SC Historical Society: southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org Wire -- A Soilders Newspaper

A Soldiers' Newspaper
By Karen Stokes and Michael Coker

Right: Front page of The Rebel published in 1863.

On Jan. 28th, 1863 the first issue of a newspaper called The Rebel was published. This newspaper was never destined to have the audience of thousands enjoyed by other contemporary Civil War era newspapers such as Frank Leslies, Harpers Weekly or The Charleston Courier. Volume 1, number 1 of this "New Series " was launched on a sheet of ordinary writing paper folded into four pages. Another unique feature of this newspaper is that all of its features were written entirely by hand, and its' editor and proprietor is known only as "Liliput." The Rebel was a newspaper self-published by Confederate soldiers to help relieve the tedium of everyday camp life.

"Published at Columbia, So. Ca. whenever the editor is in the right mood," Liliput states in his inaugural issue. Beneath this publication statement the terms of sale are cited. "Single Numbers-Free...Large quantities are one half the price." Contained in The Rebels' pages are features such as letters to the editor, which concerns a train ride from Branchville and back to Columbia. Also included is news of the Civil War, rumors, weather, social notices and advertisements.

Most of a column on one page is devoted to a health advisory against Varioloid, a form of smallpox. This attention is hardly surprising due to the fact that outbreaks of disease in a crowded military camp often had fatal results.

"The Board of Health in Columbia officially report that a case of Varioloid was brought to this city from Richmond on the person of a servant... all precautions will be taken to prevent the spreading of disease. " Vaccinations were recommended to readers as a precaution, along with this remedy "...we urge the burning of leather as a powerful disinfectant whose efficacy has been recently discovered and thoroughly tested by competent medical gentlemen."

Left:Illustrated ad for a tent manufacturer

One of The Rebels' correspondents abroad was from the Eutaw Battalion and wrote from Camp Cobb, North Carolina.

"...the regiment left James Island for this miserable place called Wilmington...we are in the advance and the enemy is advancing slowly to meet us...we will try to give them a hard fight if they attack..." This reporter called "Mims" described the harsh conditions faced by the Eutaws by stating; "The weather has been very bad and cold, our troops are suffering from the cold as they are poorly clad, and the uniforms are all worn out, and we cannot get new ones at the present." With a hint of longing for home "Mims" remarks " I cannot tell when we will get back to old South Carolina."

Locally it was reported that Columbia was experiencing some unusual weather. "SNOW! At five o' clock this morning it commenced to snow and has continued at intervals all day. The boys seem delighted and if it continues, they will no doubt have a good time of it. "

Strangely enough, in light of the fate that would befall Columbia in just two years, an "Alarm of fire" is given only a brief, whimsical notice. "On Saturday evening we had another alarm of fire proceeding from a burning chimney in Fair's Row-only that and nothing more." In Feburary of 1865 the city of Columbia would be burned during occupation under General Sherman in his March to the Sea campaign.

The identity of "Liliput" or "Mims" and their fate is still unknown. It has also yet to be determined if another issue of The Rebel was ever published. Perhaps the editor was never "in the right mood again."

Above:Because of the tedious activities some soldiers found life in camp to be more difficult than combat.

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Last modified: 04/24/03 CLN.

URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/wire/2002_Jan/Rebel.html