m.: CL^7' M. >/-' © TH E Military Telegraph DTJBING THE CIVIL WAR IN THE UMTED STATES, AN EXPOSITION OP ANCIENT AND MODERN MEANS OP COMMUNICATION, AND OP THE FEDERAL AND CONFEDERATE CIPHER SYSTEMS; EuNNiNG Account of the War between the States. BY WILLIAM E. PLUM, LL. B., OF THE CHICAGO BAB. VOL. II. CHICAGO: JANSEN, McCLURG & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1883. COPYBIGHT, 1883, BY WILLIAM R. PLUM. o ^- n- ^ ILLUSTKATIONS OF VOLUME IL PORTRAITS. Gen. Thomas T. Eckert, Col. James R. Gilmore, Col. Wm. L. Gross, Caft. T. B. A. David, Col. Stafford G. Lynch, -Maj. George H. Smith, Capt. Samuel Bhuch, Paqb. frontispiece. 36 63 145 147 316 395 MISCELLANEOUS. Diagram of Beardslee's Magneto Instrument, Tecb Original Seven Sleepers, Fac Simile Cipher, Bruch's Monument, News of the Fall of Richmond Received, 90 323287 393 323 MAPS. 1. Showing Portions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware Virginia and West Virginia, 128-9 3. Showing Portions op Tennessee and Georgia, 174-5 3. Showing Richmond and Vicinity, - ¦ - 816-17 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Telegraph in the Gettysburg Campaign, ... 9 CHAPTER II. The Telegraph in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and along the Coast.— The Corps' Successes and Sacrifices, - - 25 CHAPTER III. The Telegraph in the Department of the Gulf. — Port Hudson, Red Riv er, and other Campaigns, - - - 37 CHAPTER IV. The Telegraph in the Departments of the Cumberland and Ohio. — Raids in Kentucky. — Ohio Invaded. — Middle and Eastern Tennessee Occu pied by Federals. ^Chickamauga. — Missionary Ridge. — Defense of Knoxville, - - 51 CHAPTER V. Telegraphic Affairs in West Tennessee in the Fall of 1863. — Nicholson's Death.— General Sherman's Escape.— Forrest's Raid.— Memphis.— Presentations, - - 79 CHAPTER VI. The Signal Corps and its Efforts to Control the Electric Field Tele graphs. — Stanton praises the United States Military Telegi-aph 86 CHAPTER VII. The Status of Federal and Confederate Operators and their Salaries, J06 CHAPTER VIII. The Telegraph in Eastern Virginia from July, 1863, to July, 1864.— Sav ed from Execution by Telegi'aphic Reprieves.— Movements of the Armies of the Potomac and James.— Wilderness.— Spottsylvania. — Cold Harbor. —Petersburg, - - 133 V. VI. contents. CHAPTER IX. The Telegraph in the Shenandoah Valley, West Virginia and the Dis trict. — Sigel Defeated. — Cloyd's Mountain.— Pennsylvania, Mary land and the District Invaded, - - - 143 CHAPTER X. The Telegraph in Kentucky and East Tennessee in 1864.— Perilous Op position to Enlistment of Negroes in Kentucky. — Morgan's Last Raid.— Stoneman's Successful Raid Owing Largely to the Operator with Him, - 154 CHAPTER XI. The Fort Donelson Line. — Beck with Dismissed for Obeying General Grant's Orders; is Reinstated.— Interference with Ciphers and Cipher Operators by Staff and Other Officers Forbidden.— Atlanta Cam- r paign Telegraphs.— Various Battles.— A Tej-rible Accident. — A i Strange but Providential Premonition. — Confederate Raid into East '• and Middle Tennessee.— Atlanta Taken, - - - - 166 CHAPTER XII. The Telegraph in the Department of the Tennessee (1864) and 6u]f, to September. — Sherman's Advance from Vicksburg. — A Perilous Ride on a Flat Car. — W. S. Smith's Raiding Failure. — Forrest's Successes and Defeat in West Tennessee and Kentucky. — Fort Pillow Mas sacre. — Capture and Remarkable Escape of an Operator. — Sturgis' and A. J. Smith's Raids. — An Operator Riddled with Buck-shot. — Forrest's Dash into Memphis; Captures an Operator; His Experi ence. — Vicksburg Matters. — Grierson's Raid. — Capture of Forts in Mobile Bay, - 188 CHAPTER XIII. The Telegraph in Arkansas and Missouri During the Last Half of 1864. — Price's Invasion of Missouri. — Various' Battles and Incidents. — Major Smith Resigns in Favor of Cajptain Clowry. — A Summary of the Ser vice, - - - - 213 CHAPTER XIV. The Telegraph in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. — Forrest Captures Troops and Operators at Athens. — His Raid in Tennessee. — Opera tors' Experience about Athens. — Experiences in Cahaba Prison. — . Johnson ville Burned. — Hood's Army on Sherman's Railroad. — How Allatoona was Saved. — Manager of Atlanta Office Arrested. — Sher- ' man Starts for the Sea. — Franklin. — Operators Captured ; their Es cape. ^Hood's Waterloo, - - contents. vii. CHAPTER XV. Sherman's March- to the Sea.— Atlanta in Ruins. — A Great Picnic— Tap ping the Enemy's Wires.— A View within the Confederate Lines. — Storming Fort McAllister.— Interesting Incidents. — Savannah Tak en — Telegraphic Connections, 341 CHAPTER XVI. The Telegraph in the Siege of Petersburg. — The Mine Explosion. — Ope rators Court-Martialed ; not Guilty. — Dangers of the Service. — Ad vances Toward Richmond Checked. — Narrow Escape at Reams Sta tion. — A Military Railroad. — Grant's Wires Tapped ; Important Results. — Hatcher's Run Fight. — West Virginia Affairs. — Numerous Telegraphic Incidents. — The Rebels Out-witted — Shenandoah Opera tions under Sheridan. — A Great Victory. — Operator McCrickett and Others Killed. — Operations in North Carolina. — Fort Fisher. — Sher man's Advance from Savannah. — Incidents of the March. — Slierman . at Goldsboro, ~ 357 CHAPTER XVII. The Telegraph in the Departments of the Great South- West. — Stone- man's Raid. — Rebel Wires Tapped. — Confederates Disheartened. — Guerrillas. — Wilson's Raid. — Selma, Montgomery and Macon Cap tured. — Sherman Orders Wilson by Confederate Wires. — Telegraph Cashier Robbed and Nearly Murdered in Missouri. — RhumJ of Af fairs in Missouri. — Captain Bruch's Death. — Monument. — Cable Line from New Orleans to Mobile Bay. — Operations Against Mobile. — Its Capture. — The Bay Cleared of Torpedoes by the Corps. — The Ram "Webb" Nearly Escapes to the Sea. — A Telegraph from Federal to Confederate Headquarters. — Terrible Accident. — A Venturesome Ride ; Narrow Escape. — Death of an Operator. — Some Serious Jokes.— The War Closed in the South- West, 280 CHAPTER XVIII. The Telegraph in Virginia During the Last Campaign. — Grant's Anxi ety. — Five Forks. — General Assault. — Exposure of Operators. — Lin coln and Davis Hear tlie News of Victory and Defeat. — Petersburg and Richmond Evacuated. — Lincoln Visits Petersburg. — How the News of the Capture of Richmond was Sent and Received. — Lincoln in Richmond. — An Operator Receives Applause Intended for Grant. — The Pursuit of Lee. — Sailors' Creek. — ^Farmville. — Appomattox. — How the News of the Surrender of Lee's Army was Sent and Re ceived. — The News of Lincoln's Assassination. — Capture of the Assassin. — Lincoln's Stories. — Johnston's Surrender. — Recapitula tion of the Service of the Telegraph, 314 vm. contents. CHAPTER XIX. Reconstruction. — The Corps Disbanded. — Its Officers Promoted. — Lines Turned Over to Private Companies. — Recapitulatory Statements. — Official Presentation to Ten Members of the Corps. — Death of Two Members. — A Pew Appreciatory Letters and Other Evidences of the Value of the Corps. — Canadian Operators. — Finale, - - 389 APPENDIX. Annual Reports of Anson Stager, Chief of Military Telegraph, to the Quarter - Master General, - - • 359 Roll of the United States Military Telegraph Operators, - - 376 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DTJHIITG THE Civil Wae m the United States. CHAPTER I. THE TELEGRAPH IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. The terrible failures at Fredericks,burg and Chancellorsville would have destroyed the morale of troops less devotedly patri otic than were those of the Army of the Potomac. Nothing short of deep convictions as to the justness of the Federal cause; of intense determination to maintain it, cost what it might; of an abiding faith that in the end the right would prevail; of the proud martial spirit of its rank and file, and of the unflagging belief that the powers of the Governments, National and State, were being steadily and energetically exercised to support and strengthen this great army, could have saved it after its losses in many struggles, seemingly fruitless, except in wounds and deaths, from disintegration and utter ruin. Across the Eappa- hannock lay a hostile army, emboldened and elated by success until it thought itself invincible. Large reinforcements were crowding to it, including especially Longstreet's forces from near Suffolk, Virginia. Supplies were abundant, genial weather at hand and a promise of a campaign of invasion of the enemy's country — a project always dear to the confident warrior — these things and a belief that can not be denied most of them, that theirs was a just cause, made Lee's soldiers an army of astonish ing power. More than Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the District, more than the States it might hope to traverse, it threatened even the autonomy of the Union, as never before. 10 the militaey telegraph during the The rebellion was working up its flood tide, and that we may understandingly observe the dangerous sweep of the forces that, passing through mountain defiles, down the Shenandoah, across the Potomac and to the west of South Mountains, through Ma ryland, to Chambersburg, Carlisle and York, were destined to concentrate and break in shattered, shivering masses against the rock-ribbed defenses and iron-willed defenders of Gettysburg, let us pause to note some of the interesting details leading up to the climax. The Confederate chieftain had to watch the movements of the Federals operating from four centers. To the north lay General Schenck's "Middle" Department. His force was mainly at Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg and Winchester, in all, say, eighteen thousand effectives. To the north-east was Heint- zelman's Department of Washington, in which were thirty-six thousand troops. Across the river, in Lee's front, was Hooker's army, numbering, on the 10th of June, seventy-eight thousand, two hundred and -fifty-five men; and south-east was the Depart ment of Virginia and North Carolina, the main force, viz., four teen thousand men, being with General Peck at Suffolk, Virginia. Lee had no telegraphic communication north of Culpeper, and little need of any, prior to his advance. But the Federal telegraphic system, as heretofore, included all of their positions above indicated, and also, at times, as far out on the Orange & Alexandria road as Bealeton. Rumors of Lee's intended movements were rife; they were even published in Confederate papers, just as those of Sherman's march from Atlanta were freely circulated in that city and pub lished in Federal papers prior to its beginning. The very pub licity of both seems to have induced disbelief as to the truthful ness of the reports. On the 2d of June, Peck telegraphed Dix, Dix, Halleck, and Halleck, Hooker, that " citizens and soldiers " about Richmond "talked of Lee's moving into Maryland with eighty-five thousand men; " but on the fourth General John Bu- ford, in immediate command of three divisions of cavalry and ten pieces of artillery, along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, wired Hooker via the War Department that the country as far up as Thoroughfare Gap was visited on the third, and nothing was seen or heard of the enemy. CIVIL WAR IN the UNITED STATES. 11 The line from Bealeton to Falmouth had been abandoned some time before and the Bealeton and Warrenton Junction offices closed, but now that indications pointed to activity on the part of Lee's command, the cavalry was made to watch the fords more closely, and the wire was rebuilt to advance cavalry head quarters. Operators J. H. Emerick and J. D. Tinney were on the third sent from the War Department with cipher despatches, to await, at the Junction, the arrival of Buford, who was out on a raid. By the seventh, the line was rebuilt to Bealeton, and Emerick was sent there at midnight, under escort, to open the oflSce. The next day he was assisted by J. D. Flynn, from Union Mills office. Preparations were soon completed for a cavalry movement under General Pleasanton, in full force, across the river, to be supported by three thousand infantry, with the view of striking Stuart, who was meditating a blow at the Orange & Alexandria and Baltimore & Ohio railroads, in aid of Lee's operations. On the ninth, a severe engagement was fought, lasting, says Pleas anton, fourteen hours, and resulting in delaying the intended raid. From Rappahannock Station, Pleasanton telegraphed Hooker authentic and highly important information of the con centration of large bodies of infantry and cavalry about Cul peper. Operator Emerick wrote in his diary, " Plenty of cipher work; wounded being brought here rapidly, many of them with saber wounds, which prove the nature of the engagement." Mr. Doren's building party began, on the eleventh, to restore the line from Falmouth to Bealeton, and Hooker commenced moving forces to checkmate Lee's undeveloped purposes. A loop was built from Warrenton Junction to Pleasanton's head quarters near by, on the twelfth, and Joe S. Kirby, an operator, was detailed from a cavalry regiment to assist there. By the fourteenth, it was clearly ascertained that Lee was indeed mov ing north with a view, it was believed, of entering Maryland and perhaps Pennsylvania. On the thirteenth, the evacuation of Falmouth and vicinity began; the great army by many routes was in motion. Opera tor L. A. Rose was the last to close office at the front and took the last train for Acquia Creek and Alexandria. Operators S. H. Edwards and E. A. Hall, with General Sigel at Stafford 12 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Court House, where they had delighted in Hope Landing baked shad, stuffed with beans, were ordered to General Meade's head quarters, to reach which they had to ride through the Eleventh Corps. While they were passing, the soldiers started the rhyme: Let the telegraphers through ; They'll get us into a fight, And out of it, too. . The army was now fairly en route, no one knew just whither. A. H. Caldwell and J. B. Pierce were with Hooker; C. C. Mc- Connell and F. N. Benson were with one of the corps; E- A. Hall with Howard, S. H. Edwards with Hancock, and A. H. Bliss, R. H. Ryan, T. H. Fonda, H. W. Cowan, J. D. Tinney, J. H. Glazier, R. F. Weitbrecht, L. A. Rose and F. T. Bickford either accompanied corps head-quarters or reached their respect ive stations via Washington and Poolesville in apt time. David E. Rand, who had served with his cavalry regiment since Octo ber, 1861, and participated in the battles of Front Royal, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run and ChantiUy, and was captured near Philmont, Virginia, and sent to Libby, being exchanged, was detailed in June and ordered to relieve operator Bliss at General Abercrombie's head-quarters at Centreville. While there, the northward movement of the army caught him and he, by direction, joined General John Newton's division of the Sec ond Army Corps, followed it to Poolesville and Frederick City, from which latter point he was sent to Baltimore and thence to Fort Stevens, one of the defenses of the capital. G. W. Bald win and J. W. Sampson were at this time operating at General Schenck's head-quarters, in Baltimore ; C. W. Moore and S. K. Rupley, at Harpers Ferry, Va. ; R. R. McCaine, at Winchester, Va. ; Chas. C. Ways, at Martinshurg, Va. ; D. C. Aughinbauo-h, at Hagerstown, Md, besides whom there were sixty-six other operators variously stationed throughout the department. Em erick with Pleasanton started on the seventeenth, indirectly for Aldie, making a ride of about sixty miles. On the twentieth, being hopelessly distant from any telegraph, he returned to the War Department, where he reported late operations of the cavalry against the enemy, and was complimented by Major Eckert for the performance of recent services which were very CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 13 trying — so much so that Emerick was prostrated for about three weeks. The enemy very suddenly appeared about Winchester, in the valley, where Milroy was in command of about seven thousand five hundred men. While strong indications pointed to a general movement of the enemy down the Shenandoah, it was quite un certain, until Milroy (who, it seems, was not well advised by his superiors in command) felt the pressure of the Confederates as early as the twelfth, but from disbelief remained until hemmed in. On the night of the thirteenth, the telegraph was cut, and nothing more was known of Milroy until a part of his force having, after a severe fight, cut their way out of the rebel envi ronment, reached the Potomac on the fifteenth. The loss of com munication with Winchester and Martinsburg — for that line also went down at seven, p. m., of the fourteenth, while the operator was reporting the progress of an attack upon that place — was severely felt by General Hooker and the authorities at Baltimore and Washington. All plans were entangled by an "if." " If," says the President to Hooker, by wire, " the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg, and the tail of it on the plank road between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, the animal must be very slim someAvhere. Could you not break him ? " "To proceed," replied Hooker, "to Winchester, and have him make his appearance elsewhere, would subject me to ridicule." However, by the evening of the fifteenth, positive evidence was at hand that the enemy was moving toward the Potomac. The Martinsburg garrison having reached Harpers Ferry, the force there was swelled to about eleven thousand men. Except the railroad line, the only wire intact from the Ferry ran direct to the war office. The troops evacuated the town and took posi tion across the river, on Maryland Heights. The pontoon was taken up and the planking on the railroad bridge removed. Operator Moore and two mounted orderlies alone held the post. Major Eckert had ordered Moore to remain as long as the line was " O. K." This he did until about eleven, p. m., of the. six teenth, when General Tyler, commanding on the Heights, sent over an orderly with the countersign and a note, asking "what the devil," he, Moore, "wanted in Harpers Ferry after all the troops had left ? " and directing him to report at head-quarters 14 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE immediately. On hearing this, Eckert, at one, A. m., allowed Moore to go. His little party forded the river safely, and an hour later the enemy were in the town. Some hours before this, however. General Jenkins' Confederate cavalry had dashed into Chambersburg, Pa. The Government was now thoroughly aroused. The pros pects were gloomy enough. Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Balti more and Washington were especially threatened. Throughout the North, crowds hung about the bulletin boards and telegraph offices, eagerly devouring the latest news. The President tele graphed the Governor of Maryland for ten thousand troops, Pennsylvania for fifty thousand. New York for twenty thousand, Ohio for thirty thousand, and West Virginia for ten thousand. These calls were again telegraphed to every city and town in those States, by their respective Governors. The telegraph was busy everywhere. Business was regulated by the ebb and flow of the Union fortunes. Newspapers in those days were very largely composed of telegrams and telegraphic correspondence, but at this time when every hour was pregnant with great events, only government messages had the right of wire. In the express ive language of operators, the lines were kept "red-hot" with military despatches. Death messages were rushed through, not to say smuggled, whenever possible, but ordinary business and reports for the press were delayed hours after the contending armies were silent in sleep. Offers to bribe operators to prefer one press report over another were not unknown. The news paper rivalry became very great. This was natural, as every hour brought news more dire than the preceding, and millions of men and women were seeldng to tillay their fears by tele graphic reports. A portion of Hooker's army crossed the Potomac on the 26th of June.- About the twenty-fourth, the Second Corps, en camped in the vicinity of Thoroughfare Gap, was ordered for ward. Its commander. General Hancock, having been in tele graphic communication with an officer (probably Hooker), at Gainsville, and having said good-bye at its close, the Gainsville operator, to complete the circuit with Washington, connected his ground wire with the main line, as Thoroughfare Gap office was then to be abandoned ; but after riding a short distance. CIVIL WAR m THE UNITED STATES. 15 Hancock recalled an important matter which he had foi'gotten, and asked Edwards, his operator, if he could raise Gainsville office again. Edwards replied that if the ground connection was imperfect, he might succeed, but the chances were against it, and, moreover, he did hot like the looks of the "Johnnies " in the woods beyond. Hancock directed him to go and do what he could, adding, "My men will cover you." It was arranged that, if Edwards succeeded, he was to raise his hat as a signal, when a force was to be sent to get the line in a proper place for the General. But Edwards was unsuccessful, and as he was climbing a hill on his return, the Confederates opened fire on him, which was promptly and vigorously returned by Union troops. " I never felt so grateful in my life," writes Ed wards, "as I did then to General Hancock, for shielding me. The tears came. I could not stop them, and when the General said ' You 've got lots of grit, for a civilian,' I felt more thank ful than before." The position of the seven army corps, respectively, and of the cavalry forces, was frequently despatched to the War Depart ment telegi'aph office, where Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Stanton and Gen eral Halleck spent much of their time. Cipher operator, A. B. Chandler, in the War Department, observed, during this move ment, that Mr. Lincoln was especially anxious to keep himself informed of the position of the Fifth Corps, then commanded by General Meade. Hooker's telegrams were unsatisfactory to the Government during this march of his army. He complained of lack of men and means, and on the 2'rth of June, sent Hal leck a telegram, saying that his original instructions required him to cover Harpers Ferry and Washington ; that he had then imposed upon him, in addition, an enemy in his front, of more than his number ; begged to be understood that he could not comply with such conditions with the means at his disposal, and requested to be relifeved from the position he then occupied. Whether he intended to ask to be relieved from command, or from the treble task he said was imposed upon him, was not per fectly clear, but assuming the former, the Government relieved him by placing General Meade in his stead. Meade immediately telegraphed from Frederick, in brave and soldierly, yet modest language his acceptance. While Chandler was translating this 16 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE cipher message, the President was looking over his shoulder, watching with great interest the words as Chandler deciphered them, and seemed to feel great relief when he knew that Meade was in command. Relieving a commander of a large army while an important battle was impending, has been spoken of by able officers as extremely dangerous in practice, if not historic ally unprecedented; but McClellan was superseded by Burnside on what was thought to be the eve of battle, as the former ex pected to move on the enemy at Culpeper near by. However, in these days of railroads and telegraphs, precedents have to give way to many innovations. ' The wires converging towards Meade's head-quarters in Ma ryland, in June, were, from Washington via Poolesville to Point of Rocks, Maryland, Point of Rocks to Frederick City, and thence three miles to the toll-gate. Other lines followed the route of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Frederick City and more yet on the main line of the Northern Central road to Han over Junction and Harrisburg. From the Junction the line originally connected Gettysburg via Hanover, but the rebels de stroyed that for many miles. From Poolesville a line was con structed to Leesburg, Virginia, and from Point of Rocks to Harpers Ferry. On the 28th of June, General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the bulk of the Confederate cavalry, crossed the Potomac and sweeping north to the right of Meade and by way of Westminster, succeeded, after dark, in severing all of the telegraphs by which Meade could speedily communicate with General French; then commanding at Harpers Ferry, Schenck, at Baltimore, Couch, who commanded a new department with head-quarters at Harrisburg, and the authorities in Washington. For several days, Meade's telegrams were forwarded to the near est office by couriers, one of whom was killed June 30, near Glen Rock, while bearing a long cipher despatch, detailino- Meade's plans and operations. Arrangements were also made to run an express train every three hours to Westminster with despatches for Frederick City, But Meade and the authorities in Pennsylvania, impatient at these necessary delays, sought to re-establish the wires. In a general order of June 30, Meade directed that " a telegraph corps * work east from Hanover, re pairing, and all commanders * work repairing the line in their vi- CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 17 cinity between Gettysburg and Hanover." About the same time, L. D. McCandless, of the Telegraph Corps, left Frederick for Hanover Junction, to work west with his builders, but the redoubtable Colonel Thomas A. Scott, assisted considerably by General Haupt, both eminent railroad officials, succeeded in re storing the line to Hanover in time for Meade's use at the close of the battle, if not earlier. On the fii'st day of July, Meade's head-quarters being about Taneytown, he received from Generals Couch and Schenck his first information that Lee's army was not marching for the Sus quehanna, but was likely to concentrate at Gettysburg. One of these despatches was received at Frederick City over the newly repaired line to Baltimore at one o'clock on the morning of the first, and given to operators Ten Eyck H. Fonda and L. A. Rose, with instructions to carry it to General Meade as rapidly as possible. These young men perfoimed their task so faith fully that on their return they were complimented by the Secre tary of War. Over roads unknown to them, from one o'clock A.M., until five fifteen, they dashed at the rate of eight miles an hour until they found_ the General, to whom they delivered the message. Major Eckert, in an annual report, says: At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Army of the Potomac, under command of Major General Meade, was in the vicinity of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Telegraph wire, instruments, material, etc., together with a full force of builders and operators, were on hand with the army, but the Commanding General did not think it expedient to have telegraph lines established to the army. Com- jnunication was kept up, however, by means of a line of couriers from Frederick City, Maryland, and from Hanover, Pennsylvania, to both of which points we telegraphed directly from the War De partment. While Meade was at Taneytown, thirteen miles distant, con templating the line of Pipe Creek, where he proposed to receive the enemy, the battle of Gettysburg, about ten a. m., of the first, unknown and unanticipated by either commanding gene ral, was ushered in. Precious time, involving precious lives, and the demoralization of two corps of the Federal army, was passing, while Meade was being informed by courier of the thrilling events transpiring beyond his power of direction, and 2 18 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE incalculably momento.us to his army, the Government, the Union, the world. When the battle began, Meade's army was located about as follows: the Third Corps at Emmitsburg, the Sixth at Manchester, the Second at Taneytown, the Twelfth at Two Taverns, the Fifth at Hanover, the First and Eleventh at Gettysburg, with a portion of the cavalry. Too much credit can not be awarded Meade and his corps commanders for their diligence in concentrating at Gettysburg, when that new line of defense was determined upon. For three days, these great ar mies, nearly equally matched, for they had respectively some thing over seventy thousand men, strove to destroy each other. Whichever forced the fighting was doomed already. In the ^providence of God, the Confederates took the offensive on the first and continued it throughout. The night of the first, Bu- ford's cavalry, which had made itself immortal, the gallant First Corps and the unfortunate Eleventh, rallied on Cemetery Hill, back of Gettysburg, whither they had been driven in confusion by the advance of the enemy. The meagre tidings of this day's encounter that reached the tempest-tossed North were eagerly devoured by a news-famishing people, whose appetite it but whetted, even as the salt draught from the ocean increases the thirst of the ship-wrecked mariner. The second day came, and ere its sun set behind the distant hills, the victims of another day's dreadful conflict lay motionless or helpless on the sod where they had valorously dared, and yet the result was in the balance. All night long the nearest tele graph offices are busied with orders, private messages and cor respondence. Operators of the various companies in the land are alert to catch each passing report. "Any news? " ask the distant points along the Pacific coast, while yet the conflict rages. "Any news? " asks the sympathetic Canadian, while yet the sun is high. "Give us news; we must have news," say New York, Pittsburgh and Washington. "Tell us of the hour; is our city safe ? " demand those of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, which is re-echoed from Baltimore. Henceforth, until the end comes business must suspend. Mothers, whose sons are there; wives whose husbands are there; sisters, whose brothers are there- maidens, whose hearts are there, and the patriot, whose hopes center there; all, all join in beseeching God to be there also; to CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 19 grant a glorious victory and save those . nearest and dearest. " No news is bad news " the saying goes, and as the second day's battle did not fairly begin until four p. M., many were the down cast looks of those who believed the War Department was with holding evil tidings. At eleven p. m. , General Meade wrote the following telegram for General Halleck, but for some reason it did not reach Washington until 6:16 p. M. of the third: The enemy attacked me about four, p. m., this day, and after one of the severest contests of the war, was repulsed at all points. We have suffered considerably in killed and wounded. Among the former is Brigadier General Paul Zook, and among the wounded. Generals Sickles, Barlow, Graham, and Warren slightly. We have taken a large number of prisoners. I shall remain in my present position to-morrow, but am not prepared to say, until better advised of the condition of the army, whether my operations will be of an offensive or defensive character. Brave Paul Zook ! He was an old-time telegrapher, having learned the art at a time when telegraph magnets weighed one hundred pounds instead of about one pound, as now made, and the comprehension of electrical matters compared with the pres ent was about an inverse ratio to the weight of metal used. Zook was in that part of the conflict which Swinton, in his " The Twelve Decisive Battles of the War," speaks of as "where hot battle boiled and bubbled as though it were some great hell-caul dron." The third came, bringing new hopes and fears, responsibilities and dangers — bringing on afresh the great battle which was ushered in by the use, some say, of more cannon than had ever before been employed in any single battle. With the repulse of the brave eighteen thousand, massed for the charge to break the Union lines, the star of the Confederacy began to wane. Happy North ! Independence day brought news of a great vic tory. It was, indeed, a glorious Fourth. Bonfires, the ringing' of bells, fireworks, all betokened it. In one short day the news traveled across the continent and made glad all the people in the settled districts north of the Confederacy. On that day, also. General Pemberton surrendered his army and Vicksburg to General Grant. As the news from Vicksburg was received at 20 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Memphis, the tidings from Gettysburg went down from Cairo. Passing onward by despatch boat to Cairo, the news of Grant's remarkable achievements flashed to the East by the way of Cin cinnati, to the North from Chicago, and to the West from St. Louis, and officially to all points from Washington, turning the people from joj'^ to wild delight, from gladness to grateful thanks giving. The ai'mies of the Potomac and Tennessee had broken the clouds that hung like a pall over the Union, and the telegraph in the hands of several thousand operators had spread the great news so quietlj"^ and unostentatiously that the people thought not of its wonderful workings, nor of tlie patient endurance of its operatives, nor, in their excess of zeal to spread the great news, did the commercial telegraphers themselves then, nor have tliey since, thought of any other recompense or reward, than the consciousness of having unburdened many a heaAy heart and relieved many a doubt-sick soul. At the head of the Government, however, was an appreciative soul, over-burdened with solicitude. Speaking of him and pass ing events, Mr. Chandler, before quoted, said : I shall never forget the painful anxiety of those few days when the fate of the nation seemed to hang in the balance ; nor the rest less solicitude of Mr. Lincoln, as he paced up and down the room, reading despatches, soliloquizing and often stopping to trace the map which hung on the wall ; nor the relief we all felt when the fact was established that victory, though gained at such fearful cost, was, indeed, on the side of the Union. Of the losses in the three days fighting. General Meade reported 2,834 killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing— 23,- 186 in all, on the Union side ; and a careful estimate of the Con federates, places them at 5,500 killed, 27,500 wounded, and sev eral thousand prisoners, aggregating according to yet another estimate a loss of 36,000 men — a total loss to the two armies of nearly as many men as were engaged in reforming governments of Europe at the battle of Waterloo. Immediately after the battle, operators Edwards and E. A. Hall were sent to Hanover, Pa. , seventeen miles nortli of Gettys burg, to open an office on the line belonging to the railroad company, which was run into General Schenck's head-quai-ters CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 21 office, at Baltimore, from whence it connected with the War De partment. The operators arrived about five, a.m., of the fourth, and, finding the doors of the station fastened by great padlocks, they broke open the window with stones and clambered in. While in the act of connecting their instrument, the Superintendent of the road, Mr. Eichelbergher, came running to the depot with fifteen or twenty men, and demanded of the operators, in a loud voice, " By what authority do you break into this depot? " Ed wards presented a blank U. S. M. T. envelope, as being the best evidence he had of his authority, but that proved enough. As the Confederate States troops had torn down the line running thence to Gettysburg, strenuous efforts were made to rebuild it, which was first done temporarily — the repairers using for the purpose scraps of stove-pipe and odd pieces of wire. These were fastened to the necks of old bottles that were placed in the crotches of trees, where they held and insulated the line. Edwards started from Hanover with the builders, but on reaching a small stream near Gettysburgh, where a bridge had been burned, it was found that the wire had shrunk so that the two ends could not be brought together. In hunting about, Edwards discovered in the stream some old soda bottles and an iron rail. The latter was propped up so as to rest on the bottles, and the ends of the line connected with those of the rail. Thus was communication first established between Gettysburg and the North, after being cut by Stuart. Several operators remained at Gettysburg some time, receiving and transmitting a great number of messages to and from the wounded in hospitals there. On the morning of the fifth, as it was evident that Lee was retreating, the Sixth Corps began the pursuit, followed the next day by the army to Middletown, where it lost a day awaiting supplies, and then crossing South Mountain and moving via Boonsboro, it met the enemy in strong position on the twelfth, when a council of war was held at Meadew head-quarters, where it Avas voted not to immediately attack Lee's forces which had been unable to cross the Potomac, owing to recent rains and the destruction of pontoons. As Meade's army moved from Frederick toward Hagers town and Williamsport, the telegraph was promptly extended to the head-quarters of the General and the Corps Commanders. 22 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE These lines were worked continually until after the rebel army had evacuated Williamsport, when the main force of Meade's army moved to Pleasant Valley, Md., the head-quarters of the General being established at Knoxville. Lines were then built to the army, connecting with the Harpers Ferry wire. General French, having evacuated Maryland Heights, was at Frederick City during the battle of Gettysbm'g, which being decided. Gen eral Kenley's command repossessed Harpers Ferry,, driving out a few rebels. Operator Moore crossed in the fourth boat, and re-established communication with Washington. While the battle of Gettysburg was in progress, the President was deeply impressed with the incalculable importance of destroy ing Lee's army before il could recross the Potomac, and felt the utmost confidence in the ability of Meade's army to accomplish it. On the 8th of July, General Halleck telegraphed Meade : There is reliable information that the enemy is crossing at Williamsport. The opportunity to attack his divided forces should not be lost. The President is urgent and anxious that your army should move against him by forced marches. Meade replied, giving the position and condition of affairs from his standpoint, adding assurances that he would do his utmost to push forward his army, and stating that his informa tion as to the crossing of the enemy did not agree with Halleck's. On the twelfth, Meade telegraphed the position of his own army and that of the enemy as near as he could ascertain, and said, "It is my intention to attack them to-morrow unless some thing intervenes to prevent it." The President was becoming exceedingly anxious lest the enemy escape without further pun ishment, and upon the receipt of the above message in the De partment telegraph office, where he spent so many of his anxious hours, the President called cipher operator Chandler to a map on which he traced the various positions occupied by portions of each of the armies; expressed the greatest astonishment that an attack had not been made before; said it seemed to him the reb els were being driven across instead of being prevented from crossing, and as he walked across the floor said bitterly, "Thev will be ready to fight a magnificent battle when the enemy are all over the river and there is nobody left to fight. " CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 23 His fears proved well grounded. Meade called a council of war, as stated, and the next day telegraphed that "five out of six " corps commanders "were unqualifiedly opposed " to attack ing the enemy to-day, and consequently Meade did not feel au thorized to attack until after he had made a more careful exami nation of the enemy's position, strength and defensive works. Halleck replied at 9:20 p. m., of the same day (thirteenth): You are strong enough to defeat the enemy before he can effect a crossing. Act upon your own judgment; make your generals execute your orders; call no council of war. It is proverbial that councils of war never fight. Reinforcements are pushed on as rap idly as possible. Don't let the enemy escape. Next morning it was discovered that Lee had indeed successfully crossed the river with almost his entire army. Halleck promptly telegraphed the President's disappointment as follows: I need hardly say to you that the escape of Lee's army without another battle has created great dissatisfaction in the mind of the President, and it will require an active and energetic pursuit on your part to remove the impression that it has not been sufficiently active heretofore. In consequence of the foregoing expression, Meade immediately asked to be relieved, but his request was not granted. On the fifteenth, the President, in reply to a message from the Hon. Si mon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, said: I would give much to be relieved of the impression that Meade, Couch, Smith and all, since the battle of Gettysburg, have striven only to get the enemy over the river without another fight. Please tell me if you know who was the one corps commander who was for fighting in the council of war on Sunday night. Meanwhile, as soon as Lee's movement into Pennsylvania had become certain. General Dix, in command at Fortress Mon roe, organized a movement for the capture of Richmond, which was undertaken, but proved abortive. In his report, ending June 30, 1863, Major Eckert said : It has been my duty to superintend the construction, equipment, operation and management of the Military Telegraph in my depart ment, and to such purpose I have devoted my undivided energy 24 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE and attention. It is a matter of congratulation to me, and I trust to the Government, that from the uniform interest manifested by the telegraph employes in their several vocations, and the willing ness on their part to undergo privation and hardship that the wel fare of the Government and its cause might be served, but little delay in the construction of new military lines, when required, has occurred, and but slight interruption has occasionally existed to the daily operation of the several lines in the department. The gene ral service which the telegraph performs is especially important to the Government and imperative in its character. The successful operation of army movements often depending upon the reliability and promptness of the telegraph and its operators. The amount of Government business transmitted over the military wires has been enormously large, and in its general purport, of the most vi tal natnre. It is a matter of gratification to me and a merited com pliment to my subordinates, to be assured that this vast amount of important labor has been performed to the satisfaction of the hon orable Secretary of War and his department. CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 25 CHAPTER II. THE TELEGRAPH IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, AND ALONG THE COAST.— THE CORPS' SUC CESSES AND SACRIFICES. Thus far we have at best merely alluded to operations against the Confederate seaboard defenses. It is time to make amends, that continuity may not be greatly wanting. As heretofore shown. Forts Hatteras and Clark, Confederate defenses of Hatteras Inlet to Pamlico Sound, were taken in the summer of 1861. Mention has also been made of the capture in February, 1862, of the forts on Roanoke Island, which were in tended to protect Pamlico and Croatan sounds from Union ves sels. General Burnside reported " that a combined attack upon this island was commenced on the morning of the seventh by the naval and military forces of this expedition, Avhich has resulted in the capture of six forts, forty guns, over two thousand pris oners and upward of three thousand small arms." Operators Jules F. Guthridge, George W. Norton and John B. Stough accompanied this expedition, taking telegraphic mate rial for the erection of military lines. Only five miles, however, were constructed, and that was upon Roanoke Island, where the operators remained until Burnside embarked for Fortress Mon roe, whence he went to Fredericksburg, to Pope's relief. We have also shown the capture and occupation of Newberne, Morehead City, Beaufort, Washington, Plymouth and Elizabeth City, N. C, and Norfolk and Suffolk, Va. October 29, 1861, a grand naval and military expedition, con sisting of seventy-seven vessels of all classes, under Commo dore DuPont, and twenty thousand men, under General Thomas W. Sherman, sailed from Fort Monroe, to operate against de fenses constructed along the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts. Weathering a terrible gale, most of the vessels were able to reach their destination off Port Royal, S. C. , situate between Savannah, Ga. , and Charleston, S. C. , and about fifty miles from 26 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE the latter. The principal out-lying islands, which serve as de fenses against the sea between Savannah and Charleston, are Cockspur, on which was Fort Pulaski, forty-seven guns, at the mouth of the Savannah River, and commanding its main en trance, and northwardly, in this order, lie Tybee, Hilton Head, St. Helena, Edisto, Kiawah, Folly and Morris. Port Royal Inlet, between Hilton Head and Phillips and St. Helena, opens the interior by many water routes, one of which leads to Savan nah, twenty-two miles distant. Forts Walker, twenty-three guns, on Hilton Head, and Beauregard, twenty guns, on Phillips, and their out- works, constituted the defenses of the Port Royal Channel. November the seventh. Commodore DuPont's fleet of war vessels circled between Forts Walker and Beauregard, subject ing them and Confederate ships of war to a furious cannonade, driving off the latter and capturing the forts. The northern most point of Tybee Island is sixteen hundred yards from Fort Pulaski. DuPont and Gilmore next turned their attention to Pulaski, operating from Tybee. While Gilmore was arranging his land siege guns, DuPont and Sherman possessed themselves of the Florida coast as far as St. Augustine. April 11, 1863, Pulaski was forced to surrender after sustaining a galling fire from siege guns and war vessels for two days. May 20, the Bay of Stono River was entered by Union gunboats, and Confederate works desDroyed. This gave the Federals Kiawah and Folly Islands. North Edisto, to the south of Kiawah and north of St. Helena, had not been seriously defended, and was possessed in February. The lower end of Morris Island was occupied July 10, 1863, after a splendid attack by the combined land and naval forces upon the Confederate works commanding Lighthouse In let, between Morris and Folly Islands. At the upper end of Morris, near Cummings' Point, which is sixteen hundred yards from Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, the Confederates had strong earth-works, called Batteries Gregg and Wagner. These islands and other minor ones were famous for the production of "Sea Island Cotton," and under Federal encouragement were populated and cultivated by runaway slaves and stay-at-home negroes ; for the owners of island plantations left them entirely on the approach of the "Yankees." Thus the blockade was CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 27 rendered quite effectual ; safe anchorage obtained for Union vessels in distress ; and permanent lodgments effected on the soil of these States. It will surprise most readers to learn that these outer islands were connected by a land and submarine telegraph, the southern most end of which was on Tybee Island, and the northern at Battery Gregg on Morris. It was not until after two sanguinary and heroic assaults upon Wagner had failed, and after months of costly, laborious and dangerous service in preparation for a third one, that early in September, 1863, the works were occu pied, unopposed ; the enemy having evacuated the night previ ous. Lemuel F. Sheldon and his brother George D. entered the United States telegraph service about the same time (early in 1862), the former at Fortress Monroe, and the latter at Wheeling, .W. Va., afterwards at Martinsburg and General Schenck's head quarters, from which he drifted also to the Fortress, where he became chief operator upon his brother's appointment as assist ant to Major Eckert, without rank. Lemuel thereupon proceeded to his new field, reporting to Commodore DuPont and General Sherman in the Department of the Souths which and North Car olina were in Eckert's field. In January, 1863, James R. Gilmore, whose term of enlist ment in a volunteer regiment had expired, re-entered the tele graph service at Hagerstown, on special duty, but was soon sent to Fort Monroe. It will be remembered that Gilmore succeeded David Strouse, the first Superintendent in the East, and was himself superseded by Captain Stager. After about three months employment at the Fortress, Gilmore concluded to accompany Sheldon to his new field of labor — the scenes of his brother, the General's splendid military operations. ^ Sheldon and Gilmore laid a cable across Calibogue Sound (eight miles), from the south end of Hilton Head Island to Tybee, near the Martello Tower ; from Tybee across Lazaretto Creek to Cockspur Island, establishing an office in Fort Pulaski. Another cable was laid from the north-west point of Hilton Head Island across Broad River to the south end of Parry's Island, in the Port Royal entrance ; also across Beaufort Creek to Beaufort Island, and across Port Royal Creek to St. Helena. These being 28 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE connected by land lines, made a circuit from Fort Pulaski to Beaufort City, and thence to the naval depot on St. Helena Island, nearly opposite Hilton Head and across Port Royal Bay. Thus Sherman, on Hilton Head, was in communication with his troops and the naval commander. This was the first Federal military telegraph in South Carolina. Cables and land lines completed the circuit from Fort Pulaski to General Gilmore's new quarters at Cummings' Point, where he was, conjointly with the navy, operating for the reduction of Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor. This line was sixty-three and one-half miles long. A. G. Safford operated at Gilmore's head-quarters until February, 1864. Frank H. Lamb was chief operator. J. M. Nye was sent from the War Department office to Fort Pulaski, where he found H. S. Martin. Milton E. Roberts, a detailed soldier who could read the Bajn alphabet by sound, but not the Morse, although he could make its characters, worked at Fort Wagner, nearly opposite the enemy's Fort Moultrie, also in the harbor. Roberts was greatly aided by Lamb, who could write Bain, though he could not read it. E. H. McGintey was at Hilton Head, and William Forster at Beaufort. These were, in time, reinforced by J. B. Barry, J. R. Dunlap, D. W. Smith, Ransom Phelps, T. and W. T. McGinty, A. Chamberlain, M. G. Kirkman, M. S. Andrews, A. R. Chamberlain, Paul C. Ha vens, Alex. K. McMurray, Thos. Roche, F. W. Kingsbury, J. F. Mcllvaine, D. N. Bryant, J. J. B. Frey, J. L. Cherry, and L. W. Wortsman, a reformed Confederate, captured near Jack sonville, Fla. But it must not be supposed that all these oper ators were present at any one time — fourteen being about the average number. Major Eckert, in an annual report, correctly stated that Invaluable service was rendered the army and navv by use of these lines, as, the important posts and stations being situated upon different islands, couriers could not be employed for purposes of communication; consequently, but for the telegraph, great expense woiild have resulted in the use of steamers for this service. Nothing, but the importance of the work performed, could have induced the operators to remain on those hot, sandy and largely barren islands, where even the water was unhealthful. CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 29 For instance, when Smith went to General Terry's head-quarters on Folly Island, he pursued the usual practice of sinking bar rels for water which was very poor at best, but after a few weeks it became intolerable, and while cleaning the well the soldiers discovered a dead man's elbows projecting into it at the bottom edge of the barrel. Then it was recollected that the Charleston authorities had been accustomed to quarantine against small-pox* and yellow fever on this and Morris Island. which accounted for the many remains interred there. The line running across Morris Island, especially between Forts Wagner and Gregg, opposite Sumter, was many times broken down by the enemy's shells. On one occasion, while two repairers were up telegraph poles, a shell struck the inter mediate one, shivering it and jerking the repairers from their respective positions to the sand below. McGintey, operating at Battery Gregg, was in an extremely unpleasant place, owing to the bombardment from Sumter, and consequently had to spend much of his time in the bomb-proof. Smith's duties frequently required him to inspect the line along Folly and Morris islands. His horse, an old campaigner, named Gothic on account of his remarkable build, being a strange combination of bone arches and curves, had fixed notions of military proprieties, some of which caused his rider considerable uneasiness. Thus, while un der fire from the enemy's guns, no amount of urging could in duce Gothic to move faster than a parade canter. If Smith continued to press the beast after that, he would go through a series of exercises on the spot, which showed agility enough, but frightfully misapplied, for there is no mark the cannoneers like to try so well as a man on horseback. Smith's only conso lation lay in the pride he took per-force, that others would think him remarkably cool. He ended his service there as too many others did, in sickness caused from malarial exposure. Phelps, his comrade, who served at Beaufort, and the Sanitary Commis sion people, nursed him from that death which the doctors had said was inevitable. About the middle of September, 1863, William Forster, a native of New Brunswick, N. S., operating at Beaufort, volun teered to tap the enemy's main line leading from Charleston to Savannah, which of course would prove a very dangerous under- 30 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE taking. The Commanding General had considered the matter some time, and as Forster was anxious to undertake the risk, he was sent, although Captain Sheldon refused to order him to go. Forster succeeded in tapping the wire a little west of Pocotaligo. On this errand he was led by runaway negroes, who were famil- iiir with the country, and it is probable that he reached his des tination via the Combahee River. His pocket instrument was inserted in the circuit by means of fine copper wire covered with silk, which was hidden by moss that grows so beautifully in that country. For two days he listened undisturbed to the passing messages. One of these was an order for a night attack, or else a distinct mention of such an assault, to be made upon General Terry's forces on Folly and Morris islands, for which the troops at Savannah were to concentrate with those at Charleston, and overcome the southern flank of the Union troops on those islands by crossing Folly Creek and suddenly attacking in overwhelming force. General Terry had noticed that the enemy on Johns and James islands, opposite his left, was unusually active, though he could not divine the cause; but when a faithful negro courier brought the telegram which disclosed the plan of operations, all was clear to the General. It is well here to repeat that the Con federates did not resort to their cipher system except rarely. This was especially so in 1863 and might well have been so throughout the war, for their method was not ingenious. The Union commanders under Terry and Gilmore were at once advised of the intentions of the enemy, who seem to have noticed counter-preparations, for they desisted from the attack. Perhaps the unfortunate capture of Forster, on the third day of his anomalous position, had something to do with the abandon ment of the plan. Forster was imprudent enough to walk out to the track, which was very straight for a long distance, and while there he was seen by the engineer of an approaching en gine. Probably his hurried retreat excited suspicion. Be that as it may, the engine was stopped at the spot, the wire discov ered and a vigorous search made by a company of soldiers. Bloodhounds scoured the woods and neighborhood. Poor Fors ter was found sunk to his armpits in a swamp. His neo^ro at tendants succeeded in escaping, but Forster never saw home CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 31 again. He died in Columbia, where he was taken, a few months after. To make but one special chapter on affairs in the Department of the South, reference will here be made to those in 1864. On the 6th of February, General Seymour, with about five thousand men, embarked for Florida in twenty-eight vessels, occupying Jacksonville the next day. Forty miles advance along the Tal lahassee road was made by Seymour's cavalry with excellent re sults. But the telegraph, which the Confederates used to post themselves as to the progress of the Unionists, was now turned to account in their turn by the latter. Colonel Henry, of the cavalry, having found the enemy too strong in his front, tele graphed General Seymour from near Lake City, and that officer thereupon hurried troops from Sanderson. Operator Lamb started with Seymour to supervise telegraphic affairs, but a kick by a horse at Baldwin Junction caused his return, leaving Mil ton E. Roberts chief at the front, and J. M. Nye at Jacksonville. On the advance from Jacksonville to Baldwin, a telegraph ope rator was captured at his station, and under the influence of a revolver at his ear, compelled to telegraph in his own style (for most operators have peculiarities of manipulation), a train order which in due time brought a complete train into the Union lines, Tvhere it was of course captured. Contrary to Gilmore's direc tions, Seymour pushed on and was whipped in the battle of Olustee near Lake City, losing about two hundred and fifty killed and one thousand, two hundred and fifty wounded, while half those numbers would cover the enemy's loss. It is said that Gilmore, by signal from the mouth of St. John's River to Jacksonville and thence by telegraph, warned Seymour of his -danger. Gilmore also sent a staff officer to Jacksonville with orders, but it was too late, and Seymour, on their receipt, re plied, "We have met the enemy and are retreating; a devilish hard rub. " The telegraph was of great service on this trip and probably hundreds of Union messages passed over this No. 8 English wire, which was taken down on the retreat and used along the coast. Work for the reduction of the defenses of Charleston continued. Gilmore's shells, after traveling four miles, fell into the city, doing 32 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE no little damage, and as to the great fort itself, it crumbled under a steady fire, but the stars and bars continued to wave as proudly as when first planted upon its solid ramparts. Sailors attempted to scale its walls, and suffered great loss for the few engaged. The Confederates also relied on the telegraph. Beauregard had here caused, perhaps, the only strictly military telegraph in the Confederacy, to be erected, from Fort Sumter to Battery Bee, via James Island to the south, Charleston to the west, and the battery on Sullivan's Island on the north. An original and interesting character, named G. W. McCann, worked at Sumter. J. W. Kates, the first, and W. R. Cathcart, the last Superintend ent, had an office in the city, where William Bryan was operator, and on Sullivan's Island was another, named Peacock. Thus were the troops and forts united by lines of telegraph. Among the many projects for blowing up Sumter was one which occupied the attention of Captain Sheldon and operator A. G. Safford. While General Foster was in command (July, 1864), he asked Sheldon if he could explode powder by electri city through submerged wires, and if so, to arrange to blow up Sumter. Sheldon possessed some field cable, turned over by the Signal Corps, which he tested, and reported that it would stand submersion successfully for twelve hours. He then procured a large number of tin canteens, and had them made air-tight, to use as floats to his cable. Ten miles of cable on one reel, and five of manilla rope on another, were arranged to pay out equally. The rope was attached to a scow containing ten barrels of powder. The two ends of the cable were placed in a barrel of the powder, fixed on a piece of coke with platinas half an inch apart. The other ends of the cable went to a battery on deck of a monitor. The project was to float the scow with the flood tide against Sumter, and when in position, a signal from Morris Island was to indicate that the proper time had come, and Fort Sumter was to disappear forever. The whole arrangement was satisfactory after practical tests, and at eleven a. m., on the day agreed upon, the monitor stood inside the Charleston Bar, but the storm then brewing grew harder and fiercer until the sea ran over the deck. At seven, p. m., the storm still prevailing, the Admiral notified the Captain of a postponement. That was the last the navy had to do with the affair. An explosion from the shore CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 33 subsequently took place, but beyond eliciting a lively response from thirty or forty guns, produced no effect. After Mr. Gilmore had assisted Sheldon in laying the Port Royal Inlet cable, the latter, whose territory also included North Carolina, sent him (June, 1863) to Newberne, in that State, to erect and personally superintend lines in that district, then com manded by General Palmer. The offices to be opened on this line were Morehead City, Newport Barracks, Newberne and Bachelor's Creek. This line, forty-two miles long, was built in a substantial manner, fully equipped, and in operation in one week from the date at which Gilmore arrived in Newberne with his six builders. John Lock was, at that time, Gilmore's only operator, but Charles H. Lithgow, Herman Waterhouse, Doug lass Kent, Robt. B. Vanderhoof, D. C. McGaughey and B F. Gilmore arrived in good time. Of this line. Major Eckert reported : In the District of North Carolina, forty-two miles of line have been operated during the fiscal year, under the direction of James R. Gilmore. * * * Great credit is due Captain Gilmore, [before this report was made, he was commissioned Captain — Au- thoe], for his management whilst in North Carolina. Offices were kept open in Newberne, Morehead City, Beaufort, Newport Bar racks and Bachelor's Creek. By this means, General Palmer, com manding the district, was kept in telegraphic communication day and night with four of the most important military posts in his dis trict, and incalculable service has been furnished the Government. Besides this the navy has been assisted very greatly in its operations by having telegraphic communication between the blockading fleet off the coast, and the squadron in the Sounds. General Foster succeeded to the command of the Department of North Carolina, but Burnside having withdrawn so many troops, Foster could not act aggressively to any considerable ex - tent. After Foster took twelve thousand troops to the South Carolina coast, it was still more certain that advances were hardly to be counted on from that quarter. On the 1st of February, General Pickett, commanding the Confederates in North Carolina, appeared at Bachelor's Creek, where D. C. McGaughey was operator. Pickett was intent on 3 34 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE retaking Newberne. He might have made better progress, had he captured McGaughey, for he was an invaluable man ; always ready, day or night, for any service, whether in the office or out on the line. He accompanied every scouting expedition and was several times selected by the Commanding General, to carry despatches which it was deemed unsafe to entrust to ordinary couriers. He rode like a Comanche; and was happiest in the performance of extra-hazardous service. In short, he was an emergency- man. While Pickett was approaching Newberne, ]McGaughey was stationed about ten miles out with a cavalry, escort, to give warning of the enemy's approach in that direction. He was furnished a pocket instrument, and provided himself at a farmer's house with a double-barreled shot-gun. At midnight, Ms escort deserted him, retiring to Newberne. But though alone, McGaughey would not quit his post until three, a.m., and then only because the enemy had cut the line between him and that place. He made his way on foot through the rebel forces, and reached Newberne safely at daylight. Pickett was afraid to assault the defenses with vigor, and nothing further was attempted until April, when Plymouth was captured after a splendid defense by General Wessell's force of twenty-four hundred men, who were killed, wounded or captured. There was no telegraph there. In his report of affairs about Newberne, General Palmer vsrrote as follows : Hbad-quaetees Aemy and Disteict of Noeth Carolina, Newberne, N. C, February 17, 1864. Majoe Gkneeal B. F. Butler, Commanding Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Fortress Monroe : Geneeal : * * * * * * Extract.— Kt no time, I suspect, during the present war, has the utility of the Military Telegraph and the Signal Corps been more fully demonstrated, than during the late attack. The attack had scarcely commenced at the out-posts, when the telegraph had not only informed me of all that was going on in front, but the whole line of posts to Morehead was put upon its guard, and during the day when the enemy were immediately around the town, the Signal CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 36 Corps kept us advised of the smallest movement of the enemy at any point of the line. I can not think too highly of these two corps. ******* J. N. Palmer, Brig. Gen., Comdg. A. and D. of N. G. In forwarding a copy of the above to Washington, Mr. Gilmore added: "On two like occasions since then, our line has done work the value of which to the Government, General Palmer says, ' can not be estimated in money.' " Exposure on a raid against the Weldon Railroad compelled Gilmore to go north to recruit. No sooner had he returned with his brother, another operator, than the yellow fever broke out in the district, and three of the operators were stricken, poor Mc Gaughey first. Herman Frank Waterhouse was convalescing in the hospital at Newport Barracks, where he had suffered from bilious fever, when, hearing of McGaughey's sufferings, he vol unteered to nurse him. Thus Waterhouse took the dread dis ease. McGaughey, Waterhouse, and Douglas Kent another op erator, fell victims of the scourge, and on the pay-rolls, which alone indicate that these men were in the service of their coun try, is written opposite their respective names the simple v/ord, "Discharged." An eternal discharge, indeed; but who would suspect from that word the honorable service rendered. Yet that is the only thank ever vouchsafed Union operators, living, or dead, for their sei'vices, sufferings and sacrifices. In response to repeated requests for men to take the places of these " discharged" ones, Mr. Gilmore was ordered by Major Eckert to close the lines and protect himself and men as best he could, as he did not consider that the exigencies of the service required additional sacrifices. Jamjes R. Gilmore was on the third day of November, 1864, commissioned captain and assistant quarter-master, and the next month relieved Captain Sheldon at the latter's request. We have heretofore had many personal glimpses at Mr. Gilmore's career, which was one of marked devotion to the cause, whether recruiting or serving as a private soldier, operator or officer. Wherever he went, his presence was manifested by an unflag ging zeal and determined purpose. Whether conducting the 36 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE first telegraph at Fortress Monroe, building a line from ^Wash ington to Banks' lost army, ferreting out treasonable schemes, aiding on the hot sands of the Southern coast, conducting tele graphic affairs in North and South Carolina, or, as will appear _____» later, restoring the lines in several At lantic States, he was equally indefatigable and successful When relieved of the management of the telegi'aphs in the Department of the Potomac by Captain Stager, late in 1861, he assisted in organ izing Company A, One Hundred and Twenty - sixth Penn sylvania volunteers, with which he served in the battles of the second Bull Run, An- tietam and Fredericksburg, but since the war he has been in the National Engineer Department, constructing fortifications in New York harbor and on the South Atlantic coast, besides improving rivers and harbors in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. JAMBS B. GILMORE. CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 37 CHAPTEE III. THE TELEGRAPH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.— PORT HUDSON, RED RIVER, AND OTHER CAMPAIGNS. V^ery little occurred in this department of noteworthy conse quence, in a telegraphic point of view, until after the coming of Charles S. Bulkley, who was commissioned captain, assistant quarter-master and superintendent of military telegraphs in Jan uary, 1863. Indeed, no military or naval warfare took place here until about the last of April, 1862. Admiral Farragut, with the largest naval force that up to that time had ever sailed under the flag of the Union, after expending in his five days' bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Phillips, river defenses of New Orleans, five thousand, five hundred and thirty-two shells, on the night of the 24th of April passed the forts with most of his fleet, under a terribly galling fire, and after silencing shore batteries and capturing and destroying numerous armed vessels, appeared before the city on the twenty-fifth. General Butler, with less than fifteen thousand men in the department, occupied the place about May 1st. There was a private ante bellum telegraph line connecting at least the Head of the Passes of the Delta with the forts and New Orleans. This line belonged to the Good Intent Tow-boat Com pany of New Orleans, and was the medium by which, during the bombardment, the citizens, were kept posted as to its prog ress, but about two hundred of Butler's men, avoiding the forts by indirection, fell upon this line shortly after the fleet had mainly run the gantlet, and cutting the wire left the city in a gloom of suspense. The troops in one of the forts mutinied, and the surrender of both speedily followed. Farragut soon moved up the river and bombarded Vicksburg. He even ran its batteries and joined the Federals above. An unsuccessful expedition ventured up the Yazoo in July. In August, the Unionists (nine regiments), under General Williams, who was killed at the moment of vie- 38 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE tory, were attacked by General Breckenridge's forces (thirteen regiments) at Baton Rouge. Federal and Confederate gunboats played a small part in this affair, and the rebel ram "Arkansas " was disabled and destroyed. No adequate arrangements had been made for telegraphic ad vantages when General Butler entered New Orleans. Fred J. Grace, an expert telegrapher, accompanied Farragut, even in running the forts, and Lieutenant I. Elliot Smith, who served as superintendent of Butler's telegraphs, was doubtless an operator, and it may have been these operators for whom Butler sent to the fleet almost as soon as he entered the city. We are not aware of any report that shows what was done by telegraphers under Butler. E. Von Eye, who was detailed as a messenger in the city office, September 2, 1862, has, however, informed us that the operators were detailed from the ranks and had to learn the art, as none could be had who were proficient; most of them did very well. They were taken from Vermont, New Hamp shire and Connecticut regiments. The lines extended north-west via Carrolton and Camp Parapet to Pass Manchac bridge ; north, a little east, via Fort Macomb to Fort Pike; the Balize line via Algiers, Quarantine, the forts. Head of the Passes, South-west Pass, and later to Point La Hoche and Pass k I'Ou- tre; west, to La Fourche crossing, Boutte and Bayou des AUe- mands. These lines, except that down the river, were extended from time to time, as we shall see. Captain Bulkley brought a number of operators with him, and yet others soon followed. Among these were Edward Conway from the Potomac, W. A. Sheldon, late captain of a cavalry company, S. B. Fairchild, form erly manager of New Haven, Connecticut, office, B. B. Glass from Department of the Missouri, S. L. Griffin, J. J. Wilkie, Pitfield, Foster, David Elphick and Henry Stouder. December 16, General N. P. Banks succeeded Butler in the department, which then included Texas. Banks' forces (Nine teenth Army Corps), about thirty thousand, were expected to aid in opening the Mississippi and Red rivers and to restore Texas. Baton Rouge was reoccupied late in December by ten thousand Federals, and the telegraph erected thereto via Bonnet, Carre and DonaldsonviUe. Banks' first expedition of moment to meet the enemy was a joint land (under Weitzel) and naval CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 39 (under Commodore Buchanan) move up the Teche Bayou. Jan uary 14, 1863, quite an affair occurred at Carney's bridge near Pattersonville, in which Buchanan lost his life while engaged with two rebel gunboats, which, during the engagement, were sunk near other obstructions. The infantry drove off over eleven hundred Confederates, Weitzel's force being forty-five hundred; but the bayou was impassable and Superintendent Bulkley was commissioned to open the channel He subsequent ly reported his operations, as follows, to Colonel Stager : 1 have the honor to report in regard to the operations in Bayou Teche, that I was ordered by Major General Banks, to proceed up the above named bayou, with the necessary apparatus and with the aid of a colored regiment in the engineer service, to remove the obstructions, consisting of two sunken vessels filled with brick, secured by piles driven around them, and the iron-clad gunboats Cotton and Hart, making in all four barriers completely closing the bayou. The water being shallow and the vessels imbedded in the muddy bottom, it was impossible to operate with powder inside their hulls, owing to the slight resistance the shallow water would give us above the charge, nor could the charges be successfully placed beneath them, with the means at my disposal. The only course left was to place them as low as possible alongside the hulls. The first charge of eighty pounds was exploded near the bow of one of the vessels filled with brick, which moved her bodily twenty feet, tearing down the piles and discharging parts of her brick cargo. With twenty- five-pound charges, she was then broken up and hauled to the banks. Vessel number two was removed in the same manner, but with less powder, not being so thoroughly filled with brick. The gunboat Cotton was found loaded with her heavy machinery. Rather than risk the chances of dropping this in the bayou, we removed her stern only. In this case, one charge of eighty pounds was used inside her hull with great effect, considering the shallow water — only six feet in depth. Small charges of twenty-five pounds alongside the fragments completed the removal. The crunboat Hart also had her machinerv on board, and three large boilers, which were under water, securely bolted to her hull and connected with large boiler-iron pipes. We succeeded in placing a charge of fifty pounds under them, near the farther end from shore. By this explosion they were torn from their fastenings, and landed near the bank of the bayou, besides shattering the hull. 40 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Our next charge of four hundred pounds was placed alongside, directly amidship, in water nine feet in depth. This removed her center from side to side completely, and her ends were readily hauled near the bank. This cleared the bayou and rendered it nav igable for our steamboat transportation. In removing these, we expended seven hundred and fifty pounds of powder and used three cups of Grove battery to ignite the charges. Our conducting wires were two thousand feet in length — the electric current pass ing from this over a small platina wire fixed in a cartridge in the case containing the charge. This conducting wire is part of a lot captured in New Orleans, of Confederate manufacture, rather im perfect, and intended for exploding torpedoes in the Mississippi River In compliance with the order of Major General Banks, the United States Military Telegraph Department has furnished the necessary apparatus, material and superintendence for this work. The colored regiment. Colonel Robinson commanding, rendered the most willing and efficient aid. In February, the Union ram Queen of the West and gunboat DeSoto were captured up Red River. The Confederate ram Webb, the Queen of the West and other war vessels then attacked the Indianola, one of the best river boats, capturing it. Thus the Confederates obtained control of the Mississippi be tween Vicksburg and New Orleans, besides a number of naviga ble tributaries. Farragut having again passed Vicksburg, co-operated with Banks to regain control. Banks advanced against Port Hudson with twelve thousand men, while it was defended by sixteen thousand. Farragut ran its batteries about the middle of March with some vessels, losing one and others being disabled, wherupon Banks returned to Baton Rouge. The telegraphers had followed him with the line, and of course took it down on his retirement. Banks again moved westward from New Orieans. This was early in April. His forces being divided, a part fought near Fort Bisland, after which Confederate General Richard Taylor retired to Opelousas. The Queen of the West was also destroyed in Grand Lake. Taylor, driven from Opelousas and Alexandria, retired with a remnant of his troops to Grand Eoore and Shreveport. Lines were extended along the railroad from Brashier City up the CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 41 river immediately in the rear of Banks, and offices opened at intermediate points. Having scattered the enemy's forces in this section. Banks now hoped to reduce Port Hudson and join Grant in besieging Vicksburg, or at least to hold the garrison at Port Hudson until Grant could capture Vicksburg and assist him. Accordingly, he marched across the country, and, joined by Augur's division from below, invested Port Hudson, May 25, making a very unsuc cessful but heroic assault two days lat'^r. The telegraph was quickly opened at Banks' head-quarters, where Ed. Conway was manager. Siege lines were built fr^m Springfield Landing along the fronts of Generals T. W. Sherman's, Augur's, Paine's, Grover's and Weitzel's troops, and offices opened at the officer's head - quarters. This line was fourteen miles long. During the siege of this stronghold, the Union wires were lengthened, and offices advanced towards the enemy's works, whenever the Federal forces moved forward. It was pending one of these changes that operator B. B. Glass was sent from General Augur's to the extreme left, to open a new office. This was probably during the fierce assault of June 14. The supply of field wire failed about a quarter of a mile from the point to which he was sent, and as his orders were to follow the wire, he reached the end of it, when, expecting it to be immediately ex tended, he took his direction from the troops, but soon emerged from the woods to find himself almost on the line of battle, a short distance from the enemy's works. Glass, who was mounted, had to pass an open space of about three hundred yards, to reach shelter from the storm of bullets, shot and shell. He tried the Indian dodge of hugging the safe side of his horse. As that was a new trick under trying circumstances, he nearly tumbled, but hanging by the pommel with one hand, and the mane with the other, he managed to keep one limb free. The spur on the boot of that one was dextrously plied. The soldiers along the route found rare sport in the operator's equestrian tac tics and many were their remarks, which all seemed to appreci ate but poor Glass, at whom they were directed. In this dash the horse received two slight flesh wounds. Soon after. Glass's office was opened, for lack of wire, uncomfortably near the enemy and just behind an Indiana battery. Consequently, the 4:2 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE operator oftentimes lay very flat in a three-foot ditch, while, his instrument was on a cracker box within hearing. After awhile. Glass arranged a crude loinb^oof ( ? ) out of rails and debris, which, fortunately, was not struck. At this office he staid night and day, dodging 'shells by day and fighting, gallinippers by night. We believe that S. L. Griffin and W. A. Tinker, op erators, also worked on this siege line. About 3:30 a. m., July 6, Glass received despatches for Banks from General Grant and Commodore Porter, announcing the surrender of Vicksburg; but Conway at Banks' had fallen asleep from exhaustion, and the messages were sent by orderly. Two days after, the originals were forwarded to Confederate General Gardner, as proof of the facts stated, and on the ninth, he surrendered six thousand, four hundred and eight men, fifty- one pieces of artillery, two steamers and much other valuable property. Once more the Mississippi River, under Federal control, ran "unvexed to the sea." Glass, who was among the first to enter Port Hudson, secured as a trophy General Gardner's head-quar ters flag, made with cross-bars on a red field, and blue stars on the bars, which he retains to this day. During the siege of Port Hudson, the line to New Orleans was cut one afternoon, north of Bonnet Carre, and the officer commanding the guard there, whose duty it was to patrol the line for about twenty miles every day, telegraphed General Emory, in New Orleans, that two hundred guerrillas Avere reported just below DonaldsonviUe, and had torn down the wire. The message ended with a request for permission to withdraw the guard into the works at Bonnet Carre, and being authorized so to do, he soon reported his command safely within the works. W. A. Sheldon, manager of the city office, and Department chief operator, had had much experience as a cavalry officer, and doubting the report, obtained an order from Emory to take com mand of the patrol, about one hundred strong, and, if possible, restore communication with Banks. The officer in command pleaded indisposition, but thought if he could ride up on a gun boat, he could take command in case of a fight, if landed in time. This novel horse-marine idea the Captain was left to develop while Sheldon and the troopers hurried off. About fifteen miles CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 43 distant, a large party was seen coming toward them. Sheldon took them for guerrillas, but they were soon proven to be passen gers, who the evening before, had left New Orleans on the same steamer that landed Sheldon. This steamboat had been fired into a few miles below DonaldsonviUe by a battery on the oppo site side of the river, striking the steampipe, whereupon the steamer was run to the east side and the passengers landed. A gunboat soon after drove off the battery and saved the steamer. Sheldon discovered a quarter of a mile of wire missing, near DonaldsonviUe, which an old negro reported to have been cut by an overseer, who threw it into the river. Of course the line was restored, and the overseer imprisoned. It was a cruel necessity that compelled Banks to abandon Alexandria and the Red River country to besiege Port Hudson, and many are the sad stories of misery and worse inflicted on Unionists, particularly negroes, who were left to the enemy. General Taylor, thereupon, being reinforced, swept away or captured all the outposts west of Algiers, Louisiana. In this advance, many Federal prisoners were taken and millions of dollars worth of property captured or destroyed. While Col onel Stickney was gallantly defending La Fourche crossing, re pulsing two attacks late in June, 1863, a shell exploded on the roof of the telegraph office, where the operator was telegraphing to New Orleans an account of the progress of the fight. Stick ney retired to Algiers. Taylor could not cross the river and therefore moved north, his advance being repulsed at Donald sonviUe, with a loss of three hundred and twenty-four killed, wounded and missing, which was off-set, a few days later, by a defeat of Federals six miles inland. This occurred shortly after the fall of Port Hudson, and Taylor fled westward. During the siege of Port Hudson and Taylor's operations, the operators throughout the department became greatly ex hausted from long vigilance. In only one office was there more than one operator, and that was New Orleans, the focal point in the department, where Sheldon was zealously assisted by Henry Stouder, at that time a very ordinary operator. While General Taylor was operating against Fort Butler and Brashier City, Sheldon, about midnight, granted permission to the operators at La Fourche, Baton Rouge and DonaldsonviUe to retire until six 44 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE A. M. , as they had been on continuous duty for two days and nights. Sheldon, himself, also went to sleep. An hour later he was awakened by heavy knocking of two young aides of Emo ry's, one of whom in a gruff voice ordered him to get up and send a message at once. Sheldon protested that the operator at the other end was asleep and the message could not be sent. Angry words followed and a guard was placed at Sheldon's door and he held a prisoner. But when General Emory heard of the affair, he roundly berated the officers for their conduct. Tliis instance recalls the fact that in the preceding May, while Banks and Captain Bulkley were away from New Orleans, General T. W. Sherman, in command, placed one of his officers in charge of the telegraphs, whereupon the two city operators rebelled, and being threatened with imprisonment, resigned, and refused to reconsider their resignations on Bulkley's return to remedy matters. Immediately after the capture of Port Hudson, Banks sent a steamer up to Vicksburg after additional telegraphers, and re turned with William Foley, G. W. Baxter, E. H. Johnson and H. W. Nichols. Baxter and Foley stopped at Port Hudson just in time to serve operator Griffin a good turn. It was dur ing the summer of 1863, General Herron sent an orderly late at night with a telegram for New Orleans. Tinker, the night op erator, sent word that the line was down and the message could not be sent until it was repaired. The next morning. General Andrews, post commandant, sent for Griffin, the manager, who appeared in the absence of that officer, and having returned, was escorted back by a file of soldiers, because he declined to close his office and go again. Griffin was put in the guard house, but soon released, as Baxter and Foley refused to work unless he was set at liberty. After Port Hudson, General Franklin operated unsuccess fully, in conjunction with the navy, along the coast of Texas, and as a diversion, General G. C. Washburn was sent up the New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western Railroad as far as Opelousas; but on retiring was beaten by Taylor and Green, losing seven hundred and sixteen kiUed, wounded and missing. In October and November, Banks conducted operations which CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 45 gave the Unionists control of all the coast from the Rio Grande to the Brazos, even penetrating far inland. W. A. Sheldon having been attacked by fever shortly after the capture of Port Hudson, Sidney B. Fairchild became depart ment chief operator and Ed Conway, manager of lines. These were extended to Morganzia, where A. W. 0"Neil operated. On General Banks' attempting his Red River Campaign in ^Nlarch, the telegraph was advanced to the mouth of the Red River. In doing this, Bulkley's men were constantlj^ annoyed by small parties of cavalry, some of whom were captured by Bulklej's command, but he reports that they killed two of his men in one of their attacks. This Une to New Orleans was interrupted so much by the enemy, but mainly by bushwhackers, that between Baton Rouge and Port Hudson it was changed to the west bank. General Banks then ordered that whenever the wire was mo lested, every house or habitable domicile within, it is said (but we doubt it), twenty miles of the injury, should be destroyed, and in one instance houses were burned, pursuant to the order. After that the line was unmolested. March 13, Banks' army (seventeen thousand) about Fi'anklin started for Alexandria, on the Red River, where it met A. J. Smith's troops (ten thousand) which had gone up the river con voyed by Admiral Porter's fleet, and about the same time Gen eral Steele left Little Rock with fifteen thousand troops. These forces, co-operating, were expected to destroy the Confederate armies under Dick Taylor and Kirby Smith, and to converge about Shreveport. Edward Conway accompanied Banks' army, in charge of the field telegraph, by which it was expected to maintain immediate communication with the different parts of the army during battle. Some disagreement occurring between Bulkley and Conway, the latter resigned, and Fairchild was placed in charge. The other operators were W. H. Munro, Wm. Foley, Horace W. Nichols. The telegraph train consisted of five wagons, three of which were laden with wire on reels, and were drawn each by four-mule teams. At New Iberia, Conway rejoined and took charge as before. Banks severed his telegraphic connection with New Orleans, at a point seven miles north-west of New Iberia, March 1 5, when the following, the last message vouchsafed an anxious world before plunging deeply 46 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE into the wUds^ morasses and dangers of North-west Louisiana, was sent To Captain Bulkley, New Orleans : Head-quarters in the saddle for the last two days. Hind-quar ters sore. (Signed) S. B. F. At one time the telegraph party lay asleep in tents, having had no notice that the army would move early, and was consequently actually left so far behind that bushwhackers came up and fired upon them, one ball striking a tent pole ; but for tunately Banks had asked for his cipher operator, Conway, when it was discovered that the party was not up with the army. The Second New York Cavalry was sent to their rescue, arriving just in time to drive off the guerrillas. At Vermillion, Foley and Fairchild were sent spinning down a hill by a careless driver, the reels following after them and imparting a kind of real life, which, to be enjoyed, "needs but to be seen.''"' At Alexandria, the operators boarded the steamer Laurel Hill, for Grand Ecore, where teams and all arrived on the 5th of April, and the next day,Fairchild, Munro and Foley, having obtained permission, started to visit Natchitoches, four miles distant and beyond the Union lines. At the edge of the town, after passing through a grove, Munro, who was familiar with the people, dis- •covered that his party was followed by guerrillas. These fired upon the operators, whereupon they returned rapidly to camp, and, owing to their report, Natchitoches was occupied. April 8, the advance, at Sabine Cross Roads, was violently assaulted and badly beaten. At Pleasant Grove, three miles in the rear, on the same day, Emory's division barely saved the army and, consequently, the vessels in the river. The next day, Banks was again attacked at Pleasant Hill, fifteen miles further back, where the Confederate charges were repulsed with great loss. In these conflicts the enemy numbered about twenty-two thousand. Banks was unable to concentrate, at any one time, over fifteen thousand men, and that number only at Pleasant HiU. His loss in these battles was three thousand, nine hun dred and sixty nine, of whom about half were taken prisoners. General Steele's advance had not reached supporting distance. At Grand Ecore, Banks heard from him by a ciphei- messao'e CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 47 brought across the country. Fairchild labored long upon it, as it was erroneously made up, but finally succeeded in translat ing it. Banks' expedition, owing to numerous causes, but especially the defeat on the eighth, and the falling water in the river, had become a positive failure, and the great problem now was to reach the Mississippi vrith troops and flotilla. Conway left Grand Ecore, May 20, with Admiral Porter, on the tin-clad "Cricket," taking batteries and other electrical apparatus for use in blowing up gunboats in case they failed to pass over the falls near Alex andria ; but he lost all his apparatus' with the boat itself, which was literally riddled with shells and balls, above Alexandria, whereby half of her crew were killed and wounded. It is written "that there was scarcely any of her left." After many conflicts great and small, between the Union soldiers, the navy, and the Confederates, the former reached Simmsport, May 16, and Por ter's fleet of fifty vessels, less a few gunboats and transports lost, arrived at the mouth of the Red River, after a harassing retreat, which has few parallels. Banks' campaign losses exceeded five thousand, and the enemy's was probably about the same. The operators shared the hardships, privations and dangers of the undertaking. Captain Bulkley officially commended Conway for " efficiency and creditable conduct throughout and during the campaign. " When Banks had reached Alexandria, he found reinforcements, from the Texan coast, which had been mainly abandoned in April. During that month, Bulkley built a military line from Brazos to Brownsville, which was the first Federal military line ever erected in Texas. On the 6th of May, at midnight, Colonel Stager was ordered by Secretary Stanton, to meet and proceed with General E. R. S. Canby (who was about to relieve Banks) to Cairo, 111., to arrange " for prompt transmission and receipt of intelligence between that point and the forces on Red River." Stager promptly executed this order, and received soon after Stanton's commendation, as follow : " Accept my thanks for your prompt and energetic action. " Canby became Department Commander on the 20th of May, 1864, and Bulkley, at his own suggestion, was relieved about 48 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE August 1, to take a prominent part in the erection of an inter national telegraph line, via Behring's Straits. Stager endorsed Bulkley's resignation, as follows : Captain Bulkley has served for nearly two years as Assistant Superintendent of the United States Military Telegraph with great zeal and ability, and the successful management of military tele graphs in the Department of the Gulf has secured him highest tes timonials of Generals commanding in that Department. During the first six months of 1863, two hundred and forty- four miles of telegraph, connecting Bonnet Carre, Franklin and New Iberia, were constructed by the Military Telegraph Corps, and two hundred and four miles of telegraph were erected within this Department, from July 1, 1863, to June 30, 1864, at which latter time the total force — operators, linemen, messengers and teamsters — was but ninety-six, to work over thirty offices. The number of military telegrams sent during the year was one hundred and forty thousand. Although Steele's movement from Little Rock was co-oper ative, as stated, it, too, was unsuccessful. Probably Theodore Holt accompanied Steele, as cipherer, but there was no tele graph train. Captain Clowry, Superintendent of Telegraphs in Missouri and Arkansas, reported that, On March 14, 1864, General Steele started south with his army to co-operate with General Banks on Red River, leaving but a very small force on the line of the Arkansas River. Tne telea:raph line to Fort Smith did not work after the army withdrew south. The guerrillas became so numerous that *it was impossible to keep it working west of Lewisburg. Three of my men, Alexander Kane, Jacob Richard and Thomas Jones, were killed by guerrillas while repairing the line near Clarksville. Their bodies were horribly mu tilated before life was extinct. Their escort had camped and were surprised, but they all got away, leaving my men behind with a wagon and five horses. The escort was from the First Arkansas cavalry. I continued to send repairers out, but the line was cut as fast as fixed up, so I discontinued all efforts to keep the line up west of Lewisburg, in March, 1864. April 30,- we received news of Steele's occupation of Camden, he having made a demonstration on Washington. The rebels evac- CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 49 uated Camden and he, by forced marches, got in their rear and oc cupied it. Camden was thoroughly fortified and navigation opened on the Ouachita, on which river it is located; but no boats came to General Steele's succor. After the defeat of General Banks, the rebels fell on Steele in great numbers, capturing his supply trains and forcing him to evacuate Camden, which he did successfully, marching toward Little Rock, closely pursued by the enemy, who overtook him on the south side of the Saline River with fifteen thousand men, Kirby Smith in command. Steele repulsed them se verely, capturing three pieces of artillery, two of which were taken by the Second Kansas colored troops. General Solomon's division did most of the fighting. Brigadier General Rice's brigade bearing the brunt of the battle. Rice was wounded and has since died from its effects. On April 30, General Steele's army reached Little Rock. During May and June, I had great difficulty in keeping the lines up to DuVall's Bluff, Pine Bluff and Lewisburg, but managed to do so by keeping men and teams out constantly with escorts. From the temporary abandonment of the Fort Smith line until late in the fall of 1864, the situation of the troops at the fort under General Thayer, and of the telegraph party, consist ing of W. H. Woodring and J. L. Sears, operators, and James Lane and J. K. Boar, repairers, was quite critical at times, as the enemy concentrated in considerable force in that vicinity and attacked outlying posts. In August, Thayer was so apprehen sive that he caused Woodring to put in cipher a message for Steele, advising the latter of the situation. This report was given to two soldiers, dressed as citizens. Avoiding the high ways as much as possible by day, they started on their perilous errand. En route, they fell in with a citizen, and, from motives of policy, became quite as violent in their expressions of Seces sion sentiments as he. They remarked upon the condition of the telegraph to this stranger, who had become quite communica tive, and he boastingly mentioned the part he had taken in kiU- ing the three repairers, Kane, Richard and Jones, who, as we have seen, were most brutaUy murdered. Not -content with their death, the captors cruelly tore out Kane's eyes while yet alive, and otherwise foully dealt with him and the other two. These facts the trusty soldiers well knew, and no sooner had the 4 50 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE guerrilla revealed his complicity than they bound him and hung him to a pole with a piece of broken wire, and there left him with a card pinned to his coat, showing why he was hung. VanBuren office, distant four miles from Fort Smith, was op erated during these times by Joseph Hansen, a brave ex-soldier, who had fought in several engagements, to be captured at last by a pair of beautiful eyes that grew in that vicinity. It was his last engagement; since which time he has been out on his pa role of honor. CIVIL W.VU IN THE UNITED STATES. 51 CHAPTEE IV. THE TELEGRAPH IN THE DEPAUTMENTS OF THE CUMBERLAND AND OHIO. -K.aDS IN KENTUCMvY. — OHIO INVADED.— MIDDLE AND EASTERN TENNESSEE OCCUPIED BY FED- EHALS.— tMHCKAMAUa A,— MISSIONARY RIDGE.— DEFENSE OF KNOXVILLE. In the Department of the Cumberland, after the battle of Stono River and boforo another campaign was initiated, as usu ally ha|)i)ons when large opposing armies long confront one another, raiding expeditions \\'ore iVoely indulged in ; thus, on the part of tiio Federals, a foraging command, under Colonel John Coburn, numbering nearly three thousand men, moved out of Kraidclin, Tenn., March 4, 186;!, fighting most of its Avay to near Spring Hill, where it was opposed by Gcnorals VanDorn and Whoolor. After a loss of about two hundred killed or \\ounded, Coburn and three rogimonls wore captured. On the iMghtoonth, Colonel A. S. Hall advanced from Murfreosboro, to intercept General John II. Morgan's command, resulting in a light of several hours at Milton, when Morgan rotroatcd, leaving four hundred nion on the field to fall into Federal hands. Loss than two weeks after, General D. S. Stixnlo}^ drove Morgan to McMimivillo, inflicting considerable loss. In April, Colonel A. D. Streight moved up the Tennessee to Eastport, to operate in conjunction witli General Dodge friim Corinth, upon the enemy's communications, stores and foundries in Northern Alabama and Georgia, but he seonis, strangely onougli, to have omitted taking an operator with him. Having soparatod from Dodge, after a running fight of several days, ho surrendered to General Forrest his command of seven toon hun dred mon, then in tho neighborhood of Rome, Ga. Expeditions under Generals RoynoUls and Stanley, ^md Colonol Watkins and others, rosultod advantageously to tho Unionists. On tho part of tho Confodorates, lato in January, AMioolor, Forrest and Wharton, jiassing tlirough Rosoorans' army, via 52 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE 1) Triune, and escaping the Federal cavalry and infantry with a loss of three hundred and fifty men, attempted, on the 3d of February, the capture of Fort Donelson, defended by the Eighty- third Illinois— Colonel A. C. Harding— which beat off the ene my's repeated assaults, with, it is said, the enormous loss to the assaUants of eight hundred kiUed or wounded and one hundred captured ; being a total of two hundred more than were defend ing the fort. The Union loss was eighty-three kiUed, wounded and missing. Peter Fowler or Wm. A. Thayer operated there at that time. Operator J. A. FuUer chanced to be on a steamer, about this time, which Wheeler captured at the shoals near by. Until Chaplain Gaddis, also on board, prevaUed on Wheeler to let the boat go. Fuller, who took to his bed when the boat was over-hauled, was to all intents and purposes sick unto death — in extremis — ^but as soon as he heard of Gaddis' success, he was as healthy as any. The ruse was a good one, for it saved him from being paroled. He went immediately to Brentwood, Tenn. , nine miles from Nashville, where, on the 25th of March, he was awakened early by a negro who told him that Forrest was coming, and the Yan kees were fixing for a fight. Fuller immediately telegraphed the facts to Nashville, and while the skirmishers were deploying, threw hjs instrument under the house and started on a run for the city, knowing full well that the force at Brentwood could not defend the place. Colonel Trueblood, commanding there, soon surrendered, and Fuller, from his hiding-place in the woods, saw captors and prisoners pass on the pike. After that, he was about to cross an open field near by, when happily he discovered a body of the enemy preparing to charge across the same field to the woods beyond, where a large number of negroes were cutting wood for the Government. Consequently he changed his course to the Granny White pike, and thus reached Nashville at the head of the frightened contrabands. Rosecrans, with the advantage of high water in the Cumber land, besides his railroad communications, was nearly six months preparing for another campaign against Bragg, notwithstanding he was repeatedly urged, if not commanded, to advance, lest pending his inaction. General Johnston, Bragg's superior officer, should detach by rail a sufficient force to compel Grant to loosen CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 53 his hold on Vicksburg. Bruner and MuUarkey having left Rose crans' head-quarters, operators John C. Holdridge, late of West ern Tennessee, Jesse H. Bunnell, recently from the Department of the Potomac, and Robert ]M. Talbot, who had served under Generals McDoweU, Burnside, Wright, and others, took their places. The telegraph had long been busy with orders for sup- pUes. VanDuzer collected a large quantity of telegraph stores, including about one hundred miles of wire, for the grand move ment which was ordered on the 23d of June, 1863. The army advanced, feigning a direct attack, but in fact striking at Bragg's flanks, particularly his right, causing him to retire on the twen ty-ninth, and cross the Tennessee River soon after. Thus Middle Tennessee and so much of Northern Alabama as lies north of the river, was again in the virtual possession of the Unionists, who now bent their energies to effect the restora tion of the railroads and telegraphs as indispensable to further progress. VanDuzer reported his operations as follows : The line kept pace with the advance of the army from Murfreos boro, and my party entered Tullahoma and opened an office at Gen eral Rosecrans' head-quarters three hours after the establishment of such head- quarters, having opened offices at Fosterville and War- trace. On the fourth, the line was extended to Elk River and an office opened at the camp of the Pioneer Brigade ; on the fifth, to Decherd, and on the seventh to the head-quarters of the Twentieth Army Corps, at Winchester. No further progress was attempted southward on this line during the month, but a branch line was rebuilt to McMinnville from Tullahoma, connecting the left wing of the army and the head-quarters of the Twenty-first Army Corps with general head-quarters, which, towards the end of the month, were moved to Winchester, and a line was rebuilt along the turn pike from Franklin to Columbia, Tenn. Early in August, I con structed a new line from Cowan to Tracy City, Tenn., and extended the line south along the Chattanooga Railroad to Bridgeport, Ala., opening offices at Anderson and Stevenson ; at department head quarters, near Stevenson ; at head-quarters Fourteenth Army Corps, near Bolivar, Ala., and at Bridgeport, Ala. At the same time, the line was extended south from Columbia to Pulaski, Tenn., and west from Stevenson, Ala., to Brownboro, or more properly to head quarters Second Cavalry Division, on Flint River, with offices at Scottsboro and Larkensville, Ala. 54 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Thus the lines of telegraph abandoned by Buell one yeai- previous, were mostly restored. Many of the operators who served in this section under Buell were replaced in their former positions, or otherwise located at railroad stations or other points. Among those thus employed were J. T. Joyce, A. jNI. Nichols, R. B. Hoover, Geo. C. Peirce, John P. Lathrop, T. E. Rawlings, Geo. Railton, John Lonergan, E. W. Atwater, W. W. Burhans, Hugh Craig, Robert Wagner, J. C. Gregg, W. H. Hartman, W. R. Plum, F. S. VanValkenburg, W. H. Miller, Wm. Pat terson, E. J. Wilson, J. T. Rabbeth, I. C. Showerman, Ed. Schermerhorn, M. C. Baldwin, Con Dwyer, S. Ford Perdue, H. R. Mapes, Frank B. Tyler and H. W. Plum, the last five of whom were serving in Nashville. On the Une leading to Louis- viUe were J. N. Brooks, Sam Barth, Martin Barth, J. A. Cassell, A. C. and J. Jones, W. S. Pierson, C. H. Griffith, James Fork- er, E. W. Atwater, John D. Richardson, and others. Geo. W. BeU was at the Glasgow end of a new line, built from Cave City, in June, to watch such raiders as Morgan. From the outbreak of the rebellion, the Federal Government had striven to possess and hold East Tennessee. Never was such possession so important to the loyalists there residing, as since the sweeping Confederate conscription acts, which dragged the Union citizen into the armies, or drove him into the mountain fastnesses, where he was hunted by armed men. General Burn side recently from the Army of the Potomac, with a view to the repossession of the district of East Tennessee, vacated by Fed eral General Morgan, was, in March, 1863, given the command of the Department of the Ohio, with head-quarters at Cincinnati, O. Charles Jacques managed his telegraph office there, assisted by two others. The military line, from Burnside's office by way of Lexington, connecting Nicholasville, Ky., was extended so as to place Burnside in immediate communication with his main forces and out-posts, rendering surprise in force at Lexington and Frankfort impossible. As Chattanooga was the objective of the Army of the Cum berland, so Knoxville, one hundred and twelve miles north-east of Chattanooga, was that of the Army of the Ohio, which was organizing to advance simultaneously and in co-operation with CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 55 Rosecrans' command. While the authorities were fearing that Rosecrans would not prevent another invasion of Kentucky in force. Confederate General Pegram, late in ]March, 1863, entered that State through the Cumberland ]SIountains, ostentatiously proclaiming that Breckenridge was foUowing his (Pegram's) cav alry with infantry, for the redemption of the State. General Caller was in immediate command of the Federals^ whose ad vance guard was at Crab Orchard, where John Lonergan was operating. Twenty-two soldiers of the First Kentuck}- and Sev enth Ohio Cavalry and First and Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry were posted there, to keep up communication with General Carter's command in the direction of Somerset, General Welch's stationed at Liberty', Colonel Gilbert's at i\It. Vernon, and Colonels Alexander and Bird's at Lancaster. This was the general location when Pegram entered Crab Orchai'd about daylight, en route, as he said, to rescue Kentucky from her oppressors. Lon ergan, in his night clothes, narrowly escaped capture by hiding under a chicken coop in the rear of Carson's Hotel. A negro woman roUed a log of firewood in front of the coop, completelj' hiding the man in white from the woman in black, and Pegi'am in particular. Pegi'am pressed forward upon Danville, where operator Benner was exposed to his musketry fire, and from whence Carter was driven across the Kentucky River, by which time it was discovered that the raiders were unsupported, and were in fact driving a larger force than they possessed. So the tide changed. Burnside, in turn, in June, sent a cavaUy force into East Tennessee, which greatly injm-ed the raiUoad, and captured many prisoners and arms. About the same time that Rosecrans advanced from jNIurfrees- boro upon Tullahoma, General J. H. Morgan, with a view, at least in part, of so engaging the attention of Burnside as to prevent his thi'eatening Bragg's rear by an advance into East Tennessee, essayed from Sparta the most daring movement yet undertaken. Crossing the Cumberland near Burksville, July 1, with a mounted force of over two thousand men and four guns, he was defeated at a Green River bridge, which he attempted to capture. Undaunted by this failure, Morgan pushed on in the direction of Lebanon, Ky. His operator, Ellsworth, faiUng to 56 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE deceive the telegraphers on the Stanford Une, took a small com mand over to the Lebanon branch railroad, near St. Mary's, and by cutting off Lebanon, succeeded in deceiving operator E. W. Atwater, at the Junction. Circumstances conspired against At water, for the night previous, Bennett, the night operator at Lebanon had invited him to spend the Fourth in that place, and as the latter had just received a bran-new and showy uniform, which he was anxious to exhibit, he resolved to take the 8:30, A. M., train for Lebanon. About ten, p. m., the Une ceased to work. It seems that Morgan had taken the precaution, before appearing in front of Lebanon, to cut this wire. About six, A. M., of the fourth, Ellsworth connected his instrument with the main line, which he ran to the ground by his side, when the following conversation took place. "Z" was the call of Leba non Junction; "B," that of Lebanon. "Z" — "Good morning, Bennett; where have you been all night? 18." (Meaning, what is the matter.) uB"_aBeen on duty aU night; line O. K, S. E. of here; noticed it open between us; seems to be O. K. now." " Z " — "Any news about guerrillas ? " "B" — "There was a report of some in the country yester day, but everything quiet here. " "Z " — " I will be there about noon." "B" — "That's right; will have something set up for you." At 8:30, the Lebanon train arrived at the Junction from Louisville, with about thirty passengers, of whom five were women. The conductor asked Atwater if he had heard of guer rillas on the branch, adding that a message via Danville and Lexington stated that guerrillas had burned a bridge near Leba non. But the operator satisfied the conductor that all was well, and boarding the train Atwater aind all started. At New Hope, they learned that a culvert near St. Marys, five miles from Leb anon, was burned and the track torn up. Thirteen soldiers boarded the train here as a guard. It proceeded, and notwith standing the engineer was cautioned, the engine and several cars were thrown from the track in a cut just beyond St. Marys. Immediately, about thirty of Morgan's men fired into the train from the right, kilUng a Union soldier and wounding an Irish passenger in the shoulder. The latter rushed into the baggage CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 57 car in wildest excitement, exclaiming, "My God! My God! We are all kilt, shure. Ivery mither's son uv us will be mur- thered till we're dead. Howly Mither, have mercy on us." The guards leaped from the car windows on the left side and fought under cover of the train until the enemy decamped; but they soon halted, as if to return to the train. At this stage of affairs, Atwater was sent for aid and had proceeded but a short distance when he was approached by three mounted men, who fired at him until he waved a copy of the Louisville Journal in token of surrender, when the following conversation occurred : EUsworth. — " Where did you get on the train and where are you going ? " Atwater. — " At the Junction; going to spend the Fourth with a friend in Lebanon." E. — "What is your name? " A.— "Atwater." E. — "You are an operator at ' Z ' and I was talking with you over the line this morning, having cut the wire and con nected this instrument. I found out what I wished and I am the one who invited you to Lebanon. I am Ellsworth, John Morgan's operator." The reader is left to imagine Atwater's confusion when Ells worth infonned him how completely he had been-deceived, but mopping the perspiration from his face, Atwater replied, "I congratulate myself, my dear friend, that I have fallen into such good hands. If I must be a prisoner, let my captor be an ope rator; and now let us have those cool drinks." "All right," said Ellsworth, as he drew a revolver upon Atwater, "give me your revolver and holster and follow mC." It was of no use for Atwater to protest that he was only an operator. His new uni form, Ellsworth insisted, made him a fit subject for Libby prison. But a company of Union cavalry that left Lebanon on a sccut before the attack, had heard the affair at St. Marys and were now seen in the distance, hurrying to participate; conse quently, Ellsworth and his comrades rapidly rode off. Learning from three prisoners captured that tho enemy was a detachment from Morgan's command and that he was moving on Lebanon, Atwater, by tapping one end of the line on a 58 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE ground connection, telegraphed to General Boyle at Louisville an account of the brush at St. Marys and the news of Morgan's near presence. When Morgan appeared, on the fifth, the Federals at Leba non were measurably well prepared to receive him. Hanson's brave four hundred fought seven hours before surrendering. George Purdon and — — Bennett made good their escape, saving their instruments. It was an exciting day for the people at Lebanon. Plunder, pillage, murder and insults continued until the setting of the sun. At dusk, Morgan's command began moving upon Bardstown. Bennett, who had secured a refuge for the night in a muddy trench just out of Lebanon, connected his instrument and telegraphed direct to General Boyle what had occurred and was transpiring, the Louisville line being connoctod at "Z " for that purpose. After capturing Bardstown, where T. H. Smith operated, Morgan struck the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, capturing James Forker, operator at Bardstown Junction. Ellsworth in terviewed Forker at his office in tho following energetic style: "Hello, sonny," said Ellsworth, handling a cockod revolver, "move one inch except as I direct, and you are a dead man." At this time a passenger train left "Z " for Louisville and was duly reported. Morgan captured the stockade at Salt River bridge, six miles north of "Z," and stopped the train with his cannon. The doors of the coaches being guarded, the passen gers were regularly allowed to surrender their money, watches, jewelry and baggage, after which the conductor was permitted to return with his train to "Z." Operator Lenhart, in the railroad superintendent's office in Louisville, asked Forker, " Has the train passed north yet? " " Tell him yes," said Ells worth, which Forker was obliged to do. He was then mounted on a mule and sent to camp. The following evening he ap peared at "Z" without hat, coat or boots. Next day the Une was restored. Morgan moved on Brandenburg, where he captured two steamboats, by which he ferried over the Ohio his forces, now much increased, and after burning one of the steamers, he moved northwardly to Salem, Indiana. By this time the civU and military authorities were doing their utmost to effect his CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 59 capture. From Salem, Morgan went north-east via Vernon to Harrison, on the Ohio State line, and around Cincinnati, moving quite near there, to Miami; thence easterly through Batavia, Sardinia, Jasper and Pikoton to the Ohio River at Pomeroy; thence eight miles up the river to Buffington's Ford, where eight hundred of his men were captured. Over three hundred swam the river at Belleville and escaped; over a thousand surrendered there; but Morgan and perhaps two hundred others, pushing on north-eastwardly, struck the river again above Marietta; thence they moved to New Lisbon, where they surrendered, July 26. Soon after crossing the Ohio, Morgan captured a passenger train, and among those robbed was Patrick MuUarkey, a Fede ral operator, on his way to Grant's department. The Western Union and railroad telegraph operators in Southern Indiana and Ohio certainly deserve a good share of the credit which was accorded to tho troops under Hobson, Shackle- ford and Judah, and to tho gunboats that patrolled the Ohio, for the capture of Morgan and his command, for by no other means could the enemy have been so harassed on all sides, as they were, by concerted action of the regular troops and militia; nor could tho gunboats have been kept so well advised of Morgan's movements Of course Morgan destroyed the telegraph wherever met, but cutting the lines as he advanced did not greatily in terfere with telegraphing to towns ahead of him by circuitous routes, of which thoro were many. In June, a line was built by Lelir from Lexington to Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Samuel B. Roberts operated there until 1864. On the 16th of August, General Burnside began his great march upon Knoxville, having a force in hand of about twenty thousand. The route of his main army was from Crab Orchard through Mount Vernon, London, Williamsburg, Chitwood, Montgomery, Kingston, to Knoxville. Charles W. Jacques, who came with tho General from the East, and C. II. Johns, ac companied Burnside as cipher and telegraph operators, while Lehr, chief operator in tho district, advanced by the old route, opening an office every night at Burnside's head-quarters, until Barboursvillo was reached, when he accompanied the General 60 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE to the main army at Williamsburg. But the builders under W. L. Tidd advanced the line with De Courcy's forces directly upon Cumberland Gap. Lehr struck the rebel East Tennessee Une at Loudon, capturing the operator there and finding every thing in good working order, also many useful Confederate tele grams. Jacques took temporary charge of the office, and Lehr, going with the Federal cavalry, captured the operator and in struments at Campbell Station, when he pressed rapidly on with the Fifth IncUana caAalry, reaching Knoxville unannounced late in the afternoon of the 1st of September. Hastening to the city telegraph office, he entered the same, just as the two operators there reti-eated through a back door and escaped, without having done the sUghtest injury to any telegraphic apparatus or mate rial. Lehr found in the office a large number of important mes sages, and just outside a good main batteiy. Communication was opened immecUately with Burnside at Loudon. Johns, who also came with the cavalr}-, was left to operate the Knoxville of fice, and Lehr and the troopers advanced up the valley of the Tennessee, past Strawberry Plains and Newmarket to Morris- town, where the operator was captured in his office, and the su perintendent of this line in the town. Pressing on again, through Bull's Gap to Greenville and Jonesboro, the cavalry drove General Sam Jones into Virginia. The operators at these places, like the one at Morristown, were captured and pressed into the Federal telegraph service ; George E. Jones being one and perhaps Sam Reese another. At each of these offices, a Union lieutenant was left in attendance and two soldiers on guard, the former provided with a cipher key, under the cover of which all messages Avere transmitted. And in this way one hundred and twenty -six miles of telegraph were opened by Lehr xoithin five days after striking the London bridge/ a feat not equalled even by Crittenton's remarkable operations in 1S62, under Mitchell, in Northern Alabama. General Burnside, who, on every occasion, manifested the highest regard for the tele graph service, was greatly pleased at this result. From jNIorristown Burnside turned his mounted force to ward Cumberland Gap, which he now sought to reduce. On this route was found a poorl}- constructed line leading to the Gap, Avhere General Frazicr was in command of about two thou- CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 61 sand Confederates and fourteen guns. Lehr, with fifty cavalry men, repaired this wire in Burnside's wake. That General sent couriers around the Gap to De Courcy, and learned of his arri val and that he had artillery in position to begin shelling. Fra- zier, soon after, finding himself effectually cut off from all aid, surrendered to Burnside on the ninth, at noon. The telegraph was connected across the mountain on the same day, making nearly two hundred miles of Federal telegraph built or recovered in East Tennessee in nine days, and placing Burnside not only in communication with his own exposed posts, but with the au thorities in Washington and with Rosecrans, who was now again marching against Bragg, as we shall soon discover. A few days later, Burnside returned to Knoxville and had the pleasure of a telegraphic confab with President Lincoln, the General in Chief Halleck, and Secretary Stanton, who were in the War office at Washington. During this interesting talk, Burnside was con gratulated upon his great success. In these telegraphic opera tions, Burnside's chief of staff, General Hartsuff, an old-time operator, rendered valuable aid. This was the condition of affairs when, September 10, Will iam L. Gross, late of Fuller's department, was appointed by Colonel Stager, "Assistant Superintendent of the United States Military Telegraphs for that portion of the Department of the Ohio embracing Central and East Kentucky and East Tennes see." This new position had been tendered to E. B. Gorton, of Cincinnati, but was declined by him on the ground that he was satisfied where he was. Lehr, chief operator, resigned, and Captain Bruch's brother, Adam, was appointed in his stead, with head-quarters in Knoxville, Gross establishing his at Danville. Gross received a commission as captain and assistant quarter master, October 27, 1863. We have already noted his service within Grant's department, beginning as manager of Cairo of fice, August 12, 1862. Discovering his disposition to work and executive qualifications, VanDuzer at first, then Bruch and after ward Fuller added to his labors until it became necessary to remove him entirely from the key, of which he was but an in different manipulator. Fuller made him chief clerk, in which position he exercised much discretion regarding the management of telegraphic affairs in that department. How successfully he 62 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE performed his part may be gathered from his appointment as captain, and how harmoniously, from the presentation of a gold watch by his co-laborers in Memphis, as related in the next chapter. Captain Gross's appointment was solely the result of meritorious service in the telegraph department — mainly cler ical and executive in character. Doubtless his study of the law, but especially his con tact with others, while fS ^""'^^^^^ teaching school and j/^j^' -" "fi\ practising law, gave him a degree of con- p-m == ¦; fidence better calculated ¦«M^ .:.::- to inspire others with respect for his abilities "SS!?^^1',poor-will attracteil his attention. Having fullest confidence in James A. Howard, the night opera tor. Hoover was, nevertheless, so keeply pei"suaded that the train 7« list b(- stopped, as to rise from his cot and await the com ing of this midnight express. Finally, an engine whistled for a water station half way down the se\ en-mile grade, at tho foot of which lay Normandy. About five hundred yaixls south of the office, the ix)ad crossed Duck Eiver and when the locomotives were not to stop at the station, they customarily whistled off brakes while crossing the bridge, and naturally enough Hoover was listening intent for the signal. A hospital train came thun dering down the grade. It struck tho bridge, and two shaip blasts ordered off tho brakes and startled Hoo\ or, who exclaimed to his fellow operator: "Quick. Howard! the rod light!" A few moments later, the train was at a doad stand by tho depot. "What's wanted r" asks the conductor, as he appix)aches. The operators explain that the time-card required No. 7 to stop regularly, which it had neglected to do, and consequently the}' vised the lantern. "Well, that's all right, boys," ho replied, "but I am not running No. T. Its engine gave out at Tulla homa, and my special train, full of wounded, was ordered ahead and to carry flags for No. T. Thoy will bo along soon. Thei"e is no harm done, so good-night. Keep a sharp lookout for old Wheeler. All aboard ! " As the ten ooaohos passed the station — coaches full of helplessness and misory — the operatoi"S watched until the roar rod light was just turning tho curve near the north end of the side track, when thoy heaixl first a shrill call for brakes, then a few dull thuds foUoMed by an ominous silenoo, which transfixed Hoover at the station door, for he folt that whatever it was he had dreaded so many hours, had come to CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 181 pass. In a few minutes the conductor returned with his lantern, pale, but self-possessed, and looking at the boys with an expres sion not to be forgotten, in a husky voice, said : " Come and see what your red light saved us from." Arriving there in silence, it Avas discovered that in the darkness the rebels had broken the switch lock, turned the rails from the main track and fastened a bar of railroad iron across the track with a telegraph wire. The road at that point turned sharply to the left around a high rock point, while to the right was a steep embankment running down to the deep, black water of Duck Eiver. As the conductor pointed down to the water he said: "Boys, if you had not flagged us to-night, we would have struck this obstruction at forty miles an hour, and the whole train with its three hundred sufferers would have gone down into that river." Such of the wounded as were able to walk that night crowded around the telegraphers, and, with tears of thankfulness, expressed their gratitude ; but Hoover insisted that 't was not he, but an over ruling Providence, that saved them. After the Kenesaw disaster and after the June losses of seven thousand five hundred and thirty killed, wounded and missing Federals and about six thousand Confederates, the army, July 2, began a movement to the right, pursu ant to a plan arranged by telegraph, for flanking Johnston out of his stronghold. General McPherson, who was to take a leading part, was in Jacques' office, in electric communication with Sherman three hours before starting, and it is probable that Thomas and Schofield also took part in the telegraphic interview. Johnston, upon discovering the movement, fell back to the Chat tahoochee. It was during these movements that W. E. Plum, long ¦detained in Chattanooga, was ordered to the front, and stationed first on Signal HiU, overlooking the river and the three bridges across it, which were fired by the rebels July 9, the night of his arrival and after most of the enemy had crossed to the southern side. About this time VanDuzer made his annual re port, wherein he wrote : In the erection, maintenance and working of these lines, Messrs. G. W. Wilson, C. G. Eddy, F. S. VanValkenburg, Cass G. Sholes, C W. Jacques, Joe Anderson and C. D. Whitney, operators, were 182 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE unwearied assistants, and to their hearty co-operation I owe much of the success that has attended my efforts to satisfy the demands of the armies for telegraphic communication. What -the measure of that success was, I leave for others to say. J. A. Fuller opened the office at Marietta, and soon after joined the field operators, working at the river ferries, Thomas' and Stanley's head-quarters, and Chattahoochee Bridge. Van Valkenburg left the vicinity of Marietta for the North, after which C. G. Eddy assisted Sholes at Sherman's. On the six teenth. Grant, having telegi-aphed the failure of the enemy's designs in Maryland and the consequent possibility of heavily reinforcing Johnston, Sherman moved at once to cross the river to the left of the railroad, via Eoswell and the ferries, partic ularly Paice's and Power's. The railroad wa.s immediately repaired to Vining's Station. Telegraph lines were promptly built to the right from Paice's Ferry to the Sweetwater, and to the left from Paice's to Power's Ferry, and from Marietta to Eoswell — in all about forty-five miles. These lines were all con structed to facilitate the crossing of the Chattahoochee. While that movement was progressing, the few operators at the front were on duty all day and night throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth. On the twentieth. General Hood, who superseded Johnston on the seventeenth, attacked Sherman in force, but was driven to the defenses of Atlanta. On the same day the linemen crossed the river with the wire, building along the rail road to the third mile post from the city, being but three-quar ters of a mile from the rebel defenses. From this point, a field line to the right and left connected the head-quarters of Gen erals Sherman and Thomas with those of such officers as they. desired and with the points of observation established by the Signal Corps. This line extended to the left as far as the posi tion south of the Augusta railroad which was attacked by the enemy on the twenty-second, and to the right as far as that wing was extended before the abandonment of the attack in front and the movement on Jonesboro. This line was at one time twenty miles long, and was continued in use twenty-eight days — offices having been opened and worked at twenty-three different points, more than one-half of which were exposed to the fire of the enemy. CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 183 On the twenty-second, Hood sallied forth from the city, mak ing a fierce attack on the Federal left and rear, and on the twen ty-eighth savagely assaulted the right, meeting severe repulse both days. McPherson was killed during the first attack. No officer in the army appreciated the value of the telegraph and the importance of the operator more than brave McPherson, who was pleased on all occasions to recognize its utility and to treat his operators with consideration. General Sherman shows the Confederate losses on this cam paign, during July, to have been ten thousand eight hundred and forty-one, of whom but two thousand were prisoners. The Union losses in killed, wounded and missing were nine thousand seven hundred and nineteen. During the month. General Eousseau's cavalry destroj^ed many miles of railroad about Opelika, Ala., and General Gar rard's did great damage to the Augusta road. Every night the rebels threw shells over and beyond Thomas' office, but sometimes they failed to go far enough, and one killed an orderly at head-quarters, where Bunnell, Anderson and Plum then operated. Bunnell, on the sixteenth of August, resigned on account of ill health, and the service lost one of its ablest and bravest operators. Eichmond Smith, fresh from the North, suc ceeded Bunnell as manager, to the dissatisfaction of some who had been long in the service. Thomas' was always the main or general office, and consequently was the most important. About the middle of August, Wheeler's cavalry cut the line near Calhoun, and again about Dalton, which place was attacked, but the cavalry were held at bay until Steedman, from Chatta nooga, came down and punished the rebels badly, after which they moved through East Tennessee, via Strawberry Plains, crossing the Clinch a few miles east of Jacksboro, and passing between CUnton and Jacksboro, crossed the Sequatchie Valley and moved on Murfreesboro, via McMinnville, intending to work great destruction to the Chattanooga road, while General Eoddy with another force was besieging Athens with a view to operate, after its capture, against the Decatur road. It will be remembered that the telegraph route from Danville, Ky., to KnoxviUe, via the Gap, had by this time been abandoned, and a new line erected via BurksvUle, Chitwoods, Jacksboro and Clin- 184 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING. THE ton. Wheeler's scouts cut this line south of Jacksboro before he crossed in force. James Jones was operator there, and James Palmer repairer. Palmer, approaching CUnton to repair the break, learned that the rebels had appeared on the south side of the river in force ; that one soldier was drowned while attempt ing to swim the river to get the ferry boat at CUnton, where the negro ferryman had left it. The repairer also met a woman who had recently returned from a visit at her father's, on the south side of the river. She reported having talked at her father's house with a number of Wheeler's men, who stated that they were en route for Kentucky, and would cross the mountains at Jacksboro, or two miles below, at Wheeler's Gap. These reports created great excitement in Jacksboro. The few troops and male citizens there at once looked about for places of safety in the woods, leaving Jones and Palmer about the only men in the town. They kept alternate watch all night, intending to tele graph North should the enemy appear, and thus afford ample notice to the commanders in Kentucky. Superintendent Gross telegraphed Jones : "If you should have to leave there, do not go farther than to secure your safety, and return as soon as possible. Try and report where they cross the mountains ; " to which Jones replied : " You may rely upon it, the rebels shall not cross the mountains without my reporting them. " The rebels not appearing. Palmer was sent to learn their whereabouts. He ascertained, and reported that Wheeler's force crossed at Win ter's Gap, and also the general officers, regiments and guns, and their destination. Jones telegraphed these facts, closing : " They will strike the railroad at or near Murfreesboro, Tenn. , in three days from the time of crossing ; " and so it proved. Wheeler struck the railroad about Smyrna, a little north of Murfreesboro, doing a little damage, but Eousseau commanding at Nashville, and Steedman at Chattanooga, being timely warned, drove him off quickly in the direction of Lawrenceburg and Florence, where he crossed. Captain Gross acknowledged the importance of Jones' report at the time, sa3dng, "The informa tion which you were able to give of the numbers and direction of the invading force under the rebel General Wheeler, was promptly laid before the proper military authoritios, and was the earliest information received of that force of the enemy." CIVIL WAR USr THE UNITED STATES. 185 No military commander however, ever thought of acknowledg ing this service. The telegraph operators at Smyrna, John T. Duell and his assistant were captured. Wheeler took them well on toward Florence, but being hard pressed by Eousseau, turned them loose to foot it back. Knding the defenses of Atlanta too sti'ong to assault, and the cavalry expeditions under ]McCook, Stoneman and Kilpat- rick respectively, against the communicating railroad unsuccess- fiil, or nearly so, Sherman essayed another flank movement to the right, leaving the Twentieth Anny Corps at and near the Chattahoochee Bridge. During this movement, Eddj' and Sholes accompanied Sherman, Whitney the cavalry, Jacques, General Howard, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, recently un der McPherson, and Plum, General Thomas. Although these operators carried their instruments, their going was mainty as cipherers. No lines were built, but many miles were desti-oyed. The other telegraphere returned to the river. On the way to Jonesboro, cipherer Sholes while stooping at a spring to drink, lost his criptograph key; the only one used at Sherman's head quarters. It was not until some hours after the rear guard passed this point, that Sholes discovered his great loss. While wonderinsc what the General would do to him and becomino^ more frightened as he pondered upon his misfortune, the brave boy determined to take his chances of capture by riding back to the spring, where he concluded the kej' must have dropped from his coat pocket. Mile after mile he rode, unattended and without meeting a human being. But no success attended his retiuTi, so he hastened back and stammered out to Sher man a report of his loss. Great was his relief when that officer cheeringly replied that the cipher was too old anyhow, and a new key ought to be made. That night, however, the key was returned to the operator by a member of "Howard's staff, who found it at the spring. August 31. Howard's forces struck the Macon Eailroad near Jonesboro, having already desti'oyed manj- miles of the West Point road, and on the same day. Stan ley and Schofield to the left, also struck the Macon road. Quite a battle ensued September 1, mainly between a part of Thomas' troops and the enemy, in which ten guns and one thousand Con federates were captured. During the subsidence of this battle, 186 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Thomas and his staff and operator, having dismounted, were sit ting side by side, when a bullet passed behind each of them in a line about an inch from their necks. During the day, but before the battle, a soldier exhibited to Thomas the rim of a canteen, which, whUe on the soldier's person, had been pierced squarely in the center by a small cannon ball, without injuring the wearer. The Confederates were pursued to Lovejoy, where, hearing of the evacuation of Atlanta by the corps left to hold it, Sher man declared the campaign ended and turned back to that city on the eighth. He estimates the Federal losses since leaving Chattanooga at thirty-one thousand, six hundred and eighty- seven killed, wounded and missing, and the Confederate at thirty-four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-nine. A few hours after the enemy left Atlanta, the telegraph party at the bridge, went in with the troops and opened communication with the North, which at this time was in the throes of a Presi dential canvass. The Democratic party had just resolved against " four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, " and before the delegates had returned to their homes, the tel egraph spread the news- throughout the North of the capture of Atlanta and Mobile Bay. Never was rejoicing more heartfelt. Sec retary of State Seward, in a public speech declared that "Sher man and Farragut have knocked the bottom out of the Chicago nominations." As Sherman's army encamped to the east and west of Atlan ta, the telegraph was connected with its parts; thus a line was built by William Patterson from Eoswell, through Cross Keys and Decatur to Atlanta, and thence v'la East Point to Campbell- ton, with offices at head-quarters of the army corps and cavalry commanders. This work was completed almost as soon as the army encamped. Then, Superintendent VanDuzer, who had been constantly at the front for nearly five months, returned to his quarters in Nashville. Besides the operators heretofore named, employed south of Chattanooga, there were in the month of September, the following: Thomas Williams, James Bryant, John E. Clark, Alfred Winder, William H. Hartman, Wa terhouse, N. S. Townsend, and probably some others. Within the Department of the Cumberland there were in June, three hundred and eighty-three telegraph employes, of CWIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 187 whom one hundred and forty-two were operators, one hundred and forty-four laborers, sixty-three repairers, and the rest made up of foremen, clerks, teamsters, wagon-masters, wagon-makers, blacksmiths, messengers and saddlers. And there were one thousand, five hundred miles of telegraph in constant use. It was with special reference to the telegraphers' service in this campaign, that Sherman in his Memoirs, wrote: The value of the magnetic telegraph in war cannot be exagger ated, as was illustrated by the perfect concert of action between the armies in Virginia and Georgia during ,1§64. Hardly a day in tervened when General Grant did npt.linbw the exact state of facts with me, more than one thousand, .fi.ve hundred miles away, as the wires ran. So on the field, a thin, insulated wire may be run on improvised stakes or from trge to tree, for six or more miles in a couple of hours, and I have seen operators so skillful that by cut ting the wire they would receive a message with their tongues from a distant station. As a matter of course, the ordinary commercial wires along the railways form the usual telegraph lines for an army, and these are easily repaired and extended as the army advances, but each army and wing should have a small party of skilled men to put up the field wire and take it down when done. This is bet ter far than the signal flags and torches. Our commercial telegraph lines will always supply for war enough skillful operators. 188 THE MJLITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE CHAPTER XII. THE TELEGRAPH IN THE DEPARTMENT OP THE TENNESSEE (1864) AND GULF TO SEPTEMBER. — SHERMAN'S ADVANCE FROM VICKSBURG.— A PERILOUS RIDE ON A FLAT OAR.— W. S. SMITH'S RAIDING FAILURE.- FORREST'S SUCCESSES AND DEFEAT IN WEST TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.- FORT PILLOW MASSACRE .—CAPTURE AND REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF AN OPERATOR. — STURGIS' AND A. J. SMITH'S RAIDS. — AN OPERATOR RIDDLED WITH BUCK-SHOT.— FORREST'S DASH INTO MEMPHIS ; CAPTURES AN OPERA TOR ; HIS EXPERIENCE.— VICKSBURG MATTERS.— GRIER SON'S RAID.— CAPTURE OF FORTS IN MOBILE BAY. Compared with 1863, the new year (1864) opened in the De partment of the Tennessee with few telegraph offices. These, operated under Captain Fuller, were located as foUows : At Pa ducah, Ky., Edwin Peel, operator; Metropolis, III., Charles WaUace; Cairo, HI., George Gallup, W. S. Lewis and Eichard H. Tracy ; Columbus, Ky., Jacob V. Hill and William Gibson ; Union City, Tenn., Edgar B. McNairn ; head-quarters, Memphis, Tenn., Lewis B. Spellman, William H. Merkley ; Memphis, W. B. Somerville ; E. E. depot, C. W. Pearson ; Germantown, F. W. SneU ; ColUersville, Edward F. Butier ; LaFayette, E. B. Griffin and Wm. A. Thayer ; Moscow, Chas. H. Spellman ; La Grange, Peter Fowler ; Grand Junction, Ellis Stone ; Camp Davis, Miss. , Eobt. J. Hughes ; Salisbury, Tenn. , James Pitton ; Pocahontas, Tenn., Jno. Q. Olmstead; Middleton, Tenn., Jno. O. Ingle ; Chewalla, Tenn. , Joseph Blish, Jr. ; Corinth, Miss. , Cambridge Culbertson and John J. Egan ; Vicksburg, Miss. , Eobert S. Fowler, Samuel D. Cochran ; E. E. depot, Edw. D. Butler ; Black Eiver Bridge, Stephen L. Eobinson ; and at He bron, Miss., John E. Frank. The Federal hold on West Tennessee, except along the river and the Memphis & Charleston Eailroad, had for months Been CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 189 nominal only. The great body of this section was given over to guerrillas, and, as if to invite organized expeditions against the river towns, it was concluded to vacate the line of the railroad also. Accordingly, Corinth was evacuated January 26, 1864 ; Grand Junction, the twenty - eighth ; LaGrange, the twenty- ninth. In short, all east of Germantown was given up, and that also, March 26. Offices were opened at Fort Pickering and at Colonel Hoges', out on the Pigeon Eoost road, a few miles from Memphis, to prevent surprises. This was the work of General Sherman, who reached Mem phis the 10th of January, bent on concentrating there a cavalry force, seven thousand strong, under General W. Sooy Smith, to overwhelm Forrest, while he, Sherman, with McPherson's Vicksburg forces and two divisions of Hurlbut's, moved east from Vicksburg against Lieutenant General Polk. In a great measure both expeditions failed. John J. Egan, operator, went with the army from Vicksburg, but found little to do. He reported the capture of Frank C. and Mervin Jones, Confeder ate States operators, who took the oath of allegiance and an nounced their purpose of going North. Sherman held them as prisoners of war. Operator Compton was also captured and brought to Vicksburg. Nat. Walton escaped from Clinton with his instruments, two hours before the Union troops arrived. The expedition, consisting of about twenty-three thousand men, left Vicksburg, February 3, and was feebly retarded by Polk's force, exceeding ten thousand men. Meridian, Miss., was reached, and great destruction was wrought wherever the army went, especially to the railroads. Finally, the troops returned leisurely, without being met by the cavalry force from Memphis, which was expected at Meridian. When Sherman passed Jackson, the anxiety at Meridian was indicated by hasty and general preparations for departure. Even the telegraph material, not in actual use, was packed. On the night before the evacuation. Major Fleming, General Superin tendent of the Mobile & Ohio Eailroad, arrived with an engine, one coach and box cars. Fleming and the telegraphers expected to leave at ten, a. m. , the next day, but Sherman had pressed his cavalry forward during the night, and by daylight Confederate General Adams had passed through the city, in retreat. Emmet 190 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE Howard, operator there, snatched his instruments from their places, connected the through lines, and hurriedly boarded the train. Then the engineer, probably fearing ambush, refused to run the locomotive, but the yard-master consented after an anx ious delay. The train moved southward with great rapidity, passing the three-mile post just as Federal cavalry rode up, after which the trip was uneventful to Enterprise, and thence south of the Alabama line, where an office was opened in a box car. When Sherman retired. Superintendents David Flanery, from the South, and James Pressly, from the North, restored the line to Meridian, using for that purpose every piece of wire, however short, that could be found. Not long after this, a most disastrous freshet washed portions of the Mobile & Ohio Eail road in scores of places, and many bridges south of Meridian were carried away. For piiles nothing could be seen above the water along the road but the iron rails and narrow embankment supporting them, and in some places the rails were held together only by fish-bar connections. Of course, the telegraph was much damaged, many poles being carried away. To ascertain the extent of the injury. Superintendent Pressly and operator Howard left Meridian for Mobile, with orders for the use of en gines and hand-cars wherever found. At Enterprise, an engine was obtained, and the driver prevailed upon to quit a saloon and run the locomotive to the first break. Pressly, Howard and a Mr. David Cummings boarded a flat car attached to the tender. The moment the engineer mounted the engine and opened the throttle, his condition was discovered ; but it was too late, and and the little train was soon moving at a speed of fifty miles an hour. What made it worse was the fact that the engine was pushing, not drawing the empty flat, which afforded nothing ex cept a few loose standards or uprights along its sides to hold on by. It is believed that this situation was better calculated to an inspection of one's sins than the telegraph. At one time, Pressly proposed jumping. Cummings tried to reach the tender, but the oscillations of the car made this difficult and dangerous for a novice. However, he finally succeeded, and, throwing the engineer aside, the train was brought to a stand. It stopped within fifty feet of the Chicahasaha Eiver, the bridge over which had been washed away. Had Cummings been a few seconds CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 191 later in reaching the engine, none of the party would have lived to relate the story of that dreadful ride. Wm. Sooy Smith's expedition, which was to co-operate with Sherman's march on Meridian, left Memphis one day after it was due at Meridian. Operators Lew. B. Spellman and Fred W. Snell accompanied Generals Smith and Grierson, respectively. The command returned February 26, having met Forrest, who with an inferior force, near West Point, defeated and sent it back to Memphis in hot haste, with a loss, according to a Con federate writer, of six hundred killed and wounded, and three hundred prisoners. Forrest's loss is stated at fifty killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. It was now Forrest's turn to move, and he did so with his usual success. He prepared a new expedition into West Ten nessee, consisting of two columns, one moving by way of Poca hontas and the other entering near Corinth. March 23, he sent a detachment under Colonel Duckworth against Union City, Tenn. , which was guarded by about four hundred and seventy- five troops under Colonel Hawkins. Approaching the place early the twenty-fourth, the Confederates were received by Hawkins, who made a vigorous defense for some hours, but Duckworth pretended the presence of Forrest" in overwhelming force, and reinforcements .not arriving, Hawkins surrendered. Some hours before the enemy appeared, scouts reported their near presence, when Hawkins roused Edgar B. McNairn, a young operator from Canada, to telegraph General Brayman, commanding the Columbus, Ky., district, for aid. General Brayman ordered operator Pearson to proceed with him from Columbus to Union City. Three regiments of infantry and one battery loaded on flat cars, were started by rail to succor Haw kins. Before this, the Une was cut (three A. M.) near Union City; proof of the presence of the foe, consequently the train moved very slowly, fearing ambush. Too tardy as we have seen. About six miles from Union City an old negro reported the fall of the place, and Brayman hurriedly returned. McNairn, who had taken position behind thte defenses with the soldiers, was of course among' Duckworth's prisoners. We will follow the military operations to the conclusion of this raid, and then see what befeU McNairn. Forrest's main force moved directly 192 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE for Paducah, where (twenty-fifth) Colonel Hick's troops, aided by gun-boats, repelled several assaults upon Fort Anderson. The Confederate loss was about three hundred killed and wounded, and the Federal, sixty. Ed Peel was operator at this place at this time. From Paducah, Forrest moved southward, leaving Buford at Trenton, instructed to overrun the territory with his division, conscripting and foraging. Hendricks, the telegraph repairer at Blandville, was among the conscripts. The telegraph north of Columbus was cut and unused for over two weeks. April 10, the rebels in small force dashed on the pick ets at the latter place, kilUng one and capturing another. On the thirteenth, Brayman was summoned by Buford to sun-ender, but instead, he opened his big guns of Columbus on the enemy, who decamped. On the fourteenth, Buford appeared again at Paducah, but retired about the expiration of the time allowed for the removal of the women and children. Meanwhile a small body from Memphis was whipped by a brigade at Bolivar, en route to join Forrest. Grierson in Memphis having organized a large force, still other cavalry was sent to Forrest. His com mand doubtless now exceeded five thousand men. While Buford was approaching Paducah, Forrest was mak ing a reputation at Fort Pillow, which place he captured on the 12th of April. Out of a garrison of five hundred and seventy- five, about forty-five per cent, were killed. The excuse for the remarkable disparity between the loss of the assailants not un der cover, viz. : fourteen killed and eighty-six wounded, and the defenders behind works, few of whom were wounded and about two hundred and fifty killed, is that the negroes and renegade Tennesseean defenders fought heroically. It is extremely diffi cult to fitly appreciate such heroism if we consider the paucity of results. It savors too much of heroically selling one's life as cheaply as possible. Suicides and self conceited martyrs are sometimes found to have preferred being dead cowards to living heroes, but instances where so many of either class, valiantly elect to fall by an enemy's hand are unknown, unless Forrest's apologists are to be believed. Soon after he moved into Miss issippi. E. B. Griffin and C. W. Pearson were operating at Colum bus during these operations, and Jacob Volney Hill, the niana- CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 193 ger, was dying in the small-pox hospital. He entered the corps early in the war and rendered invaluable service, incurring great risk and suffering severe exposures. His energy, daring and ability attracted the personal attention of Colonel Stager, who complimented him for his achievements, and ordered Captain Fuller to increase his pay. Hill's was a hard fate. A force of about twelve thousand left Memphis April 30, to operate under General Sturgis against Forrest's troopers, before they could return to Mississippi. They quickly left Bolivar on Sturgis' arrival, and effected their escape. Operator Fred W. Snell accompanied the Federals until, owing to his being retard ed while mending the wire, the troops left him and his little party of repairers behind, liable at any moment to be captured or shot by the prowUng banditti that infested the Une of the Memphis & Charleston Eoad in that district. Consequently one of the men stood watch while the others worked. To all re quests for a guard and orderlies, the General deigned no reply. He even took up his pontoons over Wolf Eiver, thus compeUing the operator and builders to construct a raft on which to cross the building material. As the party was sent out by General AYash- burne's order, to keep Sturgis in communication, the latter's utter disregard of the operator and constructionists seems strange. A raft of logs was made two miles from the railroad, the mate rial carried to it from the hand car, was at the end of a hard day's work, landed on the other side the evening of May 3, when the Une was extended to Moscow. Sturgis sent back im portant despatches for Washbume, but just as Snell began sending them the wire was severed, he knew not where, but believing it was at ColUersville, he secured five negro soldiers, and with Joe Wooten, a brave repairer, started for that town, seven miles from Wolf Eiver. They cautiously approached the place, found the wire on the ground, connected the instrument and sent the despatches. They remained there, lying flat on the ground, while telegrams were being sent and received, over two hours. Happily it was quite dark, for a squad of the enemy's cavalry scarce twenty rods away were discussing the quality of a jug of Memphis whisky. When Washbume's last message was re ceived the party returned by the hand car that brought them, as rapidly as possible. As the horrors of Fort Pillow were fresh 13b 194 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE in their minds, the venture was the more commendable. Among the despatches to Sturgis was one ordering a guard for the tele graph party, which was sent. E. B. McNairn, captive operator at Union City, began his great southward tramp at midday, reaching Trenton at two p.m. the following day. En route to Jackson some of the prisoners began to lag; McNairn among them. Colonel Wilson, com manding the guard, made a pass at him with a sword, which, owing to the rashness of McNairn, who thereupon seized a gun, came near resulting in the death of both; for had McNairn fired, Wilson's men would have made short work with the operator At Jackson, it was arranged by some of the prisoners to club the guard and escape ; but as the Federals were encircled by a fire, the plan was abandoned. From here to Pocahontas, under Colonel Wilson, and thence to Eipley and Kelly's MiUs, under the considerate Lieutenant Colonel White, these prisoners were marched leisurely or hurriedly by long or moderate marches, according as the air was infused with rumors of approaching Federals. From Kelly's Mills to Aberdeen, quite a number of prisoners escaped. After a tramp of about two hundred and fifty miles, West Point, Miss., was reached, from whence by rail the prisoners proceeded to Mobile, Ala., two hundred and thirty-two miles. Here they boarded a steamer, and ascending the Alabama Eiver twenty miles, were debarked to march to Montgomery, and thence to Camp Sumter, in Anderson, Ga., where they were appalled, on arrival at dayUght, by the sight of the great prison pen. Into this cruel prison — this bastile where were immured at one time full thirty thousand Federals, from which, during its occupancy, twelve thousand nine hundred and twenty Union dead were taken — McNairn and most of his comrades, who had survived their long marches, were lodged. But McNairn's stay here was short, and in the county jail, at Macon, sixty miles north, he soon met certain officers of his party, who had not been sent to Anderson. Altogether, there were one hundred and twenty-three officers confined in the jail on McNairn's reception. Thoughts of escape were soon dominant. Colonel Hawkins succeeded in making an instrument from wire, by which he could unlock the door, but he seems not to have profited by it. Cap- CTTIL WAR IN THE UXTTED STATES. 195 tain Moore had saved a pocket map of the United .Staiei. which wa5 frequently consulted in debatrng a proper route of escape. on which point there were many opinions. MeNaim secreted a case knife which was converted into a saw. and therewith the plank floor, after six days patient toiling, was cut. .Six persons. confined in one apartment, were engage 1 in the effort to escape. which, as planned, involved the disf^inir of a tunnel tmder the three foot thick waU of the prison, and twenty feet beyond. The parties eii2-ageii in this work were Captains Murray and Gsl- loway. Lieutenants Ayers, Oats. Allander. and operator MeNaim Each man in his turn labored in digging down below the found ation. After succeeding in this, divesting themselves, one at a time, of most of their clothing, they in turn entered the hole and tunneled with the case-knife saw as long as the impure air would aUow. and. having clasped his arms around the loose earth, a comrade would drag him out. The dirt was then thrown under the floor. By the 14th of May. every thing was in readiness for the great venture. It was arranged that one party, consisting of GaUoway. Oats and ADander, should pass first. These were to go north anl enter Sherman's lines about Dalton, Ga. The other three, starting a Uttie later. /. -.. rsvo. A. M. , were to try and make General Asboth's quarters at Pensa- oola, Fla. Oats and McNaim finished the tunnel up to the sur face, making a smaU opening through which stars could be seen. Oats led the way, but as he reached the opening, was alarmed by a sentinel within the yard (the tunnel opened into the pubUc square;, not over three feet from him. The sentinel was p; king the earth and stones with his baxonet. doubtless beUeving the noise he had heard was made by rats. This caused the lieutenant to return and report that they were discovered, and that aU was lost. For an hour aU Ustened intentiy. The suspense grew each each moment and became oppressive. The first part^- refiised to proceed, bnt the second determined to take their chances. Ayers led the way out. McNaim foUowed in a few moments, and then came Murray. The night was clear and beautifuL The lights were burning in the streets. Across the open square was a guard house, from which came snatches of song and bursts of drunken laughter. A soUtary man was seen walking a deserted street. The trio, having rubbed their boots well with onions to 196 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE prevent being tracked by the hounds, took the Southwestern Georgia Eailroad, and walked about four miles to a copse, where they lay all day — the trains passing them on the right, and negroes working in the fields near by to the left. Evefi the noise of hounds was heard, and when night came they were wearied with excitement. At dark, providing themselves with stout cudgels, they started on their long, perilous and adventurous march for Pensacola, flanking each station when possible and avoiding as much as practicable their greatest enemy, mankind. Night after night they walked, oftentimes losing their way when off the railroad, sometimes nearly drowned ih swamps and quick sands ; again, nearly famished, or crazed with thirst, they, never theless, under the impetus of hope and the excitement of their undertaking trudged on, sleeping by day on the bare ground, and finding too frequently that they had located their resting place unfortunately near some farm house or village, in which event anxiety prevented sleep. On a Sunday morning they were awakened by singing in a contiguous meeting-house. The rations which these men had stinted themselves to save for this trip while in jail, gave out before reaching Fort Valley, which place they tried to leave on the left, but took a road which led them right into the town. The next day Murray was in great agony from thirst, which was finally slaked from a mud puddle where McNairn and Murray drank themselves sick. Following the Columbus road, they crossed the Flint Eiver and turned south-westerly toward Eufaula, sometimes barely living on the fish they caught, or the fowls they foraged ; again, surfeiting themselves at the table of some generous hostess or in a negro's cabin, or while lying in the swamps where Unionists sent them food. They were enabled eventually, after passing through Lumpkin at midnight, to reach and cross the Chattahoochee Eiver at Florence, near Eufaula. At one farm house, where were three women and one man, the venturers, in the r6le of fur- loughed Confederates, were, enjoying hospitalities. During the conversation which ensued, the three claimed to have met the son of the old gentleman in the army of Virginia. This son had been captured at Gettysburg, and well treated while a prisoner near New York. On his return he wore a blouse quite similar to McNairn's. This fact caused the son's mother, while the CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 197 party were at table, to lay her hand on McNairn's arm and, looking him squarely in the face, say " I beUeve you are a Yan kee." His blushes and hesitation carried conviction, and it was well, because out of gratitude for her son's treatment, the three were well provided for continuing their journey. Passing Clay ton, they struck the Pea Eiver, intending by boat or raft to fol low it to the gulf, but dams and waterfalls prevented. While lying in a swamp by the river, they separated and hid from a party approaching, whereby Murray became lost until near nightfall. Crossing the river, they continued their journey to Slip-up, where, as furloughed rebels, they dined with a Captain Harne and another Confederate officer. Pressing on over Wins- low's bridge, past Geneva, they reached Hewitt's Bluff, Fla., where, while resting at midday in fancied security at a Union man's house, they luckily discovered the approach of troopers, w^ho rode up to the house just as the Federals, leaving all behind, rushed out at the rear and ran rapidly toward a canebrake, called " tight eye," which was gained only after the pursuers on horse back had wildly fired several shots at the fugitives. The horses could not enter the swamp, and their riders drew off to get their dogs. At night a guide took them to an island, where were a great many Unionists avoiding conscription. On this island the three obtained a boat in which, after several nights hard work, they emerged at the mouth of the Choctawhatchee, where the owner of a fishing smack received them and carried them to the gunboat Bloomer, Captain Christie, near East Pass. The next da}' a tender conveyed them through the Santa Eosa Sound to the frigate "Potomac," lying off Pensacola, where they were landed and taken to General Asboth's head-quarters. Murray was too sick to start North immediatel}'; Ayers went via the Atlantic coast and McNairn reached Memphis via the Mississ ippi, on the 2d of July, one hundred and one days from his cap ture, after ti'aveling near three thousand miles, two thousand through the heart of the Confederac}-, about seven hundred of which was on foot, and when he reached ^Memphis he was re duced from one hundred and fifty pounds to ninety-nine and one-half. It may here be noted that in May, 1862, Pensacola was evac uated by the Confederates, and the telegraph wire connecting 198 THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH DURING THE that city vnth Northern ones was reeled up as far inland as Camp Lomax, thirty miles from Pensacola. At this point of observation, J. G. Thornton, operator and officer, communicated with the interior. Major T. J. Myers commanded the battalion of three companies of the Fifteenth Confederate cavalry, known in all the region thereabouts, which they scouted, as the " bloody Fifteenth, " and it is not improbable that McNairn's visitants at Hewitt's Blufis, were of this command. Federals from Pensa cola frequently pursued the " bloody Fifteenth," and at one time drove them back to Pollard, where General Tyler, accompanied by Confederate States operator Frank U. McMulUn, from Montgomery, with one thousand, five hundred reinforcements, checked the advance. In the retreat on Pollard, Thornton nar- rowdy escaped captui-e or worse, in the conflicts which ensued, and during which, as an officer on Confederate General Clanton's staff, he was much exposed. C. H. Edwards was then operating at Pollard. The line was abandoned after this raid. General Sturgis having signally failed to punish Forrest, was nevertheless allowed upon his return to Memphis, to organize another powerful expedition, which left that city early in June. Operator Snell accompanied Sturgis, but before starting. Gene ral Washburne gave an order directing the commanding general or any other officer to afford required assistance when solicited by the operator. The telegraph Mas repaired twenty-seven miles out, where the troops debarked from cars and began their south-easterly march to strike the Confederate cavalry and pre vent its operating against Sherman's communications. Near Salem, Snell and three hundred cavalrymen were ordered to op erate along the Mobile & Ohio Eoad. Passing through Eipley, they crossed the Hatchie Eiver, captured some scouts and moved rapidly toward the railroad at Danville and Eienzi, where the depots were burned, us were also several trestles and one other bridge. On the fifth, SneU and fifty cavalrymen took another tack, which was enlivened by a running fight of nine miles, driv ing the enemy across the Tishimingo Creek with a small loss. Joining the larger party two days later, they narrowly escaped capture by the timely arrival of a reinforcement of five hundred. Snell was unable to effect anything on the Confederate wires. Forrest warmly received Sturgis at Guntown, where ample CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 199 preparations for whipping the Federals had been made. On the tenth, the Union cavalry encountered the enemy's pickets, which were driven back, and the Confederates discovered in position. After four hours' fighting, the Federal cavalry was driven back, and the infantry began. All the forces Sturgis had in hand were soon engaged in a desperate struggle. Cavalry, army wagons and infantry became inextricably mixed, and about five p. M., the Unionists began giving ground. The negroes re membering Fort Pillow, fought with desperation, even clubbing their guns. That night, Sturgis' command fell back to Eipley, about twenty-five miles, a defeated and demoralized mass — nine thousand in all. The Confederates pressed their advantage nearly to ColUersville, by which time the Union loss was three thousand, five hundred men, many guns and wagons. The monotony of being whipped or out generaled every time, grew burdensome to the Nationals in this section, and in part to retrieve success, yet another expedition was organized, but its great purpose was co-operative. General E. E. S. Canby at New Orleans, directing operations south of Cairo, was aiming at Mo bile. Washburne's forces (including A. J. Smith's), Steele's in Arkansas, and the lower river troops, including Slocum's- at Vicksburg, were to co-operate. The plan in this regard, which I deduce from messages in my possession, written by Canby himself at Ne^v Orleans, and put in cipher, was for "A. J. Smith's troops and any other that Washburne could reach, to pursue, and if possible destroy Forrest's command," and to that end wrote Canby, June 27, "I have placed under his (Washburne's) control, all the militia from the North-western States that were ordered to report to me, and several regiments of old ti'oops from Missouri. This wUl enable him to give Smith an effective force of twelve or fifteen thousand men, and leave a reserve of five thousand for other operations. I will start the expedition against Mobile four days later. A cavalry expedition will start at the same time for (from) Vicksburg, for the purpose of dis tracting the attention of the enemy from Smith's operations and those in this neighborhood. A large cavalry force will leave the river above Baton Eouge, for the purpose of cutting the Mobile & Ohio Eailroad." Steele at Little Eock, was directed "to make a demonstration in the direction of Price's forces," to "pre- 2'!>0 THT. VTT.TTARY TELEGRAPH DUBIXG TUT. vent their coming down npon the river while these <^[)erations are pending." Slocum was ordered " to send all toot ^his) cavalry force that can be spared, for the pnipose of making a demon stration in the direction of Jackson or beyond, for the purpose of distracting the attention of the enemy as much as possible from the other operations." Smith was to start on the i'd of July and Canby the sixth. Steele was tco weak to press on. and called for help to save his communic-arions. and Canby sent a brigade and two batteries from Morganzia lo the month of the White Eiver. to be com- mande-