Milwaukee Daily Press and News, April 21, 1861

The many rumors and contradictions of them just now received by telegraph are exceedingly annoying to the newspapers press throughout the country, even though it may be impossible to avoid them. We can scarcely determine to make a comment upon a rumor before it is contradicted, and when our despatch is closed for the night, we remain in an unsatisfactory position from the impression that the next day will probably contradict one half of all we have published.

South of Washington, the telegraph being in the hands of the secessionists, we cannot of course expect to hear any but their views on the matters that occur, and even the Washington despatches are very uncertain. The other evening we received what we supposed reliable reports that Harper's Ferry was taken, and in a very short time after, that all reports of its capture were untrue.

On Friday night we received a report that Jeff. Davis with his army was within twenty four hours' march of Washington, and in a few hours after we pen these lines (Saturday at noon) we may receive the news that the report was untrue. Nor can we now say what a twenty-four hours' march means.

In the olden time a march was what it purported to be, but now, with railroads and improved modes of conveyance, such information carries no definite idea of distance, and leaves us in a state of uncertainty as to where the enemy is supposed to be. We would suggest that those who collect the news for the telegraph, should try to make their accounts more definite, though they might thereby give us a less amount of matter to publish.

Dates, too, get very much mixed up, and we are often unable to locate incidents, on account of this uncertainty. He who collects the news for the telegraphic operators should be a man possessed of great coolness and discrimination, and one who would distinguish as far as possible, between confirmed news, and floating news.

We do not ask, or expect that all coming over the wires shall be correct, but we think, in these exciting times, it is due the public, that as great accuracy as possible should be aimed at.

Our paper is kept open to the latest hour to receive all the news, and we would be glad for the sake of our readers, that it were more reliable. Great interest is felt in this matter, and we therefore beg of those at the other ends of the lines will use every effort to give us what may, in the main, be relied on.