Manual Labor is Good for the Soul

Have you had a problem that you could not solve, one that picked at the back of your brain constantly? Perhaps not a question but an anger, stress or sadness; just a weight you could not get off your soul?

My girlfriend invited me to a relaxing evening around a campfire with some of her co-workers. After some debate, we decided to go to enjoy time together with good company and beer.

We arrived on location where this campfire was to be and those there had started a small fire and were relaxing and conversing about many things. Conversations of which some could be shared but some that can definitely not be shared by those that had all ready had too much to drink. I quickly discovered that the occasion for the campfire was that a couple in the group, whom my girlfriend works with, were getting married the next day.

In short, a few people were acting like idiots.

I found myself completely aggravated. I could not clear my head of those life stressors and did not want to take it out on those around me. I was in a celebratory setting with people trying to have good time and all I could do was be angry.

One of the people trying to have a good time began sawing on a felled tree that was hanging from another tree. The situation looked dangerous. It was night in the woods, 300 meters down a rocky trail, and somebody who did not seem well versed in the skills needed to fell a tree, was cutting one down while drinking with an audience around. Being short tempered already, I began to speak of how ludicrous and idiotic this mission was not to mention dangerous. Knowing full well that when I spoke I was bout to sound very much like a horses ass I decided to say nothing at all.

My mother would have been proud of me.

I instead decided that I would just cut this tree down so that I could do it the right way and nobody would get hurt. When I began chopping on this tree I was focusing on those that were watching and was angry at them for trying to chop this tree down in such an unsafe way. I began chopping harder and harder trying to inflict the most damage I could with every swing. I chopped all the way through the tree and nothing. The top of the tree was still hung up and the base that I was chopping swung slightly and then settled on the ground from the weight of the tree. This made me angry and at that moment I made up my mind:

The tree was coming down that night.

I again began chopping and sawing and with every swing I became more tired and less stressed. I was grunting, sweating and swinging. Imagining everything I was angry at with every swing, I could see the sources of stress and those stresses manifest in front of me on that tree. I was swinging with the intention of bringing that tree completely down with every swing and destroying the source of my stress at the same time.

I chopped on this tree until I was near vomiting before I passed the axe off. I watched for a minute while others chopped a little. Mostly they would knock a little piece off and progress the work a little at a time; clearly they were not carrying the stress that I was.

They were actually doing more work than I would have been at the time. Being exhausted my muscles would begin to fail and I could no longer efficiently hack away at the tree. Those that were around, giving a helping hand or support, were much appreciated; continuing the work I was not physically strong enough to continue while I rested.

I wanted to be the one that brought it down though. That feeling of accomplishment or success is what I needed. It was what I needed after doing so much work and working so hard.

By the time the tree came down I could barely pick the axe up. My arms had become so weak that the weight of the axe was nearly too much. However my mind had shifted. I was no longer focusing on my stress or my anger. I was not mad at all. I was not mad at the tree for making it so difficult to come down. I was not mad about any of the stress that I had been thinking about before.

I am not talking about labor as in your job either. I am discussing the type of manual labor that completely exhausts you. Labor that exhausts you past the point of physical exhaustion. When your mind is tired of telling your body to keep going and your body tells your mind that that is it. There is no more in the tank. There is just nothing left to give.

This moment is when your body begins to burn the stress and anger; not having the physicality left it uses the emotion and stress of life to push beyond its physical stopping point. This action allows one to unload the weight that they have been carrying with them. Most are strong enough to carry these burdens daily but every person needs rest at some point. No stranger to manual labor and having completed my fair share I was surprised by a lesson I had forgot. The tree became the bench upon which my stress had been placed and the axe with which it was laid.

American Culture as a Journalist Beat

When I chose to become a journalist I was in the United States Army. I came to the conclusion that I was going to separate from the military after a photojournalist embedded with my unit. Jake Wright became a peer mentor and guiding force since that day.

(Photo courtesy of Jake Wright from his time with my unit. We were on an Observation Post behind the walls a secure compound here.)

I separated July 24, 2013, and returned to the U.S. the same day. My acceptance to East Tennessee State University as a declared Mass Communications/Journalism concentration major was obtained a year in advance. Freshman orientation was August 8, my birthday, and classes started August 22.

I mixed major classes with general education requirements in the beginning to try out my major. I loved the classes and knew that I had picked appropriately.

I am now in my junior year and in my Reporting class. This class has been the one that I have struggled with the most. The workload is intense and the most of any of my classes.

In this class we, the students, were granted the freedom of choosing our own journalistic beats (areas of coverage). Many chose a beat one may think of as typical newspaper coverage like business, education and sports. My choice was and is American Culture.

I stand by this choice but have found it difficult to narrow it down to a local aspect. With the U.S. being a “melting-pot” it is hard to define American in a local sense. It is also very difficult to get another to agree with you.

The problem with culture as a beat is that one can argue what culture is. I wrote an article pertaining to biking as a part of culture. Some did not agree that this was culture but rather a simple, obsolete, form of transportation. I understand their argument but do not agree with them.

I cannot argue with them since there is no real evidence that could point either way. I chose this beat to help define and continue to redefine what American Culture is. The challenge is space and time. With the vastness of the U.S and its people the definition can become long.

One thing is for sure and that is, I will not give up. Magazines are what I wish to write for and one day my column may help a generation point to specifics of American Culture.

How to Change a Tire

You may have wondered to yourself, “Why would I pay somebody for something I am physically able to do?” Now you will not have to pay for somebody else to change your tire because you will be able to do it yourself. Of course common sense is going to play a very important part in this. Every car is different i.e. different size and number of lug nuts, different places of storing the spare, and different types of hubcaps. Some of these things you will have to figure out on your own but most of that information can be found in your owner’s manual. Therefore, assuming you can read, since your reading this, and you have a little common sense you will be able to change your own tire when you have finished reading this.

First things first, what you will need; your owner’s manual is probably one of the most important things you will need. Since every make and model of vehicle stores the spare tire in a different place the owner’s manual of your vehicle will tell you where yours is located. Once you have found this and now know where your spare tire is we can move on. The next things you will need are essential: spare tire, jack, tire iron/lug wrench, flat work area, and common sense. These things will be needed to change your tire and most are provided in the vehicle. Common sense and finding a flat spot to change the tire is on you.

The first thing that you are going to do is find a flat work area to safely change the tire. If you don’t have a flat work area then find the flattest spot you can and be sure to engage the emergency brake and block a tire, other than the one your changing, with a rock or piece of wood so the vehicle can not roll if the emergency brake fails. Look inside your owner’s manual and find the preferred lift point to place your jack. Before lifting your vehicle it is a good idea to begin the loosening process of the lug nuts as the tire could spin once it is off the ground. One thing to note here is that some wheels have a plastic hubcap and you need to remove this before access to the lug nuts can be achieved. There are two things you can use to remove this and one you should have already this being your tire iron. Using the end that looks like a giant flat head screwdriver simply place in the gap between the plastic hubcap and metal wheel and pry it off. If for whatever reason you don’t have this end on your tire iron simply find a flat head screwdriver and pry it off; the hubcap should come off rather easily but can be a bit difficult and make a loud metal on metal scratching sound when it comes off. This is normal and do not worry that you broke anything for you have not. With the proper size tire iron place it securely on one of the lug nuts and turn counter clockwise. If the nut is too tight for you to turn by hand don’t be afraid to stand on the tool and use your body weight. This is something that most have to do in one’s life. It is also important to note that you should just loosen the lug nuts at this point, do not take them all the way off; as well you should loosen all the lug nuts equally.

Once the lug nuts are loosened it is time to lift your vehicle. It is very important to look in the owner’s manual and lift from a recommended lift point. You do not want to damage the body of your vehicle by lifting improperly. If there is not a recommended lift point, there will be, ensure that you are on the frame or solid piece of the axle. If the jack will not lift your vehicle high enough to get the tire off the ground you can use a block of wood to increase its lift ability; only use wood or rubber in this application as metal on metal contact can damage your vehicle. Again refer to the vehicle owner’s manual on how to use the jack; different vehicles have different types of jacks in them. If you are using a jack not supplied from your vehicle make sure that the one you are using has a weight capacity sufficient for your vehicle and refer to the jack owner’s manual for operating instructions. Ensure that once the weight of the vehicle is on the jack you shake the jack to ensure stability. Continue to lift until the tire is off the ground approximately one inch. You do not need the car to be six feet in the air just to change the tire. Once the tire and only the tire you are changing is off the ground shake the vehicle gently to check for stability; if the vehicle seems unsafe lower it and reposition your jack. It is always better to do something twice then to get hurt doing it once. Also at this point you should ensure that you have properly blocked a tire not being changed and that you have set the emergency brake.

Once you have the tire you are changing off the ground and the vehicle is securely on the jack you can begin to take the lug nuts the rest of the way off. After completion of removing the lug nuts you can remove the tire and place the spare tire on the vehicle. It does not matter which lugs go into which wholes on the new tire as long as every hole on your wheel is filled with lugs on your vehicle. Following the spare tire being placed on the vehicle you can begin to place the lug nuts back on the vehicle. You will need to pay close attention in this process. When you are putting the lug nuts back on you want to hand tighten them in a star pattern by turning them clockwise. Do not put them on in a circular pattern. The tire will need to be tightened evenly to ensure that it is flush on the hub. If you put a top lug nut on, the next should be a bottom then a left and then a right so on and so on until all lug nuts are replaced on the vehicle. At first you should hand tighten the lug nuts; once they are all on tighten them with the tire iron in a star pattern again.

Once you have tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron in a star pattern while the vehicle is on the jack you can lower the vehicle and remove the jack. Your not done yet so do not just put everything away. You will need to go through and tighten the lug nuts again while the vehicle is on the ground in a star pattern. Remember that whenever you are tightening lug nuts it should always be in a star pattern. You can now replace your hubcap and this is a simple process that does not need tools. Simply line the hubcap up on the wheel or with the lug nuts whichever style you have and simply push on; if you cannot push on hit the hubcap with the bottom of your fist or a rubber mallet. You do not want to hit the hubcap too hard so just a forceful tap will do. Ensure that you listen for the click to know that it is secure and check all around the edges to make sure that the entire hubcap is locked in place. Now we are nearly finished and you can pat yourself of the back because you have changed your own tire.

The next steps are important to ensure that you have everything you need to change a tire the next time as well. You need to make sure that you put all your tools, jack, and tire blocks back in your vehicle in the proper spaces; as well as your tire you just took off. Depending on your vehicle you might not have a full size spare tire and will need to get your flat fixed and put back on your vehicle. A “doughnut” spare tire, a small black skinny tire smaller than your normal tire, is only good for about 50 miles and should be replaced as soon as possible. With this being said you need to think about what will happen if you just leave your jack and everything sitting there and need them again in three days. Proper storing and cleaning of your tools is just as important as using them when you need them.

Now that you have read these step by step instructions and you can change your own tire and the author hopes that you have gained a new confidence in yourself. There are many tasks dealing with simple maintenance that most people are capable of doing themselves. What they lack is confidence. You now have that confidence to pursue further ambitions dealing with vehicle maintenance or at least one hopes you do.   Changing a tire may seem a simple thing and truth be told it is, however, the feeling of accomplishment is something that last and can lead to further adventures in automotive repair.

Horseback Riding to Relax

Some people struggle to relax. Managing stress is very important to the well being of an individual. Many research studies could be cited to back this claim.

A Google search turns up thousands of techniques to manage stress with millions of reasons why. Facial scrubs, stretching, meditation and other techniques rooted in thousands of years of history are the claims. Animals have been used to relax for many years as well and research has proven their abilities to heal the human mind.

While on active-duty military I attended an anger management class in Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. During this class the importance of sleep and hygiene to ones stress level was taught. A Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Service Dog was also available to help individuals relax. One method that was not available to soldiers in a combat zone was horseback riding.

Jabba (left) watches as Petey lazily flops to the ground.

I did not register for horseback riding originally to relieve stress. I registered to improve my riding skills before filming rodeos for a summer.

The first horse I rode was in Kindergarten at a friend’s birthday party. I rode a few times at the same friend’s house until his parents sold their horses. After this I did not ride again until summer camp in third or fourth grade.

That was the extent of my experience but I did remember it to be fun and relaxing. At 30-years-old, I was going to begin riding again. I wanted to prepare and I read an article about Veterans riding for therapy in a magazine. The article highlighted amputee veterans and those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Since the class was available at East Tennessee State University, I figured it could not hurt to try for anger management.

I discovered that arriving to the stables and taking time to brush, tack and saddle your horse is part of the relaxation. The horses are rode by many students and meet new people every semester. Getting to know the horse individually is part of the process. Every student and every horse are different. Therefore, it is important to take ones time for the horse to know you and you the horse

For me getting to know the horse and the physical exertion of the ride was a great way to relax. The physicality of proper riding is something that I did not expect. The hip-flexor muscle and inner thighs are used for grip and control. A properly trained horse will feel your input from these muscles and know what you are planning before you do.

I am planning on taking the class again, twice in fact. By the time that I am complete with my college career, I will have taken this class four times. The first time I received an Incomplete due to a motorcycle wreck and my inability to recover in time to finish.

The horse is a wonderful animal that is willing to work. It is a lot harder to learn proper riding than one may think, but with determination any body can learn. Being in nature, on the back of such a powerful animal, is a great way to put one’s life into perspective.

My Weekend On the Nolichucky

8 a.m.- A squirrel sits and eats his breakfast with the campground trash collector. The squirrel doesn’t even notice. He is making his rounds at Nolichucky Gorge Campground next door. It is a calm morning in the gorge but that is all about to change.

My girlfriend and I wake to vendors making their way onto USA Raft’s property in preparation of NoliFest 2016. It is April 1 and this is the 2^nd annual river festival hosted by USA Raft and owner Mike Moses. Moses has been conducting a get together, called by some the “Ice-breaker Run,” this time of year for awhile but turned it into the Nolichucky’s first river festival two years ago.

Vendors began to arrive early Friday morning. The first to pull in was Mike Myers representing Star Inflatables. Arriving and dashing to set-up, he had many rafts of different styles inflated and on stand-by for use before noon.

Star Inflatables was the first vendor on-site for NoliFest 2016. They had many rafts available for demo runs.

After his arrival many other vendors began to show up seemingly in groups. Shabcomee, Watershed Southern Raft Supply, Bellyak and Hala SUP (stand-up paddle) Boards were but a few of the vendors on hand. Many had different watercraft available for demo. USA Raft has a pond for beginners to learn in. The pond was used for SUP board yoga on Saturday and Sunday as well.

Clothing vendors were there too.  Mountain Life and Overmountain Outdoors were two of a few that were there. Overmountain Outdoors is a local Johnson City, Tennessee, clothing line with a store located in downtown Johnson City. The founder is of Overmountain is also a graduate of East Tennessee State University. Mountain Life is a brand started out of Ashville, North Carolina, as a mountain alternative to the “Salt Life” and “Lake Life” brands.

“I think next year I am going to change the motto to, ‘For all those who mountain,'” Moses said.

Matt Moses meets with a guest at his NoliFest 2016 event. He can be spotted running about with his coffee only briefly most of the weekend. Miko is not pictured here.

Moses meets every vendor as they arrive with his Siberian Husky Miko following close behind. Moses is there to meet the people. Miko is there to meet the dogs. Moses finds a spot suitable for the vendor and their supplies. Miko checks over any canine companion traveling with the vendor.

It is 7:40 p.m. before I can ask Moses a question. It is a quick one in passing as he is very busy setting up twelve hours after he started.

“This is their weekend to have fun, not mine,” Moses said.

The sun is setting and watercrafts are coming in from the river. Many that arrived early hit the river to test the water. A group of strangers assemble to help carry a raft up the riverbank. This type of hospitality is observed all weekend from the festival attendants.

“I got into rafting after the military because I missed the camaraderie,” Scott said. He didn’t give me his last name.

Scott “he didn’t give me his last name,” the veteran who found camaraderie on the river.

“This is the place I found it. On the river you don’t have anybody but your fellow boaters, so you go with people you trust. People you watch out for and people that watch out for you.”

The first night of NoliFest was topped off with a scheduled “jam session” around the Noli-Fire. This large fire was burning all weekend, day and night, during NoliFest 2016. It was noted on the schedule to bring instruments if you had them. One or two persons arrived with guitars and played for a short time. Mostly those there conversed and got to know each other a little better.

Saturday saw the arrival of even more vendors and more events along the river beginning. There were SUP board and Kayak races beginning at 10 a.m. The first day’s race was won by Aaron Koch, sponsored by Corran SUP boards, with Jack Nelson and Cami Swan, both sponsored by Hala SUP boards, placing second and third.

Saturday was also the day of the 9-mile rafting run that everybody came for. Moses was supervising the loading of the buses, three total. The insides were packed with people and the roofs with rafts. The route was a long and scenic one over the mountains into North Carolina that lasted approximately 45 minutes. After arriving at the launch site, contagious excitement spread amongst the rafters.

Kaylani and I hiked downstream in order to capture the best photographs of the rafters. We were in a location near rapids known as “Jaws,” “On the rocks” and “Pillow Top.” There came a flood of endless kayaks and rafts down the river. Two SUP boarders braved the 9-mile run, Koch being one of them on a borrowed Corran SUP board.

 

Saturday ended with music being played by threes separate live bands. The attendees mingled and many old friends caught up on times missed. Many new friends spent the night getting to know one another.

One new friend that I met was Michael Konschnik. Konschnik is originally from Pennsylvania but has been living in Ashville where he works for New Belgium Brewing Company. He was very hospitable, as were most of the revilers, and took time to talk with me about the festival and America.

“The quality of life camping and rafting is why I am here,” said Konschnik. “Everybody looking out for each other too. That really is what it is to be American, quality of life and looking out for each other.”

Sunday started with SUP board yoga on the pond. Volunteers signed up and followed along with the instructor. Afterward was a World SUP board event. First place went to Jack Nelson of Hala SUP boards, second to Josh Aldridge and third to Aaron Koch of Corran SUP boards.

By the end of the race most of the vendors had torn down or were beginning to. A lot of the attendees had begun to leave earlier that morning. Some had traveled from Oklahoma and farther to take part in NoliFest 2016. It was assumed they were in a hurry to get home.

All in all my weekend on the Nolichucky was an eye opening experience. I took a kayak with me with hopes of getting into the water. The power and danger were observed immediately. Since I have never whitewater kayaked I opted against the run. I will soon be taking classes to learn this skill. The fun seen on the faces of those in the water made the danger look worth it.

Paradise Found Through Providence and a Military Campaign: John Smith, The General History of Virginia

John Smith found Paradise in the hardships and skirmishes of the new world. He saw manifestations of God “the patron of all good endeavors” while conducting military actions against the natives. These actions were not necessarily to gain territory instead resulting in the extortion of resources from the Natives by the English in order to establish a foothold to later establish colonies.

While conducting the operations, many times he is outnumbered ten to one and the Natives “being well armed with clubs, targets, bows and arrow,” and the English armed with muskets, cannons and other weapons, thought to be superior, would prevail in battle. (Norton 85) Witnessing the English victories in these battles, Smith discovered his interpretation of God’s plan for the English in his idea of Paradise.

John Smith was educated as a shoe keepers apprentice and through military experience as told in the biography. (81) He was also a man that knew the company he kept was not the noblest of men. This is apparent in many examples from his writings about Virginia, one example of this, as stated by Smith, “The new President and Martin…of weak judgment in dangers, and less industry in peace,” demonstrates that he was not ignorant as to why some had come to this new world. (85) The statement “less industry in peace” could be interpreted to mean that with a war or on-going conflict, there would be more of a demand for the supplies the English were quickly harvesting, cultivating, or extorting. He knew that many had come to accomplish their fortunes and those fortunes were hastier made by waging war rather than striving for peace.

Smith describes scenes of people dying from sickness, starvation, and dehydration. On page 83 Smith deems necessary to write down that during the crossing the sailors would pilfer the rations to exchange with the passengers. One thing he states they would exchange for, but not the only, was love. Love in this sense most likely does not refer to companionship or marriage but rather an exchange of physical pleasure. These passengers were entrepreneurs, religious freedom seekers, and military personnel whose charge was to protect the interest of the crown and to some extent the lives of the settlers. The importance of noting that Smith wrote this down is that the mismanagement and ill preparations by the men in charge of the voyage were to blame.  After arriving to the New World their conditions did not seem to improve according to Smith.

He continues to write about their poor health and contributes this to starvation and dehydration as much as disease and sickness. The natives took pity upon them and gave them food out of kindness. This kindness however he does not contribute to the sympathy, for their fellow man, of the “savages” but rather to “God the patron of all good endeavors,” further demonstrating his belief that God was giving this new world to the English as Providence. However, Smith being the ever military minded man that he was and possibly alluding to his true purpose, Smith criticizes the decision to meet and accept the gifts because he fears it only shows the English’s weaknesses. (84)

After the supplies from the natives replenished those at the camp John Smith and others did not set right away to only planting or raising crops of their own survival. Referring again to his comment about the President and Martin, Smith writes that they left the endeavors outside the camp to him. Although he does say he set some to preparing fields and others to building lodgings because up to this point they only had “castles in the air.” Another point to bring to order is that he makes sure to point out that no lodging was built for himself until last. This is a great show of character for a military leader and shows an empathy that Smith had for the other settlers around him. Also important to note is that through this section Smith refers to himself in the third person. This is intentional and could be to set that he was a sympathetic man after all he was a Christian. In the following paragraphs Smith writes about battles between Natives, where he may not have taken the most Christian action and his actions could have been interpreted as a sins of vanity and pride.

“Being but six or seven in company he went down the river to Kecoughtan where at first they scorned him as a famished man,” in this quotation Smith is speaking of how the Natives gazed upon HIM with this scorn. Seeming to be even more disrespectful, and in Smith’s interpretation on purpose, the Natives attempted to price gouge the trade between them offering “him a handful of corn, a piece of bread” for the English weapons. This infuriated Smith and after denying the trade they charged the Natives and fired upon them. This was more of a show of force because Smith knew with his few numbers that he could not hold the ground while the few men he had loaded their canoes. They stood ready to repel an attack of “sixty or seventy of them,” when the attack came the English prevailed after killing the Natives leader and securing their “Okee.” The “Okee” is described as a decorated Idol and Smith describes this battle and states, “that down fell their God.” It is important to point out that Smith does divulge that the Natives were armed with bows and arrow, clubs, and other simple weapons, while there is not evidence in this text that they had been exposed to musket fire before. After rapidly disposing of the conflict the Natives were forced into trade agreements with the English and Smith mentions later that return trips were made for supplies as a result of this.

It is important to note the language that he uses here to describe this battle. Notice that when he tells of the capturing of the “Okee” he uses the words “their God” not only implying a mission of necessity to secure supplies and trade, he labels a battle amongst the religions now occupying the land, ours and “theirs.” This could have been to spur the emotions of missionaries to come and convert the savage or to justify his own actions. One could interpret the meaning that Smith had a narcissistic personality and he could do no wrong therefore took credit personally for striking down “their God” for his. With being so outnumbered there was but one way he could have down this in his eyes and that was through God. This is very apparent with his next lines stating:

 

Thus God unboundless by His power,

Made them thus kind, would us devour. (86)

 

It is easy to conclude while examining this small selection from John Smith’s, The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, that although Smith was a religious man looking for Paradise and found it while conducting military operations in the new world. This is evident from the few examples above. Smith lays fault for the hardships experienced for the failings of man, but in the sympathy of the Natives his only conclusion is the power of God. This example demonstrates his purpose in the world as one not to find kind and good-hearted people and fertile land, but to take action and secure trading sites for the advancement of God and country. Although he does not state his loyalties to the crown and shows tones of dissension Smith was still employed by the English crown. One can conclude from these examples that Smith found evidence of God’s Providence in his military actions taken against the Natives in order to secure his self-written place in history.

 

WORKS CITED

 

Smith, John. The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles. Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8^th ed. Eds. Nina Baym et al.

New York: Norton, 2012. 83-99. Print.

A Brief History of the Bohemian Brigade

Many do not know that the profession of Journalism evolved in the 1830s around the same time that law, medicine and other professions came to be in America. One of the many things that caused change to the profession, and media in general, was the American Civil War that began in 1861.

New to sending out reporters to cover stories and turning newspapers into corporations rather than one-man operations, editors continued to refine the process. Technology became the factor that allowed reporters to send information to home offices quickly, making the news relevant and speedy.

The Union reporters were some of the most successful and became known as the Bohemian Brigade. In the beginning this was a term they called themselves. Exploring a brief history of the writers and illustrators one can gain knowledge and insight as to how they helped journalism evolve as a profession.

Technology may be the most important factor that allowed the evolution of these northern reporters. Kathleen Endres said in her book, “The Media in America A History,” that the telegraph single handedly changed how information was sent from the field to the editors. By the 1860s the nation had telegraph wires strung far, wide, and many changing news to being about speed. Editors would no longer wait weeks or months for information they wanted it now.

Photo courtesy of http://www.thebohemianbrigade.com/alfred4.html

This also led to sending reporters to the field to cover stories. Before the telegraph an editor would wait for word of mouth tales of an event and then write their own articles about it. Many newspapers were one-man operations with the editor obtaining the story, writing it and printing all on his own.

The telegraph changed this dramatically and the editor no longer had to wait for somebody to come along. The editor could send a reporter out to cover an event. This person would send the coverage via telegraph back to the home office, and within hours, or a couple of days, the editor could begin printing.

“Through the first third of the 19th Century, American newspapers did not contain much actual ‘news,’” said Brayton Harris in an essay. “They were journals of opinion, political cheerleaders, vehicles for cultured discourse and cultural pretension. Much of what they published about the world outside the door came in the mail: letters from subscribers and copies of other newspapers in an informal system of exchange—encouraged by free postage—from which interesting items could freely be appropriated, if given credit to the source.”

Technology alone could not change newspapers into corporations. The citizens in the United States wanted this information; accurately reported from the battlefield and they wanted it quickly changing the profession into a competition to see who could get a story to the editor first.

Reporters covered all aspects of the war from combat to living conditions. They sent countless sensational stories to their home offices. Many New York papers influenced opinions around the nation and Mid-West papers came into fruition during the War. The Cincinnati Gazette became known as the soldier’s paper in the west although they had fewer reporters in the field.

One problem that arose during this time frame was operational security. Reporters would write about troop locations and movements not knowing the harm that they were doing in trying to describe the battlefield. Another was that many writers sensationalized stories or wrote fictitious ones to appease their editors, this according to Endres.

The Bohemian Brigade, as mentioned before, was a group of reporters from the north that covered Union affairs during the war. Endres wrote that there were said to be as many as 500 reporters in this group; approximately only 200 of them were professional writers. They began calling themselves this because of their liberal arts beliefs and others began calling them this because they seemed to live on the fringes of societal norms.

Louis M. Starr wrote in “Bohemian Brigade Civil War Newsman in Action,” that many were young men that had no families. He said that they were to be so vulgar they lacked the manners to speak or be around the upper echelon leaders of the Union. Not all were said to be this way, Thomas Wallace Knox was a Bohemian Brigade member. He was invited to have dinner with President Abraham Lincoln so the president could hear first hand accounts from the battlefield.

 Charles Colburn, N.Y. Herlad, Charles C. Coffin, Boston Journal, Julius Browne, William Davis Cincinnati Gazetter, L.L. Crounse, “New York Times, W.D. Bickham, Cincinnati Commerce, Thomas W. Knox, New York Herald. CDV courtesy of Leon Basile’s Collection. Photo courtesy of http://www.thebohemianbrigade.com/alfred4.html

Knox was a professional writer and has been counted among the top American storytellers, which made this occasion not a surprise to many. Apart from being a great storyteller he was a very well traveled man. Knox for many years before and after the war travelled the world and wrote about his trips.

Being an accomplished writer helped Knox along the way during the war, but came to get him in trouble with General Ulysses S. Grant. Knox loved detail and on one occasion wrote a story revealing troop locations and movements. This lead to his capture and being charged as a spy for the Confederacy, although he was later pardoned by Lincoln and called to the White House to tell his story to the President, Grant never forgave him, this all according James Phelps.

Many reporters at this time would put themselves in grave situations to cover a battle or a camp exposing themselves to disease and combat. They would be left fending for themselves when it came to food and shelter because they were not members of the military. The New York Herald sent a wagon with their reporters, which became a common sight amongst the military men. Having as many as 50 reporters in the field, the Herald was also one of the largest distributed newspapers in the country. The photograph at the beginning of this article is of the New York Herald wagon.

Some Bohemian Reporters would engage in non-ethical practices. Trying to be first in getting their story to editors, bribery and coercion with train engineers and telegraph employees happened. These methods did not always work and made military leaders look down upon them.

The use of these tactics and living outside the norms of society is what made it difficult for some reporters to fit in with the upper echelons according to Endres. Being in the trenches with the soldiers made it easy for them to relate and tell the stories of the common man.

Although difficult times were upon the nation during the civil war many industries flourished and journalism was one of these. Changing from a hobby of writing for a paper, into a profession and evolving the rules is but one factor that has made it possible for journalist today.

The bohemians of the brigade may not have been the most respected members of the war. They did, however, bring the war to the homes of the nation’s citizens. Many have accredited these men to keeping every person, from common man to the president, informed on not only the battlefield, but also on the soldier and the sentiment of the nation.

10 reasons to live in Johnson City, Tennessee

Recreation: Johnson City, Tennessee is a mountain town. The city is within 30 miles of Bristol Motor Speedway. The speed way host two annual NASCAR races. The accompanying Bristol Dragway host events March 26, through Oct. 1, 2016, including “Street Fights,” DER Test N Tune days and NHRA drag racing events.

The mountain location offers ample mountain biking, hiking, all-terrain vehicle and horseback riding trails. The Nolichucky River is great for white-water rafting, canoeing or any other river activities. There are restaurants and music outlets that offer a variety of food and tunes.

Adventurous fisherman will discover mountain streams, rivers and lakes with healthy ecosystems. Different waterways offer varieties of fish including trout, musky, catfish and bass to name a few. The lakes are great for kayak and canoe fishing. Pontoon boat festivities are abundant on the lakes too.

Music: A quick Wikipedia search will inform one of Johnson City’s musical roots. Bristol, Tennessee, has a recognized role in the birth and development of country music by The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, but recordings were made in JC as early as 1928. This musical tradition carries over today.

Hunter Grigg performs at The Willow Tree Cafe located in dowtown Johnson City.

The Downhome, Poor Richards Campus and Hungry Apex are local establishments that offer live music. Poor Richards is a restaurant and local college bar. The Downhome has been serving as a music venue since its founding in 1976. According to their website, “the primary emphasis is on quality music, and the performance atmosphere promotes listening rather than socializing.”

Location: Johnson City is located in North Eastern Tennessee, spread amongst three counties, Washington (mostly), Carter and Sullivan. The city is ninth largest in Tennessee, and ranked number 14 “Best Small Place for Business and Careers” in the U.S. by Forbes. The estimated population according the U.S. Census Bureau by 2014 was 65,813.

The location places JC at the base of Buffalo Mountain. The city is also near Cumberland Gap, The Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drives in and around the city offer majestic views. One can relax getting lost in the rhythm of the road on country drives or motorcycle rides.

View of N. Roan Street, Johnson City as seen from Buffalo Mountain.

Americana Spirit: First, to understand how Johnson City embraces this one must define the term. Henry Seidel Canby defined Americana as nostalgia when he wrote, “[I]t is the small town, the small city, that is our heritage. We have made twentieth-century America from it, and some account of these communities as they were … we owe our children and grandchildren.”

Johnson City’s communities embrace this. One can achieve a sense of belonging within the community by giving back. The historic “Tree Streets” represent times in America during prohibition. Al Capone’s house stands as one of the largest structures in this area. The boom of the city, as a depot transporting coal from the mountains to America, is still heard in the magnitude of trains passing through everyday.

Art: East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City limits, allow the “Art Scene” to thrive. Local establishments like The Willow Tree Café offer multiple venues for artist to sell work. Musicians can choose from a multitude of outlets for live shows. Stand-up comedians can discover open-mic nights at local joints such as The Hideaway.

Community: Johnson City offers a variety of communities. There are historical districts, downtown apartments and mountainside cabins all within driving distance of the hottest shopping and entertainment areas. Each of these communities offer a variety of lifestyles. The common thread one may discover is giving back. The more you are involved within the communities Johnson City the more those communities will help you.

History: The history of Johnson City is unique and interesting. The area became a train depot in the 1850s founded by Henry Johnson. The city grew becoming a major intersection for three states. The location and train depot helped grow Johnson City into a traveling hub for those heading west.

Later, George Carter donated 100 acres of land, to the state, helping to establish East Tennessee State Normal School in 1911. The school achieved university status in 1963, becoming ETSU. The school was apart of an effort establishing a state school in Tennessee’s three regions.

Memorial Hall (Brooks Gym) is home to ETSU’s Army ROTC program.

Al Capone, the famous gangster from Chicago, once called Johnson City his “second favorite city” giving it the nickname Little Chicago. Capone’s house is now an apartment complex. Located across the street from an Elementary school in the historic “Tree Streets” area.

Diversity:  There is diversity in the activities, food, music and people you will meet. Freiberg’s, a German restaurant, is located across the street from the Korean Taco House. Yee-haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop are right around the corner.

Music venues in JC cater to everything from live bands to DJs. Some play covers and others original music. Many musicians will blend their stage time with original music and covers. One can almost bet on hearing the song “Wagon Wheel” if a live band is playing.

Just Jump is a trampoline center where children and adults are welcome. There are over 100 miles of bicycle paths in and around the city. The Tweetsie Trail is over 10 miles alone and connects Johnson City with Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Kenneth Medley and Kaylani Ngirarois enjoy bike riding along the Tweetsie Trail.

Education: Education opportunities are available in Johnson City. There are multiple public and private options for lower education. Religious schools for youngsters are available as well.

ETSU is a 4-year state school. They have award-winning programs in pharmacy, video game design and others. The university has over 100 years of history in Johnson City. Other higher education centers in the area are King College, Milligan College and Northeast State Community College.

Growth: Without delving into statistics one can observe the growth of Johnson City. Over the last three years multiple business have opened. New apartment buildings, such as Monarch 851, have been and continue to be built. Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop and Trek Bicycle Store are but a few of many.