Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-18
TELEGRAPHING IN WESTERN vIR.

Nothing, In the whole course OF the war in
Western Virginia, has seemed 90 mysterious
as the fact that the enemy have 20 rarely in
terfered with our army telegraph lines.
Through the very country, along the very
roads on which the rebel gueriIlas have been
committing their outrages, our telegraph wires
have been stretched; they could Be cut with
perfect impunity by the sWsrming secession
lists In dozen places along every mile; detec-
ton would be utterly impossible; Jet direct
communication has been stopped but once be-
tween this advance post and Bull Town, Jack
sonville, Weston, Clarksburg and the whole
extent Of the loyal States. Nothing ia easier
than to cut the wires; in no way can more in
jury be done to Us How happens il, then,
that the virulent secessionists have not at
tempted to destroy our connection with Clarks-
burg?
When, on the FIRST days march from Weston,
secession family came out TO the roadside,
where an Office had been temporarily opened
and expressed astonishment because they
didn't see the wire moving toward Clsrksburg
at all, when the operator pretended that he
was sending news down there, and when an
old lady, at whose house a couple of Us took
dinner the next day, declared that she believed
" it was all stuff about sending letters on that
little wire, Because she had watched it for
hours, and hadn't seen no letter, nor anything
like one, goin' along" and when another OF
the natives absolutely refused to touch the wire
and kill him." / began to get some insight
into the reasons that had operated to preserve
the wire through this hostile but fearfully be-
nighted region.
But when was told of the comfortable mes
sage that was sent to the only man who had
cut the wire, and Of its excellent effect, the
matter became palmer. Squire Imboden on
whose farm we encamped before entering Bull
Town. was known to be a violent secessionist.
One night some 400 yards Of the telegraph
wire were cut out opposite his farm. Captain
Gaines, whose company was charged with the
duty Of erecting and protecting the wire i'm
medistely sent word to Imboden that it didn't
make any difference who cut the wire, but that
If it was done again anywhere within three
miles on either side of his place, his house
should be burned, and he himself would be shot
on sight. Three or four times every twenty
four hours, since the receipt Of that message,
Imboden has pstrolled the whole extent of the
six miles of telegraph nearest his house, and
every day or two he takes the additional trou-
BILE Of sending word over to Sutton that the
line is all safe
The same Capt. Gaines was recently respon.
sible for another act Of decision. Incontestible
proof was received, fastening the gsilt of mur.
dering the dragon, whose death I mentioned
the other day, on certain guerrillss then in the
neighborhood. A squad was instantly sent out
to take them. The Captain gave the boys their
Instructions, but added, as they starte d, "un-
ooA bAo CAEOU1usbtuCc5y DOys, j don't believe
want any prisoners" The boys found the
guerrillss who had murdered our soldier, and
were wearing the clothes stripped from his dead
body, took them, but brought in no prisonersi
A better disposition was made of those scoun-
dreis than sending them to Columbus.
tsrdsy, going out with Mr.. Fuller, Superinten
dens Of the Marietta and Cincinnati line, to
extend the army telegraph toward Summer
vile They ran it out TO the farthest pickets,
nine miles from town, and then put an opera
tor at the end Of the line to transmit immedi.
Ately to headquarters any observations the
pickets might make, or any sudden alarm they
might have. The enemy, it will be seen, would
have small chance of surprising Gen. Rose
orans st breakfast.
As soon as We move again the telegraph corps
will follow us, and will be able to put up from
fifteen to twenty miles per day. The army Is
hardly likely to make longer days march
than that.
Accustomed, as newspaper man must be
to daily and hourly dependence upon the teIe-
graph haoituated to relying upon it In every
emergency, and to far greater extent than
the pubic seems ever to appreciate, I confess
that cannot yet look apon the wonders it ac-
comPlisnes without amusement. The other
day, Tor example, through some misunderstan-
ding OF the Quartermaster at Clsrksburg, it was
discovered that the system of army expresses
IRON our base OF operations at Clarksburg was
hO1oCThQe
hbAdjutant General crossed from the marquee
70 the telegraph tent, on the mountain spur
above sutton, and said to the operator, " Call
CIarksburg, and tell Capt. Lsib to come into
the once there" Yes, sE," ticked Clarks-
burg, and in moment "Capt. Leib is here
Captain" !" said the General, I've want an az
press messenger started with the mail syery
afternoon, Immediately after the arrival of the
train" The little instrument clicked out the
message while the General was lighting his
cigar, and almost before be had enjoyed the
hrst vhif, the Quartermastsr at Clsrkshur9
had answered, 81 have done 90 already" "But
have you arranged for fresh horses every ten
miles, Click, click, cliekeIy click; the ope-
rator lsoks up and says, " The captain replies,
ne, sir: didn't understand that had to do
that. Arrange for il at once, then, " said
the General, between the pufs of his cigar; and
as the next circlet Of smoke was curling upL
ward, came the answer, sit shall be done, sir,
without delay There they stood-the Gen.
erai IN the little telegraph tent, in the midst
termsster IN the sleepy old town of Clarks-
burg with mountains and rivers, and svarms
OF guerrillas between them; yet the conyersa-
tion continued as easily a. If both were seated
IN the Generals marquee, The details were
all completed; the Quartermaster incurred:
"haVe you any further commands, General?n
mo more-good morning, captain" respond
ed the General, and he returned to This mar
quee. The cigar was net Yet half smoked, In
IL any wonder that the benighted Secessionists
look upon the mysterious little wire that spans
their rivers and climbs their mountains, at the
bidding Of the invading Yankees, with SUPER
stitious awe?-CoTTss. CinciHnat, Gazstts. 5