New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-18
BENNETT BURLEIGH
DIES In ENGLAND
Dean of War Correspondents and
American Civil War Veteran
on Southern Side.

London, June n-Bennet Burleigh, old
est and most widely known OF war cor
respondents, died to-day.
In 1882 he began the connection with
THE Daily Telegraph" which lasted till
his death. He followed for that paper
the Egyptian war campaign Of that year
and all subsequent wars down TO the re-
cent Balkan conflict. For many years he
was able to visit his home on only rare
occasions, owing to his constant service
| in the field.
At one time Bennett Burleigh went into
politics and stood for Scottish con-
stituency. outside Of his newspaper writ
| ing he was the author OF a number Of
| books which were widely read
! With Bennett Burleigh disappears one Of
| the last of the old-fashioned, hard-riding
war correspondents OF the British press,
Of the Russell Burnaby- Forbes Prior
Stevens type; one Of the last but not the
least so far as American interest in him
is concerned. For Burleigh was well
known here generation ago, and a good
many Americans were DESTROYS OF anticl-
pating his demise by something like
half century. Twice he was sentenced
/ to death here. but-as is obvious-he es-
capped execution OF the sentence, and in
| time came to be regarded with friendly
II not affectionate interest by his would
be slayers-a change Of sentiment which
he reciprocated.
| Burlelgh was born in Glasgow. Scot
land nearly seventy years ago, and in his
! boyhood came to the United States. His
adventurous disposition inclined him to
| sympathize with the Ccnfederacy, and so,
! early in the Civil War, he set out afoot
! from Washington toward Richmond. At
/ Gordonsville he was arrested by the Con-
federates and taken to their capital, where
he was imprisoned for time in old Castle
/ Thunder. Thomas Johnston, a member of
British firm in Richmond. presently Sc
cured his release, and as the lad did not
resent his treatment, but on the con-
! trary, was eager to enter the service OF
the Confederacy, Mr.. Johnston introduced
him to Stephen r. Mallory the Secretary
Of the Confederate navy, who was, by the
way, himself Briton by birth. Mallory
assigned him to torpedo service on the
James River, and there he did some of the
most daring and gallant work Of the Con-
/ federate navy in the whole war. He
planned and executed the capture Of a
! Federal steamer in Chesapeake Bay, the
| flag Of which is now in the Richmond
/ Public Library, and he engaged in many
/ Of the most hazardous undertakings.
! Having contracted malarial fever, he re-
/ turned TO Richmond on sick leave for a
! fow months, and there wrote much for
1.-THE Southern Illustrated News" and
/ also appeared on the stage Of the Rich
mond Theatre in D'Orsay Ogdens play
Of THE Guerilla" On regaining the
health he resumed active service, and
while on a secret expedition within the
Federal lines he was captured, sent to
| Jchnson's Island and sentenced to death,
but made his escape. He then Joined the
Canadian expedition under John Y. Beall
and was in Canada when the war closed.
With soldering done he turned his at
tention to newspaper work and came TO
New York. For some years he was re-
porter on the staff OF The Brooklyn
Times" and reported for it the Ttlton-
Beecher trial. In 1878 he returned 70 Great
Britain and attached himself TO the staff
OF the Central News. His first important
assignment was 10 report Wolseley's cam
paign in Egypt against Arab, and he dis
tinguished himself by beating ali COM
petitors in sending home the news OF
Tel-el- Keblr At Tamai he fought as a
soldier. as we'll as wrote. He was also
sent with the belated expedition which
vainly sought TO relieve and rescue Cor
don at Khartoum. Near Wady Halfa his
boat was wrecked In the rapids and he
narrowly escaped drowning. At Abu, Klea
he and Melton Prior saved the lives Of
many soldiers. and with Stewards Desert
column he Joined in the fighting all the
way to Metemneh, and was several times
mentioned in official dispatches for valor
Whenever possible Burleigh took his
place in the fighting line, and thus, at the
greatest risk to himself, picked up those
individual details Of battle which made
his dispatches more than ordinarily
picturesque and dramatic. There were the
smell OF powder. the clash of swords and
the sight OF blood all through them. He
wrote several books-"Two Campaigns"
THE Empire OF the East" etc. He was
married and had five sons and three
daughters.