Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 14, 1892, Page 2

2 un"l‘nnlmd the science of war among eivillzed jon: In no dopartment was this truer than in the methoas for waintaining communication ‘between co-operating forces,and theachieve- nents of the military telegraph corps shed & deless luster on American genius and American manhood. Tbe government for which its members imperiled life, iimb and Niberty has been steangoiy tardy in showing come sign of gratitude, but the glory of their atriotic service, without a precedent in the iistory of the world, hus received the high- est tribute in other lands, for overy great na- tion with a standing army has organized a telegraph corps based on the experience and the suceoss of the American men—yes, and the American boys—who made tho electric svark speak with & thousaud voices and fly pn the wings of the lightuing, swifter than Jever sped Mercury with message of the Rods. Americans Teach the World, Up to tho time of the American war the best menns for communication fa the army was by mounted horsemen, and the necessi ties of the service, when inany forces were engaged, made an enormous draft on the cavalry for both men and horsos. It 1s true that a military telegraph lino was first erocted during the Crimean war of 18545, but 1t was usod for communication betveon the headquarters of the allied besiegers end not for tactical purposes, playing a very in- siguificant part 1n the conduct of the cam- paign. Ifforis were made in India, Italy and Alglers, some of them ludicrous and none ex- tonsive, to use the telegraph in campaigniug, but these were not remarkably successful nnd may be rogarded as ravher experimontal. The Americans, thersfore, had no zuide, and they developed the military telegraph 48 ne- cessity aictated.and thelr genius wrought to meet emergencies, The Corps Begun Without Design. . When Sumter was firad on and it vas ap- parent that war was inevitable, it becams necessary 1o mass troops and svpplies at Washington. Simon Cameron, secretary of war, called on Thomas Scott of the Penasyl- vania ral'voad for ndvice and assistance, and ho called in ' Androw Carnegio, now the millionaire ironmaster of Pittsburg, but then superintendent of the Pittsbure division ot the Penusylvania, to take immediate chargo of the military railronds and tole- grophs. Kobel sympathizers haa cut thie wires between Baltimore and Washington, and one of the first things Scott did was to ond four oxpert operators from his _road. 'hoy were David Strouse, D.,H. Bates, Samuel M. Brown and Richard O'Brien. They reported at Washineton April 27, 1861, wand thus accidentally, as it were, becamo the nucleus from which the telegraph corps grew. Carnogie's railroad duties increased 30 rapidly tht Strouse was soou directed to take charge of the telegraphs. Unjustly Denled w Military Status, The north was 8o thoroughly imbued with tho idea that the war was a matter of only a fow months’ duration that the telegraph corps was formed in % haphazard sort of a way. For more than six months it had neither organization nor offi- el head. Thero was no law for its exlstence, Aind no act was ever passed to give it a legal or a wihtary standing, a fact which shoutd be borno in mind in reviewing the remarkable history of this corps, The members of the signal corps held & military rank, but the telegraohers, though infinitely mora serviceable, were traated as eivilians, Orginized on w Civil Footing. After six months of unorganized action Secretary Camevon determined to give the telegraph corps form, and he called Anson tager to Washinzton to take churge of it. Goneral Stager submitted a plan of organiza- tion, which provided that the corps should bo under the direction of the secreta It provided thatquartermasters and their ns- wistants should furnish members of the corps with transportation, subsistence and forage. ‘The plan was approved and Stager appointed goveral manager, subject, only to tho secre- tary of war. Legal Obstacles to Gotting Rations, Stugor did not propose a militars rank for any member of the corps, and the giving of a commission was not, considered until Quar- tormaster General Meigs insisted that he could not lezaily honor Stager’s requisitions for money aud supplics. The president thoreupon appoiuted Stager assistunt general quartermaster with the rank of captain and Lo was by spocial order assigned to duty us general manager of the telegraph system. Quartermasters at distant pownts bsgan complaining that there was no legal warrant for filling the orders of Stager's civilian superintendents and he surmounied that diffieuity by securing commissions for his istants as follows: Major Thomas Kckert, Department of tne Potomac; Cap- tan 1. B. A. David, Department of West Virginia; Captain Samuel Bruch, Department. _of Ohio; Captain Ran- dall P. Waoge, purchasing agent; Captain Charles H. Bulkley, Department of tne Gulf; Caotain George H. Smith, Depart. ment of Missouri; Captain William' G. Ful- ler, Dopartment of Tennessee; Captain John C. 'Van Duses, Department of Cumberland; Captain Willlam L. Gross, Department of Ohlo; Captain Lemuel £. Sheldon, Depart- ment of the South; Captain James R. Gil- more, Department of the South. Stager himself was promoted to a coloneley and at- tached as aido-de-camp 1o the secretary of war. “In these arrangements,” says William R. Plum, president of the Army Telegraphers soclely, *'the operator who braved nearly all the dangers incident to the service was left & mere oiviliun, only a quartermaster's em- ploye, liable = to draft, his sulary taxed, and he, surrounded by tho paraphernalia of war, to the condact of which he was so essentinl, was without rank, name or position, subject to the unkind outs 'of the envious, biit thoroughly aporoci- ated by the presiaent, his cabinet and the generais.” Buil Run Reported by Wire, The first purely military line counected the navy-yard with the War department in April, 1861, “As troops reached Washington their camps were similarly connected with tho War department, and when they moved ucross the Potomac into Dixie the'wire followed in thelr wake, The first important engagement in which it figured was the battle of Bull Run. The tele h nad reached Fairfax Court Hovse, within ten miles of the battle- field, and it was arranged that couriers should leave overy fifteen minutes for the oftice ui that poiut with news of the engage- ment. W. 3. Wilson, who was stationed at the War department office, gives tho follow- ing graphic description of the nows: “In the telegraph ofiice at the War depart- mont throughout Sunday, July 21, 1861, were congregated the president, mostof his cabinet, General Scotts staff ofticers, Colonel Thomas A. Scott and other celebrities of the nation with maps of the field before thew, wateh- g, us it were, the conflict of arms as it pro- gressed. Hour aftor hour, as the couriers reported our troops steadily forcing tho onemy back, hopes beat hign, expectation, satisfaction was discornible on every brow. and the cheers of our patriotic soldivry as they fought Lravely on wore responded 1o in tho hearts of all pre.ent. Suddenly, us the sbades of eveuing were falling on apace, a 1ull oceurred. Liring could not be beara by the corps of observation, rived at Fairfax. What could e the mat- terl The most vlausible reason advanced was that our army, now victorious, was resting after the hard fiehting of that hot summer day. KEvery 1ow mioutes Fairfax was sigualed but only to receive from tho operator the stereotyped reply of no nows,' Au hour was oxpended when, like the quick flash of lLightuing and the stunuing crush of thunder, came those chilling words, ‘Our army 1s in full retreat.’ The signals now be- camo more froquent, rapid and oxzited. The reLroa 0 resolvea itself into a perfect rout, andas the telograph renorted to those around it asserbled the terrivle scenes and heartrending stories of suffering during that nover-10-be-forgotten night all seemed to feol that the hour of the nation's greatest perll had arrived and clung wstinetively around the cool, olear-visioned prosident, loowlneg to bim for succor.” Wonderful Achlevements of the Corp The telegraph corps grow with the army, and during tho war it had 1,200 operators, and about as many builders and repairers. About one in twelve of these is known to baro been killed, wounded or taken trl-on-r and as uo suthentio records were ept it is thought the wectual numbers of BuCh viotims was early twice us groat as is known. ‘The corps constructed 15,380 miles talegraph, and sent wbout 6,500,000 telegrarms, Many of these were vory loag, and the wost Important were put luto dificult oiphers. e great MajoriLy of Lhoso Operators Were boys, rangiug from sixteen (o twenty-oue ears Of age. After some conlention wn the fore part of Lhe war, thoy were made the sole sustodians of the cipher keys, & confidence whien was deoied even staff otiicers, and the loyuity of \uese brave Loys 1s utiesied most No couriers ar- eloquently by the fact that no member of the corps ever betrayed bls secret. Without Precedent in History. Tho members of this telegraph oorps, ploneers in the new art of was, unhonore d and unsung, performed marvels withont precadent in history, but the world has only the faintest conception of tneir matchle: ser vice. When Shorman was floundering in the swamps of the Carolinas he was in hourly communication with Grant, 1,59) miles away as the wires rau, and he proudly and truly boasted that the like of this achievement was never known 1in the ages before the American war. When MeCielland sat down about Alexan- dria _the wire from Washington in- to Delaware was extended to Cape Charles, and a tweniy-mile cable across Chesapeake bay brought Koriress Monroe into communication with the capital. When Littlo Mac moved on to Yorkiown the wires went with him and_kept him in touch with evory department of the army of the republic. T'hey followea him into the forests and the morasses of the Chickahominy, and by night and by day kept him informed of events hundrods of miles away. Fought a Battle by Telegraph, The flold telograph had its first practical test ut Gaines Mills and saved the federal army from utter rout. Jesse Buanoll, in falling back from an sdvanced post to Gaines Mills, missed his rou's, Ho ran across a telograph line, Goneral Porter wuas hard pressed, and o line of battle was being formed within a huudred vurds of the operator. He tanbped the wire, sat down in the shade of a tree and began calling McUlelland’s operator. [fortunately thare was & respouse. Tho commander was informed of the situation. He orvdered Bunnell to hold his place and draw into his ser. vice the first orderlies passing that way. Bunnell sat_under fire hour after hour, re- porting to McClelland every turn in the battle and recsiving orders for the com- manders engaged whils the buliets whistled through the trees and the blood of killed and wounded orderlies spattered his clothing and stained his, dispatches, Little Mac fought the battle by telegraph, and the wire and the brave operator saved the day. Tho wires followed MeDowell to Frod- ericksburg, Banks up the Shenandonh, Fre- wout_into tho Alleghauies and Pope' from Cedar mountains to Chantilly. In tho west they accompanied Foote to Fort Honry and Grant to Donolson. False telograms “over confedorate wires enabled Mitchell to capture valuable troins and menaco Corinth and Chattanooga, Halleck's fleld wires reported every move of the enomy during the advauce on Corinth. _The tolez- raphers went with Grant into Mississippi, aud their lines carried the order to Sheriau to leavo Memphis ana move oa 10 Vicksburg by water. These are but examples of innumerable oases 10 which tho telegraph corps rendored invaluable service, It forstold dauges hastened subpiies, brought up reinforce- ments and kept co-operatiug forces in con- stunt, communication though separated by huundreds or thousandas of miles. Ready for Any Desperate Servico, Glven a handful of hardtack, a cantsen of water, pipe, tobaceo and 05, its mem- bers 'were always ready to go wher- ever ordered and remain o duty aight and day, with the sky for their only reof, mother earth their softest couch and a tree stump their only office, They promptly responded to calls for operators to o into the euemy's lives and tap his wires, and many thus took desperato chancos of baing captured aud hanged or shot as spies. In this manneor, hidden away iu lonely forests, they secursd much important information aboutconfederute movements. In every one of the southera stutos they accowm- pauied foderal raiders and tapped the enemy’s wires, often with valuable results, Operators were frequently kept on du many successivo days and nights until ex- hausted, making_them an oasy proy to southern fovors. More than ouw of them, shaking with fever, lay down with his car t0 the instrument and wrote with teembling hands dispatches whose secret, he would trust to no one else, Many a timo a boyish operator was loft at his post aftor the soldiers had rotroated, and he kept somo_distant officer advised of the approach of the enemy unfil some such mes- sage as *‘Goodby, the Johnnies are coming,”” was followed by a portentous silenco. Or he mav have sent somo news of unexpected disaster, as in the case of Operator Nicholas, who warned Grant of the impending do: straction of his immense stores at Holly Springs. Miss., by laconically wiring: “Goodby, Van Dorn is coming. Devil only knows what will become of me. Here they are." \ An Ungrateful Republic. Strange to say, tho members of the mli- tary telegraphers corps never received so much asa “thank you” from the govern- ment they scrved so bravely and so lovally. Though an integral and vitally essential part of te army, sworn to fidelity, anda subject to e ' hazards and bardships of the soldiery, they were dented a military status by the action of Secrotacy Stauton, who believed they could give therr country beitor sovvice il kept free from the inter- ference of modalesomo officers. The dispateners in the signal corps were rauked s oficers and received spacial re- wards at th ose of the war. With the ex- coption of their ofticers, the telegraphers re- tired from tho servico without rank, roward or recoguition. They were simply told to quit and o, and their names wore taken off the payroll. They had not so much as a dis- churge paper to hand down to their children s an evideuce of the honorable part they vore. Muny of them were drawn from the ranks of the soldiers, some of theid agaiust their will, and ex- at that early = stage in phy wero so scarce thst the secretary of war issuola special order oxempting operators from conscription, Organized for Justice. Sixteen years after the war closed the survivors of this remarkaole corps organized the Sccloty of the United States Military capli corps for the avowed pui securing from the unation a recogaition of their military service,some tangivle evidence of their share in America's glory. At fivst a bill was introduced’in congress giving the telegraphers military rank assimi- lated to that of army oftioers, drawing like pay and permitting them pension und hoine- stead privileges. Since 1580 thoy bave asked for pension or bounty. Thoy den simply an act decluring that they were an integral vart of the army and grant- ing thom an honorablo discharge, thus giviog to the world tangible evideucs of thoir patriotism. The Grand Avmy of the Republic and many of the famous generals of the war have declared that tho telesraph corps was essontially o part of the army, nod the action asked of congress would bo merely @ recogaition of a fact that actually existed. Six times have congressional committees made favorable reports on approved meas- ures, but in each case some obstacle bas pre- ventea tho desired legislation. Tne most expest memoers of the corps wero stationed in t-o War department, They were not ouly required to bo first-class senders and roliable receivers, but also ex- cellent penmen, becauso tho dispatches re- ceived were all writien in ink aud copied in letter presses. The War department offico handled ull messuges of President Liucoln, Se tary Stanton, the secretary of the navy and all wiembers of tho cabinet, and aiso all mossages directed to the commandar-in-ohief of tho uriny when stationed at Washington. ‘These dispatches were delivered by cavalry orderlies, who were subject to call night and duy. Among the memoers of the corps sta- tioned at the War deparument offico and now in Omaun are: J. H. Bunueil, J. H. Nicholls, (George W. Nwil, E. Rosewator, H, H. Mat- lock and J. H. Emerick, TA0MAS " EUKERT, Au Encly Tolographer Who Socums Asslst- ant Seoretary of War, The nurae of Thomas Phompson Eckert, the present vice president and general mau- ager of the Western Uaion Telograph com- pany, bas been prominently associated with the history of telegraphy for Lie past forty years. Mr. Kckort is ono of those men who, baving bogun as & common operator, have pushed their way to high aad responsible positions in the tolegraph service. He was born at St Clairsville, O., in 1825, His first experience in wlegraphy was in 1840, whan he wes appointed postmuster at Wooster, O. Haviog learnea telegraphy duriug the previous year, be opened the xnt Wsul telegraph service = by receiviog & ado wire iv his office. 1o bad not remained in this position long before his activity and enterprise attracted the attention of J. H, Wade, afterward oune of Cleveland's wealthlest eiti- #ens, who was then exiendiug his THE telograph lines westvzard from Pittsbure. Pa., over the Fort Wayne & Uhioago rail- road to Chicago. Wade saw in young [okert just the man that he ‘neeaed aud made hm suporintendent of his lines. Soon after Mr. Wada became identified with the Western Union company and his | lines were absorbed by that system. Iu this | manner Mr. Iickert was brought into tho | service of the company of which he was | destined to be whe managing heud, and he | soon became noted for bis energy, good | juagement and capacity for labor. Tu 185 he resigned to becomo superin- tendent of a goid mining company in North Caroling, and romatned vntil 1561, when ho returned to Cincinnati. Shortly after his raturn Thomas A. Scolt, then nssistant se of war, oalloa him to Washington to take oharge of the military telegraph service at McClellan's Colonel GENERAL TIHOMAS T, ECKERT, headquarters. [n 1802 ha accompanied M- Clellan to the peninsuia as suporintendent of tho military _tolegraph department of the Potomac with the rank of cap- tan. In Septemver he was = re- called “to Washington to establish tho military telegraph headquacters in the War department building and was promoted to the rank of major. He was subsequontly broveted lieutenant colonel and afterward brizadier general. His davties brought him into intimate con- tact with President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton, by whom he was highly trusted and estcomed. President Lancoln visizd the War depart- ment telegraph offico every day during the war. He spent from one to six hours daily in the ofice, During these visits whe business for a timo beenme slack tho prosi- dent and General Hekert ontertained one another with stories and ancedotes, Thos was fostored an iutimacy whish doubtless influcuced Presidont Lincoln tq anpoint Fek- ert a menbor of tho special commission to troat with the confederatos and to meet Iron T. itunter, the confederate sccretary of state, duving the Jatter part of the war, with viei il possivlo of concluding peace nego- tiations. 1n 1864 Goneral Beker sistant secretary of war and _served in that capucity until Angust, 1566, when he re- signed to accept the ofiice of weneral super- intondent of the eastern division of the Western Union, from which he has risen to his present position. was appointed ac- COLON CLOW ce of the Western Superintendent, Colonel Robert C. Clowry began his tele- graph caroor at Joliet, TiL, under a munager who agreed to teach him the business if he would serve as messenger boy for six mouths. At tho end of that term, in the fall of 1852, he was givon the oftico at Lockport, TiL. Here he perfected themself in the business, and in December, 1853, ho was made manager of the office at Springileld. Six years later he was promoted to the su- perintendency of the St. Louls & Missous River and Kansas Telograh companies, gen- COLONEL I €. CLOWRY. erally known as the Stebbius lines, fn April, 1860, he was chosen superintondent and sec- retary of the Missouri & Western Telegraph company, Hrst with bheadquarters at St Louis and then at Omaha, He remawed in this city until appointed, in October, 1563, assistant superintendent of military tele- graphs for the Department of Arkansus with the rank of captain and assistant quarter- master, On the rotirement of Major George H. Smith in September, 1864, Mr. Clowry was made the manager of the telegraph corps for Missourl, Arkausas aud Kunsas. He had 1,700 miles of teiegrapk o watch ana keep in repair, and during six months about 250,000 mossages were sent over his system. 'Ho rendered the union distingnished servico and was called a *‘model ofticer.”” He was bre- vetted a lieutenant colonel May 13, 1850, and mustered out of the service, Colonel Clowry nas become vromiunently identified with commercial telegraphy since the war, filllng various responsible positions, and is now vico prosident and general super- wtendent for the Wostern Union with head- quarters in Chicago. He married an Omaha lady, owns property i this ity and has a lively interest in its people and its material prosperity. n TOR OF CIPHERS, Service at the War Deparvment Telograph Ofice in Washington, A. B. Chandler, president of the Postal Telegraph company, was a cipher operator at the War department in Washington dur- ing most of the war und at its close was also aisbursing clerk. Horendered distinguished service, and enjoyea the fullast contidenco of the president and other important govern- ment and military oficers, being omployed on the most secret and dificult work in translating and ‘“‘putting up” cipher dis- patches of the greatest imsortance. He assisted materially in the invention of new ciphers, and was one of tho throe experts A B, CHANDLER. who, after four hours of study, made out & daugerous cipher of the enemy written in a mixture of wusical, Greek, Indian, Roman, telegraphic and phoretio characters. A single incident will illustrate the eonfl- deutial relations of the operators and the president. After ihe batie of Gottysburg Lincoln wanted General Meade Lo Ioiow up s advantage by another attack on tife rebel army before it had time to cross the Polomac or recover 'vom its defeat. He was exceed- ingly fearful lest the cvemy should escap2 without furtber punishment, and speut suxious nours in the War depariment tele- graph ofice awaitiog sews. Calling Chan- OMAHA DAILY BEE: EDNESDAY, dler up to a_mapy the president traced the positions nf“} several divisions of the opposing arhifes na expressed the greatest astonishmeut that the federal commander had unot already"mada an attack on his demoralizoa, He sald 1t_seomed to him that the reuAl# ¥k cba being driven aocross the river instead ine preventad, and as he walkod away aimed bitterlv: They {the union forcest- wifl be ready to fizht a magnificent bagtle when the enemy uro all over the river dhd{there is nobodv to fight.” Loo escaped annihilation as j.incoln feared he would. ol e At the clote ot phe war Chandler recoived from his cmufi onoral ‘Bokert, acting for tho secrotury of' War, a silver watch and a lotter of warm ‘thanks for his faithful and efMcient serviea, u BROKE INTO THE CORPS, Pusy Caroer of & Boy Whom Stager Thought Too Young for the Servie William R. Plum, prosident of the Society of the United States Military Telegraph corps, was bora in Massillon, O., in 184 During the summer school vacation of 1560 ho learned to telegraph aund shorily tuere- after took eharge of the railroad and Western Union ofice at Atwater, O., where in six months he became so proficient that ho was promoted to the charge of the offico at the headquarters of the raileoad at Cleveland. fle vemaned thore until Iebruary, 1862, when he determinea to enter tho United States military telegraph corps. General (thea Captain) Anson Stager, the chief of the corps, happening to be in tho city, the boy, knowing of the need of such help, tendered his services, but thoy were immediately declined on the ground that he WAs 100 young aud small. Thereupon, and withiout” the captan’s knowledwe, Plum telegraphed Stagol’s assjstant for tho Dop: ment of the Cumbepland, Captain Brucn, av Louisville, Kv., offering his services. Tn reply to an urgent request to como at onco tho boy left that night. Young Plum opened the Hrst office at Columbia, Ky., barely escaping canturo en- route by John H. Morgan's guerrilla force, as it was then called, In a few weoks ho was given chargo of the important repeating office ut Lebanon Junctiou, on the Louisville & Nushville railroad, where all messayes to and from the army operating agaiust Cum- berland Gap were repcated. General John H. Morgan having captured Lebanon ana other places in the rear of the Gup forcos und threatening Fravkfort, Plum was ordered thither, Thence he went to the WILLTAM R PLUM. main oftice 1n Nas wille, whore he romained during its siege and until after the battle of Stone River. Then he tovk charge of General Gordon Granger's office In the field at Frankiin. o5 Rosecrans’ army was about moviug when Plum joined hi® ticadquarter telegraphers. Voluntecr operators being called for to go to ‘ne reliof of the ‘overworked and too few telegraphers about Vicksburg, Plum started, but was temporurly stopped by Stager to 1ill the place of the ‘Columbus, Ky., overator, who was dving of smallpox. In a rew week8 he was relioved and given entire cunrge of' the Usited States military telegraph lines’ froin Nashville to Paducah via Clarksville, Fort Donaldson, Fort Henry and Smithland. Froni 1*aducah the wires connected with Catto apd formed tho second route north from Nashville. This route was for the most part a wilderness of woods, and guerrilla bauds frequently visited it, captur- ing operators and destroying wires, ‘Three repairers were killed by them. After the battle of Chickamauga Plura vas ordered to the front at Chattanooga, but was detained there until the army reached the Chattaoochoe river, when he joined General George H. Thomas’ headquarters ofice. Ho accompunied the general around and south of Atlunta and in the battle of Jonesboro, soortly aftor the confederate evacuation of Atlants, Plum was made manuger of that office, but when Sherman started for the sea he was sent to Nashville with ‘Thomas and was with himn 10 the great battie there. Plum continued iu chorge of Thomas’ oftice in the field and city until the war was over, when he resigned to go to college, nav- ing declined an appointment to Wost Point, Of course inall of these positions Mir. Plum handled the cipher kevs in use, and at one time he held one of only fouror five coples prepared, ‘the War department, Grant's, Sherman’s aud Thomas’ oftices hay- ing each a copy. Mr. Plum graduated from the Yalo law department in 1867 and has since been a suc- cessful lawyer in Chicago. In 1882 he puh- lished his history of the United States mili- tary tolegrapn corpsin two large octavo volumes, from which Tue Bee has drawn froely for its reminiscences of the corps. I"rom the organization of the Society of the United States Mihvary Telegraph Corps he has been elected its president at every an- nual reunion. HOSTILE CAMPS CONNECTED, And Both Offices Worked by Union graph Oporutors. mes £. Pettit of Chicago, secretary of the Society of Military Telegraphers and manager of the Postal company’s offico in that city, enlisted in the war as a soldier and as such took part in the battle of Falling b, PETTIT, Waters, Va. Hd ‘Whs also s participant in tho siego of Vickshykg 8s & quartermustor's clerk, but operaless \ero in great cemand, and ne was transforved to tho telegraphic service. In Junb, 864, ho was made wan- agor of the oftl wl Athens, Ala, When IPorrest 'duptured the town Pottit and another . Ludwig, re- red 10 do duty as Much to ‘their chagrin, the fort was surrendered, aud they bocamo prisoners Thoy were taken to the rebel pen at Cababa, Ala., where bouh were sick of fever, Pettit for two months, The unfortunate federals, like those in_other soutliern prisous, lived lives of horrible torture. There were twelve men in Pewit's ward, aud cleven of thew died, hie being tho sole survivor. After six months of this terviblo experi- ence Pettit and Ludwig were seut to the purole camnp near Vieksourg 1o be ex- obanged, and Willian R. Plum, in reldt- ing thelr subsequent experience, records the followlng rewarkaole olroum- stunce: “lnstead of their being released the wire was paired from Vicksburg to the bridge [over tho Blg Black river at the coufederate camp| and Peott't stationod at the robel headquarters of exchange and Ludwig in he federal camp. Lty was Mareh 21, 1862, and whilo the war was b full olust. It 18 an auteresting a0d doubtless isolated fact that (hus, r, ohn SEPTEMBER 14, 1892, by mutual conseut, confoderate and urion headquarters were linked together and both offices worked by union operators. Exchanges wero greatly factlitated by this means, but It was a ereat bardship to both the onerators, who had suffered greatly from chronie dinrrhe, Indeed Pettit worked most of the time in a hammock. Kxposure nero produced a relapse, which, woile it nearly dostroyed, saved his lifa, He and Ludwig were to go north with 2,100 other exchanged prisouers on the steamer Sultana. This rolapse prevented Pettit go'ne, and General Dana rofusod leave to Ludwig, as he was greatly needed to assist Samuel Cochrane, the celecraph manager of iho Vicksburg district, who was slowly dying when he shouid buve gone south 10 recuper- ato. The Suitana blew up near Memphis took firo. About 1,400 homesick soldiors were thersby killed or drowaed, May 9 Petilt and Ludwig were exchanged.” LOUIS H, KORTY, tonds the Largest Rallro KEAph System in the World. Louis H. Korty suporitondent of the Union Pacitio railroad's tele. @raph systom, was born 1 Gor- many, Ootober 22, 1816, “His famly ¥, camo to this coun- try an 1830, sete tling in lIowa, He commenced teie- graphing at tno age of 14 on the Tllinois & Mississippi Telegraph company’s lines at Fort Madison, la, using the old- fashioned paper register—reading by sound being but little practiced 1n_those days and permitted only 1n u few of the larger oftices. His first salary as operator amounted to the muniticent sum of $12 per month. After beiug employed or: the same company’s linos successively at Chicago, Minnesota duuction, Wis,, Cedar Falls, Ia, and Rockford, IlL, until 1563, he enterad the United States Mili- ry telegraph corps at Moemphis, Tonn,, serving duriog the war in tne Departmoents of tho Cumberland, Tennossce, Mississinpi and the Gulf. After the close of hostilitios pointed managor, for the govern- meat, of the joint office of the Ameri- can and Southwestern Telograph companies, which position he retained until the lives were relinquished by the government aua turned back to the companies. Ho was then transterred to Texas, whera he continued in the military telegrapn service as cipher clerk until 1367, In the fall of 1863 ho came cepted a position with the W company, and for about a v three operators who worked the overland cireuiton which Omaha was one of tho principal relay polnts, ‘The operators at Omaha at that time mcluded Messrs. IS, Rosewater, . L. Armstrong und the Drak; brothers. Luther and Fienion, with all of whom Mr. Korty exchauged many messages on the singlo wire which then carried all the te egraphic correspondence between the Atlanue and Pacific coasts. In the spring of 1570 ne entered the em- ploy of the Union Pacific, serving as agent and telegraph mauager at several stations in Wyoming and Utah. He was transforred to Omaha 1o October, 1571, as chiel overator, appointed assistant superintendont of tele- graph in 1851, and on the resignation of Mr. J. J. Dickey as superintendent of the Union Pacific’s ines Mr. Korty succeeded nim in that position in October 1557. He now en- joys the distinction of haviug charge of the lareest railway telegraph system in the worla., Mr. Korty, in cojunction with Mr. Dickey, inttoduced and developed the tele- phouein Nebraska, Wyvowing, Utan, Idabo and Montana, He still retains & large inter- est in the two telophone companies opening that territory, and is secretary and treasurer of the Nebraska Telephione company Mr. Korty is too modest to say much about his war experiences, but his comrades testify 1o his brave and eflicient service. William R. Pium relates a characteristic incident, one of Korty's experiences in the work of open- g communication from the Black river bridee near Vicksburg to Mobile, from which point he had been called for the dangerous mission : “ISorty left the [Black] river in company with Captain Turner of a New York regi- ment. Before starting they had disoussed the propriety of only two persons traveling by night overacouniry infested by guerrilias and other bad characters who had lefu their commands with their arms without waiting to be paroled. Many of their homes were in the Transmississippi department, and there K. Kirby Smith commanded and was detel mined to fight to the last extremity. Thitber also others, moved by the same unconquer- able will, tended, and hence it was s danger- ous ride ‘that Korty and Turner provosed, but they mounted their horses and were lost 1 the darkuess of that silent night to brood over imaginary evils as they slowly picked their way. Turuer had fought over this ground and_was wounded at the battle of Champion Hills, which locality, about mid- night as the moon escaped thé clouds, they reachea safely, ‘l'urner’s adventures here- abouts, whicn he related enrouto, the appre- hensions of ovil, the wrecks of caissons, pleces of shells, the hour, the loneliness, the silence, but above all the whitened bones of slain animals, tho rude burial boards an- nouncing the names of the fallen and other ovidences of mottal coatlict upon which the moon's pale light gave a sepulchral hue,— these things, at a time when gravevards yawn, strung the nerves of the riders to the highest tension. SAfter contemplating the scene a little they pressed on through the thick woods and on e ag were sudderily complotely sur- rounded by eight or ten men coming out of a thicket with drawn revoivers calling out: ‘Get down, vou Yankee —-— — Oné caught Korty's bridle and an- other leaped for Turnér's but the latter opened on his assailant and others with his revoiver. Thus began the secoud battle of Choampion Hills with greater odds against the unionists than Grant bad against Pomber- ton. Before Korty could draw bis weapon his horse, & spiited, unmanagable auimal, reared up, and, dushing heaalong. vroke from the bushmen, and was out of range wita its rider., But Turner was fighting alone, However, be was fighting zallantly, empty- ing two revolvers and shooting ut least 1wo and then leaving unbarmed amid a shower ot bullews. Korty, in tne meantime, had checked his Lorse, and was returning to Turner's aid when the latter rode up. “Their first idea was to press on to Clin- ton. but then they. heard the neighing of a horse, and, concluding that the men were mounted (perbaps familiar with the country) and would pursue, they determined to take an clevated position aimong the bills, where tying their norses, they threw up & barri ade, contidently expecting 10 be besieged 1f 80, they determined o rebaptize the nis toric ground. But the guerrilias, discove ing tho preparations, or for some other rea- son, let them alone. Waiting, watching, listening until sunrise, made a long night of ity but, at last, daylignt came, and tho two entered Clinton i sufety. At oreakfast a professor, who before the war conducted a femalo seminary there, reluted the circum- stances of his finding the bodies of two mon wko had been murdeved two nights oofore uear whuere Korty and Turser were at- wacked.” ho was ap- north and ac- stern Union ar was oue of One of the Munngers « War Depn ment Office, Willlam B, Wilson of fhiladelphia, for & time hud charge of the military who tole- graph office la the War department at Wash ngton, was born at Har-isburg in 1830, His firat work in the telographic service was ns a messenger boy for the Atlantic & Ohio Tolograph company, and bo Was 001 pro- moted 1o an operator's desk In 1855 no ontered. upon his long service with the Pennsylvania road by becoming its operator at Harrisbure. In Aoril, 1861, he was soat by Colonel Thomas A, Seott to the ofice of Governor Curtin 10 assist in the or- ganization of Pennsylvania teoops, and n Mav ho was called to Vashington, where ho was made manager of the military telegraph office in the Wardepartment. Here ho came into frequent contact with President Lincoin aud tho secrotary of war. Compelled by health to leavo tho regular corps, Mr. Wilson, during the raids and alarms on the upper Potomac and in south- orn Pennsyivania, ucted as a telegraph scout under instructions from Coionel Scott and W. B, WILSON. Governor Curtin, Armed only witha pockot instrumont, a cotl of fine helix wire and a key to the cipher, ho trampod over the threatened district, ‘attached *is instrumont to the telegraph whenever he had informa- tion to com:nunicata and put his message into cipher at the key, wencrally datiog it “in the woods ne: . In 1862 Mr. Wilson was made lost car agent of the Pennsylvania railrond, and he rendered the government valuable servico in matters of transportation. One of his duties was to watch confederato movements in the lino from Wheeling to Alexandria. Mr. Wilson's services were warmly commended by Peesident Lincoln, Governor Curtin and Assistant Adjutant General E. D, Town- send. Mr. Wilson nas romained with sylvania sinco the war and has been in- trusted with many important missions, Ho hins done some journalistic work on tne sido and nas also boon prominent in politics as democrat, the Penn- DWARD ROSEWATER, A Military Telegraphe "reside O1d Vimers® Associntio Edward Kosewater is a native of Bohemia. He enterod upon his caveer as a telegrapher at Cincinnati in 1853, Tn 1550 ho acconted a position on th Southwestern Telegrapn company’s lino in Tennessee, and in tho fali of that yoar he was transforred to Steven- son, Ala., then an important railway ropeat 'station. Iu che spring of 1861 he was as- signed to the commercial offico at Nashville, where he remained until that city capit- ulated to the union army under Goneral Buell. He tenderea nis services to Thomas ROSEWATER, 1862, A. Scott, then assistant secretary of war, who accompauied General Buell. and re- built the lines across the Cumberland river, which bad been destroved with the suspension bridge by General Flovd’s army. Thirty days later he formally enlisted ia the United States military telegraph corps at Wheeling and accompanied General Fre- mont through his entire West Virginia cam- paign. In July, 1862, he was ordercd to Washington and station«d for four weeks in the navy yard, then commandoed by Commo- dore Dahlgren. When General Pope was as- signed to the command of the Army of Vir- ginia Rosewater made apolication at the war office to accompany bim in the fleld. He was thereupon appointed as one of the stiff oper- ators ana remained with General Pooe througnout the campaign from Warrizgton to Cutpepper and the Rapidan, and back again across the Rappabannock. 'During tne three days' engagement at Bull Run he transmitted all of Geueral Pope’s dispatehes from the battle field. On Seotember 1, 1852, he was recalled to Washington and assigned to duty 10 the War department. Iu the fail of 186 he resigued from the militacy tele- graph corps and moved to Omaha, whore ho was for seven years manager of the Pacific Telograph ana~ Western Union companios. In 1571 he severed his connection from the telegraph service aud entered upon his career as editor aud publisher of Tur: Brr, of which he was the founder and is now iho chief proprietor. Mr. Rosewator has also taken an active interest in everything per- tainiug to the profession of his boyhood and v manhood. Ho was vieo president of the Society of the Military Telograph Corps ducing one torm and has been a momber of tho congressional committee of rhat societv over sinco its organization. — Whilo ubsent Europo last yoar the Oid Timors' associa- tion, of which hois alsca wmember, eleciel him us its president. TWICE CAPTURED. First Politenl Prisoners of War, Williaw J. Denly of New York, secrotary and treasurer of the Old Tiwe Tolegraphers Oue of the the WILLIAM 4, DEALY, association, and secretary of the committce e e et e A e | on congressional action of tho United States military corps, was bora in New York city In 1843° He began his telegraph career in 1857 as messenger with the Atlantic & Ohio Telograph company at Philadeiphis. In 1858 he became an operator and served for two yoars at diffaront points along the line of the Philadelpti, Wilmington & Baltimore ratlrond, In 1861 he had oharze of a small office six miles from Baltimore. On April 22 a_party of bridgo bur captured youne Dealy, who had beon at his post for fifty-six hours withiout sleap, took him along undar guerd until their work of destruction was finished, and on retu ¢ to Baltimore made a futile attempt to got him to Join & troop of cavalry being organized for the rebol service. A few months later he entered the United States military telograph corps, and was one of the first operators mudo prisoners when Harper's Farry was surrondored. 1'ho tole eraphers mingled with the federal soldiers, ho were paroled by roximents, which lucky circumstance left the operators to rejoin the servico, In 1850 youna Dealy was mado a cipher operator und manager at Fortress Mouroe, which was one of the most impor tant stations during tho war. AU the close of the raboliion he weat to Now York, was appointed managor of the Western Unton company's cablo depactmant, and later on_ successively manager of the Atlantic & Pacific ofMiee, and of tho Ameri- cun Union office, and superimtendeot of the Fronch cabla company. Tn 1581 ho went to Europe for tho American Cable company, and on his return entered the Western Union scrvice as eable manager, also as managor of the general operating departhent and of tho commarcial news department. Mr. Dosly {8 A member of several telograph fraternul socioties, and is always ready and willing "to contribute his share of time and labor for their success, VETERAN CIPHERER. One of the Boys Who Has M the Wor J. H. Bwerick of New York, gencral superintendent of the Postal Telegraph Cable company, was born at Fulton, N. Y., Novemver 7, 1543, and receivod n good odu- cation in the Falloy s:minary ot [ulton and at the academy v Pulaski, N. Y. He bogan Lis career as a telegraphor in Falton in 1860 and worked at Oswego and Wutertown until December, 1801, when ho entered the mil tary telegraph servico ut MeDowell's lead quarters, Arlington Heights, Virginia, He was in tho field at the hoadquarters of the Army of tho Potomac as operator and cipher clerk in every campaign until Janu- ary, 1865, whon he was mado chief operato of the Army of tue James, and cou. tinned ot its headquarters and A Richmond unul the telegraph corpst disbanded. Ho then accepted tho chief operatorship of the Westorn Union office ut Richmond, Va. This position he held until January, 1867, when e transferrcd his ser vices to the \War department at Wushing ton, where ho remained until July of tho samo yaar, resigning to enter tho eable-room servico in Now York, o remained there until the telegraphers strike of 1360 In January, 1870, Alr. | position with' the New York fire alarm tele graph as operator. Later on ho was mude chief operator, and afterwards superintend- ent of tho service. In NS ho e listed in the service of the Motropol itan Telephono and Telograph company. [n Murch, 1579, he was appointed supcrintond entof the Mutual Union Telegraph company, which position be hetd until the consolid ton, when, in August, 1581, he was ap pointed suporintendent of the Postal Tele graph Cable company. In August, 1856, Mr [merick was made “general superintendent of tho eastern division of tho Iostal, which positiou he fills to tho utmost satis faction of all. Every facility hos becn given him for carrying out fis plaus, and his long and varied experience has qualified him for successful manugement. Ho has all tho prostige and advantage which excollence of character and known honor and avility can give bim, e TS Mark in The Jester 18 with Them, Just as Tue Bee was about to go to press thie morning a messenger came rushing into the oftice with a “‘niece for the paper.”’ Ile smd a red-faced man down at the Morcor hotel wrote it and wanted it printed in T BEF, and here it is: We are glad to see Senator um Biliy Dealy, the energatic wronthed in his usual smiles. Bogardus is at thedoor waiting for the Old imers to come out. Why Is Bogardus looking for Arnett! cause ke is on his last quarter. Why is the Old Timer strong! Becauso ho is Armstrong. Why 10 the telegraptiers look $o prosper- oust Because thev live on ticks. What are the boys drinking! Ives was ¢u secrota Be- Rosewater, Notice to Old Time Telegrapihers, The Postal Telograph comoany cordially extends to the Uld Timo Telegraphers and Military Telegraph Corps while at Omaha and Denver fron use of its lines for all sociul messay Douglas streot, AD ply to Divsock, Manager., Mr. John Hungerford the Wesl s Sarsapa 1 to0] £ the fine livery stable ¢ . Y., says oo {lia goes way aheud of anything ho for troubles with the Liver and Kidneys ) he suffered for a long time, until ho sd's Sarsaparilla and wis completely Other members of his family also tako prictor End hotel, Hood’s Sarsaparilla ro highly gratited with the henefit from "i Ponpa PILLG aro a mill, rentle, painloss, P u Always re ble. 250. AMUSKEMBNTS BOYD'Sritawe, v oy THIS (WEDNESDAY) SEPT. {1 Last Two Performances of Sfroy oty Ay IV GSIHESE in the now Comedy McFEE OF DUBLIN. Belter than the eireus, Stay away an'l you will kiek youself, e This Afters Pricos—First floor, 50 and s Ba EVENING PERFORMANCE A Pricos and #1.00, 20, H0e, PARNAN Sy THEATER. Matinoes Phursduy and saturd IKATLE EMMET'S GIEAT PLAY, 'S O NIW Y ORI, Inporate sconury! D6 d Kridgo acou midwaok 1At POTPULAT PIICHS, At Mntlo num's ol uenday " WONDERLAND--BLJOU THEATRE, 15th and Uapitol Avonue Woel of Septomber 1t DILAMA 1 FIRRY 05 pom. Bpoolalty L6 43, 7018 i CONTINUOUS BHOWS, Wie QUIKIO UALL FREE, VG