents
70, .Tbe Gazette" by that time i'm
neratively needed
,,s third campaign brought him into as
.,.,on with Grant. from Cairo through
:, Donelson TO Shiloh, the first really
:. onerations Of the war. His pre-
.t.,on led him to go to and to stick to
pi,tsburg Landing as place destined to
..o score of a momentous conflict.
a. vss there some weeks in advance,
sDent much Of that time on a sick
-, from which he rose, however, on the
- shiloh. and he was thus the only
,os,ondent who was actually present
., that tremendous two days battle, from
disastrous start TO the triumphant
s.,.h His Agate" letters from the field
- ton columns of The Gazette" and
,ssre reproduced in extras by Chicago
Ct Louis papers. and attracted ma
.,o,o, attention. They were appreciated
=, the home office. too. as attested by a
.nbstantial increase of his already gem
..ous salary From Plttsburg Landing he
vent 10 Coripth. and there was the chair
nan and spokesman Of the committee Of
correspondents in their strenuous inter
Jew with General Halleck on the oc-
e,slon OF that martinet's difficulty with
Inc gentlemen of the press" The result
. the interview was the voluntary and
5s,iAed withdrawal of the correspond
.n,e from a camp in which satisfactory
,,d self-respecting service was impos-
sible.
At the Nations Capital.
Mr.. Reid next in the spring Of 1862.
vent 10 Washington to become a news
raper CORE spondent at the national cap
nal. A leading st. Louis paper had made
him A fatterng offer TO become its man
aging editor. but the proprietors of The
Gazette" learning Of this, had
outbid il with an offer to sell him one
third share in the stock of that paper at
a fair price. to be paid entirely out Of
the subsequent profits. This offer he &C
cepted. and during the first year of that
he was able to pay two
thirds Of the purchase price Of his stock,
thus LAYING the foundations of his imam
eiaj fortune. At Washington he had
career. Secretary Chase had
lonc since forgotten the failure of The
Yena News" to support him in 1850, ana
vas. from first TO last, his close and help
FOL friend Through him Mr.. Reid was
aiken INTO the warm regard of Benjamin
?. Wade. Henry Winter Davis and other
monument public men. Most important
n all however was the personal init
macy which then began betTce Mr.. Reid
and Horace Greeley. The latter had
watched his distant disciples work as
with much interest and APP
proyal. and on coming into personal con-
tsct with him was equally impressed by
M literary attachments. his executive
,blljty and his personal character. Mr..
Greeley. indeed. at that early date urged
lin to come to New York as a member
II the staff of The Tribune. or at least to
AXE charge of this papers Washington
bureau. The invitation was declined for
he time. but the two men became. and
emained for the rest of the elders life.
confidential and affectionate friends.
During this period of his career Mr..
Reid was for three years Librarian OF the
House OF Representatives, and during the
session Of 1928 he was employed as
clerk. TO the Military Committee or the
House. He also performed one more
noteworthy piece Of war correspondence.
When Lee for the second and last time
crossed the Potomac and swept across
Maryland into Pennsylvania the old spirit
Of Shiloh sent Mr.. Reid swiftly to the
scene. and from the field of Gettysburg
he wrote a description Of That cruclai
conflict which is doubtless destined 10 re-
main. what il has now for generation
been. the standard, authoritative and
classic record of the three days battle.
In the essential qualities Of narrative.
description, dramatic arrangement anu
military comprehension, as well as OF
literary style and patrlotlc
sloquence, IL has not been surpassed In
American war correspondence.
Author and Planter.
Very soon after the surrender OF Lee
and the murder of Lincoln Mr.. Reid
made an extended journey in the South
As the confidential companion OF Secre-
tary Chase. The latter was ostensibly
travelling for his health. but. in fact, was
intrusted with a confidential commission
from President Johnson, who wished MIN
10 observe at first hand and make an ex-
pert report upon the political, economic
social and other conditions Of the TWO
races In the lately insurgent states Trav-
cling In federal vessel, the two TOURISTS
vent down the Atlantic Coast, touching
at every port Of interest. to Key West,
thence along the Gulf Coast to the Mis-
sssipu and UP that river and the ONO
70 Cincinnati. Mr.. Reid was a keen ana
appreciative observer OF everything with
Which they came into contact and on MS
return North in the fall OF 1865 ne pup
nshed duodecimo volume entitled Al
ter the War: A Southern Tour" This
book reflected the alert, sane and inoe-
PENDENT mind OF Its writer In It's por-