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TELEGRAPHING

IN BATTLE
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
BY
John EMMET O'BRIEN, M. D.
OPERATOR AND CIPHER-OPERATOR U. S. MILITARY
TELEGRAPH, 1862–1866

SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA
1910
copyright, 1910, by
John EMMET O'BRIEN, M. D.
Published, March, 1910
THE RAEDER PRESS;
WILIGES-EARRI, PA.
ëiCa
;:
i
TO
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
WHO CALLED INTO EXISTENCE THE
MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
AND WHOSE EXAMPLE WAS AN INSPIRATION
TO MANY BOYS,
THESE REMINISCENCES ARE FRATERNALLY
DEDICATED, AS A SUGGESTION OF
INDUSTRY AND PATRIOTISM
TO YOUNG AMERICA.
: ' , ... *Tº ſº.
. . . . . . 4.- : *;
..-:-É– 3 -º- 2.4% P
CONTENTS
CHATPTER I. PAGE
ORIGIN OF THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH-ANDREw CAR-
NEGIE—REMINISCENCES OF MR. CARNEGIE AND RICH-
ARD O’BRIEN .
CHAPTER II.
EARLY ASSIGNMENTS—RUNNING TRAINS WITH CARNEGIE—
THE ARSENAL–DIALOGUE BETWEEN PRESIDENT LIN-
COLN AND RICHARD–RUNNING NEW WIRES—BALL’s
BLUFF–McCLELLAN’s USE OF THE TELEGRAPH . .
CHAPTER III.
RICHARD O'BRIEN, CHIEF OPERATOR-Fortress Monroe,
HAMPTON AND NEwpoRT NEws—THE YouNGRST TELEG-
RAPHER—THE FIRST LADY TELEGRAPHERs—SCOTT AND
CARNEGIE—THE BLUE JUNIATA . . .
CHAPTER IV.
I ENTER THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH, THE YoUNGEST MEM-
BER OF THE CORPS–THE FIGHT IN HAMPTON ROADS—
TELEGRAPHING THE PHASES OF BATTLE-OPERATOR
COWLAM'S HEROISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER V.
ANSON STAGER MADE HEAD OF THE MILITARY TELE-
GRAPH-THOMAS T. EcKERT IN CHARGE IN THE EAST –
EASTERN SHORE LINE–THE CABLE-McCLELLAN AT
YORKTOWN–BALLOON TELEGRAPHY-BATTLE OF WILL-
IAMSBURG-LINCOLN, CHASE AND SEWARD . . . . .
17
35
56
71
vii
CHAPTER VI. PAGE
NORFOLK–END OF THE MERRIMAC–SUFFOLK—WIRES AND
CABLES-EXPERIENCE OF CAPTURED OPERATORs—NA-
VAL DISPATCHES-RELATIONS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY
IN THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
CHAPTER VII.
SUMMARY OF MILITARY TELEGRAPHING IN 1862—GUER-
RILLAS–HORSEMANSHIP-D. WILMOT SMITH AND SIT-
TING BULL–SIEGE OF SUFFOLK—TELEGRAPHIC SOM-
NAMBULISM-THE SONG OF THE BULLET . . . . . . . 106
CHAPTER VIII.
A COLLISION OVER NEGRO SOLDIERs—THE WRIGHT-SAN-
BORN TRAGEDY-TwenTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OFFERED
FOR A TELEGRAM—COUNTERSIGNS—TELEGRAPHIC SUM-
MARY FOR 1863 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
CHAPTER IX.
I GO ON OUTPOST FOR KILPATRICK's RAID ON RICH-
MOND—RICHARD O’BRIEN CHIEF OPERATOR ARMY OF
THE JAMES-GRANT MOVES ALL ARMIES BY TELE-
GRAPH-TAPPING OUR WIRE—WADE HAMPTON's CAT-
TLE RAID—CAPTURE OF O’BRIEN'S CONSTRUCTION
CORPS AND ESCAPE OF MACKINTOSH-SHERMAN'S USE
AND OPINION OF THE TELEGRAPH . . . . . . . . . . 137
CHAPTER X.
O’BRIEN’S FIRST MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES IN FRONT
of PETERSBURG-TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE-GRANT's
ORDER BRINGS ME TO THE FRONT . . . . . . . . . . 156
CHAPTER XI.
RICHARD O’BRIEN'S WAR DIARY OF A CHIEF OPERATOR
IN THE SIEGE OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG . . . . 178
viii
CHAPTER XII. PAGE
CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS–WITH GENERAL SCHOFIELD
AND THE ARMY OF THE OHIO-FORT FISHER—CAPE
FEAR RIVER—CAPTURE OF FORT ANDERSON.—WIL-
MINCTON.—BUILDING LINE WITHOUT MEN OR MATERIAI, 196
CHAPTER XIII.
WAR DIARY RESUMED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
CHAPTER XIV.
ExCHANGING CIPHERS WITH GENERAL SHERMAN . . . . 221
CHAPTER xv.
BATTLE OF KINSTON.—GUM Swam P—I TELEGRAPH IN BAT-
TLE-GENERAI, Cox THANKS US ON THE FIELD–JUNc-
TION WITH SHERMAN AT GOLDSBORO . . . . . . . . . 232
CHAPTER XVI.
WIRES AND RAILROADS AT GOLDSBORO–GREAT NEWS FROM
GRANT—FALL OF RICHMOND TELEGRAPHED OVER
WIRE BUILT IN FRONT OF IT BY RICHARD O’BRIEN . . 248
CHAPTER XVII.
I RIDE WITH SCHOFIELD AND SHERMAN FROM GOLDSBORO
TO RALEIGH-THE LONE CAVALRYMAN–BEAUTIFUL,
RALEIGH-ON SOUTHERN WIRES-A FATEFUL CIPHER
MESSAGE-GRANT'S VISIT-JOHNSTON SURRENDERS–
CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE “O’BRIEN” UNDER MANY FLAGS-LAST DAYS OF THE
MILITARY TELEGRAPH–RICHARD SURRENDERS TO A
FAIR VIRGINIAN–IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT—GOOD-
BYE TO GENERAL GRANT AND SECRETARY STANTON . . 279
CHAPTER XIX.
SOUTHERN TELEGRAPHERS AND SoME OF THEIR EXPLOITS 295
ix
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
LIGHT FIELD SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece
PAGE
ANDREw CARNEGIE, FounDER OF THE MILITARY TELE-
GRAPH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
THE FOUR FIRST MILITARY TELEGRAPHERS—STROUSE,
BRowN, BATEs, R. O'BRIEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
CoLoREL WILLIAM B. WILsoN, PRESIDENT SocIETY OF THE
U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH CORPS . . . . . . . . . . 22
RICHARD O’BRIEN, CHIEF OPERATOR ARMY OF THE JAMES,
AND of DEPARTMENT OF NoFTH CAROLINA, ETC., 1861–5 36
DAVID HomeR BATEs, MANAGER WAR DEPARTMENT OF-
FIck, 1861-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
MAP OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CONTIGUOUs VIRGINIA . . . 64
GENERAL THOMAS T. EcKERT, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
MILITARY TELEGRAPH AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
WAR, 1861–5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
CHARLEs A. TINKER, CHIEF OPERATOR WAR DEPARTMENT,
1862–6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
A FIELD ExPEDIENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
MR. LINcol,N AND HIS SON “TAD” . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
ALBERT B. CHANDLER, CIPHER-OPERATOR WAR DEPART-
MENT, Etc., 1862–5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
TAPPING A WIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
FIELD TELEGRAPH–BATTERY WAGON . . . . . . . . . . . 118
“INSULATED '' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
COLONEL ROBERT C. CLowRY, AssISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
MILITARY TELEGRAPH, 1861–5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
GRANT, SHERIDAN, MEADE, RAwLINS AND AN OPERATOR . . 142
MAP of RICHMOND, PETERSBURG AND VICINITY . . . . . 150
WILLIAM R. PLUM, CIPHER-OPERATOR TO GEN. THOMAS–
HISTORIAN OF THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH, ETC. . . . 152
X
PAGE
WILLIAM J. DEALY, CIPHER-OPERATOR. U. S. MILITARY
TELEGRAPH, 1861–5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
J. HERVEY NICHOLs, CIPHER-OPERATOR ARMY of THE
JAMES, RTC., 1861–5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
MAP OF FORT FISHER AND WILMINGTON, N. C. . . . . . 206
MAP OF BATTLE OF KINSTON, N. C. . . . . . . . . . . . 232
MAP OF A PORTION OF NORTH CAROLINA, SHOWING NEW
BERNE, GOLDSBORO AND RALEIGH . . . . . . . . . . 238
THOMAS E. CLARKE, MUSICIAN 124TH INDIANA VOLUNTEER
INFANTRY-THE DRUMMER BOY OF KINSTON . . . . . 244
John EMMET O’BRIEN, IN 1864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
THOMAS E. CLARKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
CAPTAIN FRANK P. O’BRIEN, C. S. A. . . . . . . . . . . 280
MRS. RICHARD O’BRIEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
RICHARD O’BRIEN (2ND), AND FAMILY, INCLUDING RICH-
ARD THE THIRD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
JoBN EMMET O'BRIEN, M. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
xi
PREFACE
The Author is aware that these reminiscences are
rather discursive and personal, but hopes that such
faults may be pardoned for the sake of some valuable
material, first-hand glimpses of great men and events,
and heroic deeds of his comrades, which he has felt
an imperative obligation to record. The Reader is
urged to glance often at the maps, which Mr. Homer
D. Cox has skilfully simplified from those of the War
Department.
Scranton, Pa., 1910.
TELEGRAPHING
IN BATTLE

TELEGRAPHING
IN BATTLE
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH-ANDREW
CARNEGIE—REMINISCENCES OF ME. CAR-
NEGIE AND RICHARD O’BRIEN.
HE unique experience and observation of two
military telegraphers, Richard O'Brien, chief
operator, and myself, the youngest telegrapher then
in the world, in camp, march, siege and battle, in
peculiar contact with great men and events, some-
times behind the scenes, sometimes flung into the
very midst of action in the lurid drama of the Civil
War, furnish the theme of these reminiscences.
Richard was nine years my senior and had preceded
me by two years in the telegraph. His experience
and service in the war were of more importance and
his story would be more interesting than mine, but
one cannot know even a brother's reminiscences so
intimately as his own, and so the best I can do is
3
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
to first give an epitome of Richard's career, which
will partly explain my own unique position, and then
tell our experiences together as I remember them.
He was born in Waterford County, Ireland, Decem-
ber 30, 1839, and I, October 7, 1848. Our parents
had been living in Philadelphia for some years, but
having met reverses by the failure of the United
States Bank, they had gone back to Ireland shortly
before Richard's birth. They returned, with five
children, of whom I was the youngest, to this country
in 1851.
American readers do not care for foreign genealogy;
they like to trace their own back two or three cen-
turies to the pilgrims or the cavaliers, but a pure
Celtic line reaching back a thousand years, or so,
does not interest them, though, as is probable in
Richard's case, it transmits the brain and intelligence
of ancient energy through many centuries. These
matters of heredity and ethnology are not well known
or broadly appreciated except by scholars, but, after
all, philosophy speaks rather for the universal frater-
nity of men than for racial distinctions.
With a common school education and exceptional
individual capacity Richard, in 1856, took up teleg-
raphy, which was the highest development of electri-
cal science in the middle of the century. He operated
on the first Morse line extending from Philadelphia,
known as the “Atlantic and Ohio,” and on the
Pennsylvania Railroad in 1856, serving in various
4
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
capacities and at different stations until the outbreak
of the Civil War, which found him chief operator of
the middle division of that road, stationed at Harris-
burg.
When, after the destruction of railroads and tele-
graphs by the mobs of Baltimore in April, 1861,
Mr. Lincoln called upon Thomas A. Scott, vice-
president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, for aid in
restoring communication between the North and
Washington, O'Brien was one of the four telegraph
assistants selected by Andrew Carnegie in carrying
out that vital enterprise which involved the transpor-
tation of troops rushing to the defense of the Capital.
Just how this emergency arose on the Baltimore
route we will let Mr. William J. Dealy, a valued com-
rade of the military telegraph, explain :
“In April, 1861, I was in the service of the Philadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company,
and was sent from my regular station, Magnolia, to a
new office at Back River, six miles north of Balti-
more. There was a guard of six or eight armed men
in the service of the railroad company sent to Back
River, to prevent interference with, or damage to, the
bridge. April 19th, the Sixth Massachusetts Regi-
ment, on its way to Washington, unarmed and with-
out uniforms, was attacked in the streets of Baltimore
by a mob and driven back. These retreating soldiers
caused extra vigilance on the part of the guard and
myself. I was on duty fifty-six hours, and finally,
5
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
becoming exhausted, went to bed about 2 A.M., April
22nd, only to be awakened and captured three hours
later. The night mail train from Philadelphia to
Baltimore passed south safely and reached Canton,
a suburb of Baltimore, where it was stopped by a
force of eighty policemen and eighty militia. A
bridge crossing a small creek or canal at Canton had
been destroyed to prevent this train from going
farther. After the passengers and baggage were
landed, the policemen and militia took possession of
the cars, and compelled the engineer by threats to start
northward. I never fully understood why the police
and militia did the very thing that it was our duty to
prevent and became bridge burners, but I remember
their explanation was that Baltimore was excited, and
it was necessary, as a means of cooling the excitement,
to prevent troops from passing through the city for
the present. The only effectual way to prevent it
was to cut off communication by burning the bridges.
They claimed to have the authority or sanction of the
city officials for their action. The officer in com-
mand of these one hundred and sixty men was a
Major Trimble, who had previously been superin-
tendent of the railroad, and was subsequently a major-
general in the rebel army. The first stop of the train
on its way back was at Back River, about 5 A.M.,
where I was hurriedly awakened, and told to jump
aboard. I took my instruments with me, considering
myself lucky in being saved from the bridge burners
6
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
that had been long expected, as I supposed the police
and militia had come to protect the road. They then
cut down several telegraph poles, cut the wire, and
started the train. The captain of the militia, whose
name, I believe, was Matthews, told me I was the first
political prisoner of the war. Our next stop was
Gunpowder bridge, nineteen miles north of Baltimore,
where we stopped but a few moments. We arrived
at Magnolia, two miles farther north, just as the
operator, J. A. Swift, now electrician in the Storm
Signal Bureau, Washington, was coming down the
road from his home to begin the labors of the day,
and he was also made a prisoner. Our next stop was
on the bridge that crosses Bush River. Bush River
is about six miles north of Magnolia, or twenty-seven
from Baltimore. The bridge is three-quarters of a
mile long, and built of trestle work, the same as Gun-
powder bridge, which is about a mile long.
“We were met on the bridge by a south-bound
freight train in charge of Conductor Goodwin. It
then transpired that the object of the party was to go
to Havre de Grace (thirty-six miles from Baltimore),
get possession of the railroad company’s steamer
Maryland, used to transport trains across the Sus-
quehanna, and scuttle her. In this, however, they
were defeated. Swift and myself were now anxious
to leave the train, as we wanted to get to the next tele-
graph office, Perrymansville, a mile and a half distant,
and warn Havre de Grace, but the doors of the car
7
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
were locked, and a sentinel paced each platform.
Conductor Goodwin, however, evidently changed
their plans, by telling them it was known at Havre
de Grace that they were on the road, and that troops
were there to receive them. In fact, he intimated
that they might, since he left, have received orders to
march and meet them. The freight train, after con-
siderable switching, the road being single-track, was
then allowed to pass south. The road has since
become double-track, and the old steamer Maryland
has been superseded by a magnificent bridge across
the Susquehanna. The Maryland is now owned by
the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Company, and transfers trains, passengers and freight
between the Pennsylvania depot at Jersey City and
the New Haven depot at Mott Haven. It is a fine
ferry-boat, and when on the Susquehanna River, had
three tracks and could take seven cars on each,
twenty-one in all. She has since been remodeled and
can be seen any day on the East River with her
trains.
“The draw of the Bush River bridge was then
burned and we returned to Gunpowder bridge, the
draw of which was also burned. At the southern end
of this bridge is Harewood station, where we break-
fasted. Swift had been released at Magnolia on the
way back. About noon we started again on our
backward way, and I found myself again at Back
River. The bridge here was about 800 feet long and
8
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
the bridge tender, a Mr. Butler, since dead, who had
been a sea captain, and used to salt his vessel to make
it fire-proof, had also salted the bridge. His plan and
practice was to place salt, rock-salt generally, along
the timbers in the evening. The dew of night would
dissolve it, and the timbers would become impreg-
nated with the salt. When sparks from passing loco-
motives fell upon the bridge, the salt would ooze out
in moisture and smother the fire. Several unsuccess-
ful attempts were made to burn this bridge, but the
salt saved it.
“I expected to be released here, but it was sug-
gested that I join a light artillery company, then in
Baltimore, about to start for Richmond, and probably
with the hope of securing me, they took me to Balti-
more. I was then released, walked back to my
station, Back River, six miles, and after resting,
walked to Havre de Grace, thirty more miles. Cross-
ing the burned bridges on hands and knees, and the
Susquehanna in a row boat, I took train to Philadel-
phia, and after reporting to A. W. Decoster, superin-
tendent of telegraph, was taken to S. M. Felton,
president, and to Mr. N. P. Trist, paymaster.”
At a reunion and banquet of military telegraphers
held at the Hotel Manhattan in New York, March
29, 1907, Mr. Carnegie related to us some of his
experiences at the origin of the United States Mili-
*Written in 1878 to William R. Plum, historian of the military
telegraph.-Telegraph Age, April 1, 1909.
9
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
tary Telegraph : In proceeding from Annapolis to
Washington on the hastily repaired road he, riding on
the locomotive, observed that the wires were pulled
down, twisted together and pinned to the ground.
Stopping the engine he jumped off and taking hold
of the wires and, pulling them up, they flew in his
face, lacerating it so that he entered Washington
bleeding and grimy. The telegraph corps, therefore,
claims that one of its pioneers, Andrew Carnegie—
the real father of military telegraphs—was the third
man to shed his blood for his country in the Civil
War; the first two having been men of the Sixth
Massachusetts Regiment, injured in the Baltimore
riot of April 19, 1861.
Carnegie remained with Scott about Washington,
handling the railroads and telegraphs until Novem-
ber, 1861, when, the emergency at Washington
having passed, he returned to the Pennsylvania Rail-
road at Pittsburg, where his services were imperatively
needed, not only in the interest of the road itself, but
because its efficiency as a great artery of transporta-
tion was of vital importance to the nation in that crit-
ical time; but this service, except as to his going with
Mr. Scott and these operators to aid the Government
at the request of Mr. Lincoln, has been overlooked in
the overshadowing marvels of his later career.
At a second Carnegie banquet I made the follow-
ing notes at the time: The seventy-third birthday
of the great ironmaster philanthropist, (erroneously
10
ANDREw CaRNEGIE
Founder of the Military Telegraph

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
given as his seventy-first by the New York papers)
was celebrated on November 27, 1908, by a banquet
given at Hotel Manhattan, New York, in his honor
by Mr. Carnegie's old comrades of the military tele-
graph of the Civil War.
Mr. Carnegie had in the December Century Maga-
2ine given his views on the tariff, and in his new
book, “Problems of To-day: Wealth, Labor, Social-
ism,” he dealt in bold and masterly fashion with
those vital topics. In the informal exchange of remi-
niscences with old comrades at this supper he occa-
sionally let fly a shaft of humor or philosophy, as:
“I had no idea that so many eminent men in the
different professions began life as telegraphers,” said
Mr. Carnegie, who himself began to send messages
when he was fourteen years old. “And to this day
the men the mention of whose names touch my heart
most are those who were kind to me when I was a
boy. A friend of mine once said he would give five
million dollars to feel then as he did when he received
fifty-four dollars for teaching school all Summer when
he was young—whereupon I said to him, ‘You are
always wanting something for half what it is worth.”
That is the way I feel with reference to my youth,
for no boy ever had a happier time than I had among
my associates in the work of telegraphy in those
days. -
“I consider this occasion the greatest public honor
ever conferred on me. No man should value too
11
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
much the perfunctory applause that comes to him in
a Pickwickian sense. But there is nothing equal to
this, that in my mature years—or old age, if I must
confess it—the friends of my boyhood are the friends
of my old age. I would rather have the certificates
of character that you who knew me as a boy give me
than all the other signatures obtainable.”
There were 116 men at the banquet, from many
parts of the country. Colonel Clowry, president of
the Western Union Telegraph, acted as toastmaster,
sitting between Mr. Carnegie and Thomas A. Edison.
Colonel Clowry was in war time in charge of the
military telegraph in the States of Missouri, Arkansas
and Texas, and the strong qualities there displayed
have since carried him to the head of the greatest
telegraph system in the world.
Another guest of honor was William R. Plum, to
whose history, “Military Telegraph in the Civil
War,” I have been both a contributor, and, sometimes,
in the following pages, a debtor. -
At the banquet Mr. Carnegie, escorted by Richard
O'Brien, was greeted by an ovation which was repeat-
ed when Mr. Edison appeared, escorted by Dr. O'Brien.
The souvenirs of the evening were miniature tele-
graph instruments, and Edison, who is very deaf,
heard better the tick of the “sounder’” than the
human voice.
David Homer Bates, author of the Century's suc-
cessful book, “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office,”
12
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
announced at the banquet that Congress having so far
failed to pass a bill putting the military telegraphers
on a pensionable basis, that Mr. Carnegie had insti-
tuted an honor pension for the needy survivors of the
service at the rate of the pay of a private soldier,
thirteen dollars per month, to be paid until Congress
shall do justice to those worthy and patriotic soldiers.
Sixty-nine of the survivors of the corps, which in war
time consisted of about fifteen hundred, have availed
themselves of Mr. Carnegie's beneficence, and some of
the cases of disability, such as blindness, were very
pathetic. It is hoped that this pension, which is ten-
dered as a matter of charity by an individual, will be
given as a matter of right by Uncle Sam, as was
recommended by Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and
other great commanders.
The telegraph signal “73,” coinciding with Mr.
Carnegie's seventy-three years, had grown to mean
unutterable things in the way of affection and regard
and was the keynote of the occasion. Mr. Carnegie
said “73” should pass him by Saint Peter.
In the music programme Miss Morse, a grand-
daughter of the inventor of the telegraph, sang some
charming solos. Of the speeches called out, that of
Richard O’Brien may interest the reader:
“GENTLEMEN: When I was very young I thought
I could talk, but Mr. Carnegie cured me of that
conceit.
“Thomas A. Scott was then superintendent of the
13
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona. Andrew Carnegie
was his assistant. Tom Carnegie and John Pitcairn
were the day operators and I was the night operator.
“One day Tom Carnegie and I went trout fishing
to a mountain stream near Altoona. Tom took along
a valuable spaniel belonging to his sister. We fished
all day and when we were about to return the dog at-
tacked a large rattle-snake and was bitten on the
shoulder. We managed to kill the snake, but the
dog suffered greatly and was soon unable to walk, and,
although he was pretty heavy, we carried him home,
about two miles.
“We were dead tired, and that night, in spite of all
I could do, my head went down on the table more
than once. I fear I did not get all that was passing
on the wire.
“About midnight there was a freight wreck on the
road; fortunately I was not responsible, but I thought
I knew who was and in the morning, finding that an-
other was charged with the accident, I spoke up
rather freely in his defense.
“That afternoon I was called into Mr. Carnegie's
office and asked if I had made such a statement. I
replied that I had. By this time Mr. Carnegie had all
the facts before him and it did not take him long to
show me that I was entirely wrong. He then said,
‘Richard, if you want to succeed in this business you
must learn to keep your mouth shut and always
remember that a close mouth is a sign of a wise
14
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
head.” I have never forgotten that lesson and have
ever since been learning how to do it. It is now too
late to change the plan.
“I might add, however, that Mr. Carnegie did not
lay that incident up against me. When the Civil
War broke out he was appointed assistant general
manager of Government railroads and telegraphs, and
in response to a telegram from him I went to Wash-
ington in company with three of the brightest and
best telegraph boys on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
among whom was my friend, Mr. Homer Bates.
“We arrived in Washington April 25, 1861, and I
reported to Mr. Carnegie at the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad depot. I found he had been working there
day and night getting the road and trains into safe
running order. He set me to work and stood over me
almost continuously day and night, rushing troop
trains into Washington until there were soldiers
enough to safeguard the capitol.
“Later on he gave me one of the greatest pleasures
I have ever had in life by securing for me the appoint-
ment of chief operator at headquarters, Department
Virginia and North Carolina, at Fortress Monroe.
“This took me to the front, where I wanted to go,
and where General Eckert kept me throughout the
war, giving me the free hand and strong backing
which enabled me to do my share toward proving for -
the first time in history that the electric telegraph is
15
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
invaluable in war and that it very materially aided in
the preservation of the Union.
“I was with them at the front and on the battle-
fields of Virginia and North Carolina from the first to
the close of the war, and I can truthfully say I do not
believe the world has ever produced a braver, more
faithful or more efficient body of men than the boys
of the United States Military Telegraph Corps, of
which Mr. Carnegie was the father.” -
16
CHAPTER II.
EARLY ASSIGNMENTS.–RUNNING TRAINS WITH CARNE-
GIE—THE ARSENAL–DIALOGUE BETWEEN PRES-
IDENT LINCOLN AND RICHARD–RUNNING
NEW WIRES-BALL’S BLUFF–MC-
CLELLAN’S USE OF THE
TELEGRAPH.
F the four original telegraphers with Carnegie,
David Strouse quickly succumbed to campaign
hardships and died in October, 1861; David Homer
Bates served at the War Department throughout the
war; Samuel Brown served for some time, and
Richard O'Brien served in the field and front through-
out the war.
Richard and the other three operators, having been
directed to report to Carnegie at Washington, assem-
bled at Harrisburg, April 22, 1861, and proceeded by
way of Philadelphia, Perryville and Annapolis. The
Baltimore mobs having destroyed bridges over the
Bush and Gunpowder Rivers, they were compelled to
go by water on the steamer Maryland from Perryville
to Annapolis, where they found General Benjamin F.
Butler with his troops. They then went by rail to
Washington, reporting to Colonel Scott and Carnegie at
the War Department, April 25th. Their first assign-
ments were : Strouse, as superintendent, and Brown,
17
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
in the War Department; Bates to the Navy Yard,
and Richard with Carnegie at the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad depot, where, as operator, he assisted night
and day for a week in running troop trains into Wash-
ington. He was then sent to Annapolis Junction,
where for some weeks he performed similar duty. He
was then ordered to report to Major Ramsey, com-
manding at Washington Arsenal, and, as operator
there, assisted in the distribution of ordnance and ord-
nance stores. The others were likewise shifted about
as required. -
It was quickly seen that more operators were need-
ed for the military telegraph, and they were called
from the commercial lines and came at first mostly
from Pennsylvania, especially from the Pennsylvania
Railroad. William B. Wilson, of Harrisburg; James
R. Gilmore, of Chambersburg; Jesse Crouse, of Phila-
delphia; Charles A. Jacques, William E. Tinney,
Albert C. Snyder, M. V. B. Buell, Henry W. Benton,
Jesse H. Bunnell, James F. Gutheridge and N. H.
Brown were among the earliest arrivals. Wilson be-
came chief operator at the War Department, while
Gilmore took a party to Fortress Monroe and early in
July built a line by way of Hampton, twelve miles, to
Newport News, which was completed by Jesse Crouse,
who ran a covered wire underground out of the
fortress.
Mr. Wilson remained as chief operator in charge of
the War Department office for nearly a year, being
18
Strouse Brown R. O'Brien
Bates
THE Four First Military TELEGRAPHERs

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
succeeded by Mr. Bates, and then, like Mr. Carnegie,
returning to the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
But he was not done with the military telegraph ser-
vice, for at the time of Lee's invasions in the Antie-
tam and Gettysburg campaigns, Wilson rendered such
important service in Scouting and wire-tapping that,
in 1903, the Legislature of Pennsylvania voted him a
gold medal and a commission of Colonel of Volunteers,
which he still holds.
In May, 1861, the military telegraphers in Wash-
ington had run lines to connect the War Department
with the Arsenal, the Navy Yard, Arlington, Chain
Bridge, and outposts. The Arsenal was situated at
the point where the East Branch enters the Potomac.
One day in June Mr. Lincoln visited the Arsenal,
and coming to the telegraph instrument with Major
Ramsey, to write a message, he watched Richard
send it and “take ’’ another. Richard, reading, of
course, by sound and writing in beautiful penmanship,
Mr. Lincoln remarked, “Young man, you do that
well. Where do you hail from ?”
“From the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mr. President,”
said my brother.
“Are you one of the operators who came with Car-
negie and Bates?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Well, you are in a pretty safe place here, sur-
rounded by all these big guns.” -
19
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“Yes, Mr. President, but I would much rather be
at the front, where I could hear them roar.”
Mr. Lincoln seemed amused at this, and asked his
name. Richard told him. He smiled, and, turning
to Major Ramsey, said: “He comes of a fighting
race. Treat him well or he will run away to the
front.” It was not long until Richard was in the
field and “heard them roar.”
Major Ramsey's son that afternoon presented Rich-
ard with an Allen revolver and the Major furnished
Richard a saddle horse, and a mounted orderly detail-
ed as messenger to meet him with the horse at his
quarters on Pennsylvania Avenue, near Sixth Street,
mornings and to accompany him back evenings,
bringing the horse back to the Arsenal.
Richard thought of this dialogue with Mr. Lincoln
and pondered Mr. Lincoln's words when McDowell's
demoralized army came straggling back from Bull
Run, but it did not dampen his ardor to be in the
field. Ham Young, the veteran operator for forty
years at the capitol, who was then at the commercial
office in Washington, says that during the early stages
of this battle glowing reports of victory had been
coming in from the station nearest the field, Fairfax
Court House, ten miles from Bull Run. Then there
was a lull and he called up and asked Harry Benton
if our troops were advancing. Harry replied: “Ad-
vance H'll They are demoralized and retreating.
We must pull out ourselves now or get left.” When
20
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
he and M. V. B. Buell, who was with him, dismounted
next day from their jaded horses in front of Willard's
Hotel, Young says that Buell cried out, “My God,
Harry, I’ve lost my relay !” He had strapped his
instrument to his saddle and it had been torn off in
the retreat.
Mr. Carnegie said, at the first reunion, previously
referred to, that when he arrived in Washington in
April, 1861, he saw an indescribable state of confu-
sion and inefficiency in nearly every department of
the Government. He put the management of the
telegraph in Strouse's hands, his own being more
than full with the railroads; and, the Government
being unable to give any material assistance in run-
ning lines, the telegraphers had, on the contrary, to
assist the Government with the aid of the Commercial
Telegraph Company. E. S. Sanford, president of the
American Telegraph Company, furnished nearly all
the funds and supplies for the telegraph corps for the
first seven months. It is, therefore, not surprising
that in the first real battle of the Civil War at Bull
Run the telegraph reached only to within ten miles
of it, at Fairfax Court House. General McDowell
undertook to cover this hiatus of ten miles by a line
of mounted couriers carrying bulletins of the fight
every fifteen minutes to the operators, Buell and
Benton. William B. Wilson, chief operator at the
War Department at that time, eloquently describes
the scenes there that Sunday, July 21, 1861, as these
21
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
reports were received : “In the telegraph office were
congregated the President, most of the Cabinet,
General Scott's staff officers, Colonel Thomas A. Scott,
and others, with maps of the field before them, watch-
ing, as it were, the conflict as it progressed. Hour
after hour, as the couriers reported our troops forcing
the enemy back, hopes beat high ; expectation, satis-
faction was discernable on every brow. Suddenly, as
the shades of evening were drawing on apace, a lull
occurred. Firing could not be heard by the corps of
observation. No couriers arrived at Fairfax. What
could be the matter P The most plausible reason ad-
vanced was that our army, now victorious, was resting
after the hard fighting of that hot Summer day.
Every few minutes Buell and Benton, at Fairfax,
were called, only to reply, “No news.” An hour
passed, when, like a flash of lightning, came the
astounding words: “Our army is in full retreat.”
The reports now were more frequent and exciting.
The retreat became a rout, and as the telegraph
reported to those assembled the terrible scenes during
that never-to-be-forgotten night, all seemed to feel that
the hour of the nation's greatest peril had arrived, and
clung instinctively around the cool, clear-visioned
President.” When the rout was complete, Buell and
Benton took their instruments and left Fairfax Court
House at 1:20 A.M., July 22nd.
The military operators on the Orange and Alexan-
dria Railroad were ordered by the Assistant Secretary
22
Colonel WILLIAM B. WILsox
President Society of the U. S. Military Telegraph Corps

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
of War to remain until authorized to close their
offices. “We stayed,” says Operator Rose, whose
office at Burke's Station consisted of a railroad tie,
until the rear-guard ordered us to close.” Jacques,
at Springfield, on that road, stayed later on the
22nd. He says: “Colonel Thomas A. Scott ordered
me not to leave Springfield until I had permission
from him to do so. After awhile the wounded sol-
diers began passing by, a few at a time, gradually
increasing in number, followed by stragglers from
different regiments, and later by squads, and finally
by companies and regiments, all in full retreat. Colo-
nel Scott still kept me there, telling me if I left
my post he would have me shot.” Plum says that at
this time Jacques thought the whole army had passed,
and momentarily expected the Confederates, but an
engine came at last, and he, too, at 8 P.M. on the
22nd, came back.
It will be remembered that in 1861 telegraphy was
not twenty years old, and that the art of operating by
sound was still younger. Most of those who respond-
ed to the call for operators to serve in the field were
in their teens, but they were enthusiastic, already
trained to the faithful performance of duty, and were
ready to face danger when necessary. At Great Falls,
an outpost on the Maryland side of the Potomac, the
pickets were one day withdrawn, and the Confederates
began to shell the telegraph office. As steps, porch
and roof were successively shot away, the operator,
23
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Ed Conway, reported progress to the War Department,
adding that his office would “now close for repairs,”
and he withdrew with his instrument as the enemy
crossed the river.
It must not be supposed that the military telegraph
sprang fully armed from the brain of Mr. Carnegie,
like Pallas from the brow of Jove, fully equipped, as
it afterwards became, to distribute the lightning on
every battlefield. Mr. Carnegie and his small force
performed wonders in railroad and bridge building,
making the “Long Bridge" practicable for troops to
move across the Potomac into Virginia in a week,
and his telegraphers did some creditable line building,
but Uncle Sam was wanting in building material and
equipment. David Strouse, whom Mr. Carnegie had
placed in charge of the Government telegraph, having
broken down in health under the strain of the service,
was granted leave of absence in July, and was suc-
ceeded by James R. Gilmore, who was brought up
from Fort Monroe for that purpose and acted as
superintendent of the military telegraph at Washing-
ton until October, when he was sent farther south,
and was eventually chief operator of the Department
of South Carolina, which was commanded by General
Q. A. Gilmore.
To illustrate the transition state of the military
telegraph from a civil basis to a war footing at that
time, an evolution that, indeed, characterized the
army itself and everything connected with it, let us
24
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
glance at an instance of connecting up an army by
telegraph with Washington, which will show how
unprepared the Government then was and how de-
pendent on civil sources for assistance. General Joe
Johnston, with his Confederates, had left the Shenan-
doah Valley about Harper's Ferry to unite with Beau-
regard in defeating the Army of the Potomac under
McDowell in the battle of Bull Run. This left a
small Union army, under General Patterson, in the
air, as one might say, in the neighborhood of Charles-
town, whence he retreated to Harper's Ferry, where
he was relieved by General Banks, who continued the
retrograde movement. On a Sunday night, Septem-
ber 7, 1861, Gilmore was ordered to connect up that
army with McClellan's headquarters in Washington.
The Government did not yet possess the necessary
material—wire, spikes, insulators—to build thirty or
forty miles of line, but Gilmore appealed to President
Sanford of the American Telegraph Company, who
hastened to place these materials at his disposal.
Arrangements were made for speedy distribution
along the Frederick, Maryland, road to Rockville,
thence to Darnestown, Poolesville and Hyattstown.
Monday morning Gilmore started on horseback and
contracted for the purchase and setting of poles for
thirty or forty miles of line. Tuesday morning the
line-building began, and Thursday Banks was met
over thirty miles from the Capital.
Operators William J. Dealy and A. B. Pritchard
25
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
were encamped with the builders near Darnestown
one rainy night, and were fairly asleep, when couriers
from General Banks arrived with orders to open an
office at the end of the line. Groping their way in
the dark the boys could find no shelter from the rain
but an empty sty, which they roofed with their
blankets, and, connecting their instrument with the
line, they shivered at it all night. October 23rd a
land telegraph cable was laid from Poolesville to
Edwards' Ferry, where Charles A. Tinker and J. L.
Burucker were stationed, and, December 12th, Parker
Spring, afterward very efficient as foreman of line-
builders on the Peninsula, completed the line to
Point of Rocks, where General Geary commanded,
and where operators Thomas Armour and Charles
Lounsberry were under Confederate artillery fire on
the 19th, these boys courageously working their
instrument and being among the last to leave the
place.
December 11th, the Frederick City, Maryland,
office was opened on this line. General Banks had
removed there. The Frederick line was extended,
December 20th, by the way of Williamsport to Hagers-
town. A loop from Rockville to Great Falls (nine
miles), on the Potomac, was built in September, and
it was here that Ed Conway stayed by his instrument
under shell fire from a section of Confederate artillery
on the Virginia side, as related on a preceding page.
It is beyond the scope of this modest record to
26
REMINISCHENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
attempt a military history of the war. I will not,
therefore, go into that side of the Ball's Bluff fight
farther than to illustrate telegraph service therein
and to note that the defeat appears to have been one
of those many unfortunate affairs due to our inexperi-
ence in the art of war. We went into the great con-
flict necessarily unprepared, like an amateur chess-
player who might attempt a championship match
without a knowlege of the strategic openings of the
game. Our soldiers as a rule did not even know how
to shoot, as we understand marksmanship now. It
took us at least a year from the opening of the war to
learn how to fight. The Confederates were somewhat
better prepared at the start, and so had the better of
the game in the early period of the war. This lesson
should never be forgotten.
In considering the lessons of the war, any one,
whether strategist or not, who is thoroughly familiar
with its history, must be impressed with the ignor-
ance of the enemy's numbers, position and move-
ments, to say nothing of his intentions, displayed by
our officers in the first year of the war. Later, Grant,
Sherman and many other commanders, and Sheridan
especially, excelled in knowing all these things, and
this knowledge, however attained, must certainly be
a vital part of the game of war. War, like chess,
may be played blindfold, but in neither case is the
game likely to be won unless the player knows the
enemy's position and moves. It was, in fact, in an
27
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
effort to gain exact knowledge of Johnston's position
that General McClellan ordered a reconnoisance in
force by General McCall, October 19 and 20, 1861,
on the Virginia side of the Potomac reaching out be-
yond Dranesville, about thirty miles southeast of
Leesburg. McClellan, at the same time, telegraphed
General Stone, who had a division on the upper Poto-
mac about Edwards' Ferry, three miles from Lees-
burg, to make a demonstration. About seventeen
hundred men, with two or three guns, crossed the
river to Ball's Bluff, opposite Harrison's Island, be-
tween Edwards' and Conrad's Ferries. The first
detachment of this small force, five companies under
Colonel Devins, reconnoitering towards Leesburg was
driven back by General Evans' Confederate brigade,
and finally the whole force of seventeen hundred,
under Colonel E. D. Baker, was penned up on the
bluff with the river behind them, losing three hundred
killed, including Colonel Baker, and six hundred
captured. The following telegrams received by
Operator Kerner, at General Stone's headquarters,
have been preserved, and I transcribe them from
Colonel Plum's excellent history, “The Military Tele-
graph in the Civil War”:
McClellan's Headquarters, Oct. 21, 1861.
TO GENERAL STONE :
Call on Banks for whatever aid you need. Shall I
push up a division or two on the other side of the
river? TAKE LEESBURG. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
28
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Darnestown, Oct. 21, 1861. 5 o'clock.
GENERAL STONE :
We send Hamilton's Brigade immediately to Pooles-
ville. (Signed) N. P. BANKS.
Płeadquarters of General McClellam,
Oct. 21, 1861.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
Do you learn any results of the action ?
(Signed) GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
- Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters of General McClellan,
Oct. 21, 1861.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
Is the battle still progressing, or has it ceased ?
(Signed) GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Darnestozyn, Oct. 21.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
General Hamilton's Brigade has started for you, to
await orders at Poolesville. General Banks and divis-
ion are on their way to Seneca, by orders from Wash-
ington. (Signed) R. MORRISON COPELAND,
A. A. G.
Headquarters of General McClellan,
Oct. 21, 1861.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
Is the enemy in large force before you ? Please
give full detail.
(Signed) G. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
29
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Executive Mansion, Oct. 21, 1861.
TO OFFICER IN COMMAND AT POOLESVILLE:
Send a mounted messenger to the battle ground
and bring me information from General Stone. I
want to know particulars as to result of engagement,
and the relative positions of the forces for the night,
their numbers, and such other information as will
give me a correct understanding of affairs.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Headquarters, Oct. 21.
TO GENERAL STONE :
Hold your position on the Virginia side of the
Potomac at all hazards. General Banks will support
you with one brigade at Harrison's Island, or the
other two at Seneca. Lander will be with you at
daylight. Change the disposition of General Banks,
if you think it necessary, so as to send two brigades
to Harrison’s Island, instead of one.
(Signed) G. B. McCLELLAN.
The above was in reply to Stone's telegram that he
was withdrawing his troops to the Maryland side.
McClellan's Headquarters, Oct. 21.
To GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
Intrench yourself on the Virginia side and await
reénforcements, if necessary.
(Signed) GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
McClellan's Headquarters, Oct 21.
To GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
I repeat to you, under no circumstances abandon
the Virginia shore, but intrench yourself. Hold your
30
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
own, if you can make your men fight. You will be
supported by General Banks.
(Signed) G. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Aeadquarters of McClellan, Oct. 21.
TO GENERAL STONE :
As General Banks will join you, his rank will
entitle him to the command, and he has been instruct-
ed accordingly.
(Signed) GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters of General McClellan, Oct. 21.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL STONE,
Edwards' Ferry:
An advance from Dranesville can not be made to-
morrow morning, so that you must rely exclusively
upon the support General Banks can give you.
(Signed) GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Aeadquarters of General McClellan, (no date).
TO GENERAL BANKs,
Edwards' Ferry:
You will intrench your command on the Virginia
side of the river, observe the movements of the enemy
closely, and report to me often, but make no move-
ments without first communicating with me.
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Płeadquarters, Washington, Oct. 23.
TO GENERAL McCLELLAN,
Edwards' Ferry:
I have ordered Generals McCall, Porter and Smith
to be ready to make a movement on Dranesville early
to-morrow morning. Have also ordered reconnois-
31
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
sance by Generals McDowell, Smith and Franklin
towards Fairfax Court House and Anandale. All
quiet in front. (Signed) R. B. MARCY.
General McClellan's free use of the military tele-
graph, as shown in the foregoing telegrams, was
founded on his earlier experience with its aid in West
Virginia, where his campaign had resulted in the
only considerable successes which had so far attended
the Union arms and secured his selection by Mr.
Lincoln to the command of the Army of the Potomac.
He had been appointed Major-General May 14, 1861,
and placed in command of the Department of the
Ohio, which included Western Virginia, Ohio, Indi-
ana and Illinois. Shortly after assuming this posi-
tion he issued the following order:
Płeadquarters of the Department of the Ohio.
Cincinnati, O., May 27, 1861.
GENERAL ORDER, No. 13.
Mr. Anson Stager is hereby appointed superintend-
ent for military purposes of all the telegraphic lines
within the Department of the Ohio, and his instruc-
tions will be strictly obeyed.
By command of Major-General McClellan.
N. H. McLEAN,
. Assistant Adjutant-General.
Mr. Stager was at that time general superintendent
of the Western Union Telegraph Company, located at
Cleveland, Ohio, and had been, with his assistants in
the civil telegraph, vigilantly coöperating with Gover-
nor Dennison, the War Governor of Ohio, in the
interests of the Government. The above order was
32
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
only another early step in the transition of the tele-
graph toward a military organization. For some time
Mr. Stager's activities under the order were exercised
only through the officers and employes of the com-
mercial and railroad telegraphs. The lines of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from the Potomac to
the Ohio early became threads of military interest and
telegraphic activity. It will be recalled that up to
the time of the battle of Bull Run the Confederates,
under General Joe Johnston, were encamped near its
main line at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Farther west
by Cumberland, Maryland, and Grafton, in western
Virginia, whence the road divided to reach the Ohio
River at Wheeling and at Parkersburg, the destruc-
tion of wires and often of bridges, by small Confeder-
erate forces and guerrillas, kept the telegraphers under
T. B. A. David and W. G. Fuller, busy restoring the
lines, at the risk many times, by night and day, of
death or capture.
McClellan's troops having won the battle of Rich
Mountain, West Virginia, the first real victory of the
war, the Northern people were greatly elated by his
telegram, dated the 13th, wherein he reported his
successes. He also issued a congratulatory order to
the troops, which was probably the first order ever
printed in a portable printing office, regularly con-
nected with an army on a campaign.
About this time attempts were made in Washing-
ton to interrupt military lines by cross-connections
33
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
made with fine copper wire, which could not be seen
from the ground; but these were so quickly detected
by electric tests, and the wires were so well patrolled
by the linemen, that such attempts became too
dangerous in that locality and ceased. Farther south,
in many fields, as the war progressed, whole sections
of wire would sometimes be torn down at night by
raiders and carried into the woods, and the work of
repair often proved extremely hazardous.
34
CHAPTER III.
RICHARD O'BRIEN, CHIEF OPERATOR-FORTRESS MON-
ROE, HAMPTON AND NEWPORT NEWS.–THE
YOUNGEST TELEGRAPHER—THE FIRST LADY
TELEGRAPHERS–SCOTT AND CARNE-
GIE—THE BLUE JUNIATA.
ICHARD, on the recommendation of Mr. Car-
negie, was early in August, 1861, assigned as
chief operator to headquarters Department of South-
eastern Virginia, then under command of Major-Gen-
eral B. F. Butler, at Fortress Monroe, and arrived
there August 5th, replacing James R. Gilmore, who
had been called to other fields. Butler had taken
command here May 22nd, and had 15,000 troops,
which were confronted by 10,000 or 12,000 Confed-
erates under Huger and Magruder. On Butler's
arrival his troops entered Hampton, but retired across
the bridge over Hampton Creek the same day and
threw up intrenchments. On the 27th they seized
Newport News, at the mouth of the James River.
Early in July, as previously mentioned, the mili-
tary telegraphers under Gilmore had erected a line
from Fort Monroe through Hampton, twelve miles, to
Newport News.
On the 7th of August, two days after Richard took
charge of this line, the Confederates cut it and set fire
35
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
to Hampton. He accompanied a regiment which
marched at double-quick to that place. They did all
they could to stop the fire, but it had been started in
too many places, and a sharp wind was blowing,
which made it impossible to check the flames.
Richard, with the soldiers, tried to save the old
Episcopal church, but failed. This church was said
to have been one of the oldest in the United States;
the bell to have been sent over by Queen Elizabeth.
General Butler, transferred to other fields, was suc-
ceeded in command at Fort Monroe on August 18th
by the old Mexican War hero, Major-General John E.
Wool. After the battle of Bull Run the forces here
were somewhat depleted, leaving the line from below
Hampton to Newport News unprotected. The names
of the operators who served with Richard before I
joined him may be found in Plum’s “History of the
Military Telegraph.”
One of Richard's principal cares was to keep up the
line to Newport News, which was exposed to incur-
sions of the enemy, who frequently raided and tore it
down at night. The road from New Market, below
Yorktown, where the enemy was in force, came into
it and was the usual route of the raiders. The follow-
ing order will indicate the situation:
Płeadquarters, Camps Hamilton and Butler,
Aug. 25, 1861.
Colonel Weber will detail a company from his regi-
ment to accompany the superintendent of telegraph
36
Richard O'Brien
Chief Operator Army of the James, and of Department of North Car-
olina, etc., 1861–5. Assistant Superintendent Western
Union Telegraph, Scranton, Pa.

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
upon an expedition to inspect and repair the line.
The picket guard will pass the detachment.
BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Major-General, U. S. A.
In “Telegraphing in Battle” (Century Magazine,
September, 1889), I told Richard's experience on one
of these expeditions, as follows: “As we advanced
southward, whole sections of wire would sometimes
be torn down at night by bushwhackers and carried
into the woods, and the work of repairs often proved
extremely hazardous. A favorite point for such ex-
ploits on the part of the Confederates was the line
between Fort Monroe and Newport News. They
being camped at Yorktown, and our videttes, after the
Big Bethel affair (the first skirmish of the war), only
extending to Hampton, they could strike the exposed
line anywhere from there to Newport News. This
they usually did at night. On one occasion the chief
operator at Fort Monroe went out to repair such a
break, accompanied by an escort of infantry. Being
well mounted, he left the troops out of sight, found
the line torn down near Newport News, repaired it,
and returned rapidly towards Hampton. As he passed
the New Market road he received, simultaneously, a
bullet through his coat and an order to halt from a
party of cavalry charging down from the direction of
Yorktown. Disregarding both bullet and order, he
spurred his horse forward and succeeded in reaching
his escort, who poured a volley into his pursuers,
37
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
which caused them to wheel and retreat as rapidly as
they had come.” Throughout the war we had a
number of good men of the telegraph corps killed or
captured in that kind of work in many fields.
AMENITIES OF WAR.
Our experiences were not always war-like, as the
following may indicate:
Płeadquarters, Department of Virginia
and North Carolina.
Fort Monroe, Sept. 17, 1861.
Pass the bearer, Mr. Richard O'Brien, to Hampton
Bridge and permit three ladies accompanying him to
go beyond our pickets.
By order Major-General Wool, Commanding.
L. G. B. CANNON,
Major and A. D. C.
Near the junction of the New Market road with
the Newport News line already indicated, there stood
a comfortable Virginia farm house which Richard, on
these expeditions, visited to purchase milk and to
endeavor to conciliate the people in the interest of his
military telegraph line. The family, whose name
was Jones, let him know that they were in great
trouble and anxiety about their three young daughters,
who were at school in Baltimore, and for whom they
had been unable to secure permission from General
Butler to come through the lines. Richard under-
took the chivalrous mission of getting the young
ladies restored to their family, and, having succeeded
in getting the desired permit from General Butler or
38
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
General Wool, who about that time succeeded him in
command, he sent transportation for them to Balti-
more, met them at the wharf at Old Point, and
escorted them to their home beyond our lines, where
the family continued to reside until McClellan's army
came on for the Peninsular campaign, when they,
like many other Virginia families, abandoned their
home and moved farther south, and we never heard
of them again.
While the war halts in the Winter of 1861, let me
tell how I became the youngest operator in the world,
and a member of the United States Military Tele-
graph Corps. The adult reader may skip this story.
It is intended for Young America.
In 1856, when I was not yet eight years old,
Richard took me into the telegraph office at Down-
ingtown, Pennsylvania, where he had been learning
to operate, and, showing me the instruments, told me
what they and the wires were for. It seemed a won-
derful and fascinating mystery. From there he was
sent to work at “P. O.” (President's office of the
Pennsylvania Railroad), Philadelphia, thence to Paoli,
to Lancaster, and other stations, and in 1858 he was
stationed at Greensburg, near Pittsburg.
In the Spring of 1858, when nine and a half years
old, I was sent with a telegram five miles in the coun-
try. The man refused to pay for delivery. I felt
Hurt. As I trudged homeward, the last two miles on
the railroad track, it was very dark and lonely in
39
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Carr's Cut, so that it was a real comfort to hear the
night “Fast Line” thundering behind me and to see
her headlight blazing out from the east. I crowded
against the bank as she roared by on her way to Pitts-
burg, and envied the passengers. As I stumbled
through the tunnel at Greensburg to the station,
where brother Richard was the operator, I made up
my mind that the vocation of a messenger boy was
not to my taste. Andy Carnegie had been a messen-
ger boy at Pittsburg, but he was hardy and might
have liked it. At the first banquet, previously men-
tioned, Mr. Carnegie told us the following:
CARNEGIE'S MESSENGER BOY STORY.
“I tried to be the best messenger boy in the bunch.
At the end of the month the pay envelopes were
handed to the other boys, but none to me. I threw
up my hands—My God I am I discharged 2 When
the other boys had gone my envelope was handed to
me and contained $13.50, instead of $11.25. My pay
had been raised ! I ran home, a mile, to tell my
mother, taking short cuts and dodging among wagons
and horses to get there quicker. On the way I con-
sidered how best to break the good news. I gave my
mother $11.25, as usual, and waited until the whole
family were assembled at breakfast to proudly hand
her the extra two dollars. Talk about your millions,
—that was the happiest moment of my life l’”
*Told at the banquet of the military telegraphers, Hotel Man-
hattan, March 29, 1907.
40
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
I resolved to be at least an operator. Father picked
me up at the station and carried me home asleep in
his arms.
Richard gave me the Morse alphabet, which I
quickly memorized and began to practice on the
closed key; he cautioned me to never practice on the
line until I should become expert; and he taught me
style of touch and accent as a great master teaches a
loved pupil to make the piano talk. 'Tis a great
language, is the Morse, and I had a good teacher; the
best in the world, I think.
I soon learned to distinguish, by ear, the sound of
our call, “V,” three dots and a dash, from other
sounds; to answer “I,” “I,” and start the register,
which, by clock-work, ran a paper strip on which the
dots and dashes were indented; to give “O. K.” when
the message ended, and then, without hurry, to read
and transcribe it from the tape. To an expert tele-
grapher there is as much difference between the cold
dots and dashes on a tape and the living language of
the “sounder’’ as there is between sheet music and
the real music it represents, so that a jumble of badly
spaced dots and dashes are much harder to interpret
by the eye on a tape than by the ear from a sounder.
When I had been a few weeks in the office there
occurred one day a wreck in Carr's Cut, and Richard
had to take an instrument out there, leaving me to do
the best I could. A message came along on the tape
addressed apparently to J. C. Clarke & Q. I knew
41
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Mr. Clarke and delivered the message to him, but he
Rnew Mr. Q. no more than I did. Suddenly it flashed
upon me that a dot, a space and three dots might spell
Es as well as “&,” and that proved to be correct; the
address intended was J. C. Clarke, Esq.
We soon learned to ignore the tape and to read by
sound, and I began to send and receive messages over
the wires as a full-fledged operator, ten years old, the
youngest in the world.
That same Summer, while I was hammering away
at the Morse language, Richard one day inadvertently
locked me in the office while he went to the ticket
office to sell tickets for a train. There was a violent
thunder-storm coming up. Lightning began to snap
on the instruments, first like gun-caps and then like
pistol shots. I screwed my courage to the sticking
point and stood upon a chair to place a brass key
across the binding posts where the wires came
through the window casing, which was the crude way
then of cutting out the instruments. As I leaned
over the table where the lightning was snapping and
crackling there came a tremendous flash and crash
and—the rest I know only by hearsay. Richard said
he rushed in and found me on my knees in a corner,
saying my prayers.
The “ relays ” stood on half-inch walnut bases
screwed to the table; they were torn off and split to
pieces; the wires fuzed. Men who stood on the plat-
42
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
form of the station said they saw a globe of lightning
alight on the wires and sail into the office.
At a reunion of old-time telegraphers in New York,
in 1905, a dear old comrade of ante bellum days told
me that after we left the Pennsylvania Railroad to go
to the war there was a tradition on the road that elec-
tricity ran in our family; that my brothers and sisters
and parents could all telegraph, and that at Greens-
burg, if none of the family happened to be on hand
when “V” was called on the line, my dog “Butcher”
would run out and bark. This humorous, though
Rindly, tradition was an exaggeration, but looking
backward now I think that in that stroke of light-
ning I certainly received enough of the celestial fire
to furnish electricity for a whole family.
About this time I wrote, at Richard's dictation, in
my best hand and without mentioning my age, to
David McCargo, superintendent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Telegraph at Altoona, modestly stating my
fitness, and asking for the position of “extra" oper-
ator, to go anywhere I might be needed on the line.
I wrote a similar letter to Joe Kerbey, division oper-
ator at Pittsburg, and from the latter received a
prompt reply, bidding me hold myself ready for a call.
Kerbey already knew me over the wire, where my
work did not differ from that of many older boys, but
neither he nor Mr. McCargo had seen me or knew how
young I was. If they had they would have probably
advised me to go home to my mother and go to
43
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
school. I never asked my people why they let
me launch out so early. It was a good school, at
least for me. Could I now return to those days I
would choose none other. And these memories: I
would not lose them for any university career. -
Besides the well-built railroad wire we had, for
commercial business, the first line put up by Professor
Morse and O'Reilly, from Philadelphia to Pittsburg.
It was a queer string, running free in earthenware
troughs set in the tops of light poles, so that it was
taut in some places and in others Sagged almost, or
quite, to the ground. When it touched the ground
there was trouble. In wet weather there was more
trouble. We managed to work messages through
these difficulties, but when it broke, which was often,
there was such trouble that something had to be done
about it. I went out on this line once, as a sort of ama-
teur electrician, with an amateur lineman, to hunt for
trouble, and found it good and plenty. The line ran
on the old Chambersburg Pike, a picturesque route
over the Laurel Mountains and by the romantic
Loyalhanna River, the trail of former Indian tribes
and of pioneers who followed them in colonial days of
yore. I reveled in the glorious scenery and looked
with amusement at the old wire sagging between the
poles like a clothes-line, until the amateur lineman,
who had no climbers, began to boost me up the poles,
which I had to shin to the top to fix the wire in the
“insulators.” We made about ten miles that day and
44
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
slept at Latrobe at night; one of us, at least, very
tired. Next morning I told the lineman that I
guessed he had learned enough from me how it ought
to be done, so he could go on by himself now, and I
returned home by train, more resolved than ever to be
an operator.
It was still either in 1858 or early in 1859, when,
one evening, Joe Kerbey told me over the wire to go
by the next train to Latrobe, to relieve Dick Head for
a few days. He said the conductor had my pass and
not to miss that train. I had a message to deliver up
in the town and only a few minutes to do it in, but I
made the quickest trip of my life in that uncongenial
service and sprang into the side door of the baggage
car as the train was pulling out. Richard thought I
was still in Greensburg, when I called him up from
Latrobe and told him to get some little boy to deliver
his messages after this.
Mr. Head came into his office and stared at me in
consternation for some moments. “Who are you ?”
he said. I told him. “You don’t mean to say that
Mr. Kerbey sent you to relieve me?” I showed him
the division operator's message, which I had copied.
He sank into a chair. Some one was calling “K”
(Latrobe) on the wire and he started up. “Hold on,
I'll take that for you,” I said, and I took it, writing a
pretty fair fist, for a boy, and gave it to him. He
put the message in an envelope, addressed it, and went
out with it in a dazed sort of way. When he came
J’ 45
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
back he said, “Now, Johnny, I see you are an oper-
ator, but you needn't tell me that you are a freight
agent and a ticket agent.” I said, “I never sold a
ticket yet, but guess I could.” The upshot was that
Mr. Head got his brother to attend to freight and
tickets, while I relieved him as telegrapher for a
week. -
There was a messenger boy at Latrobe, and the
first unalloyed bliss of my life was sending that boy,
who was much older and larger than myself, out with
messages. My next happiness was handing to my
mother the money Mr. Head paid me. I continued
that habit, giving all I earned to my good mother as
long as I remained in the telegraph, nine years. It
ran about this way: The last year I worked “Uncle
Sam ” paid me $1,800.00; it cost me $600.00 to live
in Washington, and I sent her $1,200.00; the year
before I got $1,600.00 and sent her $1,000.00, and so
on back to the time when I got but $25.00 per month
on the railroad. But none of these amounts seemed
so large as that first six dollars I earned at Latrobe.
Railroad work is by no means the most difficult
form of telegraphy, and even in it I knew that, though
reading by sound, I was only a beginner; and so,
when Sam Brown, our crack operator at Pittsburg,
dropped in on me one day at Latrobe I watched him
take a message in beautiful penmanship with admira-
tion. He later became one of the “Five Immortals'’
of the military telegraph.
46
-
DAVID Homſ RR. BATE's
Manager War Department Office, 1861–5
Author of “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office.”

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
My next assignment was to Wilmore, where I
relieved Operator Wolverton for a few weeks. So
far my excursions as extra operator had been limited
to the western division, which extended from Pitts-
burg to Altoona. Mr. McCargo, the telegraph super-
intendent, now sent me east of the mountains to
relieve Miss Sallie Kerr, at Spruce Creek, for a
month. Mr. Carnegie says Miss Emma Hunter, at
West Chester, was the first lady telegrapher he knew.
Besides these two ladies there was only one other on
the lines, Miss Elizabeth Cogley, at Lewistown.
About this time, in one of my journeys over the
road, I chanced, as the train stopped at a station, to be
idly drumming a Morse signal on the car window when
to my amazement and delight the call was answered
from the seat behind me; and, turning round, I met
the clear gaze of a handsome young man of strong,
clean-cut features, who proved to be David Homer
Bates, another of our crack operators, then stationed
at Altoona, and destined to be the third man of the
“Five Immortals” who started the military telegraph.
The acquaintance thus casually begun continued
through many a stirring scene in the lurid drama of
the Civil War, and still pleasantly endures after fifty
years from the time of that chance recognition
through the free-masonry of the telegraph.
There was at Spruce Creek a hotel, which had been
built with the expectation that trains would stop for
meals, but that hope had not been realized and it was
47
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
rather lonesome. The telegraph office was merely a
little cozy box up the track for observing and report-
ing trains. I could close at 9 o'clock and go to the
Hotel to sleep. For a few days I went from box to
bed and meals, and back to the box, with no other
relief to the monotony than a word or two over the
wire with strange operators; this being the middle
division, with its wire working between Harrisburg
and Altoona, and not through to either Philadelphia
or Pittsburg. -
One night, after giving “G. N.” to Altoona, I lin-
gered listening to the train reports from the all-night
stations, and fell asleep in the box. When I awoke it
was after midnight, and stumbling down to the hotel
I found it locked and could not get in. I went back
to the box, feeling unutterably lonely. I was ten and
a half years old,—the great mountains stood between
me and home, my parents, brothers and sisters were
all there, safely asleep, no doubt. I wished I had my
dog. “Butcher” with me. -
Not having yet learned to utilize the spare time of
lonely nights in studying books, I called up Maize,
the night operator at Huntingdon, and said I would
run down on a freight and stay with him till morn-
ing. He asked what was the matter, and guessing
more what kind of a blue funk it was than I was will-
ing to tell, he very wisely advised me to “Go back
and raise the devil at the hotel ” until some one let
48
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
me in. This I did and the gruff proprietor ungra-
ciously admitted me.
One day a genial gentleman with wisps of brown
whiskers, like Thackeray's, on either side of a hand-
some, kind face whose beauty was marred by the loss
of one eye, stepped off a train to visit me. It was
David McCargo, our telegraph superintendent, com-
rade of Andy Carnegie, with whom he had worked as
messenger boy, and operator, at Pittsburg, where, in
fixing a battery one day, a splash of nitric acid had
destroyed one of a pair of the kindest and most beau-
tiful eyes in the world. He said not one word about
telegraphy, or my duties, they were light enough,
given faithfulness, which he must have taken for
granted,—but he advised me to keep my stockings
pulled up and to tie my shoes neatly, which I did im-
mediately, with furious blushes. I worked in fifteen
offices under his supervision before I was thirteen
years old, and never did I hear a harsh word addressed
to myself or any other operator from that good man,
David McCargo.
After Spruce Creek I was sent on flying trips to
other stations. Mr. McCargo took me with him to
open a new office at Irwin's, near Pittsburg; and, in
the fall of 1859, when eleven years old, I was put in
charge of the Hollidaysburg office and held it for nine
months. These details would, of course, seem trivial
if the extreme youth of the operator were not consid-
ered. I venture to recite them particularly to show
49
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
contrast with present laws and ideas about child labor
and to ask if we are not too much “educating” chil-
dren to despise useful employment. -
At Hollidaysburg I began to hear “Bleedin
Kansas ” and John Brown's mad raid and tragic fate
discussed; to recall “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” which I
had heard my sisters read, and to feel the nameless
thrill which was creeping in the air, presaging the
coming national storm. This feeling of composite
emotion in the plain people of the North seemed to
lull again in the Spring of 1860, so far as I knew, and
at my next station, with new and delightful experi-
ences, I forgot all about it until the presidential
campaign brought up through the telegraph the
impending crisis with startling force.
In those days there were no separate commercial
telegraph offices along the railroad except at Phila-
delphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburg, so we handled
what commercial business there was. At Hollidays-
burg, one time in '59, I received two messages bearing
the same information, for a lawyer; one paid, the
other collect. We were generally our own messen-
gers, and I gave him the collect message first, for
which he paid. Then I said, “There is another mes-
sage.” He asked if it was not the same thing from
another man. I said, “Yes; I cannot tell a lie.”
Then he exclaimed, “I won’t take it. No use paying
for the same thing twice.” I told him that this one
was prepaid, whereupon he advised me to enter his
50
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
profession. He thought I would develop the neces-
sary qualifications.
An emergency arose one day during the absence of
Mr. McCargo, who was going over the eastern divis-
ion from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, requiring an
extra operator at Altoona, and David Strouse, the
division operator there, asked me over the wire if
Howard Rollin, who was learning with me, could do
the work at Hollidaysburg. I said I was sure he
could. So Mr. Strouse bade me leave Howard in
charge and run up to Altoona. I did so and found
myself for the first time at the headquarters of the
great road and in the presence of men whose genius
and energy it is impossible for my poor pen even now
to portray.
Andrew Carnegie, full of magnetism and electricity,
like an over-charged modern dynamo, was there nomi-
nally as assistant to Mr. Scott, but really infusing his
indomitable energy into the whole railroad system,
and Thomas A. Scott, the greatest railroad genius of
that time, was then the general superintendent. These
two men, not to omit J. Edgar Thompson, president,
handled the great road, whose history was becoming
the history of the progress of this nation, as Grant
and Sheridan afterwards managed armies, or, if you
prefer a later example, as Theodore Roosevelt man-
aged America.
I have incidentally mentioned four out of the five
young men whose names, I believe, history will
51
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
preserve as the pioneers in the first great military
telegraph system of the world: Andrew Carnegie,
Richard O'Brien, Samuel Brown, and David Homer
Bates. The fifth of this group was David Strouse,
division operator at Altoona. He was of refined feat-
ures, poetic fancy, and patriotic spirit. Since Bates,
Tinker, and Chandler have been called, on account of
personal association with Mr. Lincoln, “The Sacred
Three,” may I not call these pioneers among military
telegraphers the “Five Immortals' 2
Mr. McCargo returning to Altoona and finding me
there, now sent me farther eastward to Duncannon,
twenty miles west of Harrisburg, and two miles
below the mouth of the Juniata, where it joins the
wide-spreading Susquehanna. I had been over the
whole road between Philadelphia and Pittsburg
before, but this trip down the valley of the Juniata,
in the Spring of 1860, when I was eleven and a half
years old, I made alone, an independent telegrapher,
with eyes wide open to the wild beauty of the won-
derful scenery and the rushing river.
Do you know that the Juniata is really blue? It
takes that color from the blue limestone of the Alle-
gheny Mountains. Do you know the Susquehanna
from the springs of its two great branches to North-
umberland, where they join to sweep a glorious stream
around the North Mountains to receive the Juniata
and flow on by Harrisburg in glory to the sea?
Do you know the Indian legends, the tales of scout,
52
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and raid, and skirmish ; the romance, pathos, hero-
ism of colonial and revolutionary days that haunt
every mile of these romantic streams? Have you
floated down the north branch, through the great
bend, by Towanda, and so through the Wyoming
Valley to Northumberland, catching many a gamy
bass on the way, and musing on the legend of the
standing rock; on Sullivan's expedition ; on Camp-
bell's Ledge, and the Massacre of Wyoming? Have
you rafted down the west branch, from the Bald
Eagle, and remembered the pioneers' advance up that
long, wide valley, with its wild alarms, fatal raids and
precipitate flights 2 -
Do you know the story of Logan and his Dela-
wares, crowded westward along the Juniata? I know
no more romantic or more beautiful streams on earth
than these. At Duncannon, on the right bank of the
Susquehanna, the noble stream, nearly a mile wide,
sweeps in a majestic curve round the North Mountain
on the opposite shore.
These were the scenes that inspired David Strouse
to write the following beautiful and pathetic verses:
Written at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, in 1861, on
his return to his home from exhausting service in the
military telegraph and while seated on the bank of the
Juniata River:
“Gentle river, ever flowing,
Where my early days were passed !
53
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Like your waters, I am going
Sadly to the sea, at last—
“To that ocean, dark and dreary,
Whence no traveler comes again—
Where the spirit, worn and weary,
Finds repose from grief and pain.
“O'er the world, I long have wandered ;
Now, a stranger, I return,
Hope, health and manhood squandered,
Life's last lesson here to learn.
“Calmly on thy banks reposing,
I am waiting for the day,
Whose calm twilight, softly closing,
Bears the trembling soul away.”
At Duncannon, in the Fall of 1860, I took the
presidential returns of Mr. Lincoln's election and
afterwards worked at Harrisburg, Lancaster, Eagle
Station, and four offices in Philadelphia. -
AFFIDAVIT.
Personally appeared before me, A. S. Taylor, a
Notary Public in and for the District of Columbia,
Major Joseph Orton Kerbey, of Washington, D. C.,
who, being duly sworn, deposed and said: In 1858-9
I was division operator of the western division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at Pittsburg, and
knew John Emmet O'Brien, of Greensburg, Pa. (now
of Scranton), as a competent sound operator. I ap-
pointed him either in 1858 or 1859, when he was
about ten years old, as “extra operator” on my divis-
ion and sent him to Latrobe, Wilmore, and other
stations, where his telegraphing proved satisfactory.
David McCargo, superintendent of telegraph, sta-
54
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
tioned at Altoona, thereafter employed him at many
points on the other divisions of the road until he
entered the military telegraph in the Civil War, when
about thirteen years old. To the best of my knowl-
edge and belief the said Johnny O'Brien was, by
several years, the youngest telegrapher of our time in
both civil and military telegraphs, and worked in so
many stations at an extremely early age as to make
his experience unique and remarkable.
Sworn and subscribed before me
this 1st day of May, A. D. 1908. }J . O. KERBEY.
. A. S. TAYLOR,
[Seal] Notary Public.
CHAPTER IV.
I ENTER THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH, THE YOUNGEST
MEMBER OF THE CORPS–THE FIGHT IN HAMPTON
ROADS—TELEGRAPHING THE PHASES OF
BATTLE – OPERATOR COWLAM'S
HEROISM.
URING the Fall and Winter of 1861 I was
working at the division superintendent's office
in West Philadelphia and in regular correspondence
with Richard, whose letters from the seat of war I
eagerly anticipated and devoured.
Al Snyder, I think it was, of our wire, who
returned after Bull Run in an officer's uniform with
brass buttons, impressed me with as much enthusiasm
to get in the war as did General McClellan, whom I
saw go through Philadelphia to take chief command
of the armies. Then there was Richard, at Fort
Monroe, in the center of war interest, and I wanted to
be with him—a feeling which I have never gotten
over, though now sixty years old. We are still
together.
At last my ambition was realized ; I was to enter
the Military Telegraph Corps. The order came in
January, 1862, when I was three months over thirteen
years old. As I walked home that night, treading on
air, in the bright moonlight, I wondered what that
56
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
moon was looking down on in Virginia; what camps,
armies, forts and guns.
I went by rail to Baltimore, and not knowing the
way, or how far to the wharf, got into a cab, asking
the driver to take me to the bay line steamer. He
drove, apparently, a mile or two, through the city to
reach it, and charged me three dollars (it was really
only a few blocks from the station to the boat); and I
got on board the Georgiana for Fortress Monroe. It
was a glorious moonlit night; the salt breeze, the
undulating waves, the moon-path over them, the
phosphorescent gleams in the wake of the boat, may
have been seen by others, but they were mine alone—
they belonged to a boy who knew and saw no one
else there as they bore him to fancied scenes of glory.
We reached Fort Monroe early in the morning, and
I followed the other passengers for a little way toward
the great fortress, until they filed off to one side (to
show their credentials to the Provost Marshal and
take the oath of allegiance), but not knowing the
regulations I kept on and went over the moat, through
the grim gateway, without (and this was strange and
never occurred again) being halted by the sentry,
across the parade ground among mounds of cannon
balls and gleaming brass cannon, until I saw a wire
and followed that until it led me into General Wool’s
headquarters, where I found a telegraph instrument,
and, for the first time since leaving Philadelphia, felt
at home ! There were officers and trim soldiers in
57
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
the room, but no one spoke to me, and, instead of
speaking to them, it seemed natural to me to open
the key and say “P.” Immediately some one
answered and asked who was there. I told him, and
asked “134" (“who are you?”). He said, “I’m
George Cowlam, at Newport News.” I asked him if
he knew where Richard was, and he said, “No, but
certainly not far away.” Cowlam said he had a mes-
sage; would I take it? There were some sheets,
headed “United States Military Telegraph,” on the
table. I picked up a pen and took the message; it
was from General Mansfield, addressed to Major-Gen-
eral John E. Wool. As I finished writing the dis-
patch I looked up and found everybody in the room
looking at me, and beside me was a slight, very old,
white-haired officer, with two stars on his shoulder-
straps, who reached for the message, and, having read
it, patted my head and said, “My boy, you are very
young to be able to do that.” I said, “General, I
have been doing it in fifteen offices for three years.”
“Then we will need you,” he said. It was General
Wool. Richard came in, and, greeting me affection-
ately, properly introduced me to the old hero.
Richard was quartered in a casemate of massive
masonry whose deep embrasure looked out across the
moat to the bay, and his quarters were cared for by a
most mischievous little negro boy, Jim, who had
absolutely no respect for my dignity, and whose head
and muscles were, as I very soon learned, much
58
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
harder than mine. Whenever afterward I had occa-
sion to reprove him his favorite answer was, “All
humbug, Johnny, chuck um in de moke (moat).”
Besides the garrison of Fortress Monroe, consisting
of artillery and infantry, General Wool had a brigade
at Camp Hamilton, near Hampton, which village had
been burned early in the war; two regiments of
cavalry, and a brigade, under General Mansfield, at
Newport News.
Soon after my arrival, early in 1862, Richard let me
go on one of the repair expeditions on the Newport
News line. I went in a four-mule wagon with a
lineman and some negro laborers. The usual detail
of a company of infantry to escort and guard us was
ordered from Camp Hamilton, but were slow in get-
ting ready, so we drove on with the understanding
that they would follow us. This expedition gave me
my first view of the burned ruins of the old and pic-
turesque village of Hampton, where we passed our
outer pickets. These pickets informed us (incor-
rectly) that none of our cavalry was out. On nearing
the New Market road we saw a party of horsemen
coming down that road toward us. The teamster
turned his wagon across the road to retard them, and
we piled out pell-mell. The negroes skedaddled for
Fort Monroe, some of them, it was said, never stop-
ping till they ran past the fort and out on the wharf,
but this was probably an exaggeration. I took to the
wood, and, peering out through the bushes, observed
59
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
that the cavalrymen were halted around the wagon
and that the teamster seemed to be gesticulating for
us to come back. I made my way cautiously back
through the trees until near enough to see that the
horsemen wore the blue jackets, with yellow trim-
mings, of our own cavalry. They were, in fact, a
detachment of the First New York Mounted Rifles
returning from a scouting expedition. We found the
wire torn down near Newport News, as usual, and
repaired it, returning with our infantry company,
which had followed us out from Camp Hamilton.
The operative work at the fort was light at this
time and gave me opportunities to explore, armed
with a pass, the great fortress, with all its mysteries
of moat, casemates, ramparts, and water-battery; the
big guns (Columbiads) mounted en barbette, some of
which I could almost crawl into ; the mortars with
their piles of shot and shell, and the brick furnaces
for heating hot shot, all on the ramparts. I wandered
on the beach, listened to the sobbing of the tide, and
saw the ships and steamers come and go, and, above
all, admired the great sailing war-ships of the old
navy. My pass read: “All guards will pass John
E. O'Brien, telegraph operator, in and out of the Fort
and Water-Battery, and to walk on the ramparts.”
At night I was entrusted with the countersign, and,
to a boy of my age, it was always a thrilling moment
when, in the darkness, a sentry called out to me,
“Halt Who comes there?” I would, of course,
60
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
reply, “A friend,” and the dialogue would proceed :
“Advance, friend, and give the countersign,” the sen-
try throwing his gun, with bayonet, aport, while I
advanced and whispered, “Lincoln,” “Chepaultipec,”
or whatever the word might be ; but involuntarily
wondering what he would do if I forgot it, or what
would happen if his trigger finger should twitch, or
if he should just spit me with that wicked bayonet,
anyhow, just for practice.
Reveille and taps and bugle-calls were weird and
romantic, too; but at last came the day of the Merri-
mac, which I will tell of later, when the sound of
the alarm-gun and the long-roll calling all to arms
eclipsed them all. And over all these scenes hung
the mysterious presence of actual war.
INITIATION BY THE CAVALRY.
Early occupation in the telegraph had given me
absolutely no acquaintance with horses, but as future
service might require me to ride, my education was
now begun by one of our mounted messengers,
William B. Armstrong, of Company B, First New
York Mounted Rifles, an excellent horseman and true
soldier, who throughout the war always had the best
horse and equipments in his regiment and who after-
ward fought with honor through many battles and
skirmishes. He set me on his big cavalry horse, and,
as I could not reach the stirrups, put my toes in the
stirrup-straps and told me to never hold to the saddle.
61
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
As I rode under the shade trees near General Wool's
headquarters I stooped to avoid a limb and the spirited
animal threw up his head at the same moment, strik-
ing me a hard blow in the face, and then—I shed
some blood for my country. This was my introduc-
tion to the McClellan saddle, in which I soon felt at
home and afterwards rode many miles on many horses
in different fields.
One day a message came in for General Mansfield
at Newport News, and, our line being down, Richard
sent me with it by boat. As we steamed up through
Hampton Roads to the broad mouth of James River I
saw the Elizabeth River opening out behind Sewell's
Point on our left (where the Merrimac was soon to
come down); noticed the flagship Minnesota, with her
graceful spars and long tiers of forty guns; the
Roanoke, the frigate Congress and the sloop-of-war
Cumberland, all peacefully at anchor in the Roads and
seemingly invulnerable to any flotilla the enemy could
improvise and send down either river against them.
Then came the earthworks at Newport News, where
I delivered the dispatch to General Mansfield, whom I
was to meet again in another field, and found Cowlam
with his instrument occupying a log cabin behind the
breastworks and in line with the range of gunfire
which afterward came from the Merrimac. Cowlam
was a member of Ellsworth’s Fire Zouave Regiment,
and had been in the battle of Bull Run. He was an
expert telegrapher, and, brave soldier though he had
62
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
proved himself and would again, had been detailed
for telegraph service as a duty even more important
than that in the ranks. This narrative may show
that, as in his case, our service sometimes required as
much courage and coolness as service on the firing
line. I already looked up to George as to a hero who
had been in battle, and innocently asked him if he
had killed anybody at Bull Run. He said he had
seen a man or two whom he had aimed at fall, but
whether by his shots or those of his comrades he
could not tell. Though some years my senior, and
certainly observing the admiration which I showed
for his bravery, his telegraphic skill and beautiful
penmanship, George was as modest, I fear more mod-
est, than myself. Of such stuff are true heroes |
The Confederates had obstructed the channel of
the Elizabeth River below Norfolk, by driving piles
and sinking hulks, leaving a narrow passageway.
Vague rumors had come to us by “contrabands” of
something doing at the Gosport Navy Yard, and
about the first of March a German sailor swam off to
us with more definite information of a floating battery
or ironclad constructed by the enemy and rendered
ball and bomb proof by being roofed, as was said, with
“railroad iron.” We were, therefore, in daily expec-
tation of the appearance of this unknown and untried
In Onster.
Daily our field glasses at Fort Monroe and Newport
News swept Sewell's Point, Craney Island and the
63
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
mouth of Elizabeth River. At last, about noon, on
the 8th of March, we saw from the ramparts at Fort
Monroe a line of black smoke creeping down behind
Sewell's Point toward Hampton Roads. We rushed
to the instrument and called Cowlam at Newport
News. He was on the alert. The alarm-gun boomed
its ominous signal. The long-roll beat all to arms.
There was a period of intense and ominous silence;
then the roar of heavy guns; and as George Cowlam
ticked out to me, “She is heading this way,” the
first ironclad came into action, and naval warfare was
revolutionized. George continued: “She is steering
straight for the Cumberland”—a pause. “The Cum-
berland gives her a broadside.” “She keels over.”
“Seems to be sinking.” “No ; she comes on again.”
“She has rammed the Cumberland.” “God the
Cumberland is sinking,” and then, “The Cumberland
has fired her last broadside, and gone down.” These
terse messages came to me from George Cowlam's
steady hand, interspersed with other remarks like
this: “There goes a shell through this shanty;” and
again, “That one knocked my bunk away,” as coolly
as if he were reporting a game of ten-pins, and I found
afterwards that one of these shots had filled George's
clothes with splinters from the boards of his bunk.
As the black and ugly Merrimac came on with
sinister deliberation to this work of destruction,
destroying and scattering our wooden war-ships as if
they had been a flock of sea birds, amid the flash and
64
ſ.FoRT №vaGRUDERN！！
// WILLIAMSBURG × ×•
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MAP OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CONTIGUOUS VIRGINIA

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
roar of hundreds of cannon whose reverberations
shook the solid ramparts of Fortress Monroe, the
sombre panorama was lightened and showed almost a
gleam of humor as two wooden consorts of the Merri-
mac, the Jamestown and Yorktown, ordinary side-
wheel steamers, hovered in her rear or darted out and
captured some of our quartermasters' schooners, loaded
with forage, near the mouth of James River.
Besides the broadsides of all our war-ships directed
at the Merrimac, and her guns, which were the only
ones that did any execution, our land batteries at
Newport News, the “Sawyer gun * on the Rip Raps
(since called Fort Wool), and the Confederate guns in
their fortifications at Sewell's Point, all took part at
one moment or another in this tremendous drama, in
which the one significant and deadly role was played
by the ironclad. Later on I picked up, far back of
Sewell's Point, fragments of shell which I took to be
from the “Sawyer gun.” I cannot recall whether
any of the heavy guns of Fort Monroe itself were
fired at the Merrimac or not, but my impression is
that some of them were tried, but, of course, all our
guns were useless against this new and epoch-making
naval monster.
The same steady hand remained at the key at New-
port News and continued to give us the further phases
of that disastrous onslaught as seen from Cowlam's
vantage point. The Merrimac raked and set fire to
the Congress; drove the Minnesota, St. Lawrence
65
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
and Roanoke aground, and, altogether, created such
havoc among our wooden vessels, and such consterna-
tion next morning at Washington when our dispatches
reached there, that a return dispatch ordered General
Wool to “Hold Fort Monroe at all hazards.” This
amazing order—to hold the strongest fort on this
continent against a single improvised ironclad and a
supposed land force of 15,000 Confederates under
General Magruder—may be read with incredulity,
but, although I am writing only reminiscences and
not pretending to absolute historic accuracy, there are
few things pertaining to the Civil War more firmly
fixed in my recollection than that dispatch.
Although, so far as I knew, no one at Fort Monroe
felt the slightest trepidation at the prospect of the
Merrimac trying her guns on the fort itself, and all
were anxious to have her come within range of our
own guns, yet it was fully expected that she would
come out next day, sink or fire the remaining wooden
ships and perhaps attempt to pass out into the bay,
and the absolute futility of any means we then had
for attacking her may be best illustrated by a pro-
posal, which I heard gravely discussed, to have the
fast side-wheel wooden passenger steamer Vanderbilt,
then in port, attempt to run the Merrimac down and
sink her by the momentum of speed alone ! On the
evening of the first day's fight, March 8th, Richard
being at the instrument, I stood on the ramparts at
Fort Monroe watching the flames of the frigate
66
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Congress still blazing near Newport News, thinking
of the poor fellows who had gone down in the Cum-
berland firing their last broadside as she was going
down ; and wondering whether our cousin, Richard
Mullin, who had been of the crew of the Congress,
had escaped, when about 10 P.M. I saw the dim out-
line of a queer, barge-like craft come into the Roads.
I hurried to headquarters and found Richard sending
this dispatch :
TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL MANSFIELD,
Newport News:
The ironclad Ericsson battery Monitor has arrived
and will proceed to take care of the Merrimac in the
morning. JoHN E. Wool,
Major-General Commanding.
Our comrade, David Homer Bates, in a very inter-
esting article, “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office,” in
the Century Magazine, May, 1907, tells of the receipt
of a similar dispatch from General Wool and of its
cheering effect in Washington.
On the morning of the 9th the alarm-gun and long-
roll again announced the appearance of the smoke of
the Merrimac behind Sewell's Point, and Richard
left me at the key to accompany General Wool up the
beach for a nearer view of the impending battle of
the ironclads, which I will let Richard, in a memo-
randum made at the time, describe: “At 6 A.M.,
the Merrimac was seen steaming down the Elizabeth
River. General Wool, having placed the fort in fight-
ing trim, rode out with his staff through Camp
67
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Hamilton and the ruins of Hampton, to a point on
the shore nearest the Minnesota, which was still
aground. I accompanied the party. The Monitor,
which had arrived the previous night, lay under the
shadow of the Minnesota and seemed to us a feeble
defense to lean upon, against the invincible monster
which had made such short work of two of our finest
war-ships the previous evening. When the Merri-
mac passed Sewell's Point and turned towards the
fort, we were about to hurry back to help receive her,
but when near the Rip Raps she turned again and
came straight for the Minnesota, which opened fire
upon her. The Merrimac slowed up a moment, as if
to make out what the strange little craft could be,
when Lieutenant Worden blazed away and solved the
question for her. She quickly responded. They both
‘let slip the dogs of war,’ the rebel bull-dogs growl-
ing from every port-hole, and the little terrier of the
North, more active than her unwieldy antagonist,
snarling at every rib of the larger craft. The Moni-
tor got around more quickly than the Merrimac and
tried her sides, quarters and stern, but every shot that
struck, glanced from the “greased rails’ into the air,
with the scream of a baffled demon. The Merrimac
fired rapidly and viciously, but seemed equally unable
to injure her antagonist, and so turned her attention
again to the Minnesota. The latter discharged a
broadside at her without the slightest effect, and
received in return a shell from the bow gun of the
68
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Merrimac, which burst in the officers' quarters and
set the ship on fire. Another shot struck the tug-
boat Dragon, which was engaged in trying to haul
the Minnesota off, passing through and bursting its
boiler. A terrific fire was kept up by the Minnesota
from every gun that could be brought to bear. A
third shell passed over the Minnesota and burst
unpleasantly near us. Before she could fire again, the
Monitor had gotten between the Merrimac and the
Minnesota, forcing the former to change her base,
in doing which she got aground, but soon swung off
and headed for the Rip Raps, with the Monitor close
at her heels. They had not gone far, however, when
the Merrimac turned around suddenly and tried to
run into the Monitor. The latter made a very nar-
row escape, the great prow of the Merrimac leaving
an ugly scar on her iron armor. They then pounded
away at each other for some time, when the Monitor
drew off towards the fort. We feared she had received
serious injury. The Merrimac, with her consorts,
the Jamestown and Yorktown (or Patrick Henry),
which had thus far kept at a respectful distance, now
started towards the Minnesota, which we felt sure
was doomed. They changed their course, however,
for some unaccountable reason, and heading up the
Elizabeth River, left us, for this day at least, masters
of the situation.”
And so the Merrimac went back, and the first
battle of the ironclads passed into history—a drawn
69
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
battle. She came down the Elizabeth River once
again, but there was no further fighting. In addition
to the Monitor, the guns on the Rip Raps, those
on Fort Monroe and in our remaining ships, there
were now mounted on the beach two enormous
Columbiads, which were named the “Lincoln'' and
“Union,” which threw cannon balls so large that I
could easily crawl into the muzzles of the guns. It was
calculated that if the Merrimac should attempt to pass
out and one of these tremendous projectiles should
hit her it would stop if it did not sink her.
I had the opportunity to board the Monitor a few
days after the fight. There were two prominent
dents in her turret, larger than my head. I believe
that Commander Buchanan of the Merrimac fought
his ship pretty nearly to her limit, and that she
retired badly damaged.
Soon after the battle of the ironclads I went out on
a flag-of-truce boat which was met by one from the
enemy in the mouth of Elizabeth River. Newspapers
and courteous messages were exchanged, and I was
particularly struck by the handsome appearance and
chivalrous manner of the Confederate officer who
came aboard our boat. Many times afterward I won-
dered how long that fine grey uniform remained
untarnished and its wearer alive and unwounded in
the bloody battles that soon followed around Rich-
mond. I regret that I cannot recall the name of the
gallant Southron.
70
CHAPTER V.
ANSON STAGER MADE HEAD OF THE MILITARY TELE-
GRAPH-THOMAS T. ECKERT IN CHARGE IN THE
EAST –EASTERN SHORE LINE–THE CABLE –
McCLELLAN AT YORKTOWN–BALLOON
TELEGRAPHY-BATTLE OF WILL-
IAMSBURG-LINCOLN, CHASE
AND SEWARD.
HILE these events were transpiring at For-
- tress Monroe the Army of the Potomac was
lying inactive on that river, about Washington, but
was being organized to a state of high efficiency by
General McClellan, who had been appointed to com-
mand, by Mr. Lincoln, November 1, 1861. About
that time Secretary of War Cameron, with the
approval of the President, appointed Anson Stager, of
the Western Union Telegraph Company at Cleveland,
to have charge of all military telegraphs, and Thomas
T. Eckert was placed in charge at Washington, first
at McClellan's headquarters and later at the War
Department, whence he organized and managed the
telegraph service in Virginia and North Carolina
thereafter, eventually becoming Assistant Secretary
of War.
McClellan's plan for attacking Richmond by way
of Fort Monroe and York River having been approved,
71
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
a line was run down the eastern shore of Delaware,
Maryland and Virginia to Cape Charles, which it
reached February 5, 1862, giving direct wire connec-
tion between Washington and that point, whence a
dispatch boat plied across the bay to us at Fort Mon-
roe in three hours. Shortly afterward an attempt to
lay a cable across the bay from Cape Charles resulted
in the wreck of the vessel containing it on Cape
Henry, where the construction party narrowly escaped
capture. A second attempt, under Mr. W. H. Heiss,
proved successful and gave us eventually direct wire
from Fort Monroe (“F.”) to the War Department
(“D. I.”), through repeaters at Wilmington, Delaware,
though at first messages were transcribed and repeated
at Wilmington. This cable was a piece of the first
Atlantic cable, none other being available, and always
worked hard. It was also broken more than once,
and Cape Charles being a rather stormy point, the
land line on the eastern shore was finally run down
through Eastville to Cherrystone Inlet, a more
sheltered position, and the Fort Monroe cable was
relaid over to that point.
Major Eckert assembled at Fort Monroe a telegraph
construction party, under Parker Spring, with
material to build lines with the Army of the Potomac
in the forthcoming campaign, and on April 3rd, with
a party of eight additional operators, arrived at the
Fort, having accompanied General McClellan from
Washington. I will let Mr. Charles A. Tinker, who
72
GENERAL Thomas T. Eckert
Assistant Superintendent Military Telegraph and Assistant
Secretary of War, 1861-5
Lately President Western Union Telegraph

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
afterward became one of the “Sacred Three" cipher
operators at the War Department, tell, in a graphic
letter written at the time, of this incident. He says
that Major Eckert selected these eight operators,
three from General McClellan's headquarters in
Washington; three from the office at Fairfax Semi-
nary ; one from Upton's Hill, and another. They
were A. Harper Caldwell, Jesse H. Bunnell, John H.
Emerick, Charles W. Jacques, Brainard H. Lathrop,
Henry L. Smith, Charles Snyder, and Charles A.
Tinker. Mr. Tinker's letter, written to his father,
follows:
“On board Steamer Commodore,
“Off Mattazvaman Creek,
“Potomac River, April 1, 1862, 9 o'clock P.M.
“At last the head of the long-talked-of (in these
parts, for I think it has been kept too secret to be
heralded North) expedition is on its way down the
Potomac. Being one of its component parts, and
knowing that you at home will look anxiously for a
line from me by first mail, consistent with delays in
transportation from the seat of war, I have secured a
convenient place at a side table amidst the hubbub of
social enjoyments in the cabin, among officers of all
grades and stripes, from Generals down to corporals of
the guard, and will drop you a few lines of my even-
ing's recollections of the past twelve or fifteen hours,
hoping you will excuse a pencil sketch.
“I telegraphed you at noon yesterday that I sail
73
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
to-day. So I did. At 3 o'clock I took a hack from
the War Department, which brought another operator
and myself, with a cook. (By the way, Mr. Eckert
has taken to himself Beverly, the cook, who served
me so faithfully at Upton Hill all Winter, and he is
now with us and will be our servant and cook during
the Summer's campaign.) As I was saying, the hack
took us, bag and baggage, to the Seventh Street
wharf, where we changed to the ferry for Alexandria,
arriving there at 6 P.M. Came on board the Commo-
dore, expecting to start at once for Fortress Monroe,
but soon learned that 9 A.M. to-day was the hour
appointed for sailing. Deposited our luggage in a
comfortable stateroom. The telegraph office! You
will laugh at the idea of a telegraph office on board a
steamboat. Nevertheless there has been one on this
boat for the last two weeks, where General McClellan
has had his headquarters. I was shown to a berth,
where I deposited myself for the night and enjoyed a
good night's rest. Got up to breakfast at 6 o'clock
this morning. It was a soldier's fare, bread and cof-
fee and a little meat. At 9 o'clock steam was up and
everything in a stir and bustle, indicating an early
start, but General McClellan was not yet on board
and everyone looked anxiously for his coming, know-
ing that until he came we must linger in expectation.
“Here I will tell you of our steamer. She is the
large Sound steamer built for, and formerly running
on, the Fall River line between New York and Fall
74.
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
River. She is splendidly finished and considered a
sea-going and staunch craft. There are on board three
or four hundred officers, clerks, guards, etc., in Gov-
ernment service, with a hundred or more servants.
The boat is loaded with all sorts of war materials;
horses, wagons, baggage of all kinds, and innumer-
able articles which no one could describe. General
McClellan and staff are the most prominent of the
military dignitaries. Now sitting where I can cast
my eye around and see them all as they are enjoying
themselves at cards, dominos, backgammon, chess and
checkers, and chatting and smoking, are Generals
McClellan, Barnard, Williams, Barry; Colonels Hardie,
Ingalls, William B. Astor, Duke De Paris, Count De
Chartres, Prince De Joinville, and many others I
might name, less noted officers of the great Union
army. Our party comprises Mr. Eckert, the superin-
tendent, and eight operators, including myself and
Beverly, the cook. We are bound for Fortress Mon-
roe, there to accompany General McClellan’s army
through its Southern campaign to conquer the enemy.
We have laid in a stock and supplies to keep us com-
fortable for the next six months. I hope before that
time has passed we may be released from our chosen
bondage, to return to and enjoy the society of our
friends left so far behind.
“Returning to my narrative: We passed the hours
from 9 to 11 A.M. in discussing the prospects and
expectations of our contemplated life and experiences
75
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
with the army in the South, etc. At 11 A.M. President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward visited the steamer and
inspected her from stem to stern, and I am sure, if their
pleasing countenances were tell-tale pictures of their
feelings, they had not a fault to find with her appear-
ance, nor a hope lost in her worthiness to undertake the
task of conveying the head of the army and its head-
quarters, also, from Washington to Fortress Monroe.
At 12, noon, we dined. At 3:15 P.M. McClellan arrived
from Washington and came on board. Of course, he
was welcomed by many cheers and joyful demonstra-
tions. At 3:15 P.M. the telegraph wires were cut away,
the bow and stern lines drawn in and we floated out into
the stream with the steamer's bow pointed for Dixie.
“The sail down the river was most delightful. For
a long time Washington, the Capitol, Alexandria and
Georgetown were in full view, and their domes glis-
tened in the bright rays of the Southern sun. We
passed Fort Washington shortly before sundown.
Bands were playing and soldiers cheering and waving
their caps and flags, wishing us Godspeed on our
journey of deliverance to those in bondage, friend or
foe. A half hour later we passed Mount Vernon, the
most sacred spot of earth on the American continent,
where are entombed the remains of our good old
father, Washington, “first in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen l’ Had he lived
in sixty-one I would never have sailed on a mission
of war which now carries me almost beneath the
76
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
shade of the weeping willow which marks the sacred
ground in which he lies. 'Tis a solemn moment
which finds the traveler nearing this enchanted spot,
for the common and binding rule among steamboat
men on the river is to stop the engine, to toll the bell
and dip the ensign, as they float by. A few miles
below we came to the first rebel battery (now vacated),
which has been such a terror to shipping on the
Potomac. Two miles below it we came to anchor
where we now are, still and peaceful as at home.
General McClellan has gone (out on a gunboat which
came alongside) for a reconnoissance up the creek,
and we are to lay here until morning. As soon as he
returns we will be up and moving once again. We
all like the idea of lying still to-night and getting a
good night's sleep and to-morrow have a daylight
view of the rest of the river and of Chesapeake Bay,
which we pass through on our way down.
“I will finish and mail this letter at Fortress
Monroe.
“April 3, moon. Off Fortress Monroe.
“We started at daylight from Mattawaman Creek
yesterday and came leisurely down the river, entering
Chesapeake Bay about 10 A.M. A gentle breeze was
blowing, giving a slight ripple to the water, just
enough to sway our great craft to and fro as she
plowed her way through the briny deep. We came
in sight of the vast fleet of ships, in the midst of
which we are now anchored, about 4 P.M., and then
77
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
our speed slackened and we steamed down till dark,
when we came to anchor where we now lie, midway
between the Fortress and Sewell's Point, where the
rebels have a battery of nine guns. The morning is
warm and bright, not a breath of air stirring. I
would call it midsummer weather. I have stolen
away into the captain's office, the key of which I have
been the possessor since we started, as it contains all
our valuables, instruments, stationery and other tele-
graphic supplies, of which I have charge, until they
are distributed for use. I find no pens or ink or writ-
ing paper here, so I have confiscated a few blanks (as
my own paper is exhausted) and will finish this
letter, now fearing I may not have another
opportunity. -
“I wish you could get one look of the beautiful
prospect presented to view from the deck of this
steamer. 'Tis magnificent, and I cannot disguise a
degree of pride and satisfaction which charms me as
I think of the many advantages I have for witnessing
with my own eyes the wonders of the age, about
which all Christendom is at this moment aroused.
Ships (perhaps three or four hundred), of all nations
and climes, are now within view. The Rinaldo,
famed for its part in the Mason-Slidell affair, is just
to our stern, with her English ensign flying and
all sails set as if in defiance. Two French men-
of-war lay but a short distance to the leeward, with
their tri-colors flapping and steam up, as ready to take
78
CHARLEs A. Tinker
Chief Operator, War Department, 1862–6
Lately General Superintendent Western Union Telegraph

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
a hand in any game that may chance to invite them.
The little Monitor, that pride of American chivalry
and monument to Yankee genius, lies hardly a stone's
throw on our larboard bow. You would laugh could
you see her. The rebels call her a cheese-box, but
they found the mites she contributed to their mess all
they could digest. She is being visited by many a
skiff load of officers from our steamer. We are look-
ing anxiously for the Merrimac, which is expected
out from Norfolk hourly, and we hope to witness
another great fight and glorious defeat of the rebel
ingenuity. The Monitor, the Minnesota and the
Vanderbilt, and many smaller gunboats, are ready to
receive her when she shall appear. We are going
right to work with our telegraph lines and hurry
them along where most needed. We have brought
five miles of cable to put a splice in the one now laid
between here and Cape Charles, and, if successful, we
hope to be in communication with Washington direct
next week.
“The tug has come alongside to take us ashore,
bag and baggage. We go right into camp between
Hampton and Newport News.
“I must finish now.”
Major Eckert came on himself, as I have said, to
Fort Monroe, April 3rd, bringing Captain Lem Shel-
don, who had come from Colonel Stager's western
lines, to supersede Richard as chief operator at Fort
Monroe. This was a very natural proceeding, as
79
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Major Eckert had never met us, and was then unac-
quainted with Richard's ability. Captain Sheldon
proved to be an efficient manager and Richard con-
tinued to work in harmony with him. Major Eckert
sent me across the bay to Eastville, on the eastern
shore, where I remained for some weeks. There had
been a small skirmish in that vicinity some time
before, but at the time of my arrival it was understood
that there was no regular force of Confederates in that
neighborhood. We therefore maintained only a small
detachment of troops there, to guard the line against
marauders. While stationed at Eastville, where there
was little to do but test the line, I sometimes rode
over it with a couple of cavalrymen, or visited the
operators at Cherrystone to eat the excellent “Cove”
oysters found there, or paddle out in a log dug-out to
try a shot at wild geese or ducks. There was no
ammunition available but minie cartridges, but the
boys would beat the bullets out flat and cut them up
into small slugs to serve as shot.
There is probably nothing more easily upset in the
water than a log dug-out, so in my first attempt to get
a wild goose I was excessively cautious and having
paddled within gunshot of a flock of geese would lay
down the paddle, carefully take up the musket and
just about the time I had taken deadly aim the flock
would fly out farther and, again alighting, tempt me
to follow them. Nothing happened—no casualties
occurred to either the geese or myself. I had a hard
80
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
pull back up the inlet against the tide, but enjoyed
the unusual experience quite as much as if I had
slaughtered a whole flock of geese.
General Wool had missed and kindly inquired for
me, and requested Mr. Sheldon to bring me back to
Fort Monroe. McClellan being now on the Peninsula
with the army advancing on Yorktown, the telegraph
work at Fort Monroe was becoming heavy, so Mr.
Sheldon requested that I be returned, and Major
Eckert so directed. Richard, Sheldon, Jim Norris
and myself were then the operators who, at Fort
Monroe, handled and repeated McClellan's business
with Washington. With McClellan, in the field,
were Harper Caldwell, chief operator; Jesse Bunnell,
C. W. Jacques, and others whose names may be found
in Plum's history. Jacques and Bunnell, were the
particularly fast senders at the front, and, in view of
the fact that Major Eckert had at first judged my
telegraphic skill apparently rather by my youth than
by trial, it was amusing when, many times, as I was
receiving fast business from those boys, to hear
Sheldon, as he looked on, swear till all was blue that
never before was such fast stuff taken without a
break.
On the single wire and cable above described,
pulsed and throbbed, during McClellan's campaign,
the hurried orders for supplies, the sharp words about
McDowell's Corps, withheld for the defense of
Washington, fateful lists of killed and wounded,
81
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
news of victory and defeat—all the tidings of glory
and of horror that pertain to war.
The telegraph worked not only through sea and
land, but invaded the clouds, carrying a light wire
skyward by balloon near Washington, at Pohick
Church, Virginia, and on the Peninsula. I will let
Jesse Bunnell tell, in the following letter to me, how
Park Spring, who was foreman of line construction
with the Army of the Potomac, made these ascensions,
and also describe the evacuation of Yorktown. (“M.
C.” was the telegraphic call for McClellan's head-
quarters.)
“New York, Nov. 1, 1884.
“DR. J. E. O'BRIEN, Scranton, Pa.
“My DEAR COMRADE : Yours received. The
aeronaut who took our wire up on the Peninsula was
Professor Lowe, better known amongst us boys as
‘Lo! the poor Indian.” So far as I (at ‘M C’) knew
at the time, we were in telegraphic communication
with the elevated balloon only two or three times.
Park Spring, who was a fair operator, was, I believe,
the only one who made these ascensions with Lowe.
A double conductor flexible cable looped into the
‘M C' wire and we worked direct with Park, who
sat in the balloon with a pocket instrument, while
Professor Lowe did the rope business, swearing at the
men down below, etc. Nothing of any consequence
was reported or transacted, however. I think there
were no other wired ascensions on the Peninsula.
82
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
“At Yorktown, or, rather, before Yorktown, the
night it was evacuated, May 4th, I was on duty at
‘M C' from 2 A.M. until 8 A.M. The previous even-
ing had been made unusually lively for us by shells
from the enemy, who seemed to have determined to
give it to us very hot all along the line. We
accounted for this by supposing that they were aware
that all our heavy guns had at last been gotten into
position and that the order was issued to open a ter-
rific fire the next day. The fact was, they were
evacuating Yorktown and shelling us to divert our
attention, in which they succeeded perfectly. The
tumult kept me awake long after I had turned in at
my tent at 8 o'clock P.M., and when Jacques woke me
at 2, all was still as death.
“About 3 o'clock I was sitting in a rustic bower
which had been built in front of the telegraph tent
door, when I saw a light in the sky over Yorktown.
It grew larger and appeared to be from a burning
building in the town. Then I heard over the wires
questions going between the different operators sta-
tioned in the front nearest that point, as to ‘what
was the fire?” Then, a few moments later, an order
was telegraphed Professor Lowe, at one of these
stations, directing him to ascend, observe and report
immediately. Then I could dimly see the balloon as
it was allowed to rise a hundred feet or more. The
report was indefinite, stating that the fire was either
a sloop at the wharf, or a building in town. But
83
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
very soon, about 4 o'clock, a sharp, sudden call at the
instrument for “M C' brought a message from, I for-
get where, stating that a deserter had come in report-
ing Yorktown evacuated ! By the time I had aroused
the General and some of his staff and returned to the
instrument, several more messages to the same pur-
port from other points were waiting for me, and ‘M
C’ was being frantically called by every one who
could get in. The General came to the instrument
half-dressed, the staff crowded in and about the tent,
telegrams were written or scrawled and rushed to
every point on the line, with the result that, in about
two hours, our whole army was rushing pell-mell from
every point and along every road after the enemy.
'Twas a quick job for ‘before breakfast.” They found
the enemy, I believe, at Williamsburg. (Near Fort
Magruder, two miles before Williamsburg. J. E. O'B.)
“I always recollect this episode as one of the
striking occurrences connected with my early experi-
ence in the U. S. M. T. I was then but seventeen
years old, and felt proud to have been the medium for
the transmissions which caused that great army to
spring, as one man, from its sleep to pursue the
enemy. “Yours truly, J. H. BUNNELL.”
Our wires at the siege of Yorktown connected all
the corps headquarters. The two operators, D. B.
Lathrop and H. L. Smith, in the intrenchments near-
est the town, rushed in with the first of our troops
and hastened to the telegraph office to try the
84
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Richmond wire. The wires had been cut and left
hanging from the pole, and in going to the pole
Lathrop trod on a buried torpedo, which exploded,
tearing a leg almost off and otherwise injuring him.
He died within a few hours. Lathrop was beloved
by his comrades, who had his body embalmed and
taken to his home at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and
erected a monument over his grave. It may be con-
sidered a serious charge to say that torpedoes were
planted at Yorktown, but this account was attested to
me by my comrades at that point, two of whom, Tom
Morrison and another, accompanied Lathrop's remains;
and, so far as I know, was never doubted by any one
at the time. It is, of course, not believed that the
treachery was known to, or authorized by, any Con-
federate officer or any one acquainted with the rules
of civilized warfare.
In the rush of McClellan's Corps after the retreat-
ing enemy, they encountered them at Fort Magruder,
two miles before reaching Williamsburg, and here the
Confederates, aided by their fortification and the
nature of the ground, made a determined stand, result-
ing in the battle of Williamsburg. More vividly
than the dispatches of McClellan and his corps com-
manders, the reports and battle-orders, which I heard
on the wire or handled, do I remember the names
and regiments of fifteen hundred of our killed and
wounded which I “took' from Bunnell or Jacques
for transmission North, while the tears were in my
85
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
eyes and the telegraphic speed was too great to give
me time to brush them away.
After Yorktown, the construction party kept the
main line up with the troops as they marched, string-
ing wire loops to corps headquarters when they
halted, stringing the wires on poles or trees as the
exigencies of the route permitted. Comte de Paris,
who was then an aid on General McClellan's staff,
attests, in his excellent history of our Civil War, that
the Generals were surprised and delighted to find the
telegraph at hand at the end of each day's march,
giving them communication with one another and
with the base of operations (Fort Monroe).
The instruments of slight resistance and currents of
small electro-motive force employed on the well-insu-
lated lines of to-day would hardly have recorded
signals or overcome the “escapes” of our field lines of
that time. We used “relays” of high resistance and
nitric acid batteries of the strongest kind, though
these were improved upon in portable apparatus as the
war progressed. The operators at the front, too, were
experts. Seated perhaps under fire on a stump or
cracker-box, while troops and artillery swept by, they
would send or take thousands of words of military
dispatches at the rate of forty words per minute, with-
out an error. From the battle of Williamsburg to
that of Fair Oaks, and in the seven days' fighting,
the telegraph assisted largely in handling the several
corps of the Army of the Potomac.
86
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REMINISCIENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
At Gaines' Mill, Porter obtained reënforcements at
the critical juncture through the promptness of Jesse
Bunnell, who tapped the wire as our line of battle
receded, and transmitted the necessary dispatches
under a heavy fire which killed some of his mounted
messengers.
The inner history of this campaign can be best
read in the pregnant telegrams of McClellan, Stanton
and Lincoln, found in the official records. These dis-
patches and all succeeding ones of importance
throughout the war were transmitted over the wires
in cipher, the keys of which were held by confidential
telegraph operators and were not permitted to be
revealed even to commanding Generals. The princi-
ple of the cipher consisted in writing a message with
an equal number of words in each line, then copying
the words up and down the columns by various
routes, throwing in an extra, “blind,” word at the
end of each column and substituting arbitrary words
for important names and verbs. This code, invented
by Anson Stager and improved by Bates, Chandler
and Tinker, was frequently changed to insure secrecy,
as when a cipher operator was captured. The reader
who may be curious on this subject is referred to
Plum’s “History of the Military Telegraph,” which
contains a full exposé of the Union and Confederate
cryptographs, and to interesting articles by Charles
A. Tinker and David Homer Bates in the Century
Magazine. The Confederate ciphers were always
87
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
solved by our experts, sharing, as they did, the faults
of all ciphers constructed on an alphabetical system,
while it is believed that no instance is known of the
enemy having been able to decipher a telegram in one
of our ciphers.
Early in May, 1862, I walked into our telegraph
office at Fort Monroe one evening, whistling “Dixie.”
There were some strangers there, and Richard chided
me rather sharply for my levity. It was such an
unprecedented thing for him to do that I was much
confused, and had only time to feel more surprised
than hurt when a tall, lank, ungainly man rose up
and told my brother that it was all right, that “Dixie”
was his favorite tune. It was Abraham Lincoln
With him were William A. Seward, Secretary of
State; S. P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, and
Major Eckert. They were there on a mission to
meet peace commissioners from Richmond, in a con-
ference which proved unavailing. Next morning this
party, surrounded by General Wool's staff, stood on
the porch at headquarters, about to start out on a tour
on horseback. The most striking figure of that group
that I still see in imagination is Mr. Lincoln. There
he stands, head and shoulders above the rest, his rug-
ged features illumined by a gleam of humor as the
staff searches in vain for gauntlets large enough to fit
the firm and honest hand that held the destinies of
the nation.
88
* The honest hand that held the destinies of the nation”
Mr. Lincoln AND His Sox. “Tad’”
Mr. Lincoln presented a copy of this Photograph to Albert B. Chandler,
Military Telegrapher at the War Department

CHAPTER VI.
NORFOLK–END OF THE MERRIMAC-SUFFOLK–WIRES
AND CABLES-EXPERIENCE OF CAPTURED OPER-
ATORS–NAVAL, DISPATCHES-RELATIONS
OF THE ARMY ANI) NAVY IN THE
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.
Y the 10th of May, McClellan had reached the
Pamunkey, and the Confederates, needing all
their forces to confront him, evacuated Norfolk. It
has been said that Mr. Lincoln, who was still at Fort
Monroe, selected the point across Hampton Roads
(near where the Jamestown Exposition stands at this
writing), where our expedition against Norfolk should
land. The selection depended on channel and beach
and was, in fact, made by our cable pilot, Captain
Evans, who commanded the tug Geo. B. McClellam,
a rough old sea-dog who knew every foot of all that
COaSt. -
On the approach of our troops, under Generals
Wool and Mansfield, the Merrimac was blown up by
her gallant commander, the act confessing that her use-
fulness to the Confederates was at an end. General
Egbert L. Viele became Military Governor of Norfolk.
It was expected that an important movement would be
made from Norfolk towards Weldon and Petersburg,
and Major Eckert sent Richard, as chief operator, to
89
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Norfolk at once to take charge of military telegraph
affairs, I accompanying him, and men and material to
follow to enable him to run a line back to Sewell’s
Point, with cable thence across Hampton Roads to
Fort Monroe, and to push lines out to Suffolk, or
wherever needed. I went to Suffolk. The Seaboard
and Roanoke Railroad ran from Portsmouth, opposite
Norfolk, through the Dismal Swamp to Suffolk and
on to Weldon. Richard first patched and used this
wire, working at Portsmouth, where some days he
sent and received messages while lying down too ill
to sit up, and at other times sending me dispatches
without being able to hear me in return on account
of the wire being on the ground and no battery at my
end. In these cases he trusted me to be on the alert,
even when he got no answering signals, and—I was
there.
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad crossed the
other line a few miles beyond Suffolk and beyond our
pickets. Our next makeshift was to connect those
two wires at that point, and, by putting a piece of
cable under the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
draw-bridge across the Elizabeth at Norfolk, we got a
string from General Viele's headquarters in the
Custom House to my station on the Seaboard road at
Suffolk. Colonel Wyman, of the Sixteenth Massa-
chusetts Infantry, afterwards badly cut up on the
Peninsula, commanded the force there at first, but
soon General Mansfield came out with more troops.
90
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
My station, though in the village, was somewhat
isolated so far as troops were concerned, they being
stationed a mile or so away in different directions, and
there being but one cavalryman, to carry dispatches,
with me. General Mansfield, one of the old Mexican
war heroes, used sometimes to come alone at night to
see if the line and I were safe. We continued safe,
from the armed foe, but they had left some allies
which were almost as terrible. Mrs. Pickett, in her
admirable book, “Life of General Pickett,” tells that
in her baby's first review of Pickett's Corps he accu-
mulated some trophies that required the services of
nurse and doctor. In a pile of blankets which the
Confederates had left in the Suffolk depot my orderly
and I met the enemy and—we were theirs | We did
battle with them for a month, and then, having
negotiated an exchange with another operator, not
concealing the facts from him, I buried a suit of
clothes, did some germicidal ablutions, and went back
to work at Portsmouth.
During the month I was at Suffolk I got time to
swim in the Nansemond River, learn to ride bare-
back with the cavalry, and to live on “salt-horse”
and “hard-tack ’’ with the soldiers.
On one occasion, something having gone wrong
with the wire, I had to go to find the trouble, to the
point previously mentioned, where the railroads
crossed. The horse furnished me by Colonel Wyman
ran away with me, passing our outer picket post on a
91
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
dead run. The picket yelled and aimed after me, but
fortunately did not fire. While fixing the break I
discerned a cavalry brigade in the distance, and,
recognizing our regiments, returned with them.
They had been on a scout toward Weldon. Suffolk
was a nice little town, with its one long street heavily
shaded by three rows of elms, one row down the
center of the road.
Major Eckert had promptly sent men and material
to follow us to Norfolk, and Richard had gotten his
lines and cables working in good shape to Fort
Monroe. I worked at Getty’s Station and other
points, as needed, in a sequence which I cannot clearly
recall, but, as not only military but commercial busi-
ness was being now accepted over our line, the only
one between Norfolk and the North, the telegraphic
work at Norfolk became considerable, and Richard
placed me there with him. Our office was at military
headquarters, in the Custom House, which became
our home for a long time and under successive com-
manding Generals.
It will be remembered that McClellan’s well-laid
plans against Richmond were frustrated largely by
Stonewall Jackson's valley campaign, which threat-
ened Washington, caused the President to divert forty
thousand men, under McDowell, from the right wing
of the Army of the Potomac for the protection of the
Capital, discomfited three Union armies, and was
executed by Jackson’s “foot cavalry" with such
92
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
energy and celerity that the same Confederate force
was able to return and take an important part against
McClellan in the battle of Gaines' Mill, the first of
the seven days' battles around Richmond. This
short campaign, which placed Stonewall Jackson in
the strategic class of Napoleon, resulted, among other
things, in the capture of a number of our military
telegraphers, among whom were William McIntosh,
foreman of construction, who had just built the line
to Strasburg in the valley; Henry C. Buell, operator
at that point; Charles W. Moore, operator at Ma-
nassas Junction, and Frank Lamb on the same line;
Frank Drummond, captured at Winchester, where he
lingered to transmit important dispatches as Bank’s
rear-guard was retreating before Jackson's victorious
column, and others.
Drummond's diary, for which I am indebted to
Plum's valuable work, gives a vivid picture of the
experiences of prisoners of war :
“On the 31st of May we were ordered to report at
provost marshal's at 10:30 A.M. Started on march
12:30. Marched fifteen miles, and halted for the
night in the middle of the road. Sentinels would not
allow us into a field close by ; we were, consequently,
compelled to lie down in the mud, so deep that Lieu-
tenant Rice, of the Fifth Connecticut, with whom I
slept, could not see a particle of his blanket when we
got up, and so left it there; and I can safely say he
regretted leaving it for months after. It rained very
93
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
heavily all night, and as we had no rations all day
and night, we arose from our soft bed soaking wet,
cold, hungry, and very miserable generally. The
next day, Sunday, we marched at 5 A.M. for Stras-
burg. Here the officers got breakfast at hotels, for
which they paid. Halted at 4 P.M., eleven miles
from Strasburg, and prospects were held out that we
would get half rations, uncooked; which eventually
proved true, as we were the recipients of four crack-
ers (hard-tack) each. Monday, June 2nd, marched
fifteen miles, camped at Mount Jackson, in hospital;
nothing to eat all day. •
“June 3rd.—Marched sixteen miles. Officers camped
in a dirty barn. No rations; oppressively warm.
After we were lying down, terribly tired and hungry,
not a sound to be heard, I sang as loudly as I could
the song, “Bacon and Greens,’ which praises these
articles of food in a very tempting manner. One
verse goes:
“Oh ! there's charm in this dish, rightly taken,
That from custards and jellies an epicure weans.
Stick your fork in the fat, wrap your greens round
the bacon,
And you’ll vow there's no dish like good bacon and
greens.’
“They let me finish, but immediately after cried,
“Put him out !” “Gag him ' ' etc. We were a hungry
lot. I’ll never forget that night.
“June 4th.-Marched seventeen miles to Harrisburg.
No rations until night; first regular rations we have
94.
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
had. All commissioned officers paroled to report at
Staunton. Telegraphers refused, because not com-
missioned. 5th.-Marched twenty-one miles, over
horribly muddy roads, last ten miles without any halt
to rest. Feet very badly blistered. No rations.
6th.-Marched twelve miles; arrived at Waynes-
borough 12:30, noon. No rations; feet very sore.
Camped in a field near depot. Rained some during
night. Bought provisions; no rations. 7th.-Rained
very fast all morning. Drenched and miserable.
Sun came out after noon. Went to town with guard;
bought shoes, towels and soap. Washed in river,
put up tent, received rations and slept well. 8th.-
Beautiful day. No rations. Wagons packing, and
appearance of moving. Charley Moore very ill.
Marched at 4 P.M. Camped six miles from Waynes-
borough. Slept in clover field. No rations. 9th.-
Marched at 10. Rations of fat pork; no bread.
Halted at North Garden Station, after. marching six-
teen miles. Camped in field. Baked some bread
(flour and water). 10th.-Got up at 4. Raining
heavily all day. Field very muddy. Changed our
quarters, in midst of heavy rain, to a worse place.
Passed a miserable night.
“June 11th. – Left in box cars this morning.
Hustled into a box with about sixty others, like
cattle. Very close and warm. Arrived at Lynch-
burg 5 P.M. Marched to fair grounds, where rations
were served out. 16th.-Buell very sick; not extra
95
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
well myself. 17th.-Very bad with diarrhoea. Only
allowed half rations of water; something wrong with
well. No rations of food. 19th.-Two prisoners
died last night; great many sick. No better myself;
slept badly. Raining. 20th.-Very ill. All prison-
ers called out to be counted. 21st.—Colonel Gibbs
gave us parole of the grounds. Much better quarters,
and separated from soldiers. Rigged up a sleeping
place with boards, in cattle sheds. Bought seventeen
dollars worth of something to eat. 22nd.—Much
better in health this morning. Think we will all get
well again. Best sleep of any night since left Win-
chester. 27th.-Buell still sick. 28th.-Rained very
heavily. Our shanty keeps tolerably dry; quite an
improvement on the field. 30th.-Reported General
Winder will be here to-morrow to parole us.
“July 1st.—No General Winder. 4th.-Had good
dance to-night; flute music. Slept finely after the
unusual exercise. 5th.-Changed ten dollars, gold,
for one-third Confederate, two-thirds Federal paper,
fifteen dollars. 7th.-Our mess all cut each other's
hair, close to the scalp. Very warm. 14th.-Moore,
Lamb, Clark, Burr and I dug for two hours, this P.M.,
at a trench. After which, officers of the guard sent
escort with us to stream, where we had a splendid
wash, which we enjoyed immensely, and feel much
better. 18th.-Jumping match this morning. Char-
ley Moore beat us all. 19th.-Exercised a little on
horizontal bar. All in excellent health.
96
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
“July 22nd.—Prisoner shot before daylight this
morning for walking past Sentry. Supposed by his
comrades to have been walking in his sleep. 29th.
—Five men escaped last night. 30th.-Colonel
threatens to send us back with soldiers if we aid them
to escape.
“August 1st.—Another telegraph prisoner arrived
to-day—M. H. Kerner. 4th.—Burr very sick; fever
and chills, particularly chills. 6th.-Joyful news in
camp to-day. The Colonel has announced that orders
have come for our exchange. Charley Moore fainted
twice to-day. 7th.-Confederate officers tell us that
we will be on our way home to-morrow or next day.
More dancing. 8th.-About two thousand prisoners
left for home to-day. We expect to leave to-morrow.
9th.-Got orders to-night to cook rations and prepare
to march at 6 A.M. to-morrow. 10th.-Marched for
cars at 7. Left at 10:30. Sun so intensely hot,
could not possibly have walked one hundred yards
farther than depot. 11th.-Arrived at Belle Island
this A.M. at 6. On the road, six of us crawled
through the windows of the car to the roof, and there
slept. It was wonderful we did not roll off, but we
could not endure the heat and bad odor inside. Left
for Richmond at 1 P.M. Reached Libby Prison about
3; where we were informed we could not be released
until we could procure an exchange for ourselves.
Imagine our feelings | 12th.-Officers in next room
all leaving for home to-day. Spoke to Lieutenant
97
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Selfridge through hole in floor. 13th.-Saw all
officers from Salisbury through hole in door. Spoke
to Captain Betts, Lieutenant Rice, and several others.
14th.-Spoke to John C. Gregg (M. T. corps, who
was taken at Aquia Creek about six months ago)
through hole in door. 17th.-Gregg left for home
this morning with officers. No sign of our going yet.
18th.-There are now one hundred and fifty prisoners
in this room. 19th.-Charley Moore and I made the
raise of a sleeping cot. 23rd.—Hard bread to-night,
in consequence of more prisoners arriving this P.M.
“August 31st.—Rations are always soup (very
watery), boiled beef and bread; never change.
“September 5th.-Man shot upstairs. The guards
on the street are in the habit of amusing themselves
by shooting at any prisoner who shows himself at the
windows. A man in our room forgot himself and
was quietly looking over the James River. He
approached too close to the window, and we heard a
shot, and immediately after a fall upstairs. The ball
had gone close to the man's head, through the
wooden floor above and killed a sergeant, who was
four or five feet from the window. He was sitting on
a table, leaning forward, and was struck through the
Heart; death was instantaneous. The man who did
the shooting was arrested, as a matter of form, but
was looking out for a fresh shot next day, and the
Richmond papers agreed that he had done his duty
and gave him credit for it. 12th.-About forty of us
98
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
volunteered to go to Belle Island and make descrip-
tive lists of about six thousand prisoners. We got at
work about 3 P.M., finished about 8 A.M., 13th, having
worked all night. Five thousand soldiers left to-day.
Rumored we are going home in a day or two. 14th.
—About ten of us were called out this morning, quite
unexpectedly; no time except to grab whatever was
handy. Through a clerical error Charley Moore's
name was omitted on the list; but we did not forget
him. I went to the Captain and told him it must be
an omission, and, fortunately, he was generous enough
to look into it, and found the clerk had left off
Charley's name. In the meantime, poor Charley
thought he was deserted. Left Varina at 4:30 P.M.;
anchored at dark. 15th.-Steamed off at daylight;
beautiful weather. Arrived at Fortress Monroe about
12 M., and anchored in stream. Weighed anchor 6
P.M. When we arrived at Annapolis and were turned
loose, without guards, we hardly knew how to keep
together.
“On arriving at War Department, Washington, we
were very heartily welcomed, although we were a
hard-looking lot, and it was altogether unsafe to come
too near us. We got some money, and I got permis-
sion for Tommy Armor to accompany me to procure
an entire change of wardrobe. I stood in the middle
of the floor and directed the purchase from a safe dis-
tance; then made for the nearest bath house, rolled
all my clothes in a bundle, and threw them out of the
99 eos º se : ;
:
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:
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:
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
back window for obvious reasons, too numerous to .
mention. Before leaving Richmond, we were paroled
for exchange. I managed to take a copy of the parole,
which was as follows: “We, the undersigned, do
solemnly swear and pledge our sacred word of honor,
that we will not, during the existing war between the
United States and the Confederate States of America,
bear arms or aid or abet the enemies of said Confed-
erate States, by information or otherwise, unless regu-
larly exchanged or released. Richmond, September
14, 1862.’”
As throwing a side light on McClellan's Peninsular
campaign, I insert the following telegrams which we
handled at Norfolk :
U. S. Flagship Minnesota, 11 A.M.
Norfolk, Va., June 27th, 1862.
HoN’BLE GIDEON WELLEs,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington City :
I beg the department to be assured that I will not
permit the ignorance or impertinence of any army
officer to interfere for a moment with my duty to the
Government. I am well aware of the crisis at Rich-
mond, and of the absolute necessity of prompt coöper-
ation on my part with General McClellan. Immedi-
ately on the receipt of General Van Vleit's telegram,
notwithstanding its exceptionable tone and address, I
took measures to carry out everything it required, and,
at the earliest possible moment, gave orders accord-
ingly. I had supposed, in addressing General Van-
Vleit upon the subject of his telegram, that General
McClellan knew nothing of its wording; but, as it
: . 100
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• * *
a
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:
se
:
-
ALBERT B. CHANDLER
Cipher-Operator War Department, etc., 1862–5. Lately President
Postal Telegraph Company

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
now appears to have met his approval, I beg to
express the hope that the War Department will enjoin
upon him the propriety of inculcating better official
manners; of addressing me as his equal in rank; and,
least of all, not permitting an officer under his com-
mand to address me as a subordinate, and refuse to
confer upon me the denomination given me by law.
General McClellan, as I understand from one of his
telegrams to me, wishes the Navy Department to give
me such orders as will secure a prompt compliance
with any reasonable request he may make, he, of
course, to be the exclusive judge of reasonableness.
This, in effect, is asking to put the vessels of this
squadron subject to his disposition.
There is, I regret to say, an evident disposition on
the part of various army officers to over-ride and dis-
parage those of the navy, and it is high time a stop
should be put to a feeling at once so ridiculous and
puerile.
I scarcely need add that all the wishes of the
department about convoy, etc., have been fully antici-
pated, and that I will most cordially and cheerfully
coöperate with the army, on all occasions, to crush the
enemy. I only demand to be treated with the respect
due to my rank, position and responsibilities.
L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH,
Flag Officer.
UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH.
Received June 29, 1862. 4:30 P.M.
From Washington.
TO FLAG OFFICER L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH :
Send me by telegraph copy of General McClellan's
dispatch to you at 12:30 Friday night, and also any
later dispatches. GIDEON WELLES,
Paid. Secretary of Navy.
101
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
U. S. Flagship Minnesota.
- Norfolk, Va., June 29, 1862.
HON. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D. C. :
The following is a copy of General McClellan's
dispatch to me on Friday night at 12 o'clock, since
which time nothing from him has reached me. All
his requests were promptly complied with, as you
will perceive by copies of letters from Commander
Rodgers forwarded to you by the mail of to-day.
L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH
Flag Officer.
(Copy): Rec'd 12 O. C. night.
- - - - - U. S. Military Zelegraph,
Płeadquarters Dept. Potomac, June 27, 1862.
FLAG OFFICER GOLDSBOROUGH : -
I desire you will send some light-draft gunboats at
once up the Chickahominy as far as possible, and also
that you will forthwith instruct the gunboats in the
James River to cover the left flank of this army. I
should be glad to have the gunboats proceed as far
up the river as may be practicable, and hope they
may get up as far as the vicinity of New Market.
We have met a severe repulse to-day, having been
attacked by vastly superior numbers, and I am
obliged to fall back between the Chickahominy and
the James; I look to you to give me all the support
you can in covering my flank as well as in giving
protection to my supplies afloat in James. -
(Signed) G. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.
I append a third dispatch of Rear-Admiral Golds-
borough which we sent as the Army of the Potomac
102
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
was withdrawn from the Peninsula. The originals
of these three dispatches, which mark the culmina-
tion of McClellan's campaign, are still in my posses-
sion, retained as mementoes of the events and spirit
of the time:
U. S. Flagship Minnesota,
Norfolk, Va., August 23, 1862.
TO COMMANDER PATTERSON,
Commanding U. S. S. Chocura,
York River, Va. :
Visit the York River occasionally as high up as
the neighborhood of West Point, and whatever you
may discover with regard to the enemy's movements
between Yorktown and there, and also thereabouts,
communicate the same promptly to the commanding
officer of the army at Yorktown. Should the enemy
attempt to take up any position on the York River
within reach of your guns, use them against him
without hesitation, and dislodge him if possible.
L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH,
Rear Admiral.
As these dispatches show the climax of McClellan's
troubles in that campaign, the following marked the
beginning of them :
War Department, Washington, April 4, 1862.
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN :
By direction of the President, General McDowell's
army corps has been detached from the force under
your immediate command and the General is ordered
to report to the Secretary of War.
L. THOMAS,
Adjutant-General.
103
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
This reached McClellan as he was confronting
Magruder in front of Yorktown, and meant the dis-
ruption of his plan of campaign, which contemplated
that McDowell's Corps, constituting the right wing of
his army, should traverse the general line afterward
chosen by Grant, but more interior, and come up on
McClellan's right as his main army ascended the
York River route to Richmond.
In 1885, in reply to a severe and, in my opinion,
unjust, newspaper criticism of McClellan, I wrote a
brief paper on this campaign defending him, and
reciting the remarkable exploits of that Confederate
Napoleon, Stonewall Jackson, as being the direct
cause of the alarm at Washington which induced the
administration to thus withdraw McDowell's Corps
from McClellan's command, and the following auto-
graph letter shows General McClellan's appreciation
of this slight service:
AVew York, June 4, 1885.
J. E. O'BRIEN, M. D., Scranton, Pa.
MY DEAR SIR : During a very great pressure of
business your most kind letter of May 11th has been
unanswered, and I now hasten to apelogize for my
delay in acknowledging it. Will you allow me to
thank you for your excellent article, and to express
my deep appreciation of the kind regard and confi-
dence which I value so highly from my comrades
of the war.
Always sincerely your friend,
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN.
104
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
McClellan may have been cautious and deliberate,
but I am glad that the recent unveiling of his statue
at Washington and President Roosevelt's eloquent
tribute, show that the American people appreciate
his great military services.
105
CHAPTER VII.
SUMMARY OF MILITARY TELEGRAPHING IN 1862–GUER-
RILLAS–HORSEMANSHIP–D. WILMOT SMITH AND
SITTING BULL–SIEGE OF SUFFOLK–TELE-
GRAPHIC SOMNAMBULISM –THE SONG
OF THE BULLET.
N the whole theatre of war, nearly 4,000 miles of
line were constructed during 1862, over the wide
territory occupied by our forces. Of these nearly half
were taken down or abandoned as the exigencies of
the conflict dictated. Over a million dispatches were
transmitted.
The Peninsular campaign, with the seven days'
battles ending at Malvern Hill, had been fought out,
and the tide of battle rolled away to distant fields.
The military wires were taken down or abandoned
as far back as Williamsburg.
While the Army of the Potomac was engaged on
the Peninsula the telegraphic situation nearer Wash-
ington consisted of three principal lines radiating
thence to McDowell at Fredericksburg, to Manassas
Junction, extending by way of the Manassas Gap road
to Strasburg, and a line by way of Harper's Ferry to
Winchester following Banks to Strasburg.
In Pope's Virginia campaign of three weeks his
essential telegraph lines formed a triangle, its base
106
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
extending from Washington along the Virginia side
of the Potomac to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg,
its sides from the latter point to Culpepper Court
House, and from Washington by way of the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad to the same point, whence a
single wire accompanied him to the battlefield of
Cedar Mountain and beyond. In the retrograde move-
ment, as soon as he uncovered the apex of the tele-
graph triangle at Culpepper, he lost the Fredericks-
burg wire, which became more inaccessible the farther
he receded on the Orange and Alexandria route, while
“Jeb" Stuart rode in and cut the line in his rear at
Manassas Junction, capturing our operator, who was
shot while attempting to escape. Thus was Pope
entirely isolated, while Washington seemed as com-
pletely cut off from knowledge of his movements or
of Jackson's as it was from the North on the 20th of
April, 1861. Again the telegraphers plunged into the
work of re-opening communication, this time at far
greater hazard. Pushing out on the Orange and
Alexandria and Manassas Gap roads, by locomotive or
by hand-car, they concealed themselves in woods and
cliffs, observing the movements of the enemy's forces
and of our own, and giving all the definite informa-
tion which reached the Administration at that time.
The field operators with Pope, too, finding their usual
occupation gone, became independent scouts, recon-
noitering the country and tapping the wires wherever
reached to obtain information of the enemy or to com-
107
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
municate news to the War Department. The earliest
advices of the second battle of Bull Run, like those of
the first, were given by the operators, two of them
riding direct from the battlefield to the nearest line
and telegraphing their own description of it to the
President, who personally thanked them by telegraph.
In such hazardous work a number were wounded or
captured.
On one occasion an operator started out from Fair-
fax Station on a hand-car propelled by three contra-
bands to attempt to restore the line so that Pope's
operators could communicate his whereabouts. Find-
ing the line cut beyond Pohick Bridge, he spliced it
and got signals from both directions. While so
engaged a party of guerrillas emerged from the woods
to the track and surrounded him. Bidding the
negroes stand fast, he dictated a swift message over
the line, which was being repeated back to him and
copied as the Confederate leader leaned over his
shoulder and read the significant words: “Buford
has sent back a regiment of cavalry to meet the one
from here and guard the line. If you are molested we
will hang every citizen on the route.” The instru-
ment ceased ticking as the operator firmly replied,
“- - – - —” (O. K.). A painful pause ensued. The
Confederate might have suspected a ruse if at the
moment a gleam of sabres had not shone in the direc-
tion of Fairfax Court House. Hastily starting for
the woods, the leader exclaimed, “Come home, boys;
108
Cotartesy of 7/he ( en ſury .]/agazineTAPPING A WIRIĘ

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
these yere ain’t our niggers; ” and they disappeared,
while the hand-car, as if driven by forty-contraband
power, sped rapidly rearward. Pope's wires were not
well guarded at any time.
Later in the war, in attempting to re-open this line
for Sheridan, by way of the Manassas Gap road to
Front Royal, a railroad and telegraph party, while
proceeding by locomotive, were ambushed and five of
them killed.
While the billows of war were breaking over
another part of Virginia and my comrades of the
military telegraph there were suffering hardships,
sometimes death, or capture with the horrors of Con-
federate prisons, we seemed to be in a quiet eddy
about Norfolk. The movement that we had expected
to be made thence toward Weldon and Petersburg did
not transpire, and only long scouting expeditions by
the cavalry, with skirmishes about Zuni on the
Blackwater towards Weldon, and beyond, occurred.
Richard or I rode over our lines when necessary,
usually with a lineman or a single cavalryman, and
when I could be spared I roamed on horseback all
over the country about Norfolk and Suffolk, either
alone or with the cavalrymen. I became more inti-
mate with the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and
the First New York Mounted Rifles than with any
other regiments, and sometimes visited their camps
and bunked with them. Armstrong, our mounted
messenger, preferring fighting in the field to detail
109
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
duty, returned to his regiment later. We had two
mounted messengers from the Eleventh Pennsylvania,
Joe Wilson and James Keller, and liked them so well
that we kept them permanently detailed, and later,
when I was working at Portsmouth and Wilson was
my messenger there, I began to teach him telegraphy,
which he eventually mastered and made his profes-
sion, rejoining us in North Carolina at the close of
the war and remaining South as an operator, I think
at Weldon, North Carolina, when we came North.
We rode various horses, one beautiful, tigerish sor-
rel stallion, which threw me, once, at an outer picket
post, by the bursting of a saddle girth, but we came
eventually to have two, “Pet” and “Lucy,” perma-
nently throughout the war. It was not always prac-
ticable to take these two horses with us in sudden
assignments to different fields, and so we continued to
make acquaintance with many others. Richard's
brown mare, “Lucy,” was strong, enduring and cour-
ageous, sure-footed, and a good runner and jumper.
She would shy, and come down stiff-legged in a way
that was rather disconcerting to a novice, but this, to
a fair rider, was a slight fault compared to her good
qualities. She will figure again in this narrative.
“Pet ’’ was a good-looking sorrel, with handsome
mane and tail. He arched his neck proudly, and had
an easy lope. I once rode him bareback, with some
cavalrymen, into a branch of the Elizabeth River, for
a swim, and as he plunged rather madly into deep
110
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
water I drew too hard on the curb bit, bringing him
over backward, and we both went under. I let him
go, and swam ashore; it was easy swimming in salt
water. There was a pretty strong current and it was
undoubtedly “Pet’s ” first experience in deep water,
but after plunging and floundering for a few moments
he began to swim, as I believe any horse will, and
got safely ashore farther down the bank.
Up to this period I had supposed that our cavalry-
men were perfect horsemen, though I had already
learned to shorten my stirrups more than they did to
get the automatic muscular elasticity which should
compensate the horse motion, but an experience with
“Pet’” satisfied me that their mounting technic was
all wrong; that they leaned too far back in the saddle,
and that as a rule, while good soldiers, they were not
really the best of horsemen. In mounting they took
the rein and the mane of the horse (or the pommel of
the saddle) in the left hand, put foot in the stirrup,
and, seizing the cantle (rear) of the saddle in the
right hand, drew themselves aboard somehow. This
vicious method was so universal that I do not remem-
ber to have noticed an exception to it during the war;
and, since, I have seen so good a horseman as Buffalo
Bill, who undoubtedly learned it from the cavalry,
mount in the same way; but his cowboys did not, for
the Western mustang, used to springing away the
instant foot touched stirrup, would not let them. So,
after the experience I am going to mention, I learned
111
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
to mount cowboy fashion long years before I saw a
cowboy ride. The trouble with the old cavalry
method was that you could not get into the saddle
without removing the right hand from the cantle,
and if, at that instant, the horse bounded forward, you
were completely at his mercy and might not be able
to get into the saddle at all. I have owned a good
mustang that could certainly not be mounted in that
way, and yet I never had any trouble in mounting
him on the run. To do so required me to spring to
his side and seize the saddle girth as if to tighten it
(for which he would stand), while I took the rein
and pommel in my right hand, seized the mane near
his head with the left (some cowboys prefer to seize
the head-stall), and put foot in the stirrup—all
instanter. By this time he would be on the run, but
I could easily maintain that position for any distance
and get in the saddle at my leisure. I had been
invited by a farmer boy, who lived some miles beyond
our lines, to visit and hunt rabbits with him. On
the way out, with a shotgun, I dismounted from
“Pet’’ to try a shot at a squirrel. In remounting,
with the gun in my right hand on the cantle of the
saddle, “Pet” started on a run and by the greatest
effort I was only able to get my leg over his back
behind the saddle. In that awkward position, with
the spur driven into his flank, I clung for a few
bounds and then went backward over his rump with
the gun still in my hand. The hammer struck the
112
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
right side of my lower jaw as I hit the road,
inflicting a slight wound. “Pet” came back after a
while to the place where he had thrown me, and I
returned to Norfolk, where I had the wound dressed
by Dr. Wright, a leading physician of the place.
This slight incident introduced me to one who became
an actor in one of the most dramatic tragedies of the
Civil War, which I will relate farther on.
Besides these riding trips, we varied the daily
routine of telegraph work, which Richard and I did
together when necessary, or divided between us as it
came, sleeping by the instruments. Taking recrea-
tion separately, we rowed out and swam in the river
at night or attended the theatre, where Sam W. Glenn
had a very good stock company and Mary Mitchell
(not Maggie) was the leading lady and played every-
thing from Lady Gay Spanker and the French Spy,
to Juliet, and Lady Macbeth. She was really a good
actress. The audience was made up partly of soldiers.
We had a German lineman who first interested me
in his great language with its splendid literature, and
who taught us the royal game of chess.
Chess is a military game, representing the grand
strategy of moving armies, as when Grant moved
Meade, Sherman, Crook, Sigel and Butler, with five
separate armies, over a widely extended field in one
concerted plan of attack. There may be still floating
on the Atlantic Ocean somewhere, our board and men
113
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
lost on James River in a hurried movement of the
Wallſ.
Besides these amusements, we practiced sabre exer-
cises and fencing; and, in exploring the Custom
House, I found in the cellar, much to my delight, an
Eskimo kayak and other Arctic relics said to have
been left there by Dr. Kane, whose account of his
polar expedition had so fascinated me at Duncannon.
In the office of Major A. E. Bovay, Provost Marshal,
in the Custom House with us, and assisting him as
chief clerk, was a very interesting gentleman and old
telegrapher, D. Wilmot Smith, who, though much
older than ourselves, took a great fancy to me, whom
he seemed to regard as a sort of infant phenomenon in
the telegraph. He liked to take long rides with me
before breakfast, and, being scholarly and world-wise,
his companionship was instructive. He had been
telegraphing since 1850; was a good operator, had
built lines and had been superintendent of them.
Later on, he returned to the telegraph, entering our
military telegraph corps and serving in the siege of
Charleston, where he contracted army dysentery and
was sent North apparently dying. Having partly
recuperated, he started farther Northwest for a better
climate and camped with Sitting Bull and his Sioux,
on the Red River of the North, whence he wrote me
charming and picturesque descriptions of the Sioux
and their country, in after years. -
114
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Besides the efforts of ourselves and linemen to keep
up our wires, Richard tried to have the pickets aid us
in protecting them, as indicated by the following
specimen order:
Headquarters, Norfolk, Va.,
January 14, 1863.
SPECIAL ORDERS NO.
The picket guard at Indian Pole Bridge will send
two men over the telegraph line to Sewell’s Point at
any time of day or night as the chief operator, Mr.
O'Brien, may direct; for the purpose of protecting
telegraphic communication.
By order of Brigadier-General E. L. Viele.
J. N. LIEBERMAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
TELEGRAPHIC SOMNAMBULISM.
In April, 1863, Richard, after two years' service,
went home for his first vacation, leaving me alone in
charge of the military telegraph at Norfolk. When
he left, military matters were at a perfect standstill in
that vicinity:
“All was as peaceful and as still
As the mist slumbering on yon hill.”
Suddenly, Longstreet's Corps from Lee's army, sup-
posed to be about 28,000 men, appeared in our front
and put Suffolk in a state of siege. We had 14,000
men there, under General Peck, and a light draught
gunboat or two in the Nansemond River on his right.
There were two operators at Suffolk, Homan at the
115
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
railroad, and Holloway at Peck's headquarters; but,
as I have said, I was alone at Norfolk.
Plum says that Charlie Homan ran trains for four
days and three nights without relief, and I am sure
Holloway must have endured a similar strain. I kept
at my instrument without relief for three days and
nights, and had a curious experience which I here
transcribe from my Century paper of September,
1889 :
“In illustration of the sensibility of hearing
acquired by the military operators for this one sound
(the gentle tick of the telegraph relay), the writer
may be pardoned another personal incident. At Nor-
folk, in April, 1863, he happened to be alone in
charge of the telegraph when Longstreet, with a large
force, laid siege to Suffolk. In the emergency he
remained on duty, without sleep, for three days and
nights, repeating orders between Fort Monroe and the
front. Towards morning on the third night he fell
asleep, but was roused by the strenuous calls of the
fort and asked why he had not given ‘O.K.’ for the
message just sent. He replied that none had been
received. “We called you,” said the operator at the
fort; ‘you answered, and we sent you two messages,
but you failed to acknowledge them.' The dispatches
were repeated and forwarded, when on taking up a
volume of Scott's novels, with which he had previ-
ously endeavored to keep awake, the writer was
astonished to find the missing telegrams scrawled
116
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
across the printed page in his own writing, some sen-
tences omitted and some repeated. It was a curious
instance of somnambulism;”—using that term in its
wide medical meaning, which is not restricted to sleep
walking, but covers any habitual waking action done
during sleep. A study of the psychology of subcon-
sciousness in the field suggested by this incident will,
I think, interest and repay any intelligent reader.
On the fourth day of the siege Richard, who had
been apprised of the emergency and anticipated my
predicament, arrived, as in every emergency through-
out our lives he always arrived, in time, and relieved
me. As soon as I had recuperated from this severe
strain I went out to visit Homan and Holloway and
to see how our intrenchments and Longstreet's
looked. Our linemen ran Holloway and me out from
Suffolk by a hand-car on the Seaboard Railroad. I
was surprised to find our manned intrenchments quite
close to the village, and supposed them to be merely
an inner line; another line appearing within gunshot
distance beyond. The track was unobstructed and
we kept on, intending to pass the first line, when we
were halted by shouts of warning from our soldiers
behind those intrenchments. We scattered from the
car and I began to hear the low buzz of a bee going
by my ear at intervals. In a moment I realized that
these were bullets and that what I had taken for our
second intrenched line was manned by the enemy,
and that we were the targets of their sharpshooters.
117
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
I cannot decide to this day, whether Longstreet's men
were poor marksmen, or were magnanimous. Per-
haps their rifles were inferior. At any rate, I would
in late years expect, with a National Guard Krag, or
even a Springfield, to “get” my man nearly every
time at that distance. I think it was about four
hundred yards. The siege continued from April 10th
to May 2nd, when Longstreet withdrew.
118
Courtesy of The Centu ,
.ae
y Magazine
FIELD TELEGRAPH—BATTERY WAGON
§
ſº

CHAPTER VIII.
A COLLISION OVER NEGRO SOLDIERS–THE WRIGHT-
SANBORN TRAGEDY-TWENTY THOUSAND DOL-
LARS OFFERED FOR A TELEGRAM—
COUNTERSIGNS—TELEGRAPHIC
SUMMARY FOR 1863.
ARLY in 1863 the Government had enlisted
negro soldiers. The feeling that this action
occasioned in the South, not only among slave owners
but among all Southern white folks, may be imag-
ined. A detachment of negro troops landed at Nor-
folk. They marched up Main Street past the Custom
House, led by Lieutenant Sanborn, of New England.
Dr. Wright was, I have reason to believe, a chivalrous
Southern gentleman whose refined nature and profes-
sional training made life-saving his ideal. He had
been opposed to secession. But here was a point
where the extreme Northern idea and the Southern
idea, about the negro, came into collision, as the iron-
clads had come together in Hampton Roads. They
met on the sidewalk of Main Street on July 11, 1863.
There was a word or two between Dr. Wright and
Lieutenant Sanborn ; then the flash of a pistol, and
Lieutenant Sanborn staggered into a doorway and
died in a few minutes. The negroes were either well-
disciplined or bewildered; they did not attack the
119
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Doctor. He was arrested by the white provost guard,
who quickly arrived on the scene from headquarters
at the Custom House. Dr. Wright was promptly
tried by court-martial and sentenced to be hung. Mr.
Lincoln was besieged with petitions for clemency.
The President ordered the proceedings of the court-
martial sent to him for review, and afterward declined
to disturb the sentence. Fruitless efforts were made
at Richmond to get some aid for Dr. Wright from the
Confederate President and Secretary of War.
Dr. Wright's brave and devoted daughter visited
him in prison one evening, and, exchanging wraps
with him, he passed by the guards, out of the prison,
and emerged on the street, and might have made
good his escape had not a passing officer noticed the
masculine stride of the supposed woman and re-ar-
rested him. Still, some further word, some reprieve
was expected by Dr. Wright's friends from Mr.
Lincoln.
On October 22nd, the day before the final date
fixed for the execution, Richard was approached,
through our orderly, Keller, before mentioned, by an
influential citizen with an offer of twenty thousand
dollars in gold, to “anticipate” (forge) a telegram
from Mr. Lincoln. It was represented that if Richard
would do this, and wished to escape any possible con-
sequences, that the freedom of the Confederacy with
passage to Europe by blockade runner, would be open
to him. Had the honor of the chief operator been
120
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
amenable to the touch of gold there would have been
no trouble to get out, as we were in the habit of rid-
ing beyond our lines and pickets. The offer was
indignantly rejected.
On the morning of the execution our cable across
Chesapeake Bay failed; it was a portion of the first
Atlantic cable and was faulty, as mentioned in a pre-
vious chapter. I was on duty, and, as a reprieve was
still hoped for, notified the commanding General of
the interruption to our line, and the execution was
delayed. In an hour the cable was again O. K. and
still no message. It became our painful duty to
apprise General Naglee of this fact, and, with feelings
of mixed emotion among which sorrow for the
doctor who had kindly treated my slight wound, pre-
dominated, I mounted my horse, rode to the fair-
grounds and from some distance saw the execution.
This scene haunted me for many a day, and though I
was by accident compelled to see other executions (of
deserters) during the war, I never again voluntarily
witnessed one.
How we were trusted by commanding Generals
may be indicated by the following specimen copy of
pass-words which were regularly furnished us weekly
in advance:
Headquarters District of Virginia,
Morfolk, Va., Aug. 29, 1863.
ORDERS: orfolk, Va., Aug. 29,
Countersigns for the week ending September 5,
1863.
121
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
*
Sunday, 30th, Pea Ridge.
Monday, 31st, Bunker Hill.
Tuesday, Sept. 1st, Waterloo.
Wednesday, 2d, Buena Vista.
Thursday, 3rd, Norfolk.
Friday, 4th, Hastings.
Saturday, 5th, West Point.
By command of BRIGADIER-GENERAL NAGLEE.
Official :
W. C. NEwBURy, A. D. C.
It was necessary for us to have the greatest freedom
of movement for the care of our wires and cables, and
for the delivery of important dispatches with which
we sometimes rode to distant camps ourselves, regard-
less of night or storm, but, as our wires often ex-
tended beyond our pickets, we were also usually pro-
vided with passes beyond the lines held by the Union
troops.
During 1863 about 4,000 miles of line were used
by the military telegraph and 1,500 miles again
abandoned, and 2,000,000 telegrams were transmitted.
In the Antietam campaign McClellan had a line to
Hagerstown, looped by way of Poolesville to Point of
Rocks, whence a branch extended to Harper's Ferry.
Stuart cut this loop as Lee advanced, and an attempt
to restore it proving disastrous to the telegraph party,
Harper's Ferry remained isolated until captured.
Five military operators surrendered with the troops at
that point, but they escaped, and at Antietam joined
their comrades, who had pushed the line to the battle-
122
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
field of South Mountain and on through Boonesboro
and Keedysville.
The electric tongue which had aided him on the
Peninsula and in Maryland now proclaimed McClel-
lan's victory at Antietam, and again became the mes-
senger of his humiliation. The telegraph corps
revered “Little Mac,” both in person and in military
genius. Perhaps none knew better than some of its
members the extent and scope of his plans or had
more confidence in their success. The orders for his
withdrawal from the James were reluctantly trans-
mitted, and on his removal from the command of the
Army of the Potomac, in November, his chief
operator, Harper Caldwell, telegraphed : “We are
all grieved at McClellan's removal. The whole army,
from Major-Generals down to foot orderlies, feel it.
Old soldiers of the regulars wept like boys when he
1eft.”
Burnside's lines in the Fredericksburg campaign
were the same as Pope's had been in August, but were
less extended and less exposed. Three of the opera-
tors were captured at their posts, one of whom
escaped by his wits and the others joined the consider-
able delegation of the corps already in captivity,
where they suffered the usual horrors of Libby, Belle
Isle, and Andersonville, and whence they communi-
cated by many ingenious devices with their friends.
A brass button by the hands of an exchanged prisoner
would contain a cipher dispatch on tissue paper. A
123
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
ring carved from bone, and marked with a few Morse
characters, told us of our captured comrades.
From the beginning of the war there had been
some friction between the telegraph and the signal
corps. Early in 1861 the chief signal officer assumed
control of the telegraph in Butler's department, from
which he was immediately relieved by the Secretary
of War. In 1863 he was again in the field with thirty
cumbrous “magneto" machines, intended to operate
a dial telegraph. The system was operated by the
signal officers in the Chancellorsville campaign, and,
proving inefficient, it was turned over to the tele-
graphers, who discarded the machines and worked
with Morse instruments the short lines laid by the
signal corps. Had Major Myer then had the tele-
phone, he would have succeeded. It will undoubt-
edly be used with Morse telegraphy in future wars;
but the antiquated system introduced, and expected
to be worked by officers unfamiliar with electricity,
resulted in failure. Had the telegraphic field not
been thus divided, and had General Hooker ordered
the necessary lines, he would probably have had bet-
ter control of his forces, particularly of Sedgwick's
Corps.
A swift glance Southward and Westward, without
regard to chronological order, may indicate the value
of the telegraph in other fields than the Potomac.
Military lines were not required in North Carolina
until 1863, when they connected Morehead City,
124
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Courtesy of The Century Magazine ‘‘INSULATED ''

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
New Berne, Bachelor's Creek, and outposts. General
Palmer credited the telegraph with having apprised
him of the approach of Pickett's force against New
Berne in February, 1864, and with enabling him
promptly to concentrate his forces to meet the attack.
Three of his operators died of yellow fever. Plum
says: “On the pay-rolls, which alone indicate that
these men were in the service of their country, is
written opposite their names, ‘Discharged.’ An
eternal discharge, indeed.” Yet that epitaph com-
prises all of rank, reward, or pension ever tendered an
operator of the military telegraph, or his family, by
the United States.
The military telegraph service in South Carolina
was peculiar in the preponderance of submarine cables
connecting the sea islands, and in the exposure of the
operators on Morris Island and vicinity to the fire of
the Confederate batteries during the long siege of
Charleston. On one occasion two of our men were
up alternate poles, stringing a wire which had just
been cut by a shell, when another well-aimed shot
struck the pole between them and brought poles,
wire, and men in a tangle to the soft sand.
In September, 1863, a Union operator named
Forster tapped the Charleston and Savannah line
near Pocotaligo and sent information to Generals
Gilmore and Terry which enabled them to foil a con-
certed attack by the enemy. Forster was captured on
the third day and died in prison.
125
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Not pausing to detail the movements of the tele-
graph with expeditions in Florida, we note in the
Gulf Department seven military lines radiating from
New Orleans under Butler and Banks, one of them
reaching Baton Rouge, after its occupation, another
accompanying the Red River expedition, and one con-
necting New Orleans and Port Hudson with field
lines at the latter point during the siege. Experi-
ments by the telegraphers in exploding powder by
electricity, such as had been made at Fort Sumter
and elsewhere, resulted, in that department, in the
successful clearing of obstructions from Bayou Teche.
At the close of the war about three thousand miles of
military lines in the Department of Mississippi,
including Texas, were turned over to commercial use.
In Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas military lines
connected St. Louis with Fort Leavenworth and Fort
Scott, and by February, 1864, with Fort Smith and
Little Rock, from which point three wires radiated to
important posts. In March, 1864, three of our build-
ers were killed by guerrillas on the Fort Smith line.
By 1865 these lines aggregated seventeen hundred
miles. The service in this department was under the
energetic management of Captain Robert C. Clowry.
In Tennessee about a thousand miles of lines were
constructed for Halleck's and Grant's operations.
These, in 1862, connected St. Louis with Forts
Henry and Donelson when captured, thence reaching
to Nashville and on to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
126
Colonel. Robert C. CLowRy
Assistant Superintendent Military Telegraph, 1861-5
Now President Western Union Telegraph

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Nashville was connected with Decatur, Alabama, and
other points. In the Shiloh campaign Buell carried a
line from Nashville with him, meeting midway one
from Grant, who was at Pittsburg Landing, so that
Grant, Buell, and Halleck were in telegraphic com-
munication on the eve of the unexpected battle of
Shiloh. This must have been a source of reliance to
Grant when the fight actually opened. During the
siege of Vicksburg field lines connected Grant with
all his forces, and the telegraph gave timely notice of
Johnston's movements.
In the Spring of 1863, when Grant was besieging
Vicksburg, two military telegraphers, Frank Van-
Valkenburg and Patrick Mullarkey, were detailed, at
the request of General Rosecrans, whose headquar-
ters were at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to penetrate the
enemy's country and tap the wires between Chatta-
nooga and Knoxville, to ascertain the movements of
Confederate troops. These boys accomplished their
mission, which involved swimming rivers, wearing
out shoes and clothing, and being chased and fired
upon by Confederate cavalry. They were more than
a month within the Confederate lines.
When Rosecrans was defeated at Chickamauga and
retreated to Chattanooga, where Grant sent him
timely aid; and in the concentration of Sherman and
Hooker with Thomas, which culminated in the
victory of Chattanooga, the telegraph was of incalcu-
lable service.
127
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
About this time Longstreet besieged Burnside at
Knoxville, and Grant sent Sherman swiftly to the
rescue. Plum says: “After Grant had driven Bragg
from Missionary Ridge he received dispatches from
the advance office at Tazewell, notifying him that
Burnside could not hold out longer than December
1st. Secretary Stanton telegraphed for Colonel
Stager to ‘come to the key.” Stager had retired, but
an instrument by his bedside awakened him. Stanton,
in Washington, asked Stager, who was in his bed-
chamber in Cleveland, Ohio, to forward news to
Burnside by the most trusty means. The Colonel
instantly called up the chief operator in Louisville,
Kentucky, and the latter the operators at four sepa-
rate points nearest to Burnside. Thus it happened
that, in the dead of night, four telegraphers, each
with a cipher message notifying Burnside of the
approach of Union troops, started on their perilous
journey from four separate points.” Some of them
reached Burnside, and he held out until his army was
saved. The episode has not been immortalized, nor
its heroes rewarded. -
As illustrative of some phases of military telegraph
service in the Southwest, I condense the following
story of Comrade C. W. Pearson :
“I entered the United States Military Telegraph
service at the age of fifteen years in November, 1863,
going from New York to Cairo, Illinois. My stay
at this place was brief and devoid of interest. I was
128
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
ordered from Cairo to Memphis, and reported to
Captain Fuller, at General Hurlburt's headquarters,
who immediately assigned me to duty at General
Webster's headquarters, located at the Memphis and
Charleston depot. Captain Fuller being military
superintendent, I was taken care of in Memphis by
L. B. Spellman and W. B. Summerville, both of
whom had been in the military service some time. I
being the youngest operator in the department was
often sent out on the Memphis and Charleston Rail-
road to different stations, Moscow, Lafayette, Colliers-
ville, etc.
“In October, 1863, I was ordered with R. B.
Griffen to proceed to Columbus, Kentucky, to relieve
Jacob Volney Hill and William Gibson. (Hill was
afterwards buried at Columbus, he having died of
small-pox.) Everything was quiet at this post until
March 21st, when we received news of Forrest's
advance upon Union City, Tennessee, and I was
ordered to report to General Brayman and proceed by
train to Union City with two regiments of infantry
and one battery loaded upon flat cars. Our lines be-
ing cut we did not know as we proceeded at what
moment we would be fired upon by Forrest's cavalry.
Before we reached Union City we were met by some
negroes who came out of the woods and reported that
Colonel Hawkins had surrendered to Forrest. Our
operator, E. B. McNairn, was captured at that place,
but escaped from Andersonville prison several months
129
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
afterwards. General Brayman knowing that Forrest
would head towards Paducah, concluded to return to
Columbus, and take his command to that place.
Forrest, however, reached there first, but did not find
Paducah so easy to capture as Union City, and after a
hard fight from daybreak to dusk he was compelled to
withdraw after suffering a heavy loss. Our loss was
but forty-nine killed and wounded, our men being
protected behind earthworks on the river bank.
“After the fight I was placed in charge of the
Paducah office, relieving Edwin Peel, who went home
to Canada, but who afterwards returned to the Army
of the Cumberland. There being so many older and
deserving operators in the command I was relieved by
Peter Fowler in July, after a stay at that point of
nearly four months, and reported back to R. B.
Griffen at Columbus, Kentucky. I had been there
but two weeks when I received instructions to pro-
ceed to Memphis, so I reported to R. S. Fowler,
assistant superintendent, who immediately assigned
me to duty at General C. C. Washburn's headquarters,
where I remained until August 21st, when I was cap-
tured by Forrest during his raid upon that city. It
was Sunday morning about 4 o'clock. I had fallen
asleep when I was awakened by heavy firing. Look-
ing out on Union Street, I saw a large force of
cavalry, but supposing it was some of our own men, I
did not pay any attention to them until the Judge
Advocate came running through the hall, and as he
130
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
went upstairs told me they were Confederates. I
thought they would fire the building, so I went for
the back stoop and jumped off, never thinking how
far it was to the hard pavement below—though by
actual measurement it was eighteen feet. I landed on
my feet, however, and had no more than reached the
pavement when I was commanded to halt, but had no
time just then. I turned and ran through the lower
hall only to find it full of Confederates, so I had to
surrender, and as Forrest was in a great hurry to get
out of the city the prisoners were hurried away at a
brisk run.
“After we were about five miles outside of the city
I asked to be allowed to see General Forrest, and to
my surprise he was pointed out to me by one of the
Confederates as a man lying beside the fence on a
rubber poncho. Upon explaining to him my situa-
tion, he immediately commenced to question me as to
where A. J. Smith's forces were heading for, but
although I knew considerable about his movements I
evaded the questions, when he became vexed and told
me I was not telling him the truth, and that he would
not do anything for me until I did so. The conse-
quence was I was sent South with the rest of the
prisoners. We were marched seventy-five miles to
Tupelo, Mississippi, in two days, and then allowed
to sleep all night in the mud, as it had been raining
continually since we started. That was, however, the
soundest and sweetest sleep I ever enjoyed. I might
131
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
add that the Confederates took all of my clothing
except my undershirt and pants. When we were
loaded into freight cars next morning to go South one
of the Confederates came into the car with an old pair
of pants large enough for Barnum's giant, and told
me to haul mine off and put them on. One of the
boys spoke up and said, ‘Let him keep his pants, that
is all he has left of the blue.’ He replied, ‘Can't do it,
his skin is blue, that will do for him.”
“We went from Tupelo to Grenada, then to Can-
ton, Jackson, Duvall's Bluff, Alabama, Selma, and
from there to Cohaba, where I remained about thirty
days, when I was exchanged, as an order came to
exchange all men captured at General C. C. Wash-
burn's headquarters. I found that my chances to be
exchanged as an operator were bad, so before going
into Cohaba prison I gave my name as belonging to
Company M, Second Illinois Cavalry, and was
exchanged as such. Our food in prison consisted of
coarse corn meal and salt pork of a very inferior
quality. I never saw a blanket among the 2,500 men
confined at Cohaba. Our prison consisted of an old
cotton shed from which they had taken the roof, so we
had to lie down in the sand and look to the blue sky;
if it rained we had to take it. I saw many strong
men lie down and die from exposure, and I myself
came near being shot twice. There was an outside
yard where we did our cooking. We could pass out
to this yard, but must not stop within a circle which
132
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
was called the dead line. I was passing out one
morning when some one within called me. I turned
round to see what was wanted when one of the
prisoners in the outside yard said, ‘For God's sake,
Pearson, get out of that.' I jumped just as the guard
fired, and what was intended for me killed a young
man about my age. I shall never forget it if I should
live to be a thousand years old. I asked permission
to keep the flies off of the dying man, and as they
carried him out, he said, ‘Boys, if you ever capture a
rebel, remember me,’ and died on the rude stretcher
before they were outside the gate.
“Another time I was not doing just as they thought
I ought and they made me mark time in the boiling
sun and burning sand until my feet were a complete
mass of blisters. So you can imagine it was a happy
day when all the prisoners captured at General C. C.
Washburn's headquarters were called out to be
exchanged. There were seventy-six of us all told.
When I reached Memphis Islipped out of the ranks,
I was so afraid they would find out I had changed my
calling from an operator to a cavalry man and send
me back to exchange another in my place. I went
up into headquarters and found my old friend Edward
Butler, who had taken Fowler's place, but he did not
recognize me, tired and dirty, with nothing on but an
old shirt and pants and they creeping off me with
vermin. When I made myself known to him he took
me over to ‘H’ office, where he burned my clothing
133
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
or rags and put on clean ones, as my trunk was still
there. All the boys got up out of bed, as it was then
10 P.M., and we went around to a restaurant and got
a square meal, and I tell you it tasted good. After I
had recruited my strength, which took some time, as
I was reduced from 140 to 110 pounds, I obtained a
furlough for thirty days and went home to New York
to see my parents.
“I returned to Memphis in January, 1865, and
upon landing, saw my friend, S. L. Robinson, at the
present writing manager of the Board of Trade,
Chicago, sitting on the hurricane deck of a steamer
bound north, and nursing about twenty buckshot
wounds, which he received while out on a raid with
General Grierson. I stayed in Memphis two months,
and then proceeded to New Orleans, and reported to
Captain Fuller. I remained there but three weeks,
when in company with S. L. Robinson, I was ordered
to Fort Gaines at the mouth of Mobile Bay. We
embarked on the steamer W. P. Banks, but on
account of a severe storm on the Gulf of Mexico we
were driven about forty miles out of our course to
Pensacola, Florida.
“The boat finally reached Fort Gaines and we at
once went to the telegraph office, but the operator on
duty said that he could not keep us, as he did not get
enough to eat himself. We then went across the Bay
to Fort Morgan, where Mr. Upton, the genial operator,
received us kindly and cared for us. It was Captain
134
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Fuller's intention to establish a line through to New
Orleans by way of Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan, to
follow the army to Mobile, but the project had to be
abandoned, because, as fast as the poles were put in
the sand, the heavy winds in that section would blow
them down. So our line was but a short one, from
Navy Cove, Alabama, to Fort Gaines, five miles of
land and five of cable. I soon afterwards was put in
charge, and Robinson remained with me. We had a
splendid time, as fishing was good, and oysters plenti-
ful. We were soon reinforced by Charles Smith,
Dorsey Berry and John R. Frank, awaiting the
advance of the army on Mobile, which took place
about the middle of March. Frank, Smith and
Robinson were then assigned to duty at or near
Spanish Fort, where they run lines from one head-
quarters to another, using field telegraphs in front of
the enemy's works where the ground was full of tor-
pedoes which the Confederates had buried.
“After the enemy had surrendered to General
Ousterhous we all went into Mobile and opened the
office there. After things were running smoothly in
Mobile, Charles Smith was made assistant superin-
tendent, Frank, chief operator, and I was sent to
Columbus, Mississippi, to report to General Grierson
as cipher operator, being the only cipher operator at
Mobile, except Robinson, who was under orders to
proceed to Texas. I stayed at Columbus about two
weeks until General Grierson moved. During that
135
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
time I had caused two Confederate operators at that
place to take a stringent oath to support the Consti-
tution of the United States. I then left for Mobile,
where I stayed with Smith until July, and was then
ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and remained there
until November 26, 1865, when I resigned, as the
lines were about to be turned over to the telegraph
companies.
“I remained in the South until 1869, when I
returned to New York, where I have been ever since.
The Government should recognize our services in
some way, as a better class of operators I have never,
seen than those comprising the United States Military
unmindful of danger. I would also say that Colonels
Fuller, Gross and Van Duzer and Major Smith were
all boys among us, all of them beloved by the
operators.”
136
CHAPTER IX.
I GO ON OUTPOST FOR KILPATRICK’S RAID ON RICH-
MOND–RICHARD O’BRIFN CHIEF OPERATOR ARMY
OF THE JAMES-GRANT MOVES ALL ARMIES
BY TELEGRAPH-TAPPING OUR WIRE–WADE
HAMPTON'S CATTLE RAID—CAPTURE OF
O’BRIEN'S CONSTRUCTION CORPS AND
ESCAPE OF MACKINTOSH-SHER-
MAN'S USE ANI) OPINION OF
THE TELEGRAPH.
N February, 1864, I was detached, by Major
Eckert, from Richard's lines and sent to Fort
Magruder, which was then our farthest outpost on the
Peninsula towards Richmond. Our force at York-
town was increased and put under command of
General Wistar, while Colonel West moved up and
took cammand at Fort Magruder. All this was for
coöperation with Kilpatrick's cavalry raid on Rich-
mond, by which it was hoped to release our prisoners
from Libby prison. Kilpatrick led 3,600 men and a
six-gun battery of artillery from the Army of the
Potomac in this dash on Richmond. Custer also led
a brigade of 1,500 cavalry to the west of Lee's army;
by the way of Madison Court House, to near Char-
lottesville, with the object of withdrawing the
137
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
enemy's attention from Kilpatrick's movements. I
have the following mementoes of this service:
Headquarters U. S. Forces,
Yorktown, Va., Feb'y 23rd, 1864.
Guards and patrols will pass John E. O'Brien, tele-
graph operator, to Fort Magruder. Good for this day
only.
By command of COLONEL R. M. WEST, Commanding.
J. C. FLEMING, Captain and A. D. C.
And this:
Headquarters, Fort Magruder,
March 10, 1864.
Guards and patrols will pass John E. O'Brien, tele-
graph operator, from Fort Magruder to Yorktown.
By order of ColonEL WEST.
M. G. CUSHING, Post Adjutant.
And to Fortress Monroe and Norfolk. Good until
revoked.
Approved :
By Command of BRIGADIER-GENERAL WISTAR.
J. C. FLEMING, Captain and A. A. A. G.
I went by the regular steamer City of Hudson from
Norfolk to Fort Monroe, and found Captain Evans
with the cable tug McClellan waiting to take me to
Yorktown. Near the mouth of York River we ran
into a flock of geese, and Evans, with a little manoeu-
vering of the tug, shot a fine one from the deck and
got it aboard. There were two operators at York-
town, who hurriedly showed me the old brick house
said to have been occupied by Washington and
Lafayette after the surrender of Cornwallis, and other
138
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
historic landmarks of the ancient town, while an
ambulance was being hitched up to take me to Fort
Magruder.
Kilpatrick got into the suburbs of Richmond,
destroyed military stores and railroad bridges, and
captured five hundred prisoners, but failed in the
primary object of liberating our men from Libby
Prison. He lost one hundred and fifty men, includ-
ing Colonel Ulric Dahlgren killed, and came in on
our front to Fort Magruder, returning to the Army of
the Potomac by water from Yorktown and Fort
Monroe. I can still visualize that long line of horse-
men going by me, two by two, silent, grim, wrapped
in the mystery and romance of having been to Rich-
mond, the objective of all our dreams. In “War
Recollections” I said that on my way back to Nor-
folk I saw General W. H. F. Lee, son of General
Robert E. Lee, on the boat from Fort Monroe to
Norfolk. This was true, but I was mistaken in sup-
posing that he had been captured in this raid. He had
been captured in the previous July and held at Fort
Monroe as a hostage for some Union officers who, it
was alleged, had been exposed by the enemy to our
own fire in the siege of Charleston, and, when I saw
him, he was going, doubtless on parole, to visit Nor-
folk. He was a splendid specimen of the Lee family
of soldiers.
While at Fort Magruder I had time to visit
Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia, two
139
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
miles away, where had stood the House of Burgesses
in which Patrick Henry's oratory had been heard,
and the College of William and Mary, and where
assembled in colonial days the chivalry, beauty and
fashion of old Virginia. In a tour through the
insane asylum at Williamsburg I was much impressed
by a venerable old man and an elaborate and, indeed,
ingenious machine, upon which he had been working
for thirty years to produce perpetual motion.
Fort Magruder was a strong field work constructed
by the Confederates of logs and earth. As evidence
of the carnage there in the battle of Williamsburg, a
spot at the main gateway was pointed out to me
where our men said they had found six dead Confed-
*-* * * * * * * * * * * * * *** ** ~~~~.J. --- ºr * *** *** *.*.*.*.*.*.
erate sergeants in one heap. Looking over the
ground where this battle began, I saw where our men,
advancing up some wide ravines, had been raked by
field guns excellently posted at the head of the
ravines.
Kilpatrick having gotten in, Major Eckert ordered
me back to Norfolk, and I started back to Yorktown
alone on horseback. If the reader cares to imagine a
“solitary horseman,” of fifteen, riding on a misty
March morning of 1864 on a detour through the
woods and fields to see where the greatest carnage of
the first Peninsular battle had occurred, he may muse
with me on some long, shallow, and depressed
trenches with here a bit of faded blue, and there a
shred of grey, showing on the surface; and here and
140
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
there where the rains had washed away the earth :—
But no, you do not wish to see with me what remained
of those brave boys of North and South who had left
their loving homes with high hopes burning, to meet
and rest here, and on many a field like this.
In Fort Magruder my bunk and relay were in a
log cabin near that of Colonel West, the commandant,
who was an ideal officer of, I think, the West Point
type. The Colonel played the flute melodiously in
moments of leisure. There was a banjo and a guitar
in the garrison. You can never know the virtues of
the banjo unless you hear it accompanying some gay
and rollicking soldier songs on a wet night in a
dreary outpost.
Our soldiers had in their possession old maps and
deeds which they had, alas, looted, dating back to the
seventeenth century.
In April, 1864, Richard was appointed chief oper-
ator, Army of the James, and left me in charge of
military telegraph affairs at Norfolk while he went to
build and manage the lines in the important field
mapped out by General Grant for the operations of
that army under General Butler. Grant was now
General-in-Chief, commanding all the armies of the
United States, and he proposed to handle all the
armies in concert. This he could only do by the aid
of the telegraph. His plans are best expressed in his
own words: “Sherman was to move from Chatta-
nooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his objec-
141
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
tive points. Crook, commanding in West Virginia,
was to move from the mouth of the Gauley River
with a cavalry force and some artillery, the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad to be his objective. Sigel
was in command in the valley of Virginia. He was
to advance up the valley. Butler was to advance by
the James River, having Richmond and Petersburg as
his objective.”
And with Meade and the Army of the Potomac,
Grant was himself to attack, and defeat, or drive back,
Lee's army by the route actually followed in the ensu-
ing Wilderness campaign.
Badeau attests that when Grant crossed the Rapi-
dan in this campaign he moved synchroilously by
telegraph Sherman in Georgia, Crook in West
Virginia, Sigel in the valley, and Butler on James
River, and received responses from each before night,
while all the remaining forces of the Union were
placed on the alert by the same agency. In addition
to the main line, by way of the Orange and Alexan-
dria road, accompanying Grant, keeping him in direct
communication with Washington, Major Eckert had
at this time perfected a field telegraph system some-
what on the mountain howitzer plan. Reels of insu-
lated cable, strong enough to resist cannon-wheels,
were carried on the backs of mules, paying out the
wire over the field, where it was raised on lances or
on trees, while compact portable electric batteries
“Preparing for the Wilderness Campaign,” in Century Maga-
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REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
were transported in ambulances constructed for the
purpose. This system was found efficient on the bat-
tlefield and at Spottsylvania Court House, where, at
one time, operators and cable were within the enemy's
lines, and in subsequent battles it was thoroughly
tested. Throughout the remainder of the war General
Grant received almost daily reports by telegraph from
all the armies in the field, and issued his orders, in
cipher, over our wires to all his lieutenants in pursu-
ance of one comprehensive plan.
To illustrate the service with Grant in the Wilder-
ness campaign, I condense Comrade Edwards' letter
to Colonel Plum in 1878:
“In the latter part of March, '64, I was ordered to
General U. S. Grant's headquarters at Culpepper
Court House. At midnight, May 3rd, the Fifth Army
Corps, commanded by General G. K. Warren, to
which I was attached, began its forward movement.
Major Eckert had each corps furnished with a two-
horse wagon in which supplies were carried for the
military telegraphers, usually three in number. Two
men were the regular contingent, the third was liable
to be called upon to do duty elsewhere—possibly at a
brigade headquarters within the same corps. From
the fourth until the eleventh of May we were on the
march, arriving on the latter date at Spottsylvania
Court House, the entire distance being marked by
constant battling, day and night. Wires would be
strung from the general headquarters of the Army of
143
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
the Potomac, connecting with the different corps
headquarters. We used fine annealed wire of seven
strands, covered with flexible rubber. A flat reel from
which the wire was unwound, would be strapped to
the back of a pack mule, the men following with
slender pike poles, forked at the top to receive the
wire. Frequently when woods and other timber was
convenient, the wire would be slung up into a tree.
Misfortune overtook us in the matter of supplies, for
as we approached Spottsylvania Court House the
wagon trains were cut off, and ‘hard tack' reduced to
a powder from being long carried in a bag, which on
numerous occasions had served for a pillow or cushion,
was our only food resource for several days. During
the march referred to we fought in the Wilderness and
at Chancellorsville, at both places wires being tempo-
rarily strung for the purpose of conveying a few
orders to General Warren, directing him to move por-
tions of his forces in different directions to the support
of General W. S. Hancock.
“It was at this time that the colored troops first
made their appearance in the Army of the Potomac,
they being under the command of General A. E.
Burnside. They made an excellent showing, and
appeared to be a steady body of men, but met with
fearful disaster shortly after, when, on June 30th, so
many lost their lives at the explosion of the mine
under Fort Hell, as it was called. It was a horrible
sight to see the men mowed down the way they were.
144
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
A day or two before the explosion the cry was “hell
next; ' afterwards it was said to be “hell, indeed.”
The Johnnies had well named the fort, and said “all
hell couldn’t take it.” ... •
“At Spottsylvania we were camped on the Beverly
plantation, on which stood a large farmhouse, in one
of the capacious rooms of which we established our
telegraph office. The dwelling offered a conspicuous
mark for the enemy and right nobly did they shell it
for two consecutive days, cutting through it many
times, and frequently breaking down the telegraph
wire. I recollect tossing up a cent with Ed Hall and
George Henderson (the former now dead, and the
latter located somewhere in North Carolina), once
after a shell had broken the line, to decide who
should go out and tie up the break. Afterwards,
when the wire was cut, an occurrence of increasing
frequency, we three would take turns in rushing out
and splicing it. On such occasions, before attempting
the serious work demanded, the one going out would.
say to the others: “If my body stops a shell send my
things home.” Shortly after this I was sent to open
a side telegraph office for General Warren, who desired
to open up communication with a distant brigade,
and three orderlies were detailed to accompany me.
Once outside the picket lines, and approaching too
close to the rebel lines, we were fired upon, but man-
aged to effect our escape, and to reach our destination.
in safety.
145
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“All through May, in the advance on Richmond,
the fighting was continuous and terrific, the military
telegraphers being constantly in the thickest of it,
and everywhere exposed to all the hardships and
dangers of warfare, sharing all perils equally with
soldiers who carried the musket. On May 31, 1864,
we camped on the plantation of a Mrs. Vias, twenty
miles from Richmond, and opened up telegraph head-
quarters in a house located on the property. June 5th
found us still on the move, performing fatiguing
night marches, finding a resting place at Bethesda
church. At this place we erected a line of wire,
which after an hour or two was shot down, to be
re-erected and further extended to the extreme front,
only again to have it cut down, taken possession of
by the enemy and returned to us shot from out of the
cannon's mouth. The wire would come whirling
through the air, frequently wrapping itself about a
bush or tree encountered on the way. We joked
about the matter during the day, facetiously asking
each other why the Johnnies did not send an operator
along with the wire—Dode Moreland, for instance,
captured a short time before, or one of our repairers
(whose name I forget) so that his services might be
utilized to restore the wire to working order.
“These events occurred in the Chickahominy
Swamp, where the water was simply dreadful. The
men, hot, dusty and wearied, frequently suffering
from wounds, would scrape the scum from off the sur-
146
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
face in order to get a drop of moisture with which to
wet their parched lips, although cautioned against so
doing by the army surgeons. It was at this point that
many were stricken with the swamp fever, numbers
of them fatally so. On June 8th, when near Cold
Harbor, we operators reached a point where General
Warren wished us to open communication again. We
could not get ground, the earth being exceedingly
dry, and we found great difficulty in getting even a
‘dot’ from General Meade's headquarters. All diffi-
culty was overcome shortly after, however, by means
of a few buckets of water brought from a distance.
By June 15th we had crossed the James River, on
pontoons, and had a line of telegraph to Charles City
Court House. From this place we moved to a point
near Petersburg, establishing our camp on the Avery
plantation, and opening telegraph headquarters first
in front of, and after a day or so inside of the beauti-
ful Avery mansion. Here preparations were made
for a long siege. I remember just before reaching
this position, and during a very hot engagement, of
Squatting on the ground under an apple tree, with my
instrument placed on a cartridge box and reading
some instructions to General Warren sent from
General Meade. Bullets were whizzing all around
us, shells were bursting overhead, when a minnie ball
struck close to our feet. General Warren drew his
sword, dug the missile out of the earth, and with the
sententious remark: “A close one; I’ll save it,'
147
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
slipped the ball into his coat pocket. Shot and shell
fairly rained upon us here, and as I look back upon
the scene, I can scarce credit the fact that both the
General and myself were not killed. I have now in my
possession, as mementoes of other similar occasions, a
piece of shell that cut away a portion of the tail of
my horse, and a musketball that passed between Ed
Hall and myself, and within two feet of both of us.
“On the 4th of July, 1864, Paymaster A. B. Chan-
dler being ill, Major Eckert himself came down in his
stead, both to see us and to pay us off. The military
telegraphers had in the Major a warm friend, and it
did us good to see the pleasant face of a man whom
we held in such high esteem. Both he and Mr.
Chandler were, and are yet, men to respect and fairly
love.
“While stationed in the Avery house, I became
seriously ill on July 20th, with the swamp fever.
Five days later, my condition becoming much worse,
I was removed on a bed to army headquarters. Here
I was advised by Surgeon McNally (who is now
dead) to go home, unless I wanted to leave my bones
on Virginia soil. I was carried to City Point, and
there placed on the hurricane deck of the steamer
John Brooks, with my blankets under me. I was a
forlorn individual, indeed, and it almost looked as
though I had been abandoned to die. On reaching
Fortress Monroe, my friend William J. Dealy, God
bless him who is now the manager of the Atlantic
148
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and Pacific Telegraph Company, at New York, came
on board, hunted me out from among the many other
sick and disabled men, and while the steamer lay at
the fort, tarrying only for about twenty minutes, he
did what he could to alleviate my condition. Among
other acts of the good Samaritan performed, he forced
between my clenched teeth some peach juice, which
refreshed and stimulated me, and for which I was
duly thankful. I reached Washington July 30th, and
a week later was brought to my home in New York,
as many thought, to die. Careful nursing, however,
brought me through, and by the middle of September
I was ready to return, and accept the position of chief
operator of the Army of the Potomac telegraph
lines, which had been offered to me by Major Eckert.
Sickness in my mother's family, however, prevented
an acceptance of the kind offer, and my career as a
military telegraph operator was over.
“I would like to mention in this connection, and
in affectionate remembrance, the names of O. H.
Dorrance and William Mackintosh, both of whom
were at Alexandria, Va., in 1864. They were men
whom our boys at the front relied on for the receipt
of dainty bits, so acceptable in a strenuous campaign,
such as oysters forwarded by the gallon; of pies and
other good things without number; of the care they
exercised in forwarding our letters to us, and in pro-
viding postage stamps, etc. In fact, it seems as if
every one in the profession in the rear remembered us
149
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
poor devils at the front, and was anxious to do some-
thing to promote our welfare. All that they did for
us was fully appreciated.” -
With Butler's coöperative move up the Peninsula
went the telegraph to Gloucester Point, West Point,
and White House on the Pamunkey; and when this
feint on the York was followed by the real attack on
the other side of the Peninsula, May 7th, the tele-
graph was pushed up the James as rapidly as possible;
so that when Grant swung around Richmond he was
met at White House and at City Point by these elec-
tric nerves. Before Grant's arrival, Richard had run
wires from Bermuda Hundred to Point of Rocks, on
the left bank of the Appomattox, under fire from the
enemy's batteries on the right bank, to Butler's head-
quarters, midway between that point and Broadway
Landing, and to W. F. Smith's Eighteenth, and Gil-
more's Tenth Corps. He later ran a line down the south
bank of the James from City Point to Fort Powhatan,
and another across from Jamestown Island to Wil-
liamsburg, whence it completed connection by Mc-
Clellan's old wire to Fort Monroe and Washington.
Richard, with the assistance of Sheldon, from Fort
Monroe, then united these links by a submarine cable
from Jamestown Island to Fort Powhatan, some nine-
teen miles in the James River, and a short one across
the Appomattox. The James River cable was neces-
sitated by the incursion of guerrillas on both banks.
Facilities for the manufacture of telegraph cable in
150
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REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
this country being still deficient, a portion of the
original Atlantic cable was used. It never worked
well, and in September Richard's foreman, William
Mackintosh, with a construction party of ten men
and an infantry escort of one hundred, made an
attempt to replace the cable by a land line on the
south bank, which resulted in the capture of all but
two of the party, six six-mule teams, and twenty
miles of wire. The party had camped at night on a
tidal creek below City Point, expecting to start out in
the morning, all but “Mack” and the colored cook
preferring the right bank on account of its being
higher ground. About daybreak the contraband
heard firing and roused “Mack,” who thought it was
only his escort killing pigs for breakfast. The old
cook started to make a fire and fry some bacon, but a
bullet whistling near his head demoralized him and
he took to the woods. “Mack’” then saw the raiders
on the opposite bank of the creek, and heard them
shouting to him to surrender. Fortunately the tide
was in, and while they were crossing he secured his
horse and set off amid a shower of bullets, closely
pursued by the Confederates. This proved to be
Hampton's famous “cattle raid” around the Army of
the Potomac, than which there stands nothing bolder
or more curious in the annals of such exploits. It
originated in a telegraphic episode, General Hampton's
operator, Gaston, having lain six weeks in the woods,
with his instrument connected by fine wire to our
151
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
line. All that he heard of importance was in cipher,
except one message mentioning that 2,586 beeves, to
feed our army, would be landed at Coggin's Point for
pasture. Hampton got them all but one lame steer.
Doubtless the hungry “Johnnies” blessed the man
who neglected to put that message in cipher. The
other dispatches which Gaston copied were sent to
Richmond, but were never deciphered.
The chase after Mackintosh was kept up for a mile
by augmenting parties of cavalry who had forded the
creek higher up, and was stopped only when the pur-
suers were confronted by a regiment of our men, who
poured a volley into them and emptied a number of
saddles. Mackintosh thus escaped a third term in
Libby Prison, he having been twice before captured
and exchanged. A week after the capture of the
telegraph party a “climber,” barefoot and tattered,
found his way back to our lines. When asked where
his shoes were, he replied, “The bloody rebels scared
me out of me boots.” -
While the armies of the Potomac and of the James
approach Richmond, let us glance westward:
While Sherman was preparing his army to start
from Chattanooga in the Atlanta campaign the mili-
tary telegraph spread a network of additional wires in
Tennessee for his use, some of them extending into
Alabama and Georgia and accompanying him to
Atlanta. In his “Memoirs” he says: “There was
perfect concert of action between the armies in Vir-
152
WILLIAM R. Pium
Cipher-Operator to General Thomas
Historian of the Military Telegraph, etc.


REM.INISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
ginia and Georgia in all 1864; hardly a day inter-
vened when General Grant did not know the exact
state of facts with me, more than fifteen hundred
miles off, as the wires ran.” The operations of Sher-
man's telegraph in the advance on Atlanta were simi-
lar to those with the Army of the Potomac on the
Peninsula. For instance, in front of Kenesaw, when
about to hurl his whole force on Johnston's center, he
says: “In order to oversee the whole and be in close
communication with all parts of the army, I had a
space cleared on top of a hill to the rear of Thomas'
center, and had the telegraph wires laid to it.” Sher-
man further says, speaking of the telegraph on the
battlefield : “This is better far than the signal flags
and torches.” November 12, 1864, the line north
from Atlanta was severed as the last message passed,
and Sherman went out of the region of the knowable,
so far as the telegraph and the North were concerned.
He was accompanied by telegraphers, however, who
busied themselves in tapping the Southern wires, and
who carried the cipher keys. The first use of the lat-
ter was on the march north from Savannah in ex-
changing dispatches through the enemy's country
with us for Schofield, who had taken Wilmington,
North Carolina, as will be described later.
To return to the eastern field: General Grant says:
“Soon after midnight, May 3rd-4th, the Army of the
Potomac moved out from its position north of the
Rapidan, to start upon that memorable campaign des-
153
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
tined to result in the capture of the Confederate capi-
tal and the army defending it.” The military tele-
graph directly with the Army of the Potomac was in
charge of Harper Caldwell, chief operator, and David
Doren, foreman of construction, and proved most
efficient, but as I am not writing a history of the
whole corps, which has been excellently done by Mr.
Plum, I will not attempt to follow that line, but
return to the Army of the James. General Grant
says: “Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his
command except the cavalry and some artillery which
moved up the south bank of the James River. His
steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and York
River, as if threatening the rear of Lee's army. At
midnight they turned back, and Butler, by daylight,
was far up the James River. He seized City Point
and Bermuda Hundred early in the day, without loss,
and no doubt very much to the surprise of the
enemy. -
“This was the accomplishment of the first step con-
templated in my instructions to Butler. He was to
act from here, looking to Richmond as his objective
point. I had given him to understand that I should
aim to fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond,
if he would stand; but should Lee fall back into
Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction of
the armies of the Potomac and the James on the
James River. He was directed to secure a footing as
1Ibid.
154
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
far up the south side of the river as he could at as
early a date as possible. -
“Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had
begun intrenching, and on the 7th he sent out his
cavalry from Suffolk to cut the Weldon Railroad.
He also sent out detachments to destroy the railroads
between Petersburg and Richmond, but no great suc-
cess attended these latter efforts. He made no great
effort to establish himself on that road, and neglected
to attack Petersburg, which was almost defenseless.
About the 11th he advanced slowly until he reached
the works at Drewry's Bluff, about half-way between
Bermuda Hundred and Richmond. In the meantime
Beauregard had been gathering reënforcements. On
the 16th he attacked Butler with great vigor, and
with such success as to limit very materially the fur-
ther usefulness of the Army of the James as a distinct
factor in the campaign. I afterwards ordered a por-
tion of it to join the Army of the Potomac, leaving a
sufficient force with Butler to man his works, hold
securely the footing he had already gained, and main-
tain a threatening front toward the rear of the Con-
federate capital.”
155
CHAPTER X.
O’BRIEN'S FIRST MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES IN
FRONT OF PETERSBURG-TELEGRAPHING IN
BATTLE-GRANT'S ORDER BRINGS ME
TO THE FRONT.
ICHARD O'BRIEN, in his notes on the con-
struction of the first military telegraph lines in
front of Petersburg, says:
“I first, on May 6th, built the line from Bermuda
to Point of Rocks, about five miles, on the left
bank of the Appomattox, the Confederates shelling
Mackintosh and his builders from guns on high
ground on the right bank, about two miles away.
Butler's headquarters were about half a mile from
Point of Rocks, near Broadway Landing. I had the
line carried from that point to the headquarters of
Gilmore and Smith, whose corps, the Eighteenth and
Tenth, had been thrown out fan-shape, extending
from the Appomattox to the James; placed Operators
Applebaugh and Wood with those corps. On the 7th
built a line with the advance on the Richmond and
Petersburg Railroad to within sight of that road,
Operator Maynard Huyck, bravely holding the end of
that line with his instruments under fire. On the
16th, Beauregard, having gathered reënforcements,
156
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
made a sharp attack on our front, and General Butler
ordered me to ‘bring the line within the intrench-
ments,’ at the same time complimenting me on the
efficiency and bravery displayed in running and work-
ing the wire under fire.”
In these trenches one night, Maynard Huyck was
awakened from sleep, not by the familiar voice of his
instrument, but by the shriek of a Whitworth bolt, a
six-pound steel shell, which passed through the few
clothes he had doffed, then ricochetted, and exploded
beyond. Congratulating himself that he was not in
his “duds” at the moment, the boy turned over and
slept through the infernal turmoil of an awakening
cannonade until aroused by the gentle tick of the
telegraph relay. We used no “sounders” in those
days at the front.
The heavy battles of the Wilderness campaign, in
which the field telegraph, under Caldwell, had kept
Grant and Meade in touch with each corps during
march and battle, had been fought out, and now,
early in June, 1864, Grant echeloned the Army of the
Potomac across the Peninsula, in front of Lee's army
and Richmond, to a junction with Butler's army on
the James. Richard had wires and operators ready at
the crossings, and Grant established his new base at
City Point. With the combined armies of Meade and
Butler, Grant made a general assault on Petersburg
on June 18th, and, failing to carry the place, settled
down to the long and arduous siege.
157
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Illustrating the service here, I condense the account
of Comrade O. B. Vincent: “My regiment, the One
Hundred Forty-eighth Ohio, joined the army of Gen-
eral B. F. Butler near Bermuda Hundred, Virginia,
about the middle of June, 1864. After remaining at
the front about a week, it was sent back to Bermuda
Hundred on guard duty, immediately after which I,
together with W. H. Wilson, of the same regiment,
was detailed on telegraph service and sent to open an
office at a point on the James River, known as Jones'
Neck, where General Foster's brigade at that time
lay. My office was on the right bank of the river and
the brigade on the left bank, a pontoon bridge being
thrown across the water at that point. The name of
“Neck’ was very appropriate, as a strip of land not
more than fifty yards wide separated the river from an
immense swamp. Above the pontoon bridge a Con-
federate gunboat was anchored in which the enemy
had a battery trained, and amused themselves nearly
every day by throwing a few shells in our direction.
From my tent I could plainly see the smoke from
their guns, and it was quite interesting to watch the
shells, some falling in the river, some on the ‘neck,'
and others in the swamp; some bursting high in air,
scattering fragments far and wide, others not bursting
at all. I understood after I left that the gunboat
moved further down the river, with the result that
the shells began falling so thick around the office tent
that W. S. Logue, the operator who relieved me, had
158
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
to retire from his exposed position. Nothing of the
kind happened, however, while I was there, which
was only two or three weeks, when, my health failing,
I was transferred to Bermuda Hundred to assist
Horace N. Snow in the telegraph office at that point.
“Our office was in a church. During my stay at
this place a barge load of ammunition exploded at
City Point which I happened to see, being outside
the office and looking in that direction at the time.
One morning early I was awakened by a furious can-
nonading in the direction of Petersburg. It seemed
to be an almost continuous roar of heavy guns. I
afterwards learned it was on the occasion of General
U. S. Grant exploding his mine before Petersburg
when he was repulsed with such heavy loss. When
my regiment was ordered home I was returned to my
company, and was mustered out and paid at Marietta,
Ohio, September 16, 1864, by C. C. Brown, paymaster
U. S. A. Thus endeth my experience in the military
telegraph service which, you see, is exceedingly un-
eventful. Let me say, however, that Richard O’Brien
was chief operator for the Army of the James. W. K.
Applebaugh, now a prominent telegrapher in New
York, was with the same division. I cannot now
call to mind the names of any of the other operators.
“I received soldier's pay only for the entire time I
was out. I applied to headquarters at Washington
for increased pay while in the telegraph service, but
was informed that as I had already been paid as a
159
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
soldier I could receive nothing for the other service
unless what I had already received was refunded. I
did not know where to find the paymaster who had
paid me and as I was quite young and inexperienced
and did not know what steps to take, allowed the
matter to rest, as the amount could not be very large
at the best.”
During the siege of Petersburg every salient point
on the front of the armies of the Potomac and James
was covered with the wires radiating from Grant's
headquarters at City Point. One circuit, built by
Richard O’Brien, crossing the Appomattox, took in
the intrenchments on the Bermuda Hundred front,
the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps' headquarters. Later
it crossed the James at Deep Bottom by cable, includ-
ed the “Crow's Nest,” Dutch Gap, headquarters Army
of the James, Fort Harrison, when captured, and
eventually Weitzel's headquarters and Kautz's Cav-
alry on our extreme right. The second circuit, under
Caldwell, followed up the south bank of the Appo-
mattox to our advanced works, and, running to the
left, connected Smith, Hancock, Burnside, and War-
ren, Sheridan on his arrival, and other commands as
they arrived or were shifted on this important field as
the tide of battle ebbed and flowed, pushing farther
to the left as Grant, throughout the Winter and
Spring, deployed his forces to envelop Lee's right,
until the line reached the Weldon Railroad and
beyond. Thus all our forces in front of Richmond
160
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and Petersburg—a semi-circle of thirty miles of in-
trenchments—were manipulated in concert by the
hand of General Grant. Besides the land lines under
his care, Richard had also charge of the cables in the
Appomattox and in the upper James. In his official
reports, Major Eckert says that Richard O'Brien,
chief operator, was “indefatigable in his exertions to
render those lines of service to the Government.” To
preserve the sequence of events in this field and to
avoid returning to it from other campaigns, I con-
tinue here somewhat out of the chronological order of
this narrative. -
The result of battles sometimes hung on the con-
tinuity of a slender wire, as when, on March 25, 1865,
the Confederates, under Gordon, attacked and carried
Fort Stedman and cut the wire to City Point. The
capture occurred about 5 A.M. According to General
Humphreys, who has described this campaign, Gen-
eral Parke, then commanding the Ninth Corps, which
received the attack, telegraphed at 5:30 A.M. to
General Webb the loss of the fort. Webb immedi-
ately replied that Meade was at City Point, and he
(Parke) in command. At 6:15 Humphreys, com-
manding the Second Corps, on Parke's left, received
the news also by telegraph that the enemy had
“broken our right, taken Stedman, and were moving
on City Point.” Parke ordered Warren up with the
Fifth Corps, the Ninth assaulted, and the fort was
recaptured by 8 o'clock. Promptly the telegraph was
161
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
repaired and flashed the news to Grant and Meade,
who as quickly projected the Second and Ninth
Corps against the enemy, capturing his intrenched
picket line, a position of immense subsequent advan-
tage, inflicting a loss of 4,000 men, and losing 2,000
in the whole operation. Thus the cutting of the wire
by Gordon removed Meade from control, placed Parke
in command, gave him three corps and empowered
him to assault, while its repair restored Meade, regu-
lated the assault, enabling Grant to use his whole
force as a unit, and secured an advance by our forces,
all within the space of a few hours. Thus were forts
lost and retaken, and thus were battles won by the
aid of the telegraph 1 Its success in this emergency
was due to the field system. But for the portable
batteries, the cutting of the City Point current would
have rendered the rest of the circuit useless.
In the final pursuit and capture of Lee's army all
authorities unite in attesting the efficiency of the tele-
graph corps. In the rush of fifty miles from Peters-
burg to Appomattox, Grant, Meade, and all the corps
of both the Potomac and James armies, except Sheri-
dan's, were kept connected. Our men found poles
standing on the South-side road, which materially
facilitated our advance with the army. Where the
retreat of the Confederates had been too rapid to
destroy wires these were spliced to ours and used,
turning the enemy's telegraph against himself, an
162
REM.INISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
operation which we were able to make on an extended
scale in the North Carolina campaign.
The President at this time was at City Point, and
later in Petersburg and Richmond, and to him Grant
telegraphed the phases of the conflict, beginning with
Sheridan's victory at Five Forks, and ending with
Lee's surrender. Meantime, over the wire Richard
had previously pushed forward north of the James,
sped the message, “Richmond is fallen.”
I must now go back to more personal reminiscence.
During the Summer of 1864 I did all the commer-
cial and military telegraph business of Norfolk, with-
out any assistance except the mounted orderlies. I
still slept by the instruments, and had no time to use
a horse, so Richard took “Lucy’” to the front, while
Keller kept “Pet” busy carrying him with dispatches.
All this was educational, for a boy not yet sixteen
years old, but was rather sedentary. There were
military telegraphers at Portsmouth, Suffolk, Camp
Getty, and other points in that vicinity.
In the Fall, Major Eckert sent more operators to
Norfolk and transferred me to Fort Monroe, where
George D. Sheldon had replaced, as chief operator,
his brother Lem Sheldon, who was now in charge of
military telegraphs in South Carolina. I worked
twelve hours a day, from 2 A.M. until 2 P.M., when
Charlie Homan relieved me for twelve hours; and
Billy Dealy worked all day. During my night hours
the actual operating was not usually very heavy, as
163
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Hicks' repeaters at Fort Monroe and a better cable
than the first in Chesapeake Bay generally permitted
“U. S.” (Grant's headquarters at City Point) to work
through to “D. I.” (the War Department), but it was
necessary to be awake to keep the repeaters adjusted,
and to take or transmit anything that came.
The English language had been passing volumi-
nously through my ears and hands by telegraph for
some years, and it now occurred to me to study its
anatomy. Diagram grammar, that is books on gram-
mar with the parts of speech set off in diagrams to
show their relations to each other, had just appeared.
I copied the whole of such a book with the pen.
Billy Dealy had a copy of Cobbett's Grammar. I
copied that also. It was ancient, and William Cob-
bett had written it while a soldier, self-educated, in
the English army, but it was a treasure, and Cobbett
certainly was a master of clear, strong, and correct
Anglo-Saxon speech. By such means I was able to
keep awake at my post. But I wished to be at the
front and with Richard. All the glamour and
romance of the great fortress had long since worn
away. My greatest difficulty was to sleep. Carroll
Hall, the barracks inside the fort, where I was now
quartered, was infested by cimer. If, later, these
enterprising bugs annoyed Jefferson Davis when the
ex-chief of the Confederacy was quartered as a
prisoner there, as much as they worried me, then I
cannot blame his friends for complaining of incidents
164
------
WILLIAM J. DEALY
Cipher-Operator U. S. Military Telegraph, 1861-5

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
of his incarceration. But the bugs were not the only
attendant demons of insomnia; next door to me, in
the upper hall, roomed a dreamy officer who, in the
evening, when I was trying to sleep so as to get up at
2 A.M., loved to play forlorn tunes, with rather indif-
ferent skill, on a wheezy melodeon, in comparison to
which I fancied Dick Swiveler's performance of “Away
with Melancholy” on the flute, must have been a joyous
and cheerful rhapsody. Haunted by those wailing
strains and tormented by the cimea, which seemed to
infest the whole building, I would often start up from
fitful dreams and, staggering across the parade ground
to relieve Homan, fancy that in the blinking of the
harbor light-house lantern I could detect the shadow
of the hateful cimea lectularius.
George Sheldon was an excellent chief operator,
perfectly loyal to duty, just and fair; but he was of a
reticent, saturnine temperament, in marked contrast
to Captain Lem, with whom I had previously served
there, who had been breezy as a brass band, and
whose very sonorous oaths had been cheery and inspir-
ing. Captain Lem used to sleep on a cot in the
office, and when I was on nights with him, early in
'62, used to read himself to sleep with Sterne's and
Smollett's novels, which he cautioned me not to read
until I should be twenty-five. And I followed his
advice until twice that age. Charlie Homan was a
good, steady operator, and Billy Dealy was an ideal
telegrapher, and a prince of all cheerful, good fellows.
165
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
We all got on most amicably, and Dealy says the only
thing we ever quarreled about, but that was constant-
ly, was ventilation. I wanted air:
“I’ve a touch of gypsy blood i' my veins
That longs for the light and air.”
I wanted to be at the front. At last, one evening,
January 25th, 1865, I was on the City Point wire and
got this message from “U. S. '':
City Point, Jan. 25th, 1865.
GENERAL E. O. C. ORD,
Commanding, Fort Monroe:
Send up to these headquarters, by first boat, one of
your operators, from Fort Monroe.
U. S. GRANT.
The sending operator suggested it was for outpost,
to watch the Confederate rams. I have never learned
what induced General Grant to send this message.
Richard says he did not inspire it, and knew nothing
of it; and I was too happy at the result of it to
inquire of Grant's chief operator, Caldwell, how it
originated. I knew at the moment of receiving it
that the proceeding was entirely irregular and unpre-
cedented ; the normal course would have been for
General Grant to express his wishes to Major Eckert,
either direct or through Caldwell. However, not
mine to “reason why;” I thought that General
Grant was just the one man who might and should
ignore military ethics in an emergency, and—the
order suited me to death. I asked Sheldon to let me
166
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
go. He took the message in to General Ord, and in
half an hour I was steaming up the river in a fast
tug, the happiest boy in the army. A boy's reflec-
tions in a case like this may amuse and—be par-
doned. I had seen the great combat of the ironclads;
had heard the buzz of sharpshooters' bullets aimed at
Holloway and myself at Suffolk; had dared the guer-
rillas on the eastern shore and on the Peninsula.
Now I felt that I might have an opportunity to dis-
tinguish myself before the whole army. I was going,
perhaps, to hold the end of a wire at Turkey Bend, to
signal to the army and navy the expected onslaught
of the Confederate rams. On my masterly retreat
from Newport News I had felt that discretion was the
better part of valor. It could not help the Union to
have me killed or captured there, and Uncle Sam
might have lost a useful boy; but I had been under
fire since then, and I felt confident that in a position
of importance I would be able to imitate, and perhaps
outdo, all the boyish heroes of history.
It is surprising by what a small chance one may
lose a golden opportunity. The tug I was aboard of
overtook the propeller Neptume above Newport News
and placed me aboard of her, as the tug was needed
back at Fort Monroe. The Weptume drew some
eighteen or twenty feet of water, and as we steamed
up the river, after dark, she got aground.
I fretted all night, guerrillas peppered at us from
the bank, and at daylight she was still fast aground,
167
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
while I was crazy to get forward. The first craft that
appeared coming up at daylight was a cattle boat. I
put off in a small boat and signalled her to stop, but
she never slacked her speed, so I was compelled to
seize a rope and scramble aboard as best I could.
When I reached Grant's headquarters I was too late;
the place of danger had been filled, and for the
moment I was unassigned. I took advantage of this
to ride over our lines and to see all that I could.
Among the operators at City Point were the Cald-
wells and Tinneys. All those boys are dead long ago,
killed by their service for the Union—service as
great as any four men with guns or swords could have
rendered. General Grant's immediate cipher opera-
tor was Beckwith.
Samuel H. Beckwith, an excellent operator, had
early in the war enlisted in the ranks and fought with
his regiment at Fort Donelson and Shiloh. In July,
1862, he was detailed for service in the military tele-
graph, serving at General Halleck's headquarters at
Corinth, Mississippi. Halleck being just then ap-
pointed to command the armies, with headquarters at
Washington, and Grant succeeding him as depart-
ment commander, Beckwith began his interesting
association with General Grant, which lasted to the
end of the war. After the capture of Vicksburg, on
the occasion of the presentation of a sword to General
Grant, he accepted a memento from the telegraphers,
as indicated by the following:
168
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Vicksburg, August 17th, 1863.
MAJOR-GENERAL MCPHERSON,
GENERAL: May I beg the honor of requesting you
in behalf of the operators in the field to present the
accompanying pair of Major-General’s shoulder straps
to Major-General U. S. Grant, as a token of respect
and esteem. Should you deem it proper to present
them this evening, I beg you will communicate to the
General the sincere gratitude which we entertain
towards him for the many kindnesses extended to us.
I am, with profound respect, etc., yours,
S. H. BECKw[TH,
Operator General Grant's Headquarters.
Almost from the beginning of the United States
Government there has been, at times, friction between
the office of Secretary of War and the General-in-
Chief commanding the army, due, I believe, to the
fact that, theoretically, the President has been Com-
mander-in-Chief and the Secretary of War, represent-
ing him, has interfered with or assumed prerogatives
claimed by the General in actual command. McClel-
lan, Grant, Sherman and Schofield have complained
of this, and, in more recent years, General Miles,
while General-in-Chief, suffered greatly from it.
Grant, in his memoirs, referring to an incident in
which Beckwith and our cipher were concerned, says:
“This was about the only thing approaching a disa-
greeable difference between the Secretary of War and
myself that occurred until the war was over, when
we had another little spat. Owing to his natural dis-
position to assume all power and control in all mat-
169
TELEGRAPH.PN.& IN BATTLE
ters that he had anything whatever to do with, he
boldly took command of the armies, and, while issu-
ing no orders on the subject, prohibited any order
from me going out of the Adjutant-General's office
until he had approved it.”
General Grant, still referring to a time after the
close of the war, goes on to state that he remonstrated
with Secretary Stanton in writing, whereupon “the
Secretary apologetically restored me to my rightful
position of General-in-Chief of the Army. But he
soon lapsed again and took control, much as before.”
The context shows that the cipher incident was no
trifling matter and might have resulted very seriously
to the Union cause, had not all concerned used tact
and patience, and especially, had not our comrade
Beckwith been valuable and persona grata to General
Grant.
As the reader will probably prefer, I will give
General Grant's version of this incident (from his
memoirs), though it is not quite correct, as shown by
his letter of February 4, 1864 (which reverses the
sequence of incidents), to Halleck. He was then in
command of the military division of the Mississippi,
with headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee. The time
was late in December, 1863. He says: “The Army
of the Ohio had been getting supplies over the Cum-
berland Gap until their animals had nearly all
starved. I now determined to go myself to see if
there was any chance of using that route in the
170
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Spring, and if not, to abandon it. Accordingly, I left
Nashville in the latter part of December, by rail, for
Chattanooga. * * * * I was at Knoxville, and
on my way from there to Lexington, Kentucky. *
* * * I was back in Nashville by the 13th of
January, 1864.
“When I started on this trip it was necessary for
me to have some person along who could turn dis-
patches into cipher, and who could also read the
cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive daily
and almost hourly. Under the rules of the War
Department at that time, Mr. Stanton had taken
entire control of the matter of regulating the tele-
graph and determining how it should be used, and of
saying who, and who alone, should have the ciphers.
The operators possessed of the ciphers, as well as the
ciphers used, were practically independent of the
commanders whom they were serving immediately
under, and had to report to the War Department
through General Stager all the dispatches which they
received or forwarded.
“I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator
back at Nashville, because that was the point at
which all dispatches to me would come, to be for-
warded from there. As I have said, it was necessary
for me also to have an operator during this inspection
who had possession of this cipher to enable me to
telegraph to my division and to the War Department
without my dispatches being read by all the operators
171
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
along the line of wires over which they were trans-
mitted. Accordingly, I ordered the cipher operator
to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B. Comstock,
of the corps of engineers, whom I had selected as a
wise and discreet man who certainly could be trusted
with the cipher if the operator at my headquarters
could. -
“The operator refused point blank to turn over the
key to Captain Comstock, as directed by me, stating
that his orders from the War Department were not to
give it to anybody—the commanding general or any
one else. I told him I would see whether he would
or not. He said that if he did he would be punished.
I told him if he did not he most certainly would be
punished. Finally, seeing that punishment was cer-
tain if he refused longer to obey my order, and being
somewhat remote (even if he was not protected alto-
gether from the consequences of his disobedience to
his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.
When I returned from Knoxville I found quite a com-
motion. The operator had been reprimanded very
severely and ordered to be relieved. I informed the
Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in charge
of the telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be
relieved, for he had only obeyed my orders. It was
absolutely necessary for me to have the cipher, and the
man would most certainly have been punished if he
had not delivered it; that they would have to punish
me if they punished anybody, or words to that effect.”
172
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
That Beckwith had been in a very embarrassing, if
not dangerous, position between General Grant and
the War Department, may be further seen from the
following: -
War Department,
Washington City, January 1st, 1864.
ORDERED :
That the cipher books issued by the Superintendent
of Military Telegraphs be entrusted only to the care
of telegraph experts, selected for the duty by the
Superintendent of Telegraphs, and approved and ap-
pointed by the Secretary of War for duty at the
respective headquarters of the military departments,
and to accompany the armies in the field. The
ciphers furnished for this purpose are not to be im-
parted to any one, but will be kept by the operator to
whom they are entrusted, in strict confidence, and he
will be held responsible for their privacy and proper
use. They will neither be copied nor used by any
other person, without special permission from the
Secretary of War. Generals commanding will report
to the War Department any default of duty by the
cipher operator, but will not allow any staff or other
officer to interfere with the operators in the discharge
of their duties.
By order of the Secretary of War.
Official : E. D. TownsenD, A. A. G.
T. S. BowFRs, A. A. G.
It is hardly necessary to give the other side of this
correspondence. The following letter from General
Grant is sufficiently explanatory, and shows a remark-
able instance of departure from his habitual reticence:
173
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
Nashville, Tenn., February 4, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. :
Your letter of the 22nd, enclosing a copy of Colonel
Stager's, of the 21st, to you, is received. I have also
circular, or order, dated January 1, 1864, post-marked
Washington, January 23rd, and received on the 29th.
I will state that Beckwith is one of the best of men.
He is competent and industrious. In the matter for
which he has been dismissed, he only obeyed my
orders, and could not have done otherwise than he did
and remained. Beckwith has always been employed
at headquarters, as an operator, and I have never
thought of taking him with me, except when head-
quarters were moved. On the occasion of my going
to Knoxville, I received Washington dispatches which
I could not read until my return to this place. To
remedy this for the future, I directed Colonel Com-
stock to acquaint himself with this cipher. Beckwith
desired to telegraph Colonel Stager on the subject be-
fore complying with my directions. Not knowing of
any order defining who and who alone could be en-
trusted with the Washington cipher, I then ordered
Beckwith to give it to Colonel Comstock, and to in-
form Colonel Stager of the fact that he had done so.
I had no thought in this matter of violating any
order, or even wish, of the Secretary of War. I could
see no reason why I was not as capable of selecting a
proper person to entrust with this secret as Colonel
Stager; in fact, thought nothing further of the matter
than that Colonel Stager had his operators under such
discipline that they were afraid to obey orders from
any one but himself, without knowing first his
pleasure. Beckwith has been dismissed for obeying
my orders. A better man cannot be selected for the
174
REMINISCENCES OF THE CHVIL WAR
position. I respectfully ask that Beckwith be restored.
When Colonel Stager's directions were received here,
the cipher had already been communicated. The
order was signed by himself and not by direction of
the Secretary of War. It is not necessary for me to
state that I am no stickler for form, but will obey any
order or wish from any of my superiors, no matter
how conveyed, if I know or only think it comes from
them.
In this instance, I supposed Colonel Stager was act-
ing for himself, and without the knowledge of any
one else.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
Beckwith was reinstated, a new cipher was made,
and the incident was closed without Secretary Stanton
relaxing his control of the military telegraph.
The foregoing story and letters, besides the intrin-
sic interest of the incident, will give the reader some
idea of the peculiar status given by the Secretary of
War to the United States Military Telegraph in the
army in the Civil War, which unjustly, we think,
prevented it from receiving full recognition as a mili-
tary organization, and has ever since prevented its
survivors from obtaining a pensionable status.
General Grant, when I saw him at City Point, in
January, 1865, as I entered his headquarters cabin
with Jack Tinney, who carried a dispatch, was seated
in a group of officers, among whom were Rawlins, his
chief of staff, General Meade, commanding the Army
of the Potomac, and others; and Grant was the least
175
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
conspicuous figure in the group, wearing a soldier's
blouse, without belt or sword, and smoking a cigar.
Looking back to that time now, it seems to me that
General Grant was a most modest, unassuming, great
commander. As to his military genius, his strategy
was so simple, comprehensive and effective, and he
was so imperturbably reticent that, to the observer,
the results seemed inevitable, and his military skill
was scarcely credited. I doubt that the world has
ever seen two greater commanders pitted against each
other than Grant and Lee.
My brother had a corps of operators at the front of
whom he was proud, and who were devoted to the
service and to him. Most of those who outlived the
war have been successful in business enterprises.
Some who are dead were as bright and promising of
genius as any young men I have known. I remember
one named Sheridan, who was a perfect genius as a
tragedian. A little later he played his last part and died
for his country. Another operator, who had been
educated for the Methodist ministry, entertained us
one night with recitations, and I have never since
heard elocution that seemed so fine to me. Among
the operators here was J. Hervey Nichols, one of the
most reliable and intelligent men in the service.
January 27th I went with Richard to the “Crows'
Nest,” where the signal men so much distinguished
themselves, and where we also had telegraphic com-
munication, and to Dutch Gap Canal. All around
176
J. HERVEY Nichols
Cipher-Operator Army of the James, etc., 1861–5
Now of Denver, Colorado

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and back of that excavation the ground was ploughed
up by shells. Richard rode down to the edge of the
canal to see how a cable which Butler was anxious to
get across the river might be best secured, and I sat
on my horse on the river bank looking up toward
Pickett's Confederate battery at the Howlett House,
two miles away, which had gotten the range so
accurately that its guns had pitched their shells right
into Butler's ditch. As I looked I saw a puff of
smoke at Howlett House, and a few seconds after a
shell dropped in the river just in front of me.
I told Richard that I appreciated this honor, but
would like to go back, so we galloped up along the
river bank where the negro pickets were keeping
close behind log breastworks. Several of them
shouted, “Look out, dar !” and then a volley came
out of the brush just across the narrow river and
rattled around us. Richard was quite cool, but I
suggested a horse-race to Butler's headquarters, and
led off at once, and I think I beat him. -
I was put on duty south of the river, at Bermuda
Hundred, with Operator Snow. Our office was in an
abandoned church. -
Richard's diary will best describe telegraphic affairs
at this point. -
177
CHAPTER XI.
RICHARD O’BRIEN'S WAR DIARY OF A CHIEF OPERA-
TOR IN THE SIEGE OF RICHMOND
AND PETERSBURG.
- EADQUARTERS Army of the James, on the
Peninsula before Richmond, Sunday, January
1, 1865.-This book (pocket diary) was handed me as
a New Year gift by my friend, J. C. Rhodes, who dis-
tributes newspapers to the army.
At 9 A.M. Hervey Nichols, my chief assistant,
handed me a note signed by all the military tele-
graphers of the Army of the James (eighteen opera-
tors and the construction corps, under Mackintosh),
accompanying a very beautiful album as a New Year
gift, their photographs to be included when they can
get them. I was very much touched by this proof of
affection from the brave boys.
At 11 A.M. went out with Nichols to witness the
blowing up of Dutch Gap to complete the excavation
of the canal, which General Butler hopes is to change
the channel of the James River and circumvent the
formidable Howlett House fortifications of the enemy.
Operation delayed. General Butler, his staff, Mr.
N. and I returned, and went out again at 1 P.M.
Waited in the cold until 3:45, when the mine explod-
ed, blowing out the earth to the water's edge, but
178
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
failing most miserably to meet our expectation. It
will require some time and much labor yet to enable
our vessels to pass through. The Confederates shelled
the gap and us.
Monday, January 2nd.—Mr. King came into our
mess. Smith received three lanterns for our men to
use in patrolling the wires at night.
I sent monthly report to A. B. Chandler, “D. I.”
(War Department.) Received a short letter from
brother John at Fort Monroe : he wants to come to
the front. I secured standing order from Lieutenant
Merrill, quartermaster, to have our horses shod at all
times. John Tinney was over from Grant's office at
City Point; also Painter. They seem to think there
is not much to choose in point of danger between
some of our exposed telegraph stations on these lines
in front of Richmond and Caldwell’s on Grant's lines,
on the other side, in front of Petersburg.
NEWS OF OLD COMRADES.
Received a letter from Billy Tinney, Virginia City,
Nevada Territory. He is getting a hundred dollars a
month in gold and his board. Billy and his brother,
Jack, were, like John and myself, with McClellan on
this Peninsula in '62. The campaign damaged Billy's
constitution, so that he resigned and went West to
seek health. Wonder how John and I will come out
of this? Billy mentions my old telegraph teacher
and comrade on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Vanden-
179
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
burg. He is building lines out there. At “P. O.”
(president's office, P. R. R., Philadelphia), where we
worked together, Van, who was fond of the foils, used
to prod me all over the office and stand me in a cor-
ner. I was patient, so he liked me. If he still cares
for swordsmanship he might enjoy the real thing
down here. Van walked the whole Pennsylvania line,
then a state road, and was the first to realize the
importance of glass insulation. Tinney also mentions
that W , an old railroad operator, is out there in
prison for tampering with the wires, by which he
hoped to make $30,000. He was always a wild boy.
Perhaps a little military service, say under fire at
Point of Rocks, the Crow's Nest, or at Dutch Gap,
might tame him.
Tuesday, January 3rd.—Major-General Terry or-
dered on expedition; with his corps embarked at
Deep Bottom. Peter Zeroni reported for duty, Dick
Whelan got another lantern for night repairs of wires,
Colonel Kensel, with some Swedish officers, here.
General Butler very affectionate to Colonel Dodge,
quartermaster of this army, who is going away with
Terry. Said “God bless you.” Letters from home.
Snowing.
Wednesday, January 4th.-Nichols got up first
time he was called—something unheard of before.
Very busy all day with ciphers. Colonel Dodge
making arrangements with Colonel Webster, quarter-
master at Fort Monroe, in cipher, for Terry's expedi-
180
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
tion. Tom Morrison and Loucks, operators, over
from the Petersburg front to see me. We bunk them
for the night. Mail is not in yet, 10:45 P.M.
Thursday, January 5th.-General Butler went to
Fort Monroe. Letter from John. He is tired of Fort
Monroe; has worked there three times during the
war; wants to be at the front. Beat Nichols at chess,
giving him a rook odds. Gave Morrison $245 to
send per express from City Point to Philadelphia for
clothes for operators. Gave Huyck, one of my opera-
tors here, $5 for our mess, making $10 I have ad-
vanced. Application from D He won’t suit for
the military telegraph. Wrote John and home.
RUMOR OF RICHMOND’S EVACUATION.
Friday, January 6th.-Raining all day; roads im-
passable. The “sacred soil " and water mixed
together make the worst mud on earth. Fierce can-
nonading toward Petersburg. The result is not yet
apparent. Applebaugh reports to me by wire that
“An actor just escaped from Richmond,” says “the
Confederates are evacuating that place.” Exceeding-
ly improbable, but not altogether impossible. General
Butler not yet returned. Wrote Sister Lizzie.
Saturday, January 7th.-Rode over the line to Fort
Burnham. Letter from Chandler to-day; very favor-
able for John. Letter from John. Answered, inclos-
ing Chandler's and advising to stay at Fort Monroe,
which is safe if monotonous. Letter from Brother
181
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
James at Portsmouth and one from Joe Wilson, our
old mounted messenger of the Eleventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry. Answered both. Mail late.
Sunday, January 8th.-All human greatness hath
an end | The feared, the hated, the respected, the
renowned Major-General Benjamin F. Butler is re-
lieved as commander of the Army of the James, and
is ordered to report by letter from Lowell, Massachu-
setts. He left to-day, and thus his play is ended and
thus he is shuffled off the stage. The administration
has no further use for him, and is forced by the popu-
lar voice to depose him, but he may appear again. I
know him well, and can safely say, “The devil is not
as black as he is painted.” He has been very kind to
me. General Ord succeeds him.
Monday, January 9th.-General Ord up to see me.
He is very particular in matters of detail.
Received a cipher from General Grant, which may
change our base very materially. It is a bold idea,
but one which I have often thought of. If under-
taken it will cost many a gallant fellow his life.
(This referred to assaulting Fort Fisher and the im-
pending North Carolina campaign.)
Some talk of Rosecrans assuming command of this
army (of the James), under Grant. Ten Confederate
deserters in to-day. S. Holbrook, operator, reported
for duty; have ordered him to Point of Rocks station.
He has been in the corps since November 19, '64.
Received a letter to go to Richmond from George B.
182
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Cowlam, our brave boy of the Monitor and Merrimac
day at Newport News. Letter from John. Rebel
ram just sent a shell very close to us.
TROUBLE IN JAMES RIVER CABLE.
Tuesday, January 10th.—Raining all day. Roads
impassable. Line down. I fear trouble in James
River cable. Williams left. M absent without
leave; I reprimanded him. Richmond papers say
great fire at Charlotte, North Carolina, and heavy loss
of their government stores.
Sent General Butler five photographs for his auto-
graph. I want to send four to my friends. I under-
stand he is determined to fight the administration,
and should not be surprised if he forced them to place
him in some important position. Lieutenant Daven-
port of our guard resigned. Accepted. Charley Ham-
mond, operator, very sick; wants to go home. All
quiet along the lines.
Wednesday, January 11th.-James River cable
leaks badly. Went down and found the current had
floated and strained it badly. Could do nothing, as a
steamer had carried away part of the pontoon bridge.
Copies of General Butler's farewell address to the
army received. Strong language. General Grant
says they can be distributed. Letters from John,
James and Sister Mary.
Brigadier-General Lee sent in a flag of truce ask-
ing permission to take away an old man and woman'
183
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
on the Darbytown road who are represented to be
starving. Thirty deserters in to-day.
Thursday, January 12th.-Steamer Sylvan Shore
caught our cable at 7:45 A.M. and broke it. Ordered
the reel at Bermuda Hundred brought up on tug.
Had all ready, but it got too dark to work.
* Received a letter from Benjamin F. Butler with his
photograph. The letter is very complimentary on
my services, etc. Painter, Tinney and Snow, oper-
ators, here; Snow staying all night. Seven deserters
came in. Wrote John and James. All quiet along
the lines.
Friday, January 13th.-Up at daylight. Started
with Snow for James River. Found our men all
ready. Went to work, laid the cable and had every-
thing working at 10 A.M. It is a very hard thing to
lay cable well off a tug in a strong current; it should
always be laid off a barge, where there is room to
work. I took up and coiled the old cable. T. W.
Davis left for Meade's headquarters to get his fur-
lough. General Ord gone to Fort Monroe. General
Turner ordered to report at Washington for commit-
tee on the conduct of the war. John I. Sabin, oper-
ator, reported at City Point. I ordered him to Jones'
Landing.
Saturday, January 14th.-Sent battery wagon, old
pony battery and one tent to Bermuda Hundred. At
1 P.M. a steamer came down the river so fast she
184
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
could not stop for the pontoon bridge; she let go her
anchor, which caught and broke the new cable I laid
yesterday. (This cable across James River connected
Grant's two wings, speaking roughly, the Army of the
James on the Peninsula in front of Richmond, and
the Army of the Potomac in front of Petersburg. It
was in Richard's charge, which included not only the
lines on the Peninsula, but also those on Grant's side
of the James above the Appomattox, while those from
Grant's headquarters at City Point to the extreme left
of the Army of the Potomac, were in charge of
Harper Caldwell, chief operator at Grant's headquar-
ters, who had the excellent builder, Denis Doren, as
foreman of construction. J.) Colonel Mulford and
Mr. Ould exchanging prisoners to-day. Letters from
John, Mary and James. Answered all of them.
Sunday, January 15th-Down to the river to
make splice in cable, which was leaking, making it
work hard for the operators. Gutta-percha gets brit-
tle and porous. General Gibbon arrived and took com-
mand of the Twenty-fourth Corps. Letter from mother.
Blair and two commissioners from Alabama came
from Richmond en route for Washington ; no doubt
on a peace mission. God grant that it may be pro-
ductive of good, and that the dawn of peace may be
11622. I.
Monday, January 16th.-Several citizens escaped
from Richmond; say they paid $200 apiece to those
who smuggled them through the Confederate lines.
185
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Richmond papers say our troops (Terry) effected a
landing five miles above Fort Fisher, North Carolina,
yesterday. Say we can't take the fort. Wrote Mary
and James.
Tuesday, January 17th.-General Grant ordered
work on Dutch Gap Canal stopped, thus driving
another nail in Butler's coffin. The canal will, never-
theless, be one day the channel of James River. Rode
over the pontoon to Bermuda, stopping in to see Sheri-
dan (operator) at Broadway Landing. He was shak-
ing with malaria. Got him some quinine.
Received report Fort Fisher was taken by assault
on the 15th with forty guns, 1,000 prisoners. Our
loss heavy. General Terry says he hopes it will not
exceed 500. This will seal Butler's doom after his
failure in the first expedition sent to take that fort.
Wednesday, January 18th.-Received operators'
clothes from Philadelphia; they are very good and
all are pleased. Received letters from John. Wrote
James and Lizzie. Borrowed Snow’s new work on
electricity. Very quiet on the lines.
Thursday, January 19th.-Deserters report Wil-
mington, North Carolina, taken, with $33,000,000
worth of cotton, which the Confederates set on fire,
but our troops arrived in time to extinguish the
flames. (This report was premature, but prophetic.
When the event did occur Richard and I were,
strangely enough, there to see it. J.) Snow, Painter
and others up to get their clothes. (I retain these
186
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
slight items of the diary to indicate Richard's care of
his boys, and his capacity for detail, which I have
always admired and envied. These details also pre-
serve the vraisemblance of life at the front. He was
all this time doing heavy cipher work and operating,
as well as executive work. J.) Jim Norris, who en-
listed in the cavalry and was detailed to work with
John and me in McClellan's campaign, arrived at
“U. S.” (Grant's headquarters. Jim was a fine oper-
ator, both in sending and receiving, and a very hand-
some fellow in Buffalo Bill's style of beauty. J.)
General Ord wants two miles of railroad iron laid
near here. A move on foot | The army will have
work to do before the Winter is over. No letters to-
day. (Richard strangely omits to voice in this diary
the thunder of Grant's and Lee's guns in those days.
I suppose he had grown oblivious to their music. It
was not an incessant bombardment, however. Grant's
game then was largely one of endurance and strategic
extension of his wings. J.)
Friday, January 20th.-General Grant has gone to
Washington ; General Ord to Fort Monroe; General
Gibbon commands this army in Ord’s absence. Grant
telegraphed in cipher to hold the flag of truce boat
until Mr. Blair arrives. This is significant, Blair go-
ing as a possible peace commissioner a second time to
Richmond. T. W. Davis, operator, reported at “S.”
(Bermuda.) Went down into Dutch Gap Canal and
brought away a piece of petrified wood, which is a
187
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
little soft now, but gets hard by exposure to the air.
(The bottom of the canal was composed of this peat
in process of formation into coal—one of the condi-
tions that made excavation difficult and, with the
accurate fire of Pickett's guns in the Howlett House
battery and his field guns, rendered temporarily un-
successful Butler's attempt to cut off that wide bend
of James River. Richard says that, “Besides the
Howlett House guns, the enemy brought a battery of
four pieces and raked the gap with grape and canister,
and after several boat loads of dead and wounded had
been taken from the excavation, our people had to
abandon it, leaving us to take down our wire or
abandon it. We took it down.” J.) Colonel Mul-
ford, in charge of exchange of prisoners, up to see
me. He looks well. Received thirteen bags of oats,
two bales of hay. -
READY TO RECEIVE IRONCLADS.
Saturday, January 21st.—McKenna, operator, re-
ported for duty. Ordered him to Point of Rocks, on
the left bank of the Appomattox. General Gibbon
wants an office with General Kautz, commanding the
cavalry now moving farther out on our extreme right.
General Grant telegraphs Ord he has important news
from Richmond. General Gibbon telegraphs General
Ferrero the Confederate ironclads are expected to
come down the river soon, and to have the river bat-
teries on the lookout and prepared. Two deserters
188
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
just in. One was sent for water and the other sent to
guard him ; the latter, true to his orders, did guard
him right into our lines. Good soldierſ
Sunday, January 22nd.—North Carolina transferred
to the “Department of the South '' under Sherman.
Frank P. Blair, supposed peace commissioner, passed
through into Richmond. One of my team horses
died. I have the application of Davis, Fourth New
Jersey Battery, for detail as military telegraph oper-
ator. McKenna arrived at “K” office (Point of
Rocks). Many deserters in. All quiet along the
lines.
Monday, January 23rd.—Captain Lafayette Plato,
quartermaster, took dinner with us. He was at Nor-
folk when John and I were running the wires in that
region. Looks well. Deserters report the Confeder-
ate rams preparing to come down and take advantage
of the high water now in James River; the late
freshet having washed away the obstructions we
placed near Crow's Nest. If they get below these
there will be trouble. Fort Brady is ordered to be on
the lookout and prepared. Lee may throw the main
body of his force against us on this, the Peninsula
side, while the ironclads destroy our bridges over
James River. But he will find us ready to receive
him.
Tuesday, January 24th.-Three Confederate rams
ran down the river, engaging Fort Brady and passing
it about 4 A.M. They got around the bend and under
189
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
their Howlett House battery, and at 5 A.M. attempted
to pass our obstructions, which the late freshet had
displaced. They were engaged by General Ferrero's
batteries, and one reported blown up, but it was only
a small tug. One ram, the Fredericksburg, got
through, but did not come down. One went aground,
and, for a time, it was supposed we could destroy her,
but they all got away. Our monitor, the Onondaga,
backed down the river and showed “the white
feather,” for which her commander is relieved, by
telegraph. I was out to see the fight. Ran a line,
two miles of wire, to Kautz's cavalry on our right.
Sent Davis there.
COULD NOT PHASE THE IRONCLADS.
Wednesday, January 25th.-At 4 A.M. the Confed-
erate ironclads started up the river with no sign of
life visible. They moved slowly and regularly,
appearing in the darkness like huge phantoms of a
disordered dream. Fort Brady again opened fire on
them with its 200-pounder and other heavy guns.
Our riflemen on shore could see our heavy shot strike
fire against the iron sides of the monsters, but they
paid no more heed to it than they would to so many
hailstones. They kept on, not deigning a reply. F.
P. Blair came into our lines from Richmond. Peace
is not in sight. John Thompson, lineman at Fort
Powhatan, killed by the enemy while repairing the
line near Cabin Point. Two letters from James.
190
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Sent him one. Colonel Mulford ordered before the
military committee of Congress.
Thursday, January 26th.-Sent horse, bridle, sad-
dle, etc., with Woodbury to Fort Powhatan. Sent
Mason to headquarters Twenty-fifth Corps. John re-
ported to General Rawlins at City Point. I want him
here; he was delayed on the way up from Fort Mon-
roe; got aground. (I cut loose for the front on a
special order of General Grant for one of us operators
at Fort Monroe to come up to watch the Confederate
rams. J.) Picket firing on our left. It's of no
account. The Ironsides aground. Atlanta up.
(Armored gunboats. J.) No mail. Gold on 23d
2.064. I opened another office at Broadway Landing
at 10 A.M. Placed Rand there.
Friday, January 27th.-John and Tinney started
from Grant's headquarters; Rhodes joined them at
Hatcher's. I started with Huyck to meet them. Met
them on the pontoon bridge at Aikens' Landing.
They had given John an uncommonly good horse.
(It had been captured in battle and had killed two of
our men by running away with them. Richard's
“Lucy’’ was a good one, too. J.) Glad to meet the
boy. We celebrated the reunion by a race from the
river. Neck and neck for a mile, with the others far
behind, and then I began to see that John could not
pull in his horse, so I pulled “Lucy” sharply to the
right among the ditches of an old camp and she went
down like a shot. Struck on my head and turned a
191
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
complete somersault. Was right under her feet when
I scrambled up, but she did not move an inch or I
might have been severely hurt. Got off miraculously
with only a few bumps on my head. (This may
seem ignominious, but General Grant was lame at
Shiloh from a similar accident. J.) We went to
Dutch Gap, and were treated to a big shell or two
from Howlett House battery, which astonished John.
HOPE OF PEACE.
Saturday, January 28th.-John went to City Point,
reporting again to Caldwell, who kindly let me have
him, and returned to Bermuda for present duty.
Nichols went to City Point. General Singleton and
five Southern ladies came from Richmond and went
on to Washington. Perhaps the Southern beauties
may make an impression on the heart of “Old Abe,”
and thus smooth the way to peace negotiations !
Those Southern girls have a winning way about
them. I hope they may be successful. It is time
that Americans should know each other, and know
that it would be almost as logical to think of two
kings in heaven as of two governments between the
Gulf of Mexico and Canada. It must and will be a
Union.
Sunday, January 29th.-Alexander H. Stephens,
Hunter and Judge Campbell applied to come through
our lines, claiming to have an understanding with
General Grant, who is absent at Fort Fisher. The
192
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
matter is referred to Washington. No decision yet.
General Ord hesitates to take the responsibility of
letting the Southern commissioners through. Old
Ben would not have hesitated in such a case. I can
almost forgive Butler's many faults in admiration of
his original and decisive legal talent. One draw-
back in this struggle has been the fear of our Gen-
erals to take responsibility. (Richard soon saw that
as good a man as General Sherman got into serious
trouble by assuming responsibility in regard to peace
negotiations. We were all terrible critics in those
days. J.)
Monday, January 30th.-Secretary of War Stanton
replied that a messenger would be sent to meet
Stephens and party. Richmond papers speak openly
of their departure for Washington, but profess to
have little faith in the mission. Ord telegraphs corps
commanders to have all ready for a move. He thinks
the enemy may attack. John up. Rode over the
lines with him. Received a barrel of oysters from
Dr. Suckley. Tom Morrison left for Washington.
D here. Don't think much of his operating
capacity. McGill left. Sent Rand to Jones' Land-
ing office, Sabin to Broadway Landing.
Tuesday, January 31st.—Rode over the lines to
Bermuda. The pontoon bridge is very dangerous on
account of floating ice. Received an important
cipher while at Hatcher's and made “Lucy” fly back,
coming four miles in twenty-five minutes, including
193
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
walking across the pontoon. The cipher will upset
our affairs considerably, but trust for the best. Some
troops leaving for General Terry. General Grant
returned from Fort Fisher to City Point and means to
go to work at once. He may possibly be ordered to
Wilmington. General Ord wants me to place my
operators under oath. I have perfect faith in them.
Wednesday, February 1st, 1865.-Major Eckert,
superintendent of the military telegraph, up from
Washington. General Turner told me thought there
would not be a move soon (?). Letter from James.
LEAVING ARMY OF THE JAMES.
Thursday, February 2nd.—I am ordered to North
Carolina to take charge of all the lines in that depart-
ment. John to go with me as cipher operator for
General Schofield.
“United States Military Telegraph.
“Washington, Feb. 2, 1865.
“RICH'D O'BRIEN, Chief Operator,
Army of the James:
“You will proceed, at once, to North Carolina and
take charge of all the military lines in that depart-
ment. John can accompany you as cipher operator if
you desire it. “THOS. T. EcKERT,
“Major and Superintendent.”
Friday, February 3rd.—Alexander H. Stephens and
party arrived from below and will leave for Rich-
mond early in the morning. No prospect for peace,
except by unconditional surrender of the Confeder-
ates.
194
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Saturday, February 4th.-Left the Army of the
James at 8 A.M. John joined me, with my horse, at
City Point, where we got “Lucy” aboard the City of
Płudson and started down James River. John and I
played chess and, both speculating on the chances of
war in our new field, forgot our chess board and men
and left them on the boat. Arrived at Fort Monroe
at 4 P.M. Saw Colonel Webster, who told us General
Schofield had not yet arrived. Went to Norfolk,
leaving “Lucy” in Mr. Fulton's charge at Fort
Monroe. Went to Portsmouth and surprised James,
who had known nothing of our new movements. We
slept in our old military telegraph office of 1862 in
the Custom House at Norfolk.
Sunday, February 5th.-Up at 6. Went to church
with John at 7. Went to Mrs. Mayhew’s to break-
fast. While there received a dispatch that General
Schofield arrived at Fort Monroe and would leave for
North Carolina at 12. Got a tug and went to Fort
Monroe with John. Got aboard steamer Atlanta and
saw General Schofield.
195
CHAPTER XII.
CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS–WITH GENERAL SCHO-
FIELD AND THE ARMY OF THE OHIO – FORT
FISHER—CAPE FEARRIVER—CAPTURE OF
FORT ANDERSON.—WILMINGTON.—
BUILDING LINE WITHOUT
MEN OR MATERIAL.
HE Army of the Ohio, about 21,000 strong,
under General Schofield, had been brought east
from Tennessee to proceed to the coast of North
Carolina, to take Wilmington, and, with Terry's
troops at Fort Fisher, 8,000 men, and Palmer's at
New Berne, 4,000, to advance into the interior to
coöperate with Sherman, whose march northward was
to be longer, more hazardous, and more decisive than
his march to the sea had been.
GRANT'S INSTRUCTIONS.
The scope and objects of the North Carolina cam-
paign are best explained by Grant's orders to Sher-
man and Schofield :
Headquarters Armies of the United States,
Washington, D. C., January 21, 1865.
MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Military Division
of the Mississippi.
GENERAL : Your letters brought by General Bar-
nard were received at City Point, and read with inter-
est. Not having them with me, however, I cannot
196
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on all
points of recommendation. As I arrived here at 1
P.M., and must leave at 6 P.M., having in the mean-
time spent over three hours with the Secretary and
General Halleck, I must be brief. Before your last
request to have Thomas make a campaign into the
heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapo-
lis, Maryland, with his corps. The advance (six
thousand) will reach the seaboard by the 23rd, the
remainder following as rapidly as railroad transporta-
tion can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps
numbers over twenty-one thousand men.
>k >k >k >k >k >k >k >< >k
Thomas is still left with a sufficient force, surplus
to go to Selma under an energetic leader. He has
been telegraphed to, to know whether he could go,
and, if so, by which of several routes he would select.
No reply is yet received. Canby has been ordered to
act offensively from the seacoast to the interior,
toward Montgomery and Selma. Thomas' forces will
move from the north at an early day, or some of his
troops will be sent to Canby. Without further rein-
forcement Canby will have a moving column of
twenty thousand men.
Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured.
We have a force there of eight thousand effective.
At New Berne about half the number. -
>k >k >k >k >k >k >k >k >k
If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there.
If not, he will be sent to New Berne. In either
event, all the surplus forces at the two points will
move to the interior, toward Goldsboro, in coöpera-
tion with your movements. From either point, rail-
road communications can be run out, there being
here abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of
those roads.
197
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
There have been about sixteen thousand men sent
from Lee's army south. Of these, you will have
fourteen thousand against you, if Wilmington is not
held by the enemy, casualties at Fort Fisher having
overtaken about two thousand.
All other troops are subject to your orders as you
come in communication with them. They will be so
instructed. From about Richmond I will watch Lee
closely, and if he detaches many men, or attempts to
evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, should
you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two
corps of thirty thousand effective men to your sup-
port, from the troops about Richmond.
To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the in-
terior from the Gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the
north, but I think it doubtful. A force of twenty-
eight or thirty thousand will coöperate with you from
New Berne or Wilmington, or both. You can call
for reinforcements.
This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of
my staff, who will return with any message you may
have for me. If there is anything I can do for you in
the way of having supplies on shipboard, at any point
on the seacoast, really for you, let me know it.
Yours truly,
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
To this Sherman replied:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
Pocotaligo, South Carolina, Jan. 29, 1865.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
City Point, Virginia.
DEAR GENERAL : Captain Hudson has this mo-
ment arrived with your letter of January 21st, which
I have read with interest.
198
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
The capture of Fort Fisher has a most important
bearing on my campaign, and I rejoice in it for many
reasons, because of its intrinsic importance, and be-
cause it gives me another point of security on the sea-
board. I hope General Terry will follow it up by the
capture of Wilmington, although I do not look for it,
from Admiral Porter's dispatch to me. I rejoice that
Terry was not a West-Pointer, that he belonged to
your army, and that he had the same troops with
which Butler feared to make the attempt. -
Admiral Dahlgren, whose fleet is reinforced by
some more ironclads, wants to make an assault a la
Fisher on Fort Moultrie, but I withhold my consent,
for the reason that the capture of all Sullivan's Island
is not conclusive as to Charleston ; the capture of
James Island would be, but all pronounce that impos-
sible at this time. Therefore, I am moving (as
hitherto designed) for the railroad west of Branch-
ville, then will swing across to Orangeburg, which
will interpose my army between Charleston and the
interior. Contemporaneous with this, Foster will
demonstrate up the Edisto, and afterward make a
lodgment at Bull's Bay, and occupy the common road
which leads from Mount Pleasant toward George-
town. When I get to Columbia, I think I shall move
straight for Goldsboro, by the way of Fayetteville.
By this circuit I cut all roads, and devastate the land;
and the forces along the coast, commanded by Foster,
will follow my movement, taking anything the
enemy lets go, or so occupy his attention that he can-
not detach all his forces against me. I feel sure of
getting Wilmington, and may be Charleston, and be-
ing at Goldsboro, with its railroads finished back to
Morehead City and Wilmington, I can easily take
Raleigh, when it seems that Lee must come out. If
Schofield comes to Beaufort, he should be pushed out
to Kinston, on the Neuse, and may be Goldsboro (or
199
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
rather, a point on the Wilmington road, south of
Goldsboro). It is not necessary to storm Goldsboro,
because it is in a distant region, of no importance in
itself, and, if its garrison is forced to draw supplies
from its north, it will be eating up the same stores on .
which Lee depends for his command.
I have no doubt Hood will bring his army to
Augusta. Canby and Thomas should penetrate Ala-
bama as far as possible, to keep employed at least a
part of Hood's army; or, what would accomplish the
same thing, Thomas might reoccupy the railroad from
Chattanooga forward to the Etowah, viz., Rome,
Kinston, and Allatoona, thereby threatening Georgia.
I know that the Georgia troops are disaffected. At
Savannah I met delegates from several counties of the
Southwest, who manifested a decidedly hostile spirit
to the Confederate cause. I nursed the feeling as far
as possible, and instructed Grover to keep it up.
My left wing must now be at Sister's Ferry, cross-
ing the Savannah River to the east bank. Slocum
has orders to be at Robertsville to-morrow, prepared
to move on Barnwell. Howard is here, all ready to
start for the Augusta Railroad at Midway.
We find the enemy on the east side of the Salkie-
hatchie, and cavalry in our front; but all give ground
on our approach, and seem to be merely watching us.
If we start on Tuesday, in one week we shall be near
Orangeburg, having broken up the Augusta road
from the Edisto westward twenty or twenty-five miles.
I will be sure that every rail is twisted. Should we
encounter too much opposition near Orangeburg,
then I will for a time neglect that branch, and rapidly
move on Columbia, and fill up the triangle formed by
the Congaree and Wateree (tributaries of the Santee),
breaking up that great center of the Carolina roads.
Up to that point I feel full confidence, but from there
200
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
may have to manoeuvre some, and will be guided by
the questions of weather and supplies.
You remember we had fine weather last February
for our Meridian trip, and my memory of the weather
at Charleston is, that February is usually a fine
month. Before the March storms come we should be
within striking distance of the coast. The months of
April and May will be the best for operations from
Goldsboro to Raleigh and the Roanoke. You may
rest assured that I will keep my troops well in hand,
and, if I get worsted, will aim to make the enemy pay
so dearly that you will have less to do. I know that
this trip is necessary; it must be made sooner or
later ; I am on time, and in the right position for it.
My army is large enough for the purpose, and I ask
no reinforcement, but simply wish the utmost activ-
ity to be kept up at all other points, so that concen-
tration against me may not be universal.
I expect that Jeff. Davis will move heaven and
earth to catch me, for success to this column is fatal
to his dream of empire. Richmond is not more vital
to his cause than Columbia and the heart of South
Carolina.
If Thomas will not move on Selma, order him to
occupy Rome, Kinston, and Allatoona, and again
threaten Georgia in the direction of Athens.
I think the “poor white trash ’’ of the South are
falling out of their ranks by sickness, desertion, and
every available means; but there is a large class of
vindictive Southerners who will fight to the last.
The squabbles in Richmond, the howls in Charleston,
and the disintegration elsewhere, are all good omens
for us; we must not relax one iota, but, on the con-
trary, pile up our efforts. I would, ere this, have been
off, but we had terrific rains, which caught us in
motion, and nearly drowned some of the troops in the
rice-fields of the Savannah, swept away our causeway
201
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
(which had been carefully corduroyed), and made the
swamps hereabout mere lakes of slimy mud. The
weather is now good, and I have the army on terra
firma. Supplies, too, came for a long time by daily
driblets instead of in bulk ; this is now all remedied,
and I hope to start on Tuesday.
I will issue instructions to General Foster, based on
the reinforcements of North Carolina; but if Scho-
field comes, you had better relieve Foster, who cannot
take the field, and needs an operation on his leg. Let
Schofield take command, with his headquarters at
Beaufort, North Carolina, and with orders to secure
Goldsboro (with its railroad communication back to
Beaufort and Wilmington). If Lee lets us get that
position, he is gone up.
I will start with my Atlanta army (sixty thousand),
supplied as before, depending on the country for all
food in excess of thirty days. I will have less cattle
on the hoof, but I hear of hogs, cows and calves, in
Barnwell and the Columbia districts. Even here we
have found some forage. Of course the enemy will
carry off and destroy some forage, but I will burn the
houses where the people burn their forage, and they
will get tired of it.
I must risk Hood, and trust to you to hold Lee or
be on his heels if he comes South. I observe that the
enemy has some respect for my name, for they gave
up Pocotaligo without a fight when they heard that
the attacking force belonged to my army. I will try
and keep up that feeling, which is a real power.
With respect, your friend,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
P. S.—I leave my chief-quartermaster and com-
missary behind to follow coastwise. W. T. S.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Płeadquarters Armies of the United States,
City Point, Virginia, January 31, 1865.
MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Commanding Army of the Ohio.
GENERAL : I have requested by telegraph that, for
present purposes, North Carolina be erected into a
department, and that you be placed in command of it,
subject to Major-General Sherman’s orders. Of course,
you will receive orders from me direct until such
time as General Sherman gets within communicating
distance of you. This obviates the necessity of my
publishing the order which I informed you would
meet you at Fortress Monroe. If the order referred to
should not be published from the Adjutant-General's
office, you will read these instructions as your author-
ity to assume command of all the troops in North Caro-
lina, dating all official communications, “Headquar-
ters Army of the Ohio.” Your headquarters will be
in the field, and with the portion of the army where
you feel yourself most needed. In the first move you
will go to Cape Fear River.
Your movements are intended as coöperative with
Sherman's movement through the States of South
and North Carolina. The first point to be obtained
is to secure Wilmington. Goldsboro will then be
your objective point, moving either from Wilmington
or New Berne, or both, as you may deem best.
Should you be unable to reach Goldsboro, you will
advance on the line or lines of railway connecting
that place with the seacoast, as near to it as you can,
building the road behind you. The enterprise under
you has two objects: the first, to give General Sher-
man material aid, if needed, in his march north ; the
second, to open a base of supplies for him on the line
of his march. As soon, therefore, as you can deter-
mine which of the two points, Wilmington or New
203
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Berne, you can best use for throwing supplies to the
interior, you will commence the accumulation of
twenty days' rations and forage for sixty thousand
men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of
these as many as you can house and protect, to such
point in the interior as you may be able to occupy.
>k >k >k >k >k >k >k >k >k
The movements of the enemy may justify you, or
even make it your imperative duty, to cut loose from
your base and strike for the interior, to aid Sherman.
In such case you will act on your own judgment,
without waiting for instructions. You will report,
however, what you propose doing. The details for
carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to
you. I would urge, however, if I did not already
Rnow that you are already fully alive to the import-
ance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be looked
for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro any time from
the 22nd to the 28th of February. This limits your
time very materially.
If rolling stock is not secured in the capture of
Wilmington, it can be secured from Washington. A
large force of railroad-men has already been sent to
Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher
in a day or two. On this point I have informed you
by telegraph.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
Little time had been given to provide men or
material for telegraph extension in the important
movement thus begun, and this fact influenced my
situation materially. The emergency required all of
Richard's efforts to provide these essentials for the
North Carolina campaign, and to get his lines run
204
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
from the coast in time to meet Sherman, so that we
usually had to work separately, I was generally at
some front, and, sometimes, in situations of consider-
able interest and responsibility.
The transport which conveyed us South had part
of a brigade aboard. I played chess with Colonel
Boynton, the famous correspondent, and studied our
General and staff. They were as fine looking West-
ern soldiers as I ever saw, and further acquaintance
with General Schofield confirmed a boy's impression
that he was a very superior man—calm, wise and
energetic. Colonel Wherry, our chief of staff, proved
later to be the handsomest soldier I ever saw on
horseback.
We passed Hatteras in a storm. I happened to be
on deck while about a regiment of soldiers were de-
ployed at the rails in all the horror of sea-sickness,
when one soldier went overboard. The engines were
stopped. The boat waited a little while, the bell was
tolled, and—then we went on again.
As we approached Cape Fear the beach was seen to
be strewn with the wrecks of blockade runners. We
ran through Porter's fleet of ironclads and anchored
near Fort Fisher, which Terry had just captured in
one of the most desperate hand-to-hand assaults of the
war. Participants told me how, inside the fort, the
Confederates fought from gun to gun, from traverse
to traverse.
The scene here was the most desolate I ever looked
205
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
on. There was nothing to break the monotony of
the low, sandy beach between the Cape Fear River
and the ocean but Fort Fisher and the high mound
battery, both built of sand and logs, and the racing of
the white horses of the ocean across the reefs outside;
while the eternal booming of the surf seemed to hold
an echo of the terrible bombardment of the fort.
Between us and Wilmington there still remained Fort
Anderson and Hoke's army. The one must be
captured and the other routed, and then General
Schofield would start half his force from Wilmington
and half from New Berne, to converge westward in
aid of Sherman. -
We already held Morehead City and New Berne,
and there was a small telegraph establishment with
General Palmer's force there. Having learned Gen-
eral Schofield's plans, Richard hastened to New
Berne to bring on men and material which Major
Eckert had ordered there. I remained with General
Schofield in Cape Fear River to communicate with
Sherman in cipher. Our headquarters were on the
steamer S. R. Spaulding. We had nets out from the
bows of all our vessels in the river to catch torpedoes,
which the enemy were floating down to us. For
some time I never turned in at night without expect-
ing to wake up and find myself blown to pieces.
After we took Fort Anderson we compelled Confeder-
ate prisoners to remove the torpedoes they had
anchored in the river. General J. D. Cox, afterward
206
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REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Governor of Ohio, has written a book on this cam-
paign. Under Schofield, he and General Terry
manoeuvered our forces on both sides of the river
while our gunboats poured a storm of shells into Fort
Anderson at short range for days, the Confederates
replying deliberately and regularly. The Spaulding
lay just out of range, and from her deck I could see
every shell strike the fort and send a volcano of sand
on high. Sometimes a few of us would launch a
small boat, step a sail, and run up among the gun-
boats under fire just to taste the excitement of danger.
It was the second great naval spectacle I had seen,
but was not equal in terrific grandeur to the fight in
Hampton Roads.
One day, as I was idly lounging on deck, watching
the signal officer with our headquarters directing his
assistant, who was wigwagging a message for one of
our land columns, from the deck of the Spaulding, to
a distant point on the shore, I heard the officer utter
a sharp exclamation, and, throwing my field glasses
up, I saw a group of horsemen surround the distant
signal officer and take him off with them in the woods
toward Wilmington. They were Wheeler's Confed-
erate Cavalry. About forty years later, at a social
party in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where we both had
been living and meeting for many years, unconscious
of previous acquaintance, some remark about the war
led to the following dialogue. I asked Mr. Nicholas
Rice what branch of the service he had been in. He
207
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
said, “In the signal corps.” “With what army?”
“With the Army of the Ohio, in Tennessee.”
“Then,” I said, “You must have been in the battle
of Franklin.” “Yes,” he replied, “I was there.”
“Did you come east with that army for the North
Carolina campaign P’’ “Yes, I was signal officer at
General Schofield's headquarters.” “Not on the
Spaulding 2’” “Yes, on the Spaulding, in Cape Fear
River. Where and what were you?” “I was cipher
operator to General Schofield. By the way, I saw one
of your men captured on shore while taking a mes-
sage from one of your men on deck.” “Yes,” he
replied, “I was sending it at the time.” Reader, you
may imagine the pleasure of such meetings and coin-
cidences as this.
Fort Anderson, for days under terrific naval fire
from the river, and outflanked and cut off in the rear
by our land force, surrendered. I went ashore and
chatted with prisoners. They had no rations in their
haversacks, if my recollection is correct, except
“cornfield peas,” but these little black-eyed peas are
good nourishment. Those gallant Virginians and
North Carolinians seemed undismayed by all they
had suffered, and spoke calmly of the fortune of war
which had now made them prisoners. It was amaz-
ing to see what comparatively little damage had been
done, and how few casualties had resulted from the
terrible bombardment I had witnessed. The fort had
been constructed by the Confederates of logs and earth
208
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and had bomb-proofs which seemed impenetrable to
the fiercest fire, while repaired and defended by stout
hearts, unless completely demolished. If memory
serves me they had electric wires from Fort Anderson
connected to explode floating torpedoes in the river,
and these our people compelled the prisoners to take
up. Not far from Fort Anderson, which was on the
right bank of Cape Fear River, were the ruins of an
old church which marked, if I mistake not, the site
of an ancient village. (Was it Brunswick or New
Brunswick?). A curious feature of the ruins was a
tall and graceful sapling springing from the top of the
thick stone archway, and waving its graceful branches
in the air. Some bird, or the listless wind, had
dropped a seed there on that high wall, and time and
sun and dew had made the little shrub to grow and
triumph over ruin and decay, as whole forests were to
grow and thrive over the graves of combatants in this
sad strife.
At Wilmington, General Schofield gave me the
hardest problem, I thought, that ever confronted a
boy. He told me to run a line down the river to
Fort Fisher at once. I reminded the General that
there was not a foot of wire, a spike, an insulator, nor
a lineman with that part of the army. Richard hav-
ing gone to New Berne, I was the only representative
of the corps present at the moment. He said I should
take a regiment if necessary, take down the commer-
209
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
cial wires south and string them to Fort Fisher.
There were no horses with the army at Wilmington.
I took a company of infantry, got ladders, carts and
mules from the negroes and went to work. It rained
incessantly. All my soldiers got sick from wet and
from eating sweet potatoes; but I got the line run
down the river half-way to Fort Fisher when Richard
arrived, with good old Mackintosh and his builders,
who relieved me.
210
CHAPTER XIII.
WAR DIARY RESUMED.
T Sea, Monday, February 6, 1865.-We started
from Hampton Roads at 4 A.M. Paid $20 for
four days' board for John and self. Weather a little
rough. Part of a brigade aboard. Many contributed
their breakfasts to Neptune. Concluded to hold on
to mine, as I had paid well for it. I think we are
bound for Fort Fisher instead of New Berne. I very
much fear Major Eckert will be too late in sending
me men and material for this coming campaign.
At Sea, Tuesday, February 7th.-The sea is a little
smoother. I find we are going to Fort Fisher.
Dreary prospect, as there is nothing there in the way
of shelter. Colonel Wherry, chief of staff, says one of
us must remain at headquarters as cipher man. Sorry
we cannot be together. I must leave John for the
present and go to Beaufort to see how telegraph mat-
ters stand there and at New Berne. General Scho-
field's staff consists of Colonel Wherry, chief of staff;
Major Campbell, assistant adjutant-general; Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Schofield, chief of artillery; Lieutenant-
Colonel Hartsuff, inspector general; Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Boyd, chief quartermaster; Dr. Shippen, surgeon;
Major Latta, chief commissary; Captain Lord, aid-de-
211
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
camp; Captain Twining, and, I suppose we might
say, ourselves, if the military telegraph had the recog-
nition it should have, and must get in future warfare.
Fort Fisher, Wednesday, February 8th.-Arrived at
Fort Fisher, running through Porter's fleet of iron-
clads. The weather too rough to land to-night. The
shore presents a dreary prospect. In front of Fort
Fisher it is strewn with the wrecks of blockade run-
ners. Stern proofs of the fortunes of war : After
crossing the wide ocean they were wrecked only a few
miles from their destination. Several vessels in,
loaded with troops.
Thursday, February 9th.-Colonel Dodge came
aboard; also Captain Ainsworth, who was captain of
the port at Fort Monroe. I was very glad to see them
and they appeared no less so to see me. General
Schofield went ashore; also Colonel Wherry. I went
on board the Hancox with Ainsworth and Dodge, and
found my old friend, Richard Wall, there. Also found
two telegraph registers in good repair, which they
had captured from the Confederates. Left John
aboard the Atlantic. He is impatient to get ashore.
Landed at Fort Fisher. Find it a very strong work.
Supper on board the Spaulding.
Friday, February 10th.-We commence operations
against Wilmington this A.M. The navy moves up
with flood tide about 10 o'clock. John came aboard
the Spaulding, which is to be headquarters, with our
baggage, at 12 M. 2 P.M., nothing done yet. I left
212
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
with Colonel Dodge to go to Beaufort. Got aboard
the Russia, a captured fast blockade runner, which is
to take us to Beaufort. 9 P.M., still at Fort Fisher.
I fear we will not get off to-night. Supper aboard
the Russia.
Saturday, February 11th.-8 A.M., still at Fort
Fisher. Colonel Dodge not ready yet. Navy firing
on Fort Anderson up Cape Fear River, half-way to
Wilmington. General Terry pushed forward a little,
capturing one hundred prisoners after a sharp skir-
mish. John is having a good view of all this from the
Spaulding, which has followed up the river. More
troops arrived to-day, preventing Colonel Dodge from
going to Beaufort. It is most exasperating to have
no telegraph material here.
Cape Fear River, Sunday, February 12th.-More
troops arrived: General Cox's Twenty-third Corps of
the Army of the Ohio. I came aboard the Spaulding
at 5 P.M. At 7 P.M. General Schofield and staff
started out on an expedition to throw a pontoon across
the Cape Fear River, but the weather proved too
rough for the attempt to-night. John is happy. I
am worrying about men and material for our lines.
Monday, February 13th.-On the Spaulding.
Colonel Dodge promised to send me to-day, but failed.
Preparations to advance on both sides of the river.
Tuesday, February 14th.-Same conditions.
Fort Fisher, Wednesday, February 15th.-Weather
very rough. A violent rainstorm in the morning,
213
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
clearing up about noon. Dodge too busy moving
troops to spare me a steamer.
Thursday, February 16th.-One division sent from
Fort Fisher to Smithville. Gunboats opened on Fort
Anderson. Looks like an advance on both sides of
the river and an attempt to flank Fort Anderson.
Mackintosh, my foreman, arrived with dispatches,
etc., from New Berne at 6 P.M. He looks well.
Office U. S. Military Telegraph,
War Department,
Washington, D. C., Feb'y 8, 1865.
RICHARD O’BRIEN,
Chief Operator Department of North Carolina.
SIR: Mr. R. B. Vanderhoef, acting chief operator,
District of North Carolina, at New Berne, has been
directed to turn over to you, all men, material, etc.,
under his charge, and to report to you for duty.
Mr. Vanderhoef has rendered himself very efficient
during his temporary charge, and I desire that you
will treat him with every respect, as it is probable
that, with his change of position, he may feel some
embarrassment.
I have directed Mackintosh to go to New Berne
with ninety miles of material, where he will await
your orders. In any event, that will be the best point
from which to construct a line. Should our forces
capture Wilmington the line can easily be extended
to Goldsboro, at which place you intersect the rebel
wire to Wilmington. At New Berne, too, the rail-
road furnishes additional means of transportation,
while from the mouth of Cape Fear River there will
be great difficulty on account of transportation, and
the river affords a means of speedy communication
between the advance of the force and the mouth of
214
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
the river. Besides this, there can be no great neces-
sity for a telegraph line from Fort Fisher up the
Peninsula, as that place cannot be used for a base of
supplies, and, if Wilmington is taken, communication
by way of Goldsboro will be much more desirable.
If General Schofield asks to have any line con-
structed, please present these my views.
Instruct John in the working of the new cipher, so
that when necessary to be absent from headquarters
in the discharge of your duty he can be left with the
cipher.
Three operators left New York to-day with orders
to report to Mr. Vanderhoef at New Berne. They
are not first-class men, but will, I think, be able to
get along very nicely. -
Please advise me frequently of your movements and
wants. Every effort will be made to keep you sup-
plied with all that is necessary.
Mackintosh takes down sixty cups of portable bat-
tery, similar to what is used in Army of Potomac,
where it has given full satisfaction.
Very respectfully, etc.,
THOS. T. EcKERT,
Major and Assistant Superintendent.
At Sea, Friday, February 17th.-Went ashore to
get transportation for Mackintosh and took him with
me aboard the Perit, which got under way at 10:30
A.M. Fine morning. About 2 P.M. it began to blow
and towards 7 a perfect storm was upon us. The
steamer, having no ballast, rolled fearfully, breaking
the stove and a good many dishes, etc. I got tired of
rolling about, so tumbled into a berth and was soon
215
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
as comfortably asleep as if my mother had rocked me
to slumber. Came near falling out several times.
New Berne, North Carolina, Saturday, February
18th.-Arriving off the bar at Beaufort, North Caro-
lina, at 5 A.M. At 7 “Mack’ and I went aboard the
gunboat Montgomery in a small boat, through a
rough sea. Was very kindly received by the officers;
took breakfast with them and came ashore on the tug
Goliath at 1 P.M. Started from Morehead City on 2
P.M. train and arrived at New Berne at 5 P.M. Called
on General Palmer, commanding here, at 6, and deliv-
ered General Schofield's dispatches. Delivered those
for Colonel Wright, who is in charge of military rail-
roads, at 6:30. Colonel Wright wants a second wire
put up for exclusive railroad use. * .
New Berne, Sunday, February 19th-This line
extends from Morehead City to New Berne, Newport,
Bachelor's Creek, General Palmer's advance post; all
on the North Carolina Railroad. Operators, some of
whom have just arrived for me: Vanderhoef, Cham-
berlin, H. K. Clarke, Clapp, T. S. Clark, Powers,
Smith, Brannan, and Raymond. I went to church,
and walked around New Berne. Find it quite a nice
little town. - -
Monday, February 20th.-Saw General Palmer,
who gave me an order for a store-room for material.
Received a letter from Captain Whitney, Washing-
ton, about material on the way. I sent report to
Major Eckert, and wrote Nichols and James. Report
216
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
that Fort Anderson is ours. Took a long ride over
the lines on “Lucy.” (Mackintosh had shipped her
down from Fort Monroe with him. J.)
New Berne, Tuesday, February 21st.—Material on
hand: At New Berne, two combination instruments,
ninety miles material, sixty cups of battery, three
new Clark relays, three sections of pony battery;
Morehead City, one combination instrument; New-
port, one relay; Bachelor's Creek, one combination
instrument.
New Berne, Wednesday, February 22nd.—Planning
for the telegraph campaign from here and from Fort
Fisher and Wilmington, when taken, towards Golds-
boro. Received the following letter from John :
About ten miles above Fort Fisher,
February 21, 1865.
DEAR RICHARD :
Fort Anderson flanked and captured with ten heavy
guns. I asked Colonel Wherry to let me go for that
construction party, but he thought I could not be
spared. Am getting along very well, messing with
the signal men on hospital rations, which are better
than other rations. If you send to Norfolk I wish
you would get “Pet” for me. A horse could not be
gotten here. I think we will be ashore soon. The
Spaulding is filling up with wounded and has very
little coal. General Cox captured 275 Confederates
yesterday. There has been a fire in view all day, by
some supposed to be cotton burning at Wilmington.
Our troops are within four miles of that place. I
gave those captured telegraph instruments to Ains-
worth. Write to me first chance. “73,” JoHN.
217
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Thursday, February 23rd.—Steamer Russia, from
Fort Fisher, with dispatches for me from General
Schofield. Received them at 5:30 P.M. Orders to
take men and material to Fort Fisher to run lines to
Wilmington.
Wilmington, February 22, 1865.
DEAR RICHARD :
We got in here to-day. Nice town. I went first to
Confederate headquarters; captured some telegraph
instruments and batteries. They were using bichro-
mate solution. General Schofield wants a line to Fort
Fisher at once. No transportation. No tools. Will
start with a company of infantry and do the best I
can. Please hurry Mackintosh or other linemen here
quick. “73,” JoHN.
Morehead City, North Carolina, Friday, February
24th.-Left New Berne at 8 A.M. with Mackintosh's
building party, three operators, Clarke, Clapp and
Brannan ; three relays, thirty cups of battery, etc.
Arrived at Morehead City at 12 M. Found Russia
ashore, having been blown there by a gale at 10 A.M.
Russia off at 5 P.M. Got material aboard the Shepley,
but the captain failed to get it on the Russia, the sea
being very rough. I slept on the Russia. Heard
Wilmington was taken on the morning of 22nd.
At Sea, Saturday, February 25th.-Did not get
material on the Russia until 8 A.M. The captain
said we would have to lie outside the bar at Fort
Fisher to-night, and would make nothing by starting
until evening. Wanted to coal up. Left Morehead City
at 3 P.M. Anchored at 1 A.M., having run aground.
218
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Wilmington, North Carolina, Sunday, February
26th.-Arrived at Fort Fisher 8 A.M. and Wilming-
ton 11 A.M. Sent order to Major Eckert for one
hundred miles of material, twenty operators, twenty
instruments, eight construction men, tools, etc.
Monday, February 27th.-John is out with a com-
pany of soldiers trying to string a line to Fort Fisher.
Started “Mack” and party after him at 11 A.M. Started
Wiggins and four men to build lines at New Berne.
Russia left with my dispatches at 3 P.M.
Tuesday, February 28th.—Quite sick. Took medi-
cine. Arranged with Mrs. B to take charge of
our mess. She is very poor, but appears respectable.
She has had to support herself and four children for
the past four years.
Wednesday, March 1, ’65.—Feel better. At 1 P.M.
heard from “Mack,” two miles north of Fort Fisher.
He hoped to get through by to-night. Sent cipher
message to General Sherman. A great number of
Andersonville prisoners coming in. They present
a horrid appearance. Half-starved, sickly, filthy,
wretched beings. They must have suffered fearfully.
Thursday, March 2nd.—“Mack” completed the
line to Cape Fear Point. Had to haul poles five miles
in deep sand. I sent the steamer Lady Lang for him
and party. She got aground ten miles above Fort
Fisher. Had to go to bed in the afternoon, I felt so
weak.
219
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Friday, March 3rd.—“Mack” and party up at noon.
Brought two registers, one relay and some telegraph
material. (Captured. J.) I sent Major Eckert letter
of explanation, and Chandler monthly report. Line
to Fort Fisher is twenty miles. Sent cipher to Gen-
eral Sherman, supposed to be near or at Fayetteville.
Confined to bed. Very weak. Not much pain. John
wrote James and mother.
Saturday, March 4th.-Had wire run through the
city. Difficult job on account of the great number of
shade trees. Got up at 1 P.M.; took more medicine at
3. John sent cipher to General Sherman. General
Schofield told John to be prepared to go with him on
Monday, as I am sick.
Sunday, March 5th.-I am somewhat better. John
went to church.
220
CHAPTER XIV.
EXCHANGING CIPHERS WITH GENERAL SHERMAN.
HAVE italicised the statements in Richard's diary,
that we sent ciphers from General Schofield at
Wilmington, to Sherman, on March 1st, 3rd, and 4th,
because in his memoirs General Sherman does not
mention them, but says: “On the 8th of March
reached Laurel Hill, North Carolina. Satisfied that
our troops must be in Wilmington, I determined to
send a message there; I called for my man, Corporal
Pike, * * * * * and instructed him, in dis-
guise, to work his way to the Cape Fear River;
secure a boat and float down to Wilmington to convey
a letter, and to report our approach. I also called on
General Howard for another volunteer, and he
brought me a very clever sergeant. * * * * *
Each of these got off during the night by separate
routes, bearing the following message, in cipher:
“In the Field, Laurel Hill, North Carolina.
‘Wednesday, March 8, 1865.
‘COMMANDING OFFICER,
‘Wilmington, North Carolina.
‘We are marching for Fayetteville. Will be there
Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and will then march
for Goldsboro. If possible, send a boat up Cape Fear
River, and have word conveyed to General Schofield
221
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
that I expect to meet him about Goldsboro. We are
all well and have done finely. The rains make our
roads difficult and may delay us about Fayetteville,
in which case I would like to have some bread, sugar
and coffee. We have abundance of all else. I expect
to reach Goldsboro by the 20th instant.
‘W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.’”
The ciphers may have miscarried, but the General's
memoirs, written from memory, may cover a slight
lapse excusable and perhaps inevitable in that mode of
writing history. Was he not “satisfied our troops were
in Wilmington,” because our ciphers had reached
him and told him so 2 On page 295 he describes,
dramatically, the actual opening of communication
between Schofield's army and his by boat, as if it was
the first time he had heard from us, but I have still in
my possession a cipher from him to General Terry, in
which he acknowledges the receipt of one from us at
an earlier date. His description of the arrival of our
boat is so dramatic that I will transcribe it, and will
then insert the cipher referred to, with its translation,
to show that he had previously heard from us. Wade
Hampton, with his Confederate cavalry, had broken
across the line of Sherman's left rear to make junc-
tion with General Hardee in Fayetteville, “captured
the house in which General Kilpatrick and the
brigade-commander, General Spencer, were, and for a
time held possession of the camp and artillery of the
brigade,” but the Confederates were driven off with
222
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
“Kilpatrick's private horses and a couple hundred
prisoners,” and Hampton had then joined Hardee,
covered his retreat from Fayetteville across the Cape
Fear River and burned the bridge; Sherman then
occupied Fayetteville, and says: “Sunday, March
12th, was a day of Sabbath stillness in Fayetteville.
The people generally attended their churches, for they
were a very pious people, descended in a large meas-
ure from the old Scotch Covenanters, and our men,
too, were resting from the toils and labors of six
weeks as hard marching as ever fell to the lot of sol-
diers. Shortly after noon was heard in the distance
the shrill whistle of a steamboat, which came nearer
and nearer, and soon a shout, long and continuous,
was raised down by the river, which spread farther
and farther, and we all felt that it meant a messenger
from home. The effect was electric, and no one can
realize the feeling unless, like us, he has been for
months cut off from all communication with friends.
* * * * * But in a very few minutes came up
through the town, to the arsenal on the plateau behind,
a group of officers, among whom was a large, florid
sea-faring man, named Ainsworth, bearing a small
mail-bag from General Terry, at Wilmington, having
left at 2 P.M. the day before. Our couriers had got
through safe from Laurel Hill, and this was the
prompt reply. As in the case of our former march
from Atlanta, intense anxiety had been felt for our
safety. :k >k >k xk >|< j}
223
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Sherman's cipher to Terry of March 11th acknowl-
edging receipt of ours of 7th. -
This cipher was written, as usual with those en-
trusted to scouts, on tissue paper, for convenience of
being secreted, or, if necessary, swallowed or destroyed
in case of the bearer being captured. It is written in
ink in the beautiful handwriting of Charles G. Eddy,
Sherman's cipher operator; and, of course, shows no
indication, until deciphered, of place, date, or name of
the General sending or addressed. It read as follows:
RICHARD O’BRIEN:
Enemy warm victim time I we with consent arse
done pike Haddock my cabbage yacht Summer will
just Gardner La Fayette Humphrey tulip ward plum
wedlock calculate I we amount I I calendar spit
negroes Flora Temple country welch of as spit tulip
yacht vast tulip yacht can wallace a roland cushing
rye whiskey for received wherry and we on arrival
warner and the E. rated the have may hows Mr Big
that tulip pike thing this and well the of for wafer
sprague Fayette have enoch Jones will yacht we with
cape and the will are of will want as as and having
the goods Humphrey number Ed as lie damage a son
weather you the pewter vomiting talbot Ter to spark
despatch Jordan the pocket tulip the Fay quivered
irreparable utter or finish large to in through a refu-
gees possible possible every quack stores all strike
time start fear Nelson entered I Libby prison spunky
your pike burning will young by about have raven
mal at walnut a send all done. CHAS. G. EDDY.
173 words.
The first word. “Enemy,” means ten columns; the
next word, “warm,” means ten lines, and the third
224
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
word, “victim,” means six lines; so this message
should be written for translation in ten columns of
sixteen lines, beginning at the bottom of the fifth
column and writing up to the top, dropping a word
there (and one at the end of each succeeding column),
then down the first column, up the tenth, down..the
sixth, up the fourth, down the second, up the ninth,
down the eighth, up the third and down the seventh.
This cipher, when written into the frame of ten
columns and sixteen lines in this way, can then be
read from left to right in the ordinary way after the
cipher expert has substituted for certain arbitrary
words, as “Flora,” the real names he knows they
stand for, as “Major-General W. T. Sherman.” The
following is the translation of the preceding cipher
dispatch : e
Fayetteville, 6 P.M., March 11th.
RICHARD O'BRIEN, for Major-General Terry,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
I have just received your dispatch of the 7th. We
entered Fayetteville to-day, Hardee retreating east-
ward with 20,000 men and burning the bridge across
Cape Fear River. We will cross the river to-morrow
and start for Goldsboro on Tuesday. You can calcu-
late the time of my arrival by the weather. I will
strike the Wilmington Railroad about Faison. We
are all well, and have destroyed a vast amount of
stores and done the enemy irreparable damage. I will
destroy this arsenal utterly. I want everything con-
centrated at or as near Goldsboro as possible,
with the railroad finished as near as possible. We
225
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
have a large number of negroes and refugees that I
may send to Wilmington.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
Having a big time. How's all in God's country?
CHAS. G. EDDY.
In addition to General Sherman's own statement,
in his memoirs, that on March 8th he was “satisfied
that our troops must be in Wilmington,” and his
acknowledgment, in his cipher of March 11th above
translated, of the receipt of ours of March 7th, I quote
from General H. W. Slocum’s “Sherman's March,
from Savannah to Bentonville,” Century Magazine,
Vol. 34, p. 933, to show that Sherman may have
received some of our ciphers: “Three or four days
prior to our arrival at Fayetteville, General Sherman
had received information that Wilmington was in
possession of General Terry, and had sent two messen-
gers with letters informing Terry when he would
probably be at Fayetteville.”
Cushing, the dare-devil of the navy, who had blown
up the Confederate ironclad Albemarle, had been
operating in Cape Fear River, under Admiral Porter,
with us in this campaign. He had penetrated the
Confederate camp at Smithville by night, carrying off
the commandant a prisoner in his launch ; had
buoyed the channel of the river under fire, dodging
Confederate armed boats and batteries; had run up to
or past Wilmington before we captured the place, and,
altogether, had been doing those extraordinary feats
226
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
of daring, some of which I witnessed, that have made
his fame unique and immortal. Now, my strong con-
viction is that Cushing took a scout or two, with our
ciphers of March 1st, 3rd and 4th, up the Cape Fear
River from Wilmington and started them for Sher-
man about those dates, and that one or more of them
reached General Sherman before he reached Fayette-
ville.
Another curious feature of General Sherman's
memoirs in this connection is that, in them, he seems
to have overlooked the fact that General Schofield
was in command of the Army of the Ohio, over 30,000
men, including Terry's Tenth Corps of 8,000, at this
time, and that the operations resulting in the capture
of Wilmington, in which the Twenty-third Corps,
under General Cox, took at least as great a part as
did the Tenth, were entirely under General Schofield's
direction.
I account for this lapse of memory on General
Sherman's part by the fact that after taking Wil-
mington General Schofield went from there on March
6th, as noted in Richard's diary, farther on, to New
Berne (where Cox had been sent by sea with the
Twenty-third Corps), to prepare the advance of Cox's
column, with Palmer's force, from that point toward
Kinston and Goldsboro, leaving Terry at Wilmington
to open direct communication by the Cape Fear River
with Sherman on his arrival at Fayetteville, and then
to move from Wilmington with the Tenth Corps,
227
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
synchronously with Cox's column, so as to converge
with it on a point between Kinston and Goldsboro.
Thus Sherman, on arriving at Fayetteville, where
Captain Ainsworth reached him March 12th, as
described, found that General Terry was in command
at Wilmington, and, very likely, assumed that the
hero who had so gallantly taken Fort Fisher had also
taken Wilmington. Sherman seems to have been
unable, ever after, to correct this impression, which
extended to Slocum and other of his lieutenants,
although Schofield, with the Army of the Ohio, was
closely associated with him from this time on until
the surrender of Johnston and the final close of the
war. This lapse was, perhaps, less excusable because
the memoirs were written when Sherman was Gen-
eral-in-Chief, and had at hand all the data and facili-
ties at Washington that could be needed to write cor-
rect history.
I do not wish for a moment to detract from the
credit due General Terry. His assault and capture of
Fort Fisher, after Butler's failure, was one of the keys
to the campaign of the Carolinas and ranks him
among the bravest of the brave; but the successful
working out of the North Carolina campaign, like the
smooth strategy of a game of chess, from the time of
the arrival of the Army of the Ohio until the end,
was due to the genius and energy of General Scho-
field and his lieutenants, and, in my observation, the
most conspicuous and efficient member of that sol-
228
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
dierly group, both in the river campaign and in
directing the succeeding operations from New Berne,
in which I was in position to see them all, was the
gallant chief of staff, Colonel William M. Wherry.
This brave officer, who had already been brevetted for
conspicuous gallantry on Western fields, appeared to
be ubiquitous in moving the heads of columns at
every front, and in inspiring energy and enthusiasm
wherever he appeared throughout the campaign.
Had the war lasted longer he would, I believe, have
undoubtedly commanded large bodies of troops, and
have ranked with the more distinguished Generals for
energy and success. In the war with Spain, the last
I heard of him, and it was from his own men, was
that at San Juan Hill, as commandant of the Second
Regular Infantry, Brigadier-General Wherry was dan-
gerously exposing himself at the head of his regi-
1ment.
Wilmington, Monday, March 6, 1865.-John started
to-night with General Schofield and staff in the little
side-wheel steamer, Eliza Hancox, for New Berne.
Tuesday, March 7th.-Got the Bank of Wilming-
ton as office; Major Tucker, paymaster, moving out.
Moved office in ; Loomis, detailed operator, reported
from Van Dusen's department.
Wednesday, March 8th.-Received from Major
Eckert three boxes, containing one dozen clips, one
dozen books, four Clark relays, two pocket relays,
stationery, etc., per steamer Ezeret.
229
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
[Rec'd in cipher, by steamer, at Fort Fisher, and tele-
graphed from there.]
Meze, Berne, March 7, 1865.
RICHARD O'BRIEN, Chief Operator,
Wilmington.
We ran into a gale soon after leaving Fort Fisher;
waves washed the deck; the boat tossed tremendously,
and even the crew were seasick. Very cold, driving
spume and rain. Looked like the Hancox was bound
for Davy Jones' locker, but she weathered the storm
better, perhaps, than a bigger boat. I laid over the
boiler and kept half dry and half warm. Got into
Morehead City safe, and came up here by train. The
General will remain here two or three days to organ-
ize the advance of Cox's column from here. As any
ciphers from Sherman must come to you at Wilming-
ton and none are expected here just now, I got per-
mission through Colonel Wherry to start at once to
the front, where the end of our wire is with General
Palmer, nineteen miles out from here. No builders
or tools yet arrived. Shall have to get soldiers to
run wire, somehow, if we advance before Mackintosh
comes. These operators on this line seem all fine
fellows, but very unequal in operating. Some are
first-class, but the “Morse” of some of them would
astonish the boys at “U. S.” May I shift them in
your name, as I think best, when we advance?
“73,” JoHN.
Wilmington, Thursday, March 9th.-Opened office
at General Terry's advance, ten miles from Wilming-
ton on Weldon Railroad. Sent Loomis there.
Friday, March 10th.-Sent “Mack’ and party to
take down the Masonboro Inlet wire. Drew rations.
Got an old horse, old saddle and old bridle from Cap-
230
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
tain Gordon, quartermaster. Gave receipt in my own
name. Sent one of “Mack’s ” men with ten miles
material, two Clark and one pocket relay, to John at
New Berne. Drew forage for the balance of the
month.
Saturday, March 11th. — Received ciphers from
General Sherman. He will reach Fayetteville to-day
or to-morrow and expects to be in Goldsboro on the
20th. Sent copy of cipher to John at New Berne for
General Schofield, and copy to General Grant, City
Point, and Major Eckert, Washington. General
Terry told me he would try to send up supplies for
Sherman by the Cape Fear River but for the fact that
the Confederates have obstructed it. Wrote James.
Received letters from Nichols and Charley. Tele-
graphed Major Eckert for another good foreman.
John must need one badly for the advance from New
Berne. Received cipher from him from General
Schofield, stating the enemy have checked his advance
near Kinston, North Carolina. I doubt that he can
do much till Sherman gets up.
231
CHAPTER xv.
BATTLE OF KINSTON.—GUM swamp—I TELEGRAPH IN
BATTLE-GENERAL COx THANKS US ON THE
FIELD–JUNCTION WITH SHERMAN
AT GOLDSBORO.
[Rec'd in cipher by steamer.]
- Front, Gum Swamp, March 1tſ)h, 1865.
RICH'D O'BRIEN, Chief Operator, Wilmington.
With our brave foreman, Charlie Wiggins, and his
three linemen and a company of infantry to handle
wire and poles, I got the line run ahead of General
Palmer's pickets on the railroad, on the 7th. General
Cox had up Carter's Division on the left of Palmer's
nearly through this swamp; with Ruger's Division a
few miles in our rear on the edge of this horrible
swamp to support either wing as needed. I left Clark
with instrument on wire with Ruger. On the morn-
ing of the 8th the Johnnies attacked Carter's Division
on our left in great force, capturing a regiment or two
of Upham's Brigade at once. The signal men who
had stations with Carter and me gave quick notice,
and I had Generals Cox and Schofield, at New Berne,
on the wire in a few minutes. They brought rein-
forcements up, while Cox ordered a brigade of
Palmer's to the left from here, and took up Ruger's
reserves. The “rebs” were checked, and prisoners
taken say that Bragg, with Stewart's and Lee's Corps,
of Hood's Army of Tennessee, is with Hoke, in front
of this column, to dispute the crossing of the Neuse
into Kinston.
On the morning of the 9th General J. D. Cox, com-
manding Twenty-third Corps and this column, came
232
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REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
with his staff, all mounted, to my post, which is a
railroad tie in this swamp (worse than the Dismal
Swamp), to thank you for the prompt service here the
day before, which he says was very timely and
important. I fear the General and staff, who all
looked very splendid, must have felt disappointed in
the appearance of your little brother; muddy, and
exhausted, at the end of this string. I have John A.
Raymond with me here, not because he is a good
operator, but because, alone at his station in the woods,
before I came out, he was attacked by two guerrillas,
and captured one of them. You know that he is a
detailed soldier from a New Jersey regiment and has
his musket and bayonet with him. So, while he
looks out for bushwhackers, I hold this instrument to
my ear night and day. This swamp is full of snakes
and bugs. There's a jigger here that bores into you
and, when you pull him, leaves his head in your flesh.
No trouble to keep awake nights with 'em.
“73,” JoHN.
Wilmington, Sunday, March 12th–Our boat
reached Fayetteville all right; found the Confederate
gunboat Chickamauga sunk in the channel, but passed
round it. Sherman's army in excellent spirits. The
Confederates, under Hardee, on retreating from the
place, burned the bridges and moved toward Golds-
boro.
Monday, March 13th.-Received two ciphers from
Sherman's army. My old friend, Captain Ainsworth,
went up Cape Fear River and worked his way, in a
tug-boat, to General Sherman at Fayetteville. He
received $2,000 worth of cotton from the General, as
a present, for his daring. Sherman will destroy the
233
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
arsenal and all Confederate military property at Fay-
etteville and march for Goldsboro, where he expects
to be on the 20th inst. I sent out a party to take
down the Masonboro line. Sent ten cavalry to pro-
tect them. Have collected, to date, about thirteen
miles of wire and three hundred yards of cable. Built
thirty miles of line from Wilmington. Found two
Mexican saddles and bridles, one for John and one for
self. -
Tuesday, March 14th.-Received letters from Major
Eckert, ordering Charles G. Eddy, cipher operator to
General Sherman, to send all the operators of that
army to report to me for duty. Forwarded copies of
all the letters to Eddy, by boat going up to Fayette-
ville with supplies to General Sherman. Received
message from John reporting the arrival at New
Berne of Joe Finnegan and thirteen linemen, two car-
boys of acid, etc. John has, with a company of
soldiers, built the line up to near thirty miles from
New Berne on the 13th. Replied by steamer Russia,
ordering Finnegan to report to John, and take charge
of all that building party until “Mack” arrives.
Received message from Major Eckert, dated 9th, say-
ing six operators and seventy-five miles of material
Sent me to New Berne.
[Rec'd in cipher.] wº
Front, March 13, 1865.
RICH'D O'BRIEN, Chief Operator, Wilmington.
Skirmishing kept up on the 9th ; and on the 10th
Bragg made another attempt on our left, but was
234
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
beaten off. Our loss, so far, over 1,200. Enemy's
supposed about the same. General Schofield is up.
We had the wire strung on the railroad a mile ahead
of the troops before they advanced this morning. I
am a mile from Neuse River. Colonel Wherry has
just put the only skiff found on the river at my dis-
posal to take the wire across: bridge destroyed. Con-
federate ironclad said to be sunk at Kinston. Hope
to be over and probably reach Kinston to-morrow.
Finnegan has received an outfit of material at New
Berne, but has no repair tools. Please let me know
what you get from the north so I may know what to
ask for. General Eastman wants another operator at
Morehead City, and others wanted along the railroad.
I must ask you to give me one more operator here at
the front when men arrive. Work is hard, but Ray-
mond and I will do it until “M. C.” and other points
are supplied. How many operators do you wish kept
at New Berne? I got a poor horse from quartermaster,
and we just help ourselves to hard tack from the
boxes on the road. - “73,” JoHN.
Wilmington, Wednesday, March 15th.-Sherman
moves on Goldsboro from Fayetteville to-day. I had
all my telegraph material, baggage, horse, and men
shipped aboard the steamer Escort to join General
Schofield at New Berne, leaving a construction party
with Terry's column. The steamer will leave at day-
light to-morrow. Saw a Southern operator from
Columbia, South Carolina, who came with General
Sherman to Fayetteville. He describes the burning
of Columbia.
Thursday, March 16th.—(Here follows a harrowing
picture of devastation at Columbia, which I omit, as
235
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
neither Richard nor I saw it. To transcribe the oper-
ator's story would only revive harsh criticism and
controversy which are, I hope, dead and buried. The
only gleam of comfort in it was the statement that
Sherman left the homeless women arms to defend
themselves, and a large number of cattle for their
subsistence. J.) -
New Berne, Friday, March 17th.-Arrived at New
Berne with my party.
E. P. Wortman, C. L. DeForrest, C. Gifford, and
G. C. Felton, operators, arrived at Morehead City and
reported for duty. Placed Wortman and Felton at
the railroad office at New Berne, and sent Chamber-
lin to Bachelor's Creek. -
The line is O. K. to Kinston. John lost one soldier,
on the 14th, drowned, while getting the wire across
Neuse River before Kinston. Received three sets of
repair tools from Major Eckert.
New Berne, Saturday, March 18th.-Saw Colonel
Wright, superintendent of military railroads, and
showed him Major Eckert's order (for coöperation),
endorsed by the Secretary of War. -
Started “Mack” to the front with building party
and fifteen miles of material. Started DeForrest and
Gifford, operators, to the front.
New Berne, Sunday, March 19th.-Went to church.
Five operators arrived on evening train from More-
head City. Sent four to the front.
236
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Cipher from Major Eckert, telling me if any oper-
ator refuses to go where I wish, or is inclined to give
trouble, not to hesitate to discharge him, or take such
action as may be necessary. I replied by cipher from
Portsmouth. -
Received from Major Eckert three boxes contain-
ing five sets tools and five relays.
New Berne, Monday, March 20th.-General Scho-
field and his army advanced from Kinston this morn-
ing. John went with him, and has a saddle horse, an
ambulance with tools, Colin Kinney, lineman, and a
detail of ten cavalrymen as escort and messengers.
He is to get on the wire when he can, but keep with-
in reach of Colonel Wherry, for ciphers.
Line built ten miles beyond Kinston. Impossible
to get even a cart to work with. Line broken at
Neuse River bridge by boats and repaired. John
camps to-night on the end of the line.
New Berne, Tuesday, March 21, 1865.-Could get
no teams or even carts at Kinston. Got a hand-car
and a push-car from Colonel Wright and had Mackin-
tosh to start Finnegan with ten repairers from Kins-
ton to repair the railroad wire to Goldsboro, sixty
guards to follow. It is evident that neither the rail-
road nor wire have been so badly damaged by the
enemy beyond Kinston as they were this side.
Though badly hampered by the late arrival of men
and material, we may be able to meet Schofield and
Sherman with the wire at Goldsboro.
237
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
New Berne, Wednesday, March 22nd.—The line is
O. K. to Goldsboro. Schofield's troops reached there
late last night. John is on the wire there, and
reports our line by the Weldon railroad from Wil-
mington is O. K., with Terry's column well up from
there.
[Cipher.]
Goldsboro, North Carolina, March 22, 1865.
RICH'D O'BRIEN, Chief Operator, New Berne.
Woke at daylight yesterday to find the army gone,
and only ten cavalrymen to protect me in case of a
raid by Wheeler's Cavalry in Schofield's rear. Was
in doubt whether I ought to stay by the wire or by
the General. Decided to find out from Colonel
Wherry. Sent “Curley” and “Shorty,” who are
best mounted, ahead on a dead run. They overtook
the General and got back in good time with orders
for me to abandon the wire and come on to the front.
It was hard getting through, the troops blocking the
road, so I left Colin with the ambulance, and, by
detours through woods and fields, got in here late last
night. I must have a better horse than this if we go
further. I abandoned the poor devil, utterly ex-
hausted, yesterday afternoon, in a field, to rest or die;
taking “Shorty’s ” horse and letting him wait for the
ambulance; and what do you think?—this morning
here comes the poor, one-eyed brute moping in here
with some bummers, loaded down with plunder. So
I thought, if he could stand that, he deserved a better
fate, and I resumed possession of him. .
Great guns ! think of getting circuit from you, and
from Wilmington, on both these wires on our arrival
here ! What would Doren and Eckert say to that?
Schofield was very anxious yesterday until he got in
238
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<<rº. * 2°º-
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MAP OF A PORTION OF NORTH CAROLINA, SHOWING NEW BERNE, GOLDSBOROUGH AND RAI,ĘIGH



REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
touch with Terry's column from Wilmington at Cox
bridge, across the Neuse, which he now holds for
Sherman's coming. The ride to communicate with
Sherman was made most gallantly by Major Wm. J.
Twining of Schofield's staff, through the enemy's
lines and country. -
Sherman is behind time. Rumored he had big
fight with Johnston. “73,” JoHN.
At this point in preparing these reminiscences, I
got in communication with Brigadier-General William
M. Wherry, U. S. A. (retired), who was chief of staff
to General Schofield and an active participant in the
military events mentioned, and he has most kindly
favored me with his recollection of the following
additional incidents of the fighting before Kinston :
Wequetonsing, Mich., July 28, 1907.
MY DEAR DR. O'BRIEN :
I have read the MSS. enclosed, with much interest,
and return it herewith. It recalls with vividness
many incidents not within your experience as an
operator, one of which was, when in the fight at Kins-
ton Hoke threatened our left so obstinately, and the
camp followers pulled down our tents and fled with
headquarters to a safe place, and necessitated our
occupying wet ground, standing in pools, when I had
the camp re-pitched.
And another was when General Carter's Brigade,
sent on a reconnoissance to his front, ran unexpectedly
into the enemy and lost a battery, or part of one. We
came up with Carter, just as he was forming and
ordering another brigade out to try to recover the
guns.
I shall never forget Carter's amazed expression
239
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
when General Schofield said, “Never mind, General,
let the guns go.” “What l” said Carter, an old Navy
officer, “leave my guns in the hands of the enemy?”
“Oh yes,” replied Schofield, with a twinkle in his
eye, “I can give you more guns, General, but I can’t
give you another division.” And the incident was
closed by Carter's disposing of his troops to meet the
enemy, under General Schofield's direction, and my
impression is the guns were later recovered. But I
am not writing my reminiscences, only thanking you
for the sight of yours.
My part in that battle, as in so many, was to make
it easy for others to carry out the purposes of the
commanding General, and to help him to make his
wishes known. I am, as ever,
Yours sincerely,
WM. M. WHERRY.
[Diary Resumed.]
Kinston, North Carolina, Thursday, March 23, 1865.
—Started from New Berne at 6 A.M. with Colonel
Dodge and Colonel Wright. Gave Dick Perin set of
tools. Arrived at Kinston 11 A.M. Started repairer
with two mounted men at 12 to inspect wire to
Goldsboro.
Ed H. Demorest and Jas. C. McCutcheon reported
at Morehead. Say they reported for duty on 11th.
Ordered them to Wilmington.
Friday, March 24th.-Remained at Kinston. Trans-
portation impossible to get.
Sherman's army arrived near Goldsboro; had fight
with Joe Johnston at Bentonville.
240
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
[Cipher.]
Goldsboro, March 23rd.
RICH'D O'BRIEN, Chief Operator, Kinston.
Sherman rode in. Saw Joe Anderson, cipher oper-
ator with Kilpatrick. Eddy is with Sherman; Loner-
gan with Howard, right wing; Berry with Slocum,
left wing; all coming up. They had a battle with
Johnston at Bentonville, 19th and 20th. Losses,
each side, about 2,500. Wilmington wire keeps O. K.
“73,” JoHN.
Saturday, March 25th.-Sherman's teams into
Kinston for supplies. They are a hard-looking set,
and steal everything they come across. Have some
fears for my mare. Have spiked the stable door and
left three men to sleep overhead to watch her. I
leave with General Dodge and Dr. Hand at 8 P.M. for
New Berne in a stock car. Shared my blankets with
the General. He and I tried to steal a sack of oats
for a pillow, but the guard caught us just as we were
getting it into the car and made us drop it.
New Berne, Sunday, March 26th.—Went to church.
Received a message from Kinston that my mare was
stolen and no trace of her could be found. Poor
“Lucy l’” She has carried me many a long mile and
few could do it in so gallant style as she. I fear I
shall not recover her, but I will know her in ten
thousand and will be on her track as long as there is
the shadow of a chance. Sent “Lady of the Lake”
to Started Finnegan and party to build line
to Wilmington from Goldsboro.
241
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Monday, March 27th.-Set Smith to work repair-
ing line to Morehead City, from New Berne. Left at
2 P.M., by rail, for Goldsboro. Saw my old friend,
Tom Boones, supervisor on track. Arrived at Golds-
boro 1 A.M. Took a good sleep with John on a pine
plank. Find the poor boy has been “roughing it.”
General Sherman went to City Point to see General
Grant. -
Tuesday, March 28th.-All quiet about Goldsboro.
Find it a nice little town, though badly torn up and
very dirty, from Sherman's troops crowding every
place in it. Saw Eddy, Berry and Lonergan, cipher
operators with Sherman's army. They are all nicely
situated and have been in the march from Atlanta.
“Lucy’’ found by John here at Goldsboro. She
had been badly abused, but is gay as ever. (When
on Sunday morning, 26th, I learned, at Goldsboro, as
Richard did at New Berne, by wire from Kinston,
that Richard's mare had been stolen by “Sherman's
bummers,” I left Raymond, Joe Sears and Sherman's
operators on the wires at Goldsboro, and rode back
half-way to Kinston, looking for her. On the next
day, Monday, I rode through Sherman's camps on the
same errand without success. On this day, Tuesday,
while working at the instruments at Goldsboro and
looking out of the window I saw her pass, carrying an
officer. The telegraph office was on a second floor
with exit by a flight of outside steps to the street. I
ran out, bounded down the steps, untied and sprang
242
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
on my own horse and chased after the officer. “Lucy”
was the better horse, but was not going fast, so I
overtook and demanded her from the rider. Suppos-
ing that he had stolen her I made the demand rather
peremptory. He took it rather coolly; said the horse
was his and asked who I was. He was an officer,
with shoulder straps of I forget what rank, and I had
nothing of that kind about me. But I had some-
thing better and thrust it before his eyes. It was an
order signed by General Sherman himself to take
Richard O'Brien's mare “Lucy,” wherever found.
The officer said he would, of course, surrender the
mare, but requested me to accompany him to his
camp, where he could satisfy me that he had obtained
her legitimately from his quartermaster. I rode with
him to his camp, and, sure enough, the quartermaster
said the mare had “followed ” his wagon train from
Kinston. I was well satisfied to get the mare, if not
to get the story, and Richard rewarded me for recov-
ering her by letting me ride her afterwards with
Schofield's staff in the march from Goldsboro to
Raleigh. And she was not, by any means, the last in
that bunch of good horses. J.)
Richard’s arrival at Goldsboro relieved me of a
physical and mental strain of three weeks, in which
exposure, loss of sleep, and an intense sense of the
importance of my unique duties in connection with a
great campaign, together with the dramatic events by
sea and land of siege, march and battle, thrilling,
243
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
lurid, grotesque, which had been crowded on my
observation, combined to furnish an experience such
as must seldom or never have come to another boy of
sixteen and a half years of age.
It must not be supposed that the actual telegraph-
ing was limited to strategic dispatches. Our wires
were kept constantly busy by the scarcely less import-
ant business of the quartermaster's, commissary, ord-
nance, and all other departments that go to make up
an army organization.
Let me insert here a short synopsis of the career of
another young telegrapher who was getting in touch
with the military telegraph in this campaign.
Thomas E. Clarke, aged 13, in 1862 organized a little
band of eight or ten drummers and fifers at Conners-
ville, Indiana, where they drummed and fifed and
drilled like soldiers and were satisfied, all but one,
with playing at war; but Clarke's ambition and patri-
otism demanded the real thing, so in March or April,
1863, when thirteen and a half years old, he enlisted
as a musician in the One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with
his regiment in many engagements up to and through
the Atlanta campaign. In that campaign his curios-
ity was aroused by seeing our telegraph construction
corps stringing wires on trees, as the troops marched
or fought. Musicians were often used as messengers,
and in this way young Clarke came in contact with
the military operators and began to learn the art of
244
Thomas E. CLARKE
Musician 124th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
The Drummer Boy of Kinston
John EMMET O'BRIEN
In 1864


REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
telegraphy. When Sherman started from Atlanta to
the sea, Confederate General Hood, instead of follow-
ing, elected to attack the forces left behind, and so
marched on Thomas at Nashville. Sherman had sent
Schofield back from Atlanta to gather up the scattered
forces of the Army of the Ohio and join Thomas at
Nashville. This resulted in the bloody battle of
Franklin, and later in Hood's defeat at Nashville. By
this time young Clarke had been detailed as chief
clerk to the adjutant-general of his brigade. They
reached Franklin early in the morning, and from an
elevated view-point which he had sought to view the
position Clarke saw the Confederates coming on in
several lines. Rushing back across the railroad
bridge to join his brigade he found it drawn up in
line of battle across the railroad awaiting the enemy's
charge. It came. The carnage was furious. Again
and again the Confederates charged our lines. Clarke,
too small to effectively handle a gun alone, busied
himself loading and handing the guns of the wounded
to his comrades. His cap was shot off. The Confed-
erates were finally beaten off with great slaughter.
In the North Carolina campaign Clarke was still
chief clerk to the adjutant-general of Orr's Brigade,
Ruger's Division, Twenty-third Corps, and still inter-
ested in the military telegraph. It may have been
just as well that he was not yet detailed for telegraph
service, as during a fight nothing could keep him
from rushing to the firing line and handling the guns.
245
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
In doing this at Kinston, when Orr's men were sent
in to save Upham's Brigade, Clarke got into the
enemy's lines and narrowly escaped capture. As it
was, he was small enough to hide behind the roots of
a water cypress in Gum Swamp as the Confederates
passed by him and he escaped.
Clarke continued to practice telegraphy with us,
while, at Goldsboro, he was promoted to division
headquarters and, at Raleigh, to corps headquarters.
At Charlotte, North Carolina, he worked in the tele-
graph office, and was finally mustered out with his
regiment at Greensboro, North Carolina, in Septem-
ber, 1865.
I have given this inadequate synopsis of the war
history of this heroic boy on account of his extreme
youth, like my own, at that time; though I make no
claim to the love of danger on the firing line which
he displayed. His subsequent history is interesting
and inspiring. Returning to his home at Conners-
ville, Indiana, he found himself an orphan. He
went to school for a year, then entered a railroad tele-
graph office, was soon made train dispatcher of the
Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Road. In 1869,
went to Minnesota as superintendent of telegraph,
St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad. In 1875, he was
master of transportation of the Cairo and Vincinnes
Railroad, at Cairo, Ill. In 1883, general superintend-
ent, Minneapolis and St. Paul Road. January, 1900,
general manager, Iowa Central Railway, and, since
246
THoMA's E. CLARKE
General Superintendent D., L. & W. Railroad

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
September, 1900, general superintendent, Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad, Scranton, Penn-
sylvania. There is a record worthy of Mr. Clarke's
boyish war history and of the emulation of Young
America. •,•
247
CHAPTER XVI.
WIRES AND RAILROADS AT GOLDSBORO–GREAT NEWS
FROM GRANT— FALL OF RICHMOND TELE-
GRAPHED OVER WIRE BUILT IN
FRONT OF IT BY RICHARD
O'BRIEN.
T had been an important feature of Grant's plan
for the campaign of the Carolinas to utilize the
railroads from New Berne and Wilmington to Golds-
boro with the special object of supplying Sherman's
army with ammunition, shoes and clothing, as well as
food and forage. The Confederates took off the roll-
ing stock, as had been anticipated, and damaged the
roads, by tearing up tracks to some extent. Between
New Berne and Kinston I saw where they had heated
and bent rails as skillfully as Sherman's men them-
selves could have done. It was the business of the
military railroad department, under Colonel Wright,
to repair these roads, and it was done with wonderful
promptness and efficiency, considering that Colonel
Wright labored under the same difficulty that embar-
rassed Richard, of being compelled to wait for mater-
ial to arrive by sea. The operation of the military
railroads depended a good deal on the telegraph, as do
civil railroads, and that also helped to keep our wires
busy. -
248
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
But we now had plenty of operators in Richard's
department, and while the army rested at Goldsboro I
had time for some recreation, which usually took the
form of horse exercise.
One day we had a horse race among the cipher
operators, in which, I think, Richard, with “Lucy;”
Eddy, with a beautiful cream-colored horse that had
carried him on the march; Berry, Lonergan, and my-
self, were to take part. I had exchanged with some
quartermaster for a big, raw-boned animal that had a
queer gait, and had no hope of winning. Joe Ander-
son was away with Kilpatrick's Cavalry. Berry
became indisposed and asked me to ride his horse,
which was a fairly good one, and I gladly did so.
Now, I have long forgotten who won that race, but a
year afterward, when mounted on a strange horse in
Washington, his motion seemed so familiar that I felt
sure I had ridden him before, and inquiry proved that
I had—for a few minutes—in this race. It was at
Goldsboro that I first met Kentucky saddle-horses.
When Colonel Campbell and Colonel Wherry came
down the road on those splendid big sorrel, and roan,
gaited animals, it was worth coming through Gum
Swamp to see them.
[Richard's Diary, resumed.]
Wednesday, March 29, 1865.-Arranged with Mrs.
Smith for a room. -
The enemy appeared in some force at Mosely Hall.
Line cut a great deal by our own men, “Sherman's
249
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
bummers.” General Schofield ordered me to have
any parties found troubling it arrested and brought
to headquarters, and if they resisted, or attempted to
run away, to have them shot down. -
Goldsboro, Thursday, March 30th.-General Sher-
man back to New Berne. Says Grant has swung
around to Dinwiddie; that Lee must come out and
fight him, or attack his defenses at City Point. Says
we must be all ready to cut loose from here on the
10th, and establish a new base at Winton and Norfolk.
Goldsboro, March 31st.—Line working all right to
Wilmington. Bridge over the northeast branch Cape
Fear River not yet done; will be in three days.
Report of Confederates showing themselves in force at
Mosely Hall. Think it only a party of observation.
The stolen horses are all being taken from “Sher-
man's bummers,” as they are called here.
Saturday, April 1, 1865.-Called on General Sher-
man. Mr. Eddy introduced me. Found the General
a quiet, unassuming man. But there was something
about his head which indicated strength of character,
and great confidence in himself. He has made him-
self famous, but I do not consider that he has ever
been subjected to the stern test which some of the
Generals who have fought Lee have had to go
through. He expressed himself pleased with the
energetic manner in which I got up telegraphic com-
munication, and informed me what would be the
future program, and what I was expected to do.
250
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
New Berne, Sunday, April 2nd.—Ordered Finne-
gan to return with his party of line builders from
Wilmington to report back to Mr. Doren at Army of
the Potomac. -
Told Colonel Campbell, assistant adjutant-general
to General Schofield, that I am going to Portsmouth.
Got on train with General McCallum, general super-
intendent military railroads. Arrived in New Berne
at 12, night.
At Sea, Monday, April 3rd.—Mr. Douglas, operator
reported at Morehead City. Ordered him to New
Berne. Got transportation on steamer Massasoit to
Portsmouth, through canal. Left New Berne at 10
A.M. with Mr. Douglas, Smith, four men, one box
insulators and two coils wire. (I suppose Richard,
thinking he now had enough men and material in
North Carolina, proposed to return some to Norfolk
or Petersburg to work from there to put Sherman in
direct communication with Grant and Washington. J.)
When out some hours a storm arose which com-
pelled us to put back for a safe anchorage.
Richmond taken. General Weitzel’s troops the
first to enter. (Weitzel commanded on our right on
the Peninsula, in front of Richmond, and it was over
the line which Richard, when chief operator, Army
of the James, had constructed for him that the first
telegram announcing the fall of Richmond passed
from General Weitzel, addressed to General Grant at
City Point. This telegram was sent by Operator
251
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“Billy” Wood from the Twenty-fourth Corps head-
quarters, April 3, 1865. Richard's entry of the fact
in his diary under date of April 3rd must have been
made later than that date, as he could not have known
it at New Berne that day. If he had known of it
there he would undoubtedly have told me by tele-
graph. The great news reached us at Goldsboro on
April 6th and created intense enthusiasm in the whole
of Sherman's army. It also changed Sherman's plans
materially. Heretofore his intention was to move
northward to join forces with General Grant in the
neighborhood of Weldon, and establish a new base for
supplies for his army at Norfolk and Winton; and it
was with these plans in view that Richard went to
Norfolk to prepare telegraphic facilities for Sherman's
army. J.) -
Roanoke Island, Tuesday, April 4th–Left our
anchorage in Neuse River at 6 A.M. Arrived at
Roanoke Island at 5 P.M. Stopped there all night.
Saw a tug putting out in the morning, and got to the
wharf in time to learn it was going to Norfolk, but
too late to stop it. Tried to get steamer Massasoit to
overtake the tug-boat, but that miserable old tub
could not do it. Tried to stop the tug by firing shot
at her, but could not reach her. Fired twice.
Remained until 12, midnight, on the Island.
Wednesday, April 5th.-Had a good time on
Roanoke Island, in company with Captain Whipple,
of Portsmouth, Third New York Infantry, Douglas,
252
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and a colonel, playing euchre; and had plenty of
Scuppernong wine, which is an excellent beverage
made from grapes which grow on the Island, and
does not intoxicate. The island is a miserable, cheer-
less place, full of large mosquitoes, which, even at
this early season, are very troublesome.
Got aboard the steamer Ulysses, which touched
Roanoke Island with dispatches.
Thursday, April 6th.-Route of a possible line
from Norfolk to Roanoke Island:
NORFOLK
;
s
GREAT BRIDGE
&
CURRITUCK C. H.
OO
BRIDGE
§
POWELL’s POINT
:
o ROANOKE ISLAND
To New BERNE, 130 MILES
253
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Norfolk, Virginia, Friday, April 7th.-Left Roanoke
Island in the morning at 2 o'clock. Passed through
canal without difficulty and reached Portsmouth at 5
P.M. Saw brother James and sister Mary. Also M. and
P. Mullin. Had not seen Mary for two years, and she
was delighted. So was I. She does not look well,
but appears cheerful and contented. Think the
change will prove beneficial to her. Stopped with
Joe Wilson in our old military telegraph office in the
Custom House. Joe is the favorite orderly of the
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, whom John taught
telegraphy at Portsmouth, where brother James is
now doing the telegraph business.
Fort Monroe, Saturday April 8th.-Left at 6:30
A.M. on City of Hudson for Fort Monroe. Had a talk
from there by telegraph with Major Eckert, superin-
tendent military telegraph, at the War Department.
He complimented me on my management and success
in North Carolina. Assured me he had perfect con-
fidence in me, and said he had no suggestions to
make; that I should act as my judgment dictated.
Major Eckert wished me to consult George Shel-
don, chief operator, Fort Monroe, on the practicability
of a line from Fort Monroe to North Carolina. I
replied I thought Grant's victory over Lee would
enable us to run direct through Weldon.
Left Fort Monroe at 4:30 P.M. Arrived at Norfolk
6 P.M. Got Smith's party aboard. Left one box
insulators and two coils wire in quartermaster's ware-
254
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
house. Gave James pass from General Weitzel to
Richmond. He leaves in the morning. Got John's
favorite horse, “Pet,” and rode around to see my
friends. Called on O’Briens. Miss Annie and her
mother at theatre with Mr. Nilligar. Called on
Mrs. Mayhew, but she had retired with sick boy, and
I did not wish to disturb her.
Roanoke Island, Sunday, April 9th.-Left Norfolk
at 5:30 A.M. I find it practicable to build a line to
Roanoke Island, eighty-five miles wire, ten miles
cable. Don't approve of it. -
Monday, April 10th.--Stopped over at Roanoke
Island until this A.M. Arrived at New Berne 5 P.M.
Sherman's forces moved from Goldsboro towards
Raleigh at 10 A.M. John went with General Scho-
field; our party following up with line. Firing going
on all day near Goldsboro. McCutcheon and his
instrument captured on 9th at Burgaw station on the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. That line down!
Wrote Major Eckert and James.
During this journey of Richard's to Norfolk and
Fort Monroe he had left me at Goldsboro in charge
of military telegraph lines and affairs in North
Carolina.
Among the operators who had arrived to assist us
was a comical young fellow named McCutcheon. He
took pride in wearing better clothes than any of the
rest of us wore while roughing it, and would in these
days be considered a dude. The boys at Wilmington
255
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
used to twit him about his fastidiousness in dress, and
tell him what a prize he would be to the Johnnies if
he were captured. McCutcheon always took this sort
of banter good-naturedly, and used to rehearse the
part that he would enact if he should fall into the
enemy's hands.
McCutcheon was stationed with a guard at Burgaw
station, on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.
About midnight, April 8th, McCutcheon called me
up over the wire and said there were rumors, brought
by negroes, that Wheeler's Cavalry was making a raid
in our rear and liable to strike the line at his station.
I find it impossible now to remember whether
General Schofield or myself was responsible for
“Mac's " capture. I cannot recall whether I referred
the point to the General or not, but I know that I told
“Mac” to stay at his post until morning and to give
us notice of any approach of the enemy. That was
the last we heard from him; the line suddenly
snapped, and when we sent a hand-car with a guard
down the road they found the wire cut, the station
burned, and “Mac” and his guard missing.
After we reached Raleigh, and while General Sher-
man was negotiating with Johnston, there came into
our office, April 29th, the ghastliest-looking tramp I
ever saw. He was barefoot and tattered. The order-
lies were about to fire him out, when he struck a for-
1orn attitude and said in hollow accents, “Boys' you
may not believe it, but I’m McCutcheon l’”
256
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
After we got him cleaned up and fed, he told us
how the Confederate cavalry had captured him, and
one officer after another had taken his hat, coat, boots,
and so on, giving him some of their own war-worn
duds in exchange. They then marched him on foot
around Sherman's army two or three hundred miles
to western North Carolina, and during the negotia-
tions for Johnston's surrender he slipped through
to us. • *
We sent him on to Washington, where his appear-
ance of hard usage and his humorous descriptions of
his experience made such an impression on the offi-
cials of the War Department, that Major Eckert
treated him as handsomely as possible. His experi-
ence of little over a month in our field indicated what
danger and hardships many of our boys were exposed
to for a much longer time.
[Diary resumed.]
Tuesday, April 11th.-Line up twelve miles from
Goldsboro towards Raleigh. Nothing indicating
fighting from Sherman yet. Dispatches from Grant.
announce the surrender of Lee with his whole army;
his men and officers to be paroled and allowed their
side-arms, private horses and property. Now, indeed,
“the back-bone of the Rebellion” is broken and we
can see light ahead. Received from Captain Judson,
for Clark Brannon, $63.50, being the amount due to.
December, and all that he will pay. I paid Wort-
257
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
man's board bill, $10.00. Lent him $5.00, Douglas
$10.00.
(The diary contains no entry on the 12th or 13th. J.)
Goldsboro, Friday, April 14th. Started Mr. Spo-
nagle with instrument and guard of six men to
Raleigh at 1 P.M.
Sherman had a communication from Johnston in
reference to cessation of hostilities. Presume he is
about to surrender his army. Line working to
Raleigh; John is there. He has been talking with
Southern operators on lines beyond Raleigh.
Sherman's advance from Goldsboro is best ex-
plained in his own words:
“But the whole problem became suddenly changed
by the news of the fall of Richmond and Petersburg,
which reached us at Goldsboro on the 6th of April.
The Confederate Government, with Lee's army, had
hastily abandoned Richmond, fled in great disorder
toward Danville, and General Grant's whole army
was in close pursuit. Of course, I inferred that
General Lee would succeed in making junction with
General Johnston, with at least a fraction of his army,
somewhere to my front. I at once altered the forego-
ing orders, and prepared on the day appointed, viz.,
April 10th, to move straight on Raleigh, against the
Army of General Johnston, known to be at Smith-
field, and supposed to have about thirty-five thousand
men. Wade Hampton's cavalry was on his left front
and Wheeler's on his right front, simply watching us
258
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
and awaiting our initiative. Meantime the details of
the great victories in Virginia came thick and fast,
and on the 8th I received from General Grant this
communication, in the form of a cipher dispatch :
“Headquarters Armies of the United States,
‘Wilson's Station, April 5, 1865.
‘MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN,
“Goldsboro, North Carolina:
“All indications now are that Lee will attempt to
reach Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheri-
dan, who was up with him last night, reports all that
is left with him—horse, foot, and dragoons—at twenty
thousand, much demoralized. We hope to reduce
this number one-half. I will push on to Burkesville,
and, if a stand is made at Danville, will, in a very few
days, go there. If you can possibly do so, push on
from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish
the job with Lee's and Johnston’s armies. Whether
it will be better for you to strike for Greensboro or
nearer to Danville, you will be better able to judge
when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the
only strategic points to strike at.
‘U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.”
“I answered immediately that we would move on
the 10th, prepared to follow Johnston wherever he
might go. Promptly on Monday morning, April 10th,
the army moved straight on Smithfield; the right
wing making a circuit by the right, and the left wing,
supported by the center, moving on the two direct
roads towards Raleigh, distant fifty miles. General
Terry's and General Kilpatrick's troops moved from
259
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
their positions on the south or west bank of the Neuse
River in the same general direction, by Cox's Bridge.
On the 11th we reached Smithfield, and found it
abandoned by Johnston's army, which had retreated
hastily on Raleigh, burning the bridges. To restore
these consumed the remainder of the day, and during
that night I received a message from General Grant,
at Appomattox, that General Lee had surrendered
to him his whole army, which I at once announced to
the troops in orders:
[Special Field Orders, No. 54.]
‘Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
‘Smithfield, M. C., April 12, 1865.
‘The General commanding announces to the army
that he has official notice from General Grant that
General Lee surrendered to him his entire army, on
the 9th inst., at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
‘Glory to God and our country, and all honor to our
comrades in arms, toward whom we are marching !
‘A little more labor, a little more toil on our part,
the great race is won, and our Government stands
regenerated, after four long years of war.
‘W. T. SHERMAN,
‘Major-General Commanding.’”
260
CHAPTER XVII.
I RIDE WITH SCHOFIELD AND SHERMAN FROM
GOLDSBORO TO RALEIGH-THE LONE CAVALRYMAN
—BEAUTIFUL, RALEIGH-ON SOUTHERN WIRES-
A FATEFUL CIPHER MESSAGE-GRANT'S
VISIT-JOHNSTON SURRENDERS–CAP-
TURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
CHOFIELD had united with Sherman at Golds-
boro, as planned by Grant, having cleared
eastern North Carolina of the enemy and established
safe communication from the coast. We then started
for Raleigh, with the news from Richmond stimulat-
ing every nerve, Johnston retreating in our front.
We came upon some strong positions where he had
made preparation for battle on the wooded hills, cut-
ting down the forest to form abattis, but, except a
small engagement at Smithfield, there was no battle.
Sherman swept on, with Howard on the right,
Slocum on the left, Schofield in the center and Kil-
patrick's Cavalry thrown out in front to feel the way.
It was a magnificent army. The Westerners swung
along with that careless stride which distinguished
them from the Army of the Potomac, and which had
carried them through one of the most remarkable
marches of history.
261
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Sherman rode alternately with either of the three
columns. The first time I saw him on this march we
came upon him in the road ; he was dismounted and
lounging with his staff, on the ground, in a fence
corner, waiting for General Schofield to join him.
He was then, as ever, careless, nervous, magnetic—a
great commander whom a great opportunity found
equal to the occasion.
In the march from Goldsboro to Raleigh I had a
good horse, “ Lucy,” and the same ten cavalrymen
who had been with me from Kinston. I had become
attached to them, especially to “Curley” and
“Shorty,” and had not released the detail while we
remained in Goldsboro. Their captain came to me
and wished to replace them by ten others from his
company, and finally the colonel of their regiment
courteously explained to me that in the interest of
discipline he would like to change the detail and, as
a convincing argument, said that he would give me
ten better foragers than these ! Now it was a wonder-
ful thing to see some of those horsemen disappear in
the morning and return to our bivouac at night with
poultry or a young shoat strung to the saddle and
perhaps a tub of sorghum balanced on the pommel,
and I could not help wondering where those things
came from and who must be suffering for their loss.
The wanton destruction of household goods by Sher-
man's bummers, too, evidence of which we met on
the way, amazed and shocked me, and embittered a
262
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
march of fifty miles that otherwise would have seemed
a path of glory. I will not say that I did not eat any
plundered food, but am certain that, as a rule, my
meals were hard-tack, munched as we rode. This
was the first time that I had traveled with an army of
90,000 men. All roads seemed filled with them, and
interminable lines of pontoon, artillery, and wagon
trains made progress slow and tiresome. Our staff
seemed to be always riding, from early morning until
night, and then I would drop off of “Lucy” and lie
where I lit until the orderlies brought her up in the
morning for me to climb on again. Frequent showers
wet us, and one morning I awoke to find that I had
slept in a puddle of rainwater. But a single incident
out of many interesting experiences more than repaid
every hardship of the march. I was intensely roman-
tic. Napoleon, Ivanhoe, Tom Burke of Ours, Charley
O'Malley, and Richard Coeur de Leon were my ideals
at that time. In some novel, probably one of Lever's,
there was a picture called “The Bivouac,” that seemed
to realize youth's ideal of romance and glory. Now
we came to a little river that had to be bridged, and
while waiting for the canvas pontoons, which them-
selves seemed magical, to be laid, “Old Pop" Sher-
man, with his staff, who were riding with us that day,
and General Schofield, with our staff, lounged about
the bosky dell and talked of battles and campaigns;
of the evacuation of Petersburg; the chances of Lee
and Johnston uniting against this army; the prospect
263
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
of fighting ahead. And—I was with them | That
night, April 12th, we got the dispatch from Grant
that Lee had surrendered. It is impossible to
describe the enthusiasm this produced as it was
announced to the troops; they went wild and exe-
cuted all sorts of grotesque antics as the news spread
down the lines.
Kilpatrick had a little brush with the enemy's
cavalry at Smithfield.
A delegation of citizens came out by locomotive
from Raleigh, running through both the Confederate
cavalry and ours with a flag of truce to surrender the
keys of the city to Sherman. We entered Raleigh on
the morning of April 13th. Whittier describes Fred-
erick : - - -
“Fair as a garden of the Lord -
To the eyes of that famished rebel horde.”
Had I his poetic genius I would try to describe how
fair Raleigh, embowered in the shade of its ancient
oaks and stately elms, and invested with dreams of
historic romance, appeared to the eyes of at least one
youthful invader who had come up from the coast
through dreary miles of sand, swamp and forest, and
now rode into the beautiful city with the head of thi
triumphant army.
On the Confederate side there must have been
romance and dreams as fantastic and wild as mine.
As the rear-guard of Confederate cavalry left the city,
264
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
one of Wheeler's young men sat silently on his horse
in front of the gate of the Capitol, at the head of
Fayetteville Street, calmly gazing down the wide
street toward the Governor's mansion which closed its
lower end, where Kilpatrick's Union troopers would
appear in a moment.
Picture that mere boy sitting on his horse like a
statue, there to face, alone, a horde of Yankee invad-
ers | What strain of heroic blood from chivalric
ancestors, what dreams of reckless courage, of beauty's
smiles, of dare-devil bravery, must have inspired him
to sit motionless there while Kilpatrick's men rode in
at the Governor's mansion, and, seeing him, came
thundering on a charge up the wide avenue ! Per-
haps he relied on his spirited steed and superb horse-
manship. He waited until the charging troop was
within pistol range and fired his revolver point blank
at them ; then, wheeling and putting spurs to his
horse, was off to the South like the wind. Our men
raced after him by every street. He was splendidly
mounted, and, bending low on his horse, took the
turn to the right to reach Hillsboro Street. Another
turn to the left on that road and it would be straight
away flight to reach his retreating comrades. And
here was a noble horse, carrying him like the wind,
and able, perhaps, to distance any war-horse in the
Yankee army: Was it a pebble in the road 2 It was
not a bullet, for such had been the swiftness of his
flight or, perhaps, the amazement of our men, that if
265
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
they fired at all, no bullet had reached him ; but,
going at full speed as he made the turn to the left on
Hillsboro Street, down went horse and rider together
in dire disaster on the road. He was immediately
surrounded and captured. A drum-head court-martial
—a scene in a grove, the same horse and rider, but
ah a rope and a noose ! And then—the slash of a
sabre, and away springs the horse, alone. * * * *
There are flowers on a lonely grave * * * *, a
sad-faced girl. Oh, War ! “The path of glory leads
but to the grave.”
Kilpatrick moved on beyond Raleigh, and Joe
Anderson, his operator, tapped the Greensboro wire
and heard a message to General Johnston, stating that
our cavalry, under Stoneman, from East Tennessee,
were in the Confederate rear at Salisbury, North
Carolina. We also learned that General Wilson's
Cavalry Corps was fighting Forrest about Selma,
Alabama, and soon we had a cipher from him at
Macon, over the Southern wires.
Kilpatrick was now at Durham Station, twenty-six
miles from Raleigh, with the wire intact, and on the
14th Anderson sent us a cipher from Kilpatrick to
Sherman, stating that a flag of truce from the enemy
had brought a letter from General Johnston addressed
to General Sherman, who ordered it sent in, and it
proved to be a proposal for an armistice.
266
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
[Richard's Diary resumed.]
Goldsboro, April 15th.-Clapp left Wilmington for
New York, sick. Mackintosh left New Berne for
home, sick.
Goldsboro, April 16th.-Started Gus Nohe, opera-
tor, to open an office for Smeed, at bridge over the
Neuse. General Sherman arranged with Johnston to
meet him at 12 M. to-morrow, about thirty miles from
Raleigh (five miles beyond Durham, on the Hillsboro
road. Sherman's memoirs. J.) to negotiate some
terms by which the war in North Carolina may be
stopped. Our lines working twenty-six miles from
Raleigh, to Kilpatrick's Cavalry Corps, Joe Anderson,
cipher operator, at Durham, North Carolina.
Goldsboro, Monday, April 17th.-Received a mes-
sage from the Secretary of War to General Sherman,
saying President Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's
Theatre, Washington, on the night of the 14th ; also
that Secretary Seward was stabbed several times, at
his home, but may recover, and that his son was also
mortally wounded at the same time.
Washington, April 15th, 1865, 12 M.
GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN :
President Lincoln was murdered about ten o'clock
last night in his private box at Ford's Theatre in this
city, by an assassin who shot him through the head
with a pistol ball. The assassin leaped from the box,
brandishing a dagger, exclaiming, “Sic semper tyran-
nis,” and that Virginia was avenged. Mr. Lincoln
fell senseless from his seat, and continued in that state
267
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
until twenty-two minutes after seven o'clock, at
which time he breathed his last. General Grant was
published to be at the theatre but did not go. About
the same time Mr. Seward's house was entered by an-
other assassin, who stabbed the Secretary in several
places. It is thought he may possibly recover, but
his son Frederick will probably die of wounds
received from the assassin. Vice-President Johnson
now becomes President, and will take the oath of
office and assume the duties to-day. I have no time
to add more than to say that I find evidence that an
assassin is also on your track, and I beseech you to
be more heedful than Mr. Lincoln was of such
knowledge. EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Sherman had an interview with Johnston, which
developed the fact that Johnston is negotiating for
Davis and his cabinet. He could not give a definite
answer until he would see General Breckenridge
again, and will meet Sherman to-morrow.
(The message above referred to, by Richard, convey-
ing the news of Lincoln's assassination, was coming
to us in cipher at Raleigh as Sherman was about to
step on a train at 8 A.M., April 17th, for Durham, to
meet General Johnston in the negotiation for the
surrender. We had the operator at the depot
(Grasby, I think) to run down and tell Sherman, who
held his train while Eddy deciphered the message.
Sherman cautioned us operators to give out no word
of it until his return, for fear that “some foolish
woman or man in Raleigh might say something or do
268
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
something that would madden our men, and that a
fate worse than that of Columbia would befall the
place.” He then went on to the conference with
Johnston. J.)
Tuesday, April 18th.-Lent De Forrest $10.00.
Sherman went out to see Johnston and remained out
all day. I presume Davis is endeavoring to get the
best possible terms for the dying Confederacy. I
trust Sherman will be generous. This is not a time
to stand on trifles. We must show the people of the
South that we can be generous as well as brave, and
that we do not desire their humiliation, or destruction,
but only the restoration of the Union.
Goldsboro, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 19th.
—Sherman announced that he had arranged terms
with Johnston and other prominent Southern officials,
which needs but the sanction of the President or
General Grant to establish peace from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande. An officer has started to Washing-
ton on a special boat. Several men from Lee's army
arriving here. They all say large numbers of Vir-
ginians broke their guns and went home before the
surrender, swearing they would not fight outside of
their State.
Goldsboro, Thursday, April 20th.-Sent vouchers
of Wortman and De Forrest to Major Eckert for $15
each. Sent also report of ( )'s outrageous con-
duct; also report of work done, etc., in March. Had
a good long ride on “Pet.”
269
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE,
Friday, April 21st.—Met Mr. Griffith, General
Beauregard's operator, on his way to his home in
Wilmington, Delaware. He says the operators in the
South have had rough treatment and rough times. I
discharged ( ), with loss of pay. He drew
nearly two hundred rations in one month over what
he was entitled to, and sold them. He is a notorious
rascal. -
Goldsboro, North Carolina, Saturday, April 22nd.
—Carroll, operator, reported at New Berne. Kennan
sick at Wilmington. Relieved him. Sponagle's
father sick. S. wants to go home. Relieved him.
Gave Colin permission to go home. (Colin Kinney,
an inexperienced lineman, who took care of my
horse and baggage from Gum Swamp, near New
Berne, to Goldsboro. A comical Lancashireman, who
enlivened the hardships of that march with unfailing
cheerfulness and with Coster songs that were very
funny, as sung in his Lancashire dialect. His favor-
ite ditty referred to a gorgeous young “loidy” whom
he casually met; whereupon, as he sung :
“I asked her her residence, I asked her her name,
She said, ‘Sir, with pleasure, I will tell 'e the same,’
Putting up her umbereller, “My name is Isabeller,
And me father keeps a shaving shop in Islington.’”
It is surprising how this good fellow, with his rol-
licking humor and senseless songs, cheered our spirits
drooping under rain, mud, and sleeplessness. From
Goldsboro to Raleigh, being free from wire work, I
rode with General Schofield's staff. J.)
270
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Douglas sick. Will get him up here, when he will
have some care.
A Confederate brigade wanted to surrender near
here to-day, but General Sherman preferred to let them
wait and have a general surrender. Wise in “Old
Billy.”
Lent Sponagle $15.00, including $4.00 from John.
Sent his vouchers to Washington.
Goldsboro, Sunday, April 23rd.—General Grant
arrived at Morehead City this P.M. Passed Goldsboro
at 9:30 en route to Sherman's headquarters at
Raleigh. Looks like work of some kind.
Monday, April 24th. This leaf of the diary is
partly torn out. The writing probably referred to
Confederate General Johnston's situation, and contin-
ues: “hopeless, and that he cannot stop Sherman's
desolating march, and that the coming campaign will
result in nothing but the ruin of the country through
which our troops pass. Sponagle left for home.”
(Richard, up to this time, had remained at Golds-
boro, where the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
crossed the railroad from Morehead City and New
Berne to Raleigh, because it was a central and advan-
tageous point from which he could manage the tele-
graph lines and men, and I was taking care of the
Raleigh end with Schofield and Sherman, which
included the southern wires north to Weldon, and
west to Greensboro, whereon we were pleasantly fra-
ternizing with the Southern operators. Eddy, Berry,
271
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Lonergan and Anderson remained with Generals
Sherman, Slocum, Howard and Kilpatrick, respec-
tively; Anderson being on the wire at Durham and in
touch with me. J.) -
Raleigh, North Carolina, Tuesday, April 25th.-
Sherman's army getting ready to move. I leave for
Raleigh at noon. Arrived there at 7 P.M. Found it
a beautiful place; almost every house surrounded by
trees and shrubbery. The town does not appear to
have been injured by our troops. There is a sentry
posted at every house for the protection of the place.
Found John hard at work, but looking well.
Raleigh, Wednesday, April 26th.—Sherman went
out early this morning to meet Johnston near Durham.
Johnston was delayed by an accident on the railroad.
He accepted the same terms given Lee, and surren-
dered his army. Sherman arrived in Raleigh at 6
P.M. General Grant is stopping at Sherman's head-
quarters. Everything passed off quietly and pleas-
antly. All the Southern soldiers appear glad to see
an end to the war, but I am at a loss to see how they
can subsist in this country now, and have serious fears
that many of them will lead irregular lives for a time.
Thursday, April 27th.-Received a message from
Major Eckert to hold on until further orders and to
call on General Grant for instructions. I met the
General at the train and rode with him to Goldsboro.
He endorsed Sherman's policy. Said he was going
out to Red River to wind up matters there. We
272
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
made fast time to Goldsboro, but before the train
had fully stopped one of the truck wheels of the
engine broke off, letting the fore part of the engine
down. Had it occurred while we were running fast
we might all have been in eternity before this time.
Glad on Grant's account, but more so on my own.
The General went on to Morehead City to take
Steamer.
Raleigh, Friday, April 28th.-Returned to Raleigh.
Sherman is going to Savannah and Charleston. His
late policy, in extending the scope of the terms of
surrender beyond Johnston's forces, has considerably
dimmed his reputation and destroyed his influence at
Washington. He said to-night that he “would not
now accept any political position in the power of the
people to bestow; ” that “the American people were
a fickle, thankless race.”
Raleigh, Saturday, April 29th.-Sherman left this
morning for Wilmington, en route to Charleston.
Lent C. G. Eddy $30. Line working to Charlotte,
North Carolina. Repaired it near Hillsboro. South-
ern party who undertook to build line to Petersburg,
Virginia, returned to-day. They could not go nearer
than sixteen miles to Petersburg for want of transpor-
tation. I reported the fact to Major Eckert; also said
that I could have had the line working several days
ago if I had had charge of the matter.
McCutcheon came into our lines. The Confeder-
273
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
ates took all from him, and marched him 200 miles.
He was captured at Burgaw Station, April 9th.
Sunday, April 30th.-Sent McCutcheon and Wort-
man home, sick. -
Received cipher messages from General Wilson,
Macon, Georgia. Jeff Davis will certainly escape,
owing to Sherman's unfortunate policy of tying
Stoneman's hands by that armistice. -
Monday, May 1, 1865.—General Schofield moved
to the Governor's mansion. I have opened an office
in it for him. Arranged to board at Mr. Johnson's
house. Called there with Lieutenant Pool. . Saw
several nice ladies and heard some good music. It is
amusing to notice the behavior of our officers and the
Southern people when they meet at social gatherings.
Much of human nature to be learned there. -
Tuesday, May 2nd.—General Schofield went to
Greensboro to arrange details of surrender with John-
ston. Several Southern operators coming to Raleigh.
Wednesday, May 3rd.—Finished reports for April.
Telegraphed Major Eckert for instructions. He
replied to report to General Schofield and await fur-
ther orders from him. -
Thursday, May 4th.-Saw General Schofield. He
wishes me to repair the line to Fayetteville and put
an operator there; to take charge of the Petersburg
line, and also the Morehead City line, and to turn
over the Charlotte line to responsible parties to keep
up and do private business on ; but to station cipher
274
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
operators at important military posts and reserve the
preference of circuit for military business. I arranged
to send Finnegan and party of builders out to-morrow
on Fayetteville line.
Friday, May 5th.-Finnegan started out on Fay-
etteville line with two six-mule teams and two ambu-
lances. General Wilson telegraphs from Macon that
he is on the track of Jeff Davis. Major Eckert tele-
graphed me to take charge of all the lines in this
State, place reliable operators, with cipher keys, in
the principal offices, and put the lines in good condi-
tion. Big job
Saturday, May 6th.-General Sherman at More-
head City, on his way from Savannah to City Point.
Telegraphed General Schofield that he had seen
Halleck's perfidious order disregarding his (Sherman's)
armistice, etc., but telling Schofield to pursue a
straightforward course and that he would sustain
him as far as his influence extended, which, he sup-
posed, was not very far now. Told him he was going
to see if he could not command his own department.
Sunday, May 7th.-Sherman telegraphed me, ask-
ing “what caused delay in construction of the line to
Petersburg and if any obstacles were thrown in the
way by parties in Richmond or Washington because
part of the line was out of our department?” I
replied that “the delay was caused by the Southern
party who undertook the work giving it up from
inability to complete it; ” that “no obstacles were
275
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
placed in their way, and that the line was finally com-,
pleted by a United States Military Telegraph party
from Petersburg, after the others had been tried and
found wanting.”
Monday, May 8th.-General Sherman telegraphed
me that General Schofield would approve all bills for
work done on the Petersburg or Norfolk lines. He
leaves for City Point to-day.
Tuesday, May 9th.-Started Lieutenant Pool to
Charlotte to administer the oath of allegiance to all
operators along the line; all who refused, to be
removed from their offices.
Wednesday, May 10th.-Several applications from
Southern operators for situations; all willing to take
the oath and go to work for Uncle Samuel. Em-
ployed S. A. Howard and J. C. Duncan, operators at
Greensboro, North Carolina, and Chris. Fields bat-
tery-man and repairer at same place.
Thursday, May 11th.-Employed J. C. McCall,
operator, for Lexington, North Carolina, to go to work
to-morrow. The original operator there refused to
take the oath and was arrested by General Kilpatrick.
Friday, May 12th.-General Wilson, at Macon,
Georgia, telegraphs that every avenue of escape for
Davis is well guarded; that Davis has distributed his
gold among his escort and the people; that he found
it too inconvenient to carry, etc.
Saturday, May 13th.—President Johnson tele-
graphed to have Governor Brown of Georgia and
276
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Governor McGrath of South Carolina arrested and
sent to Washington under guard. Old Andy evi-
dently intends handling them without gloves. The
murder of Lincoln is being revenged on his enemies.
The South will find their best friend has been
murdered.
W. Hancock, Southern operator, went to Smith-
field.
Sunday, May 14th.-Governor Vance's arrest
ordered by the Secretary of War, by telegraph. Whit-
aker, Confederate operator, went to Magnolia; Evans
to Weldon. We sent about 2,500 words of cipher
from General Wilson, Macon, Georgia, to Major
Eckert, Washington. Received it direct from Colum-
bia, South Carolina. (Capture of Davis. J.)
Monday, May 15th.-General Wilson reports the
capture of Jeff Davis; telegraphed Grant he was
shipped safely to Augusta, in charge of Colonel Prit-
chard, who would deliver him safely in Washington.
Poor Jeff will probably be hanged, but I hope not.
The death of a thousand men would be no atonement
for the injury he has done his country.
Richard's diary ends here, but his service continued
longer. His headquarters were, soon after, moved to
Petersburg, Virginia, from which point he continued
to manage the telegraph lines in North Carolina.
The diary gives but a slight and modest indication of
his services, but Major Eckert, superintendent of the
United States Military Telegraph, justly reported that
277
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“Mr. O'Brien is deserving of special notice for his
energy and perseverance in establishing prompt com-
munication by telegraph in this department, and the
men under him for their vigilance and faithful atten-
tion to the interests of the service.” Richard cer-
tainly displayed the strong qualities praised by Major
Eckert, and by his example and personal magnetism
he inspired hope, courage and ambition in his subor-
dinates, and good feeling and respect in all others
with whom he came in contact. When the Military
Telegraph Corps was disbanded, December 31, 1865,
and the lines relegated to the commercial telegraph
companies, he was appointed superintendent of the
ninth district of the American Telegraph Company,
which more than covered the military telegraph
department he had been managing, and he set to work
to reconstruct and manage the lines from Richmond,
Virginia, to Wilmington, North Carolina, and from
Morehead City to Charlotte. Later he was trans-
ferred to the seventh district, with headquarters in
New York City, and has ever since retained his con-
nection with telegraph and telephone companies.
In July, 1866, Richard, with nine other military
telegraphers, received, by order of the Secretary of
War, as a memento of “meritorious and valuable ser-
vices,” one of the ten silver watches marked “United
States Military Telegraph " which had been used to
establish uniform time in the Army of the Potomac.
278
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE “O’BRIEN” UNDER MANY FLAGS-LAST DAYS OF
THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH-RICHARD SURREN-
DERS TO A FAIR VIRGINIAN–IN THE WAR
DEPARTMENT—GOOD-BYE TO GENERAL,
GRANT AND SECRETARY STANTON.
THER O’Briens have served under the Stars
and Stripes. The torpedo boat O'Brien was
named for a party of them headed by Jeremiah
O'Brien, who captured the first English war-ship in
the American revolution. They have fought under
the flags of Spain and Austria. Carrying the Fleur-
de-lis, in the service of France, the Irish Brigade was
commanded by one of them, Jean Charles O’Brien,
Lord Clare, at Fontenoy, and by others of the family
in all the other battles of the brigade for fifty years.
Members of the sept, rather consistent in devotion to
the sword, have been at times impartial as to the flag
they fought for. So it is not surprising that we
should have had a cousin in the Confederate army.
Captain Frank P. O'Brien, of the Third Alabama
Regiment, upheld the Stars and Bars with the tra-
ditional courage of the sons of Brian, of whom he is a
direct descendant. On detached service as chief of
scouts in North Carolina, in 1864-5, some of his
exploits rivalled those of our Cushing. One of them
279
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
was the capture of the United States mail boat Fazem
in the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, September
24th, 1864. The following account, written in 1908
by his Confederate comrade, Mr. Perry M. De Leon,
of Birmingham, Alabama, is so characteristic of
Southern eloquence and enthusiasm that I transcribe
it here:
“A brave soldier in war, a model citizen in peace,
dear to the hearts of his comrades, is Captain Frank
P. O'Brien. Enlisting at the first call to arms in 1861
as a private in the Montgomery Blues, of the famous
Third Alabama Regiment, commanded by that peer-
less soldier, Colonel Tennant Lomax, young O’Brien,
then 17 years old, received his baptism of blood in
the fights around Richmond, which cost the lives of
his noble commander and hundreds of his gallant
comrades, the very flower of Alabama's youth.
“In the Spring of 1864 it was my pleasant fortune
to be stationed with him (and among other delightful
friends, Captain Harney, the father of Mrs. Fulen-
wider of our city) at the same post, Plymouth, North
Carolina. At that time he was commander of scouts,
and I was an officer on the ironclad Albemarle. This
boat, commanded by the gallant Cooke, of North Car-
olina, owing to an accident to her machinery, failed
to reach Plymouth until the night of the first day's
fight, which cost General Hoke over 700 killed and
wounded. At about 3 A.M. the ram attacked the Fed-
eral fleet, sunk the Southfield, killed Commander
280
CAPTAIN FRANK. P. O'BRIEN, C. S. A.
Now Mayor of Birmingham, Ala.

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Flusser, and dispersed the three other vessels, convert-
ing what would have doubtless otherwise been a
disastrous reverse into a glorious victory. The next
day, his situation being hopeless, General Wessels
surrendered to us some 7,500 men and an immense
quantity of stores, munitions of war, etc.
“As commander of scouts, O'Brien was daring and
untiring, always on the go, and of the greatest value
in keeping us informed of the movements of the
enemy, who had massed a fleet of nine vessels in
Albemarle Sound, carrying 70 guns. These, our
little ram, with but two guns, later on fought to a
standstill in the Sound, narrowly escaping destruc-
tion, they really the victors, but believing themselves
whipped, having one vessel, the Sassacus, sunk, and
about two hundred men killed and wounded. In this
fight, O'Brien, a type of his fearless race, participated,
although it was an unnecessary piece of dare-deviltry,
he being a soldier and not a sailor.
“On one occasion, with two of his men, he captured
six Federal sailors, whom he caught laying torpedoes
in the mouth of the Roanoke River to blow up the
ram should she again sally out, but we knew when we
had enough. Again, alone in a canoe, O'Brien went
off on a scout, through the dark and silent waters of
eastern North Carolina, then in the possession of the
enemy. This was an enterprise of great hazard; not
only did he risk being shot by “Buffaloes” (lawless
guerrillas) who preyed on both armies, but of being
281
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
captured, and perhaps executed as a spy by the Fed-
erals. However, after some thrilling experiences, he
got back in safety, bringing valuable data and full of
a daring scheme to capture the mail steamer Fawn,
which he had learned would leave Norfolk by way of
Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, on a certain day,
with a large sum of money to pay off the Federal
troops on Roanoke Island. Colonel Wortham, who
commanded the post, and Captain Maffitt, of glorious
memory, who then commanded the Albemarle, ap-
proved; with seven of his own men, among others
Mortimer Williams, Lieutenant Shelley of the navy,
two junior officers and five sailors detailed by Maffitt,
he started on his perilous mission. It was a complete
success so far as the destruction of the steamer and
the capture of her crew and passengers were concerned,
about thirty in all, including several officers of rank.
“For this gallant deed, executed in the very heart
of the enemy's line, O'Brien was publicly thanked by
both the army and the navy, both commanders laud-
ing him in their reports to Richmond.
“Such was O'Brien in war. In peace his record as
one of the best, most progressive, public-spirited, big-
hearted citizens of Birmingham, whose progress and
prosperity he has done so much to promote, since he
settled here when she was but an unkempt hamlet,
is too well known to require further comment.
PERRY. M. DE LEON.”
282
MRs. Richard O'BRIEN

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Cousin Frank might have captured Richard in one
of his raids on the canal, as Richard traversed it both
ways, as indicated by his diary entries of April 7 and
9, 1865. But Richard was destined to surrender to a
fairer foe.
Among the gallant Virginians who, with Pickett,
reached the “high water mark” of the great charge at
Gettysburg, Captain Dick Marks was desperately
wounded. Recovering, he again, with Pickett, helped
to hold Lee's thin line in front of Richmond against
Grant's incessant blows. Meantime, his young sis-
ter, Miss Sarah Harrison Marks, descendant, on the
mother's side, of General William Henry Harrison,
ninth President, had, with a few faithful slaves, fled
before the Northern invaders from the old home near
Fort Powhatan to Petersburg, and even there one of
her trusty negroes was killed and another wounded
in her house by the bursting of shells from Grant's
guns. It chanced that Richard was able, after the
surrender, to extend some courtesy to the gallant
Captain, which introduced my brother to the lovely
sister and to ideal domestic happiness for forty years.
I remained in charge at Raleigh. Our wire was
the only first link to bind the North and South to-
gether again. Over it began to flow a tide of commer-
cial business; silent harbingers of peace. Jim Norris,
splendid operator, Raymond, and myself, taking it
from Columbia and rushing it, sixty messages an
hour, to Petersburg; or taking it from George Hen-
283
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
derson and other fast senders at Petersburg and shoving
it to Columbia as fast as the Southern boys could take
it. Other lines and routes under Richard's recon-
struction, after a time, eased up this strain, and gave
me time to enjoy the delight of living in the sunny
Southland and of learning to know some of its charm-
ing people and their traditional hospitality. I lived
in the pleasant home of Mr. Albert Johnson, who was
president of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad and one
of the most unique and interesting characters I have
ever known. He had taken the first locomotive to
North Carolina, and fifty years later he and the negro
fireman who had run it with him were conspicuous
figures in an anniversary celebration. There were
charming ladies and music there. I had my horse,
“Pet,” again. -
“Now,” asks the gentle reader, “could this stupid
boy have passed through all those romantic adventures
without an affaire du caeur?” No, there was a slender
golden thread that has run through a lifetime, and
reaches to the stars There was a cottage there, em-
bowered in roses. A giant oak stood before the door.
No other soprano voice has ever * * * *. Have you
heard Nordica sing? Her voice has a quality that
reminds me of Laura's. A tone attuned to Israfel's,
when all the stars stop to listen to his singing, would
be nearer to it. And there, I dream, she still sings:
“From out the choir within the sky.” My dear Supe-
rior Officer here warns me that only Shakespeare
284.
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
should dare brush the gossamer wings of early love.
But what did even Shakespeare know of such starry
brown eyes and lovely brown hair as Laura's 2 Nor
had Juliet or any other of his fair ladies her wit and
wisdom, her smiles and laughter. Does this seem
extravagant? Such are the dreams of youth:
“When like the rising day,
Love sends his early ray, Eileen Aroon l’”
Pronounce it Eilyeen, please.
Two nephews of Mr. Johnson returned from the
war. One had been in a Northern military prison
and showed the hard effects of captivity. He told me
this story: A Confederate soldier in the same prison
camp had preserved through all mischances a battered
silk hat, which distinguished him from other prison-
ers. They were guarded by negro soldiers, with
sentries stationed on elevated platforms about the stock-
ade. One day the man with the hat approached too
near the dead line, when a sable sentry shouted:
“Git back thar. Git back thar, yo Johnnie Reb, or
I’ll blow dat nail kag off yo haid l’”
Some fine fellows returned from Lee's army. Tall,
spare, clear-eyed young men, who had been through
it all, they looked and were as good soldiers as the
world has seen. One, who had been with Jackson in
the Stonewall brigade, told me that his regiment
went into the war with 1,600, and came out with 16
men at Appomattox. The rest had not all been killed,
285
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
but most of them had. He said that in his rapid
marches Jackson marched his “foot cavalry" forty-
five minutes per hour and rested fifteen minutes,
and when they rested he made them lie down. That,
like flanking and fighting, was “Stonewall Jackson's
way.”
Andrew Johnson was President. He had lived in
Raleigh, the house was shown me, and was expected
to be kind to the South, especially to North Carolin-
ians.
With reference to the number of soldiers of for-
eign nativity who fought in the Union army this
story was told : A “Tar-heel ” wanted to be
appointed postmaster at some little village. The test
oath was presented to him. He said, “Dunno as I
kin subscribe to those, suh.” “Well,” said the offi-
cer, “you didn’t give any aid or comfort to the
enemy, did you?” “Dunno, suh, if thar was much
aid or comfort in it, exceptin' an’ reservin', that I fit
with Uncle Robert endurin’ of the wah.”
This looked alarming, but the officer was still anx-
ious to favor a citizen of the “Good old North State,”
so he said, rather hesitatingly, “Well, you didn't kill
many Yankees, did you?” “Well, suh, I can't say
that I killed any Yankees, but I jist natchelly slayed
a right smart chance o' Dutch and Irish.”
It was curious to note, in riding about the country
in those days, how many white folks, as well as
black, had vague notions of distance. “’Bout a mile”
286
Rich ARD. O'BRIEN (2nd), AND FAMILY, INci.Udi No Richa Rio The Third

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
might mean any distance from one to five miles. “A
right smart jump,” which seemed to be a favorite
phrase, was still more indefinite.
Although the Military Telegraph Corps, as a whole,
was disbanded December 31st, 1865, a skeleton organ-
ization still remained, with a few cipher operators
retained for Government business, at important points.
I remained at Raleigh for a year and was then called
to the War Department, where Charles A. Tinker was
still chief operator, and, with George A. Maynard,
shared the telegraph work with me. The office was
in rooms adjoining those of the great War Secretary,
Edwin M. Stanton. The most important cipher work
remaining was with General Sheridan at New Orleans.
Some one connected with General Grant’s staff
invented a cipher to communicate with Sheridan,
apparently to supersede our cipher, which had been
invented by Anson Stager and improved by Tinker,
Bates and Chandler. The officer handed us, one even-
ing, a message in his cipher for Sheridan. I asked
him to take a seat for a moment, and Mr. Tinker,
stepping into the inner cipher room, glanced at the mes-
sage and saw that it was the simplest kind of a riddle;
so he deciphered it on paper, and, handing the transla-
tion to the inventor, asked him if he thought it worth
while to use a code that could be so easily made out.
The message was forwarded to Sheridan in our
cipher. As Mr. Bates has shown in his interesting
book, “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office,” there was
287
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
not much in the shape of a cryptogram that could not
be made out by one of the “Sacred Three.”
In the Fall of 1866 Mr. Tinker and myself handled
a message that, from a telegraphic point of view, was
remarkable. The Atlantic cable had been success-
fully laid. The State Department used a very cum-
brous cipher. Apparently, it consisted of taking a
dictionary, setting figures opposite the words, and
then sending the figures. This dispatch was from
Secretary of State Seward to Minister Bigelow at
Paris, and presented an appalling array of figures.
Our part was to telegraph it to New York, spelling
out the figures and taking a copy at the same time, so
that each letter could be counted. Mr. Tinker, a
first-class operator and rapid sender, transmitted it.
My part was to take it by sound from another instru-
ment and make a correct pen copy; and Hutchinson,
afterward manager of the Associated Press and one of
the best telegraphers then living, took it in the same
way in New York. It was considered somewhat of a
test. I have long forgotten the speed and time, but I
know that, for hours, Charlie Tinker kept those
sounders humming, while “Hutch,” in New York,
and I, put the stuff down with our pens and waited to
see which of us would “break" first. Supper-time
came and Tinker was still ripping away, apparently in
the middle of the message. He had taken the precau-
tion to order in some sandwiches, which we handled
with the left hand and munched while still working
288
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
away with the right. Twilight and evening came,
and still that interminable string of spelled-out figures
was humming along, but, oh, joy! At last “Hutch"
broke (asking the sender to repeat a word). That was
the only break, for either of us, in the whole affair.
The message was repeated back and every letter of
our copies found to be correct. The cable tolls for
this dispatch were nineteen thousand five hundred
and forty dollars, gold. There was a lawsuit about
the charge, which was compromised some years later.
I was in another telegraph test in Washington, be-
fore quitting that profession forever. The American
Telegraph Company, under its president, Marshall
Lefferts, instituted speed tests to determine whether
transmission could be improved in that way. Billy
Kettles, the boy who, in the military telegraph, had
received at the War Department the message announc-
ing the fall of Richmond, was the holder of the prize (a
golden telegraph key) for fast sending, at the rate of
about fifty-one words per minute, and he had been
selected to send fifty messages from the commercial
office in Washington to Plaister Cove, Nova Scotia,
which was then the cable station. This part of the
test had been made, and now the telegraph people
invited me to go down to the commercial office and
take fifty messages from Plaister Cove.
I went down from the War Department on a Sun-
day, when the boys had leisure to look on ; making it
a point of honor with Mr. Marean, the manager, who
289
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
was himself a fine operator, that no one should be
permitted to prompt me with a word, on penalty of
my quitting the test. The boys at Plaister Cove
relieved each other in sending. Some of the stuff, as
stock messages, was unfamiliar. The only interrup-
tions were occasional inquiries from Plaister Cove to
know if I was getting it, to which Marean would
reply, “send faster.” Had Billy Kettles, Jim Norris,
Morrell Marean, Bunnell, Jacques, or any of the fast
senders of the military telegraph, been sending their
inspiring music, it had been easy, but the boys at the
Cove were trying to send faster than they could, and,
at last, in a stock message, one of them flung the
word Erie (- - - - - - -) at me in the midst of a mes-
sage, in one bunch of dots (- - - - - - -). The Wash-
ington boys looked disgusted. Marean raised a warn-
ing hand and not a sound but the hum of the sounder
was uttered as I leaned back in my chair and thought
of the context for half a minute. Then the word
came to me and, dashing it down, my pen raced auto-
matically over the twenty words between it and the
sender and kept on with him. The fifty messages
were taken without a break.
In August, 1866, General Eckert had become super-
intendent of the telegraph company and moved to
New York. I had been studying the science of
electric telegraphy, and was made very proud when,
on a newly invented set of repeaters arriving at the
commercial office in Washington, and it being
290
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
reported to General Eckert that there was no one
there who could put it up, he suggested asking me to
try it. I set it up and working. The General, who
had taken Richard, Chandler, Bates and Tinker, and
many other of his best military telegraphers, with him
into the service of the telegraph company, also very
kindly offered me, when I was eighteen years old,
choice of desirable positions if I would remain in the
telegraph. But our good mother had always wished
me to be a physician. I regarded the telegraph as
only a school, though a good one; and many things
in the Civil War, association with army surgeons, the
fascination of anatomy and physiology, the hope of
saving life and relieving suffering, had inclined me to
leave the newest profession, Electricity, wherein I
knew that Richard would be the best representative
of our family, to enlist in the oldest and most philan-
thropic profession of all.
I did not wish to quit the service without a fare-
well look at General Grant, and, with that in view,
received from Colonel Wherry the following note of
introduction to Colonel Babcock, of General Grant’s
staff: Chesapeake Hall,
(Near Ft. Monroe, Va.)
Sept. 7, 1867.
COLONEL O. E. BABCOCK, A. D. C., &c.,
Headquarters Armies U. S.,
Washington, D. C.
CoLonEL: This will be handed you by Mr. John
E. O'Brien, who was for some time in charge of the
291
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Telegraph Corps at General Schofield's headquarters,
where he proved himself faithful, zealous, and effi-
cient. He is at present cipher operator in the War
Office. I commend him to you as one worthy of
your courtesy. Your obedient servant,
WM. M. WHERRY,
Brevet-Colonel U. S. A.
I never presented this kind note, but took the more
informal course of delivering a dispatch to General
Grant at his house. He was sitting alone, smoking,
on his porch, the same quiet, imperturbable figure
that he had appeared at City Point when directing
all the armies of the Union. That was my last view
of the great commander. -
When I finally resigned, Mr. Stanton called me, by
Colonel Johnson, into his private office, where even
Generals had trembled, and, shaking hands, thanked
me for my services in the military telegraph and bade
me “good-bye.” I never saw him again. The great
Secretary had been a steadfast and portentous figure,
one of the strongest pillars of the Government in the
Civil War. -
I have now given a simple story of a few incidents
of Richard's and my own observation and experience
in the military telegraph, omitting details of hardship,
sickness and danger. It may serve to slightly indicate
the service of some twelve hundred other young men,
my comrades, many of whom endured greater hard-
ships and made more costly sacrifices for the Union
than I.
292
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
I will close by saying, in brief, that the telegraph
was a potent force, a silent intelligence, which per-
vaded the whole field, synchronized the movements of
all our armies and contributed very largely to the
triumph of the Union. No such system was ever
used in war before. Its operations were little known
or noticed, except by the great commanders. The
silent wire exhibited no spectacular effect to the
superficial observer who became a historian. It could
furnish no such scenic pictures for the dramatist as
the waving flags of the picturesque signal service. Its
influence on the strategy of the war has been little
understood, and has, therefore, not been adequately
credited by military critics.
I believe that without the telegraph we would have
had a still harder task to conquer the South, with our
million of men distributed over a wider area than had
ever before formed a theatre of actual war (from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande). Not only the unity of
strategic movements, in widely separated fields,
depended on the telegraph, but the prompt and ade-
quate supply of the sinews of war—food, clothing,
ammunition—depended on its efficiency as much as
the civil business of the country now depends on the
Western Union and the Postal systems. All these
splendid systems—the military telegraph and the com-
mercial telegraphs—owe their triumphs largely to
the same head, General Thomas T. Eckert, and his
former lieutenants of the military telegraph.
293
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
The statement that over 15,000 miles of lines were
constructed in the field is official. It appears in
Stanton's last report to Congress. Millions of import-
ant dispatches were flashed from point to point.
Timely reënforcements, concerted action, often hung
on the continuity of the wire. My twelve hundred
comrades were skilful, faithful and brave. Their
Iliad is unsung; but they served and suffered on the
battlefield, at their posts in Southern swamps, in Con-
federate prisons, in heroic expeditions through the
enemy's lines. And the pathos, humor and patriot-
ism of their lives, and the romance of their environ-
ment, might form a worthy theme to inspire the pen
of poet or historian. -
Although they were younger men than the aver-
age soldier, there are but one-fifth of their number
now alive. - -
When the last one severs his earthly circuit and
answers the final call, let this be said of the whole
corps, that “not one of its members failed in his
duty.” -
294
John EMMET O’BRIEN, M. D.

CHAPTER XIX.
SOUTHERN TELEGRAPHERS AND SOME OF THEIR
EXPLOITS.
HOUGH the Confederates had not an organized
military telegraph with their armies, they had
the faithful service of the Southern commercial and
railroad telegraphers throughout the war, and, as the
movements of the armies in nearly all the campaigns
were within their own territory, the civil railroads
and telegraphs served them well.
It is interesting to note what happened at Antietam
and at Gettysburg to Lee's splendid fighting machine,
the Army of Northern Virginia, in the two campaigns
of invasion when it came into Northern territory, and
to speculate on how much the lack of a military tele-
graph figured in the defeats, to which that army had
been, until then, unaccustomed on its own ground.
It appears that the want of coördination in the move-
ments of Lee's columns, and his ignorance of the
whereabouts of his cavalry under Stuart, precipitated
the battle of Gettysburg at a point which he would
not have chosen, and that, in the actual climax of the
battle, the wings of his army attacked separately and
not together. Therefore, it seems logical to suppose
that if Lee had had a military telegraph, such as ours,
295
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
or like that by which the Germans afterwards moved
their separate columns in the Franco-Prussian War of
1870, he might have been able to avoid Gettysburg or
select more favorable ground for the battle, and, in
the actual fight, to have attacked with all his forces
synchronously. I do not intimate that the final
result of the battle, much less of the war, would have
been different, for there was the Army of the Poto-
mac | Books have been filled with theories and
alleged reasons why Lee lost the battle of Gettys-
burg, but it has always seemed to me that the best
explanation was that of the Texan-Confederate vet-
eran, who said something like this : “I was thar,
fighting under Uncle Robert endurin’ of the battle.
I was in Pickett's charge, and it was my opinion at
the time, and I’ve seen no reason to change it since,
that the reason we lost the battle of Gettysburg was
on account of them damn Yankees.”
The civil telegraphers of the South were, on
account of the importance of their telegraph service,
exempted from military duty in the Confederate army,
and had their loyalty to the Confederacy wavered it
was liable to be stimulated by the threat of conscrip-
tion into the army. -
One of the earliest labor union movements in this
country was started by the commercial telegraphers
of the South in the Fall of 1863, with objects start-
lingly like those so familiar in all lines of labor now
regarding pay, hours, strikes and boycotts. Let us
296
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
see how the Southern Confederacy dealt with the
movement at its capital, Richmond, Virginia.
Mr. James T. Cassidy, a Southern telegrapher, at
that time, says: “A lieutenant and squad of infantry
marched down Main Street to the Southern Tele-
graph Company's main office, halted his squad outside
on the sidewalk, and walked into the office.
“The affable, polished, gentlemanly William
Anderson waited on the lieutenant at the counter, and
the following conversation took place:
“Lieutenant: ‘Is Mr. Charles A. Gaston in P’
“Anderson : “No sir. I believe he is working in
Augusta, Georgia office.” (Gaston was said to be the
head of the union.) -
“Lieutenant: ‘Is Mr. W. D. S. Anderson in 2'
“Anderson : ‘Yes, sir. That is my name.’
“Lieutenant: ‘Is Mr. Lee Jackson in 2’
“Anderson : ‘No, sir. I think he is working at
Fort Malvern.”
“Several others were then named, and called to the
COunter.
“Lieutenant: “Gentlemen, I have an order from
the commander of Camp Lee for your arrest; please
put on your coats and hats and come at once with
me.” The operators smiled at each other, wondering
what was the trouble, and filed out of the office door.
“Lieutenant (turning to the squad): ‘Attention.
Carry arms.” (Turning to the operators): “Gentle-
men, please fall in line, about face, march.”
297
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“They marched out to Camp Lee, about four
miles. The commander was not there, having an
engagement that evening elsewhere. The operators
were placed in the guard-house for the night. Early
the next morning they were brought before the com-
mander, who lectured them severely on the absurdity
of such a thing as a telegraphers' strike at such a
time, when so much depended upon them, appealing to
their manhood, as the enemy were at our very doors.
He told them plainly that if any further action was
taken towards a strike, he would conscript every
one of them and see that they were placed in the
ranks and that each one carried a musket. All
promised to be good and the strike was over. They
were then discharged by the commanding officer, who
requested them to return to their duties. That was
the last heard of the first telegraphers' strike.”
Many of the Southern operators performed individual
military telegraphic duty, being stationed at military
posts or headquarters; and some of them accompanied
commands in the field, or raiding expeditions into and
through our lines, as did Operator Whitthorne with
Forrest, the great Confederate cavalryman, and Ells-
worth with Confederate Colonel John Morgan in his
audacious raids through Kentucky, Indiana and
Ohio. The individual work of some of these South-
ern boys was so clever and important, and it required
so much skill, courage and audacity, that I am glad
to compare it favorably with the exploits of our own
298
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
boys of the United States Military Telegraph, and am
now proud to claim the work of both sides as all
American.
Elsewhere in this book is mentioned the remark-
able wire-tapping exploit of Charles A. Gaston, in the
service of the Confederates, on our James River line,
in the rear of Grant's army, during the siege of Peters-
burg, which resulted in the great cattle raid of
General Wade Hampton's Confederate Cavalry. It is
believed that this was not the only military telegraph
service of young Gaston, but that he served with Lee's
lieutenants at other points around Richmond and
Petersburg, and was even in the immediate confidence
of General Lee, himself.
As showing the interchange of civil and military
service of these Southern telegraphers, I quote further
from the interesting reminiscences of Mr. Cassidy,
who appears to have been working at Petersburg,
Virginia, at the end of 1863:
“Within a few weeks I was ordered to Lynchburg
* * * *. I was next ordered to Goldsboro, North
Carolina, at General Whiting's headquarters * * * *.
A few weeks later I transferred my services to Wil-
mington, North Carolina " + + +. After a few
weeks I was ordered back to Richmond, stopping at
Weldon, North Carolina. Here I found orders to
report to Stony Creek, Virginia, at General Wade
Hampton's headquarters. On my arrival there the
General had left in the morning in hot pursuit of
299
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
General Kautz's United States Cavalry, who had
raided the railroad and destroyed the telegraph wires
and railroad tracks. I thereupon returned to Weldon,
taking the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, intending to
reach Richmond, via Raleigh and Greensboro, North
Carolina, over the Richmond and Danville Railroad.
At Raleigh I called at the Southern Express Tele-
graph Company’s office, Rufus B. Bullock, president.
(After the close of the war Mr. Bullock was elected
Governor of Georgia.) John C. Courtney was super-
intendent; Bowling W. Stark and John Bragg
(nephew of General Braxton Bragg, Confederate
States Army), operators. Every wire north was cut,
and not a single circuit was working to Richmond.
Superintendent Courtney asked me to go to Charlotte,
North Carolina, and help him out there, as Richmond
was well surrounded by General U. S. Grant's army,
and it was doubtful if I could get through the lines.
I went to Charlotte, where I worked for a few days,
when I left for Richmond. I arrived at Burkesville
Junction, fifty miles south of Richmond, where James
Harris was manager. Here the trains were tied up
on account of General Kautz's raids, which had
destroyed the tracks and the telegraph lines. Three
or four days afterwards I reached Richmond, where I
began working a double-trick, one for the Southern
Telegraph Company, and one in the general superin-
tendent's office of the Richmond and Danville Rail-
road.
300
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
“I was called upon frequently to make trips to
Petersburg, a distance of twenty-two miles, to help
out. On one occasion, before leaving for Petersburg,
I bought a new suit of gray clothes for which I had
to pay $400 in Confederate money, the supply and
demand ruling. Printing presses were running freely,
but cloth was scarce.
“On another occasion I was ordered to Petersburg,
and on reaching that place I found the shelling of the
town going on furiously from the Union batteries,
and a cannon ball passed through a room in the hotel
near the one I was occupying.
“At this time, Lee's army having been reduced to a
mere skeleton, with no resources to draw on, and
General Grant pressing him hard on all sides with
the world to supply his wants, the great struggle
appeared to me to be rapidly drawing to a close.
“Operator Edward Smith accompanied General
Lee on his retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox,
after the battles with General Grant at Chancellors-
ville, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and other places.
I recall vividly the evacuation of the city of Rich-
mond, Sunday, April 2, 1865. I had worked part of
the day at the key in the main telegraph office. A
telegram from General Lee at Petersburg, to President
Jefferson Davis, was received by another operator in
the forenoon to prepare to evacuate the city at once.
Preparations on the inside commenced during the
afternoon; heavily loaded wagons, each pulled by
301
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
four-mule teams, were hauling the treasure and gov-
ernment archives down Main Street, passing the tele-
graph office en route to the Danville railroad depot.
The people generally did not know what was going
on.”
Mr. Cassidy then gives a vivid description of the
scenes in Richmond during the evacuation, and the
entrance of the United States colored troops, which is
too long to be quoted here. (See Telegraph Age,
July 1, 1900.) But I cannot resist the temptation to
quote his description of his last sight of General Lee:
“General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, April 9,
1865. Two or three days later I was walking down
Seventh Street towards Main Street, and passing
across Franklin Street, I saw General Lee with his
staff officers, riding up Franklin from Ninth Street, to
his Richmond residence between Seventh and Eighth
Streets. They had just arrived from Appomattox.
He dismounted in front of his residence, one of the
staff taking the bridle of his horse. He immediately
walked across the sidewalk into the low iron gate,
turned around, saluted his staff, then lifted his hat,
without speaking a word, bowed to the crowd of
about one hundred people who had recognized him on
entering the city, noble looking and dignified as ever,
and walked into his front door, alone. That was
probably the last time he ever wore the Confederate
uniform.” -
Mr. Cassidy was soon given employment by
302
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Mr. J. H. Emerick, who had taken Richard O'Brien's
place as chief operator, Army of the James, when we
were sent with General Schofield on the North Caro-
lina campaign.
In July, 1862, Colonel John Morgan, with a brigade
of Confederate cavalry and George Ellsworth, tele-
grapher, made his first remarkable raid through our
territory in Kentucky, the results of which he, with
some bravado and exaggeration, summed up in one of
a number of audacious telegrams which Ellsworth
sent to Union men over Northern wires, as follows:
Somerset, July 22, 1862.
HON. GEO. W. DUNLAP,
Washington, D. C.
Just completed my tour through Kentucky; cap-
tured seventeen cities, destroyed millions of dollars'
worth of United States property. Passed through
your county, but regret not seeing you. We paroled
fifteen hundred Federal prisoners.
Your old friend,
JOHN H. MORGAN,
Commanding Brigade.
In this raid Morgan traversed nearly a thousand
miles, mostly in (our) the enemy's country, in twenty-
four days, and owed his success in dodging superior
forces, largely to the skill and ingenuity with which
Ellsworth kept our detachments in confusion, by
means of bogus telegrams and information which he
dealt out to them over the wires, with superb audacity.
He began operations by tapping the wire, between
stations, on the Louisville and Nashville road, and
303
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
intercepting orders from General Boyle, commanding
at Louisville, to the forces at Bowling Green, which
orders directed the very movements intended to cap-
ture Morgan's force. Ellsworth then sent a bogus
message purporting to be from Stanley Matthews,
provost marshal at Nashville, to Henry Dent, provost
marshal at Louisville, describing an alleged attack by
Confederate General Forrest on Murfreesboro, routing
the Union forces and moving on Nashville. This was
on July 10th. Two days later, Ellsworth established
himself on the line at Lebanon, fooled the operators
at Lebanon Junction, got all the information Morgan
wanted, and repeated his scheme of bogus telegrams
successfully.
One of his telegraphic swindles was to capture a
Northern operator at his station, and, at the mouth of
a revolver, compel him to ask a question over the
wire, so that Ellsworth could discover and success-
fully imitate that operator's telegraphy, and assume
the prisoner's identity to carry on conversation over
the wire, or in sending bogus telegrams. He got the
name of a station from which an operator was talking
by telling him a gentleman present bet the oper-
ator could not spell it correctly, whereupon the opera-
tor cheerfully spelled out L-e-b-a-n-o-n J-u-n-c-t-i-o-n.
In reminiscences which Ellsworth published after
the war, he says:
“Again I answered, and received the following
message:
304
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
‘Lexington, July 15, 1862.
“TO GENERAL FINNELL, Frankfort:
‘I wish to move the forces at Frankfort, on the line
of the Lexington Railroad, immediately, and have the
cars follow and take them up as soon as possible.
Further orders will await them at Midway. I will, in
three or four hours, move forward on the Georgetown
Pike. Will have most of my men mounted. Morgan
left Versailles this morning at 7 o'clock, with eight
hundred and fifty men, on the Midway road, moving
in the direction of Georgetown.
‘(Signed) BRIGADIER-GENERAL WARD.’
“This being our position and intention exactly, it
was thought proper to throw General Ward on some
other track; so, in the course of half an hour, I manu-
factured and sent the following dispatch, which was
approved by General Morgan :
‘Midway, July 16, 1862.
‘TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WARD, Lexington :
“Morgan, with upwards of one thousand men, came
within a mile of here, and took the old Frankfort
road, bound, as we suppose, for Frankfort. This is
reliable. (Signed) Woolums, Operator.”
“In about ten minutes, Lexington again called
Frankfort, when I received the following:
‘Lexington, July 16, 1862.
‘TO GENERAL FINNELL, Frankfort:
“Morgan, with one thousand men, came within a
mile of here, and took the old Frankfort road. This
dispatch received from Midway, and is reliable. The
regiment from Frankfort had better be recalled.
‘(Signed) GENERAL WARD."
305
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
“I receipted for this message, and again manufac-
tured a message to confirm the information General
Ward had received from Midway, and not knowing
the tariff from Frankfort to Lexington, I could not
send a formal message, so, appearing greatly agitated
I waited until the circuit was occupied, and “broke
in,' telling them to wait a minute, and commenced
calling Lexington. He answered with as much gusto
as I called him. I telegraphed as follows:
‘FRANKFORT TO LEXINGTON :
“Tell General Ward our pickets are just driven in.
Great excitement. Pickets say the force of the enemy
must be two thousand. (Signed) OPERATOR.’
“It was now 2 P.M., and General Morgan wished to
be off to Georgetown. I ran a secret ground connec-
tion, and opened the circuit on the Lexington end.
This was to leave the impression that the Frankfort
operator was skedaddling, or that Morgan's men had
destroyed the telegraph. We arrived at Georgetown
about sundown. I went to the telegraph office; found
it locked; enquired for the operator (Smith), who
was pointed out to me. After tea I put in my own
instruments. After listening an hour or two at the
Yankees talking, I opened the conversation, as fol-
lows, signing myself “Federal Operator’: TO LEx-
INGTON.—‘Keep mum. I am in the office reading by
the sound of my magnet in the dark. I crawled in
306
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
when no one saw me. Morgan's men are here,
camped on Doctor Gano's place.” To GEORGETown
—‘Keep cool. Don't be discovered. About how
many rebels are there?' To LExENGTON.—‘I don’t
know. I did not notice, as Morgan's operator was
asking me about my instruments. I told him I sent
them to Lexington. He said, “Damn the luck,” and
went out.” TO GEORGETOWN–“Be on hand and
keep us posted.’ To LEXINGTON.—‘I will do so.
Tell General Ward I will stay up all night, if he
wishes.” TO GEORGETOWN–“Mr. Fulton wishes to
know if the rebels are there.” To CINCINNATI—
‘Yes, Morgan's men are here.” TO GEORGETown—
‘How can you be in the office, and not be arrested?'
TO CINCINNATI—‘Oh, I am in the dark, and am
reading by the magnet.” To GEORGETown—‘Where
is your assistant P’ I replied, “Don’t know.” Lexing-
ton then asked me, ‘Have you seen him to-day ?? I
replied “No." That was the last telegraphing I could
do in Georgetown, as it exposed the fraud, the opera-
tor having no assistant.”
I have here attempted to give only a slight indica-
tion of Ellsworth's exploits. They may be found
more fully recounted in Plum’s “History of the Mili-
tary Telegraph.”
Ellsworth, who was a Canadian boy, remained in
the telegraph profession and died at the key while
307
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
sending a train order on the Missouri Pacific, some
years after the war.
As soon as Lee and Johnston surrendered, many of
the Southern operators applied to us for employment.
Finding them splendid fellows and good material,
Richard employed several of them in North Carolina
and Virginia. Among these Southern gentlemen
were Mr. David S. Ryan, at Goldsboro; John W.
Brown, Wilmington; Nat Topping, New Berne;
Duncan, at Greensboro, and others.
After Richard was returned to Virginia and I
remained in charge at Raleigh, North Carolina, I was
intimately associated, personally and over the wires,
with all these gentlemen, and those mentioned by Mr.
Cassidy, and, from acquaintance with them, formed a
very high and pleasant regard for Southern courtesy
and manliness.
Some of the Southern telegraphers performed other
service than telegraphy, sometimes at great personal
hazard, for the Confederacy. Mr. R. O. Crowley, for
may years secretary to the general superintendent of
the Western Union Telegraph Company at Atlanta,
Georgia, was, in the Civil War, electrician, with a
force of about fifty men in the Confederate torpedo
service,” and, by an interesting coincidence, most of
his fine work was done in positions immediately
*See Century Magazine, June, 1898.
308
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
fronting Richard and myself, in James River and
Cape Fear River.
Though mining and countermining, in siege opera-
tions, were almost as old as gunpowder, torpedoes
were then a novelty in war, and the ingenuity of the
Confederates in developing them, handicapped as they
were by the extreme scarcity of all the materials
necessary for their construction, especially electrical
essentials, was only equalled by their courage and
daring in a service involving unusual danger. In the
South it was understood that the Federal authorities
considered this service outside the pale of honorable
warfare, and might hang any one engaged in it, if
captured.
After preliminary experiments, early in 1862, in
James River, below Richmond, Mr. Crowley, in the
Fall of that year, planted three torpedoes containing
one hundred and fifty pounds of powder each, in the
Rappahannock below Port Royal, and taking them up
to save the wire, in anticipation of the battle of Fred-
ericksburg, he was captured by Kilpatrick's Cavalry
on the raid on Richmond, mentioned in a previous
chapter, and, though Mr. Crowley had a paper signed
Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, and countersigned by
Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confed-
eracy, attesting his regular service and offering to
exchange any captured general for him, in case of his
309
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
capture, he preferred to take the risk of appearing as
a civilian to our General Kilpatrick, and, in that
character, escaped.
He next placed torpedoes, each containing one
thousand pounds of powder, in the James River near
Drewry's Bluff, about five miles below Richmond, one
of which damaged a Federal gunboat; and, at Deep
Bottom, about five miles above Bermuda Hundred, he
anchored some two-thousand-pound torpedoes, one of
which destroyed the Federal gunboat Commodore
Jones, with her crew, in Butler's advance, in 1864.
All these torpedoes were exploded by electricity and
required explosive fuses, insulated wires and chemical
batteries, concealed on shore, with men to watch for
(our) the enemy's boats and close the electrical circuit
at the critical moment.
When General Butler and Admiral Porter made the
futile attack on Fort Fisher, Mr. Crowley's attentions
were transferred to that point, and by the time Terry
had superseded Butler and was ready to make the
final attack, Crowley had anchored seven two-thous-
and-pound torpedoes in the channel of Cape Fear
River with battery in a bomb-proof, and wires car-
ried to it. This information was conveyed to the
Union fleet by a deserter, and saved them, Mr. Crow-
ley thinks, from serious disaster. He also planted a
number of lighter torpedoes in the sand on the land-
310
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
ward side of Fort Fisher, but the heavy shells of
Porter's fleet in bombarding the fort, tore up the wires
and rendered these torpedoes useless.
Mr. Crowley planted other thousand-pound torpe-
does in the Cape Fear River, between Fort Fisher
and Wilmington, and they, with perhaps other
mechanical torpedoes contributed by the Confederate
army, were the articles that disturbed my slumbers at
General Schofield's headquarters on the Spaulding, as
noted in a previous chapter.
It would be impossible, in a book of mere reminis-
cences, to name all the gallant Southerners who
deserve mention in connection with the military tele-
graphy of the Civil War. I have attempted only to
give a few instances of their exploits, as specimens
merely of what was done on their side of the conflict.
I cannot refrain, however, from mentioning two gen-
tlemen who were at the head of telegraphic affairs in
the South, Doctor William S. Morris, president, and
Mr. J. B. Tree, general superintendent of the Ameri-
can Telegraph Company lines, which, as I have inti-
mated, were handled for the Confederacy as if they
were part of a military telegraphic system. At the
outbreak of the war the name of this company was
changed to the Southern Telegraph Company, and
Doctor Morris, who had been a director of the former,
was made president of the latter, with headquarters at
311
TELEGRAPHING IN BATTLE
Richmond, Virginia, where Mr. Tree also was sta-
tioned during the latter half of the war, and devoted
exceptional energy and enterprise to the maintenance
of these Southern lines and their usefulness to the
Confederacy for military purposes.
The only other telegraph companies of importance
then in the South were the Southwestern Telegraph
Company, of which Doctor Norvin Green was presi-
dent, and John Van Horne, general superintendent,
and the Southern Express Company, Rufus B. Bul-
lock, president, which had a telegraph line from
Raleigh, North Carolina, to Augusta, Georgia.
The Confederate Government, early in the war,
assumed nominal control of all telegraph lines.
THE END.
312
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