Benjamin C. Truman

Benjamin Cummings Truman, was an American journalist and author; in particular, he was a distinguished war correspondent during the American Civil War, and an authority on duels. Truman could also be described as a polymath, or at least peripatetic. Upon his death, the New York Times wrote, "He became, in his long career, a school principal, a feature writer, a proofreader, war correspondent, dramatic critic, composer of war songs, a playwright, confidential secretary to Andrew Johnson and an officer on his staff, a major in the army, a special agent of the Treasury Department, a paymaster In the army, a Washington correspondent, special agent for the Postoffice Department in charge of the Pacific Coast, an owner of five newspapers, a volunteer fireman, one of Southern California's publicists, a great traveler, a judge of good wines, an expert in food, a noted story teller, and a man of many friends."