Existing comment:
George Alfred Townsend, Civil War Correspondent
Off to war:
Early in 1862 when George Alfred Townsend was a 21-year-old Philadelphia journalist, the New York Herald offered him a job as a Civil War correspondent. He picked up his credentials in Washington, D.C., was issued a horse, and headed south.
Peninsula Campaign, 1862:
Townsend was assigned to follow the Army of the Potomac, as General George McClellan led the Peninsula Campaign towards Richmond. Writing anonymously as was the custom, Townsend reported the Union victory at Yorktown, the May 29 battles at Seven Pines and Fairoaks, and the Union victory at Williamsburg. Moving with the army into the Chickahominy River swamps, Townsend became ill with a fever but continued reporting the Seven Days Battle that ended the Union advance, General John Pope's attempt to drive the Confederates from the Virginia mountains, and the August 9th conflict at Cedar Mountain. With his fevers worsening, Townsend sailed for Europe, hoping to recover and pursue his writing career.
The end of the war:
When Townsend returned to the United States in mid-1864, bylines revealed reporters' names. In 1865, he was back reporting the war, this time for the New York World. He traveled with General Sheridan's army fighting its way towards Richmond. The only correspondent present when Union forces decisively forced the evacuation of the city, Townsend obtained personal interviews with Sheridan. His lively scoop made his reputation. |