<P> The original version of the song, first published in 1863, expressed people's longing for the return of their dear ones fighting in the American Civil War . </P> <P> Frederic Remington, an artist hired by Hearst to provide illustrations to accompany a series of articles on the Cuban Revolution, soon became bored with seemingly peaceful Cuba and wired Hearst in January 1897: </P> <P> "Everything is quiet . There is no trouble . There will be no war . I wish to return ." To which Hearst's alleged reply was: "Please remain . You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war ." </P> <P> In the days following the sinking of the USS Maine, Hearst ran a story with the heading "The War Ship Maine was Split in Two by an Enemy's Secret Infernal Machine". The story told how the Spanish had planted a torpedo beneath the USS Maine and detonated it from shore . Hearst soon followed this article with one containing diagrams and blueprints of the secret torpedoes used by Spain . Captain Sigsbee of the USS Maine put in a telegram to the Secretary of the Navy that judgment and opinion should be suspended until further report . At the Court of Naval Inquiry, Sigsbee maintained a mine was responsible for sinking his ship . The Court found the same, but was unable to find evidence to attribute the sinking to "any person or persons ." </P>

Who is considered one of the most influential war correspondents of the spanish-american war