SCA provides a medium for students, researchers, historians and reenactors to investigate the signal, telegraphic and secret service developments during the War Between the States. Through signal training camps, reenactments, living history programs, visits to schools and libraries, lectures and memorial programs, SCA hopes to develop and share its archive with others through public awareness, the role and sacrifices of military and civilian telegraphists, signalmen and others who gathered, developed or conveyed intelligence communication on both sides of the conflict. SCA and its reenactors division has departments, detachments and or stations in more than 30 states. Many associates are not reenactors, but all do share an interest through the study and understanding of those who manned the telegraph key and sounder or pulled glass watch at innumerable observation posts, relaying vital despatches via flag and torch from hills, towers, rooftops, tree platforms and the mastheads of ships. SCA holds no meetings, has no mandatory events and collects no dues.
Members are as active in the association as they have time to be.
Since 1987 SCAs monthly publication , Signal Cipher, has served as the organizations official transmitter. In January 1999 it was converted from paper to cyber text. We are now temporarily being hosted on a private machine somewhere in the free state of Maryland. Not all features may be accessable for a while. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.