Redhot Journalism

The story of The Rebel in its wanderings over the south is oue of interest. Survivors of the Army of Tennessee especially remember the little sheet that fannd its way to the camps daily and inspired the boys to renewed energy and hope for the causo they deemed the right. Like the loved and inspiring "Dixie," The Rebel fired the southern heart by its very name. The Rebel first saw the ligbt; Aug. 1, 18C2, in Chattanooga. It waa a four colninn folio, published by Franc M. Paul. Thousands of copies were sent to Bragg's army at Tnllahoma, Tenn. , and often the supply was inadequate to the demand, owing to the fact that the publisher's press, a drum cylinder, could not print them fast enough. Often the press was kept going all day to svipply the demand froru the army sutlers. So popular did The Rebel become in a few weeks that the publisher in October, 1862, engaged the young but versatile and rising journalist, Honry Watterson, to edit the paper. Mr. Paul brongbt to the assistnnce of Mr. Watterson Mr. Albert Roberts, a vigorons writer and trained journalist of Nashville. He %vas a humorous writer, using the nom de plnme of "John Happy. " Wattersou and Roberts kept The Rebel at white heat, and the paper grew in irnportance and size, being made a five column paper shortly after the publication begaa. Well doe.s the writer remember the eagerness of the army for the only highly prized paper. The boys in camp could not rest until its arrival every morbiug on the train from Chattanooga. When General Bragg began his retrograde moveinent in the spring of 1863 to Chattanooga, The Rebel was supplied to the army with ïnuch difflculty. When the army arrived there, the paper was in still greater demand. In the snmmer of that year, however, it became evident that the Federáis were coming to Chattanooga for the purpose of capturing that important point. And then it was The Rebel began its meanderings over the sovtth. 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 shelling of Chattanooga in that month soon convinced the editors that they, too, must go if they wonld avoid capture by the Federal army, and they left to join the paper. Editor In Chief Wattevson had been sharply criticising General Bragg while the paper was in Chattanooga. One evening he visited a gentleman 's house in that town, and it happcncd that General Bragg was also a visitor. The two gentlemen had never met, and while waitiug 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 au offlcer of high rank, Watterson little suspected it was the commander in chief of the army. He indulged in some criticisu.'S of General Bragg as he had been doing in The Rebel. The general listened for awhile in almost speechless wonder, but coDtrolled himself till his fiery critic had abused him for some minutes, when he aróse, and addressingMr. Watterson asked: "Do you know who I am, sir:" The editor replied that he had not that honor. "My name is Bragg, sir," said the uow fully aroused commander. Of conrse Watterson was somewhat taken aback, but in his most courtly and chivalrons manner assured General Bragg that he had not meánt to be offensive, but that his criticisms were made in goodfaith and from motives of sincere desire to promote the welfare of the Confederacy. But apologies were not asked or siveu. Genera] Brugg, however, never forgot nor forgave his critic. After the battle of Chickamauga, white the paper was at Marietta, Wattersou coutinued his attacks on General Bragg, who inforraed the publisher of The Rebel that unless the irate editor were discharged the paper could riot como into his lines. Mr. Watterson then realized that he must seek other friends, for he was not the man to retract a word nor'to bedictated to. As oditor in chief he would write his sentimeuts despite any one, so he made arrangements to become one of the staffof Lieutenant General Leónidas Polk. After serviuga short time in that capacity Wattersou resigned and became editor of one of the papers published in Atlanta. After an uneventful existence in Griffin for awbile the approach of the Federal ariny to Atlanta in July of tbat year warned the publisher that he most move on if he would keep The Rebel afloat and save his scalp, so itwas taken to Selma, Ala., that fall. Here it was that the eventful paper came to an untimely end with the Confederacy it had so long and faithfully upheld. It was in the latter part of April, 1865, that Selma was taken by General Wilson. The Federáis knew of the existence of The Rebel, and one of the first things they did to appease their wrath was to fire its office, which was iu a building bnside the river and built partly over it. The Yankees printed a small sheet, in which they announced their victory over the "rebs" and probably the "general orders from headquarters" announcing the surrender of the armies of the southern Confederacy. They then threw the materials in the river and burned all the files they could find. - Boston Herald. Society is very queer. The people moet sought aftur are those who do not pay their debts.