This article offers aims at analyzing the journalistic writings of Ambrose Bierce, an authorbest known for his fictional stories about the American Civil War, a conflict in which heserved as a young Union soldier. The detailed examination of these texts, produced in thelater stage of his life, will highlight the violence with which Bierce depicts the imperialistaspirations of his nation, at the dawn of the twentieth century, these direct attacksannouncing the wrath of the muckrakers and other future whistleblowers. The historicalcontext will first be underlined by focusing on Ambrose Bierce’s paradoxical relationship withhis employer, William Randolph Hearst, known for his active role in the rise of Americanimperialism. This will be followed by a detailed study of excerpts from the author’s columns,in order to show the various literary techniques that contributed to his reputation as a“shotgun satirist.” Finally, the analysis will examine the similarities and differences betweenBierce’s journalistic style and his fictional works, whether it be his “tall tales” or his storiesabout the Civil War.