Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-10

z he Army Signal Corpa-Efouv gEessaera
are GoEIulunfcaled-NoVe Way af f1oa-
eeaitng lsPalehea-CuFfSus sisHs, Essc.
Though the signal corps Is a regular and in
portant arm Of the military service, f8r persons
know Of is use and objscts The following
from ths New 0rlesas correspondence in North
ern paper, Of the signal corps in that depart
Inent, VIII give some interesting information on
a subject Of which very little is known outside
its own members
The signal corps department. connected via
this division Of the army iu Louisiana is 8 ggaI
regulated, well instructed and most ecisntsrr 81
the service The system Of signshzing now ia
use IN the service organized with Mai Mysr, an
etlcer OF the regular army, and IS probably tho
most complete aud thorough code Of the kind,
Ter the purpose intended, now extaut n any e0un-
try. By tins method Of Signalling, messaees can
be read through a telescope at 8 distance Of
twenty 70 twenty-five miles. Dispatches can
be sent 10 the sole Of tins carriers boo, in the
hair Of his head. OF in the So tchss OF his coat OF
breeches, and that too without the scrspe Of pen
or slip OF paper indeed the carrier himself is as
igaorent of the code, and Of the Interpretation
Of the message be carries, as the rebels wouid
be, into whose hands hs might chance to fall, OF
wnose prisoner be might become Not g single
line, or sentence, or wcgd, could bs or tbsy, OF
10th matted, ever make out None can read or
deciphsT the messages or undars and Toe signals.
uUi those familiar VITO -ae ccGs and nana bar
Ih- m3st reliable ol commissioned lfiiesrs (sn1
snsse evea sra sworn under the penalty IS death
should they dIvUigs lie secret, ai-asr 70 friend
cr enemy, are ever saUgh5 g. Another safe
guard thrown around the system .s tdas il is alE
ulwut,eu. Tie instruction is oral, without
books OF written teaching The kuOEis5zs Of
t5a srt cannot be gsb5led Or pilfsrad, and thus
rendered subssrvisat 70 the armies 81 Che enemy.
On tle battle. field h4gs are generally used fcr
transmitting Blessages nom poias 20 point and
I-5n station 20 slati9n throughout t1s whole
lines and tbesa little teli-tales Of discomfort 20
the enemy are looked upon by the generals
with tssaags Of intense bisterness-helca the
e1uzordiuafy efforts Of his shaTp5b0oiszs to
pick off the signsl officer from his eyrie, or
keen lookout
At the battle Of Na9ole56vila. several of5esrs
of the signal party had Their horses shot undsr
them, and during the engagement several others
were wounded In dense f0g5 OF storms, when
dags are not available, messages can be seat by
sound Of cannon, muskeis, dreams, or ether
noises, inlailigent to the signal officer, and as
readily distinguished as other signs Of the codes
snd besides those above described there may BE-
ether methods Of transmitting messages and
conveying intelligence Of an ensmy's move
In the department Of the Gulf there are par-
manent stations for sgnalizing-at New Or
leans, AlgieTs, Camp Parapss, and the United
States barracks, SIX miles below the city, on
the lett bank Of the Mississippi, short distance
from the old battle ground OF Gen. Jackson
and where the Eagiish General Psckenhsm
was killed in the was Of 1872
The face Of the country ia this part Of the
State is so very fas that signal stations havs 10
be erected upon the roofs Of houses and the
tops Of large trees. The lookout" at Camp
Parapef, nesrly opposite the window froIu which
I write, IS fifteen feet from the ground, and Is
built in the top Of giant oak, nsa- to ths svess
or rivers bank, and connects direct with q
station upon the top of the custom house atNeW
Orleans, where General Butler has his head
quarters, and from which st any moment he
can send or receive dispatches as the cifcum-
stances may require. This lookout consists Of
two stagings, the enc from SIX to seven feet
above the O,her. Upon the lower stage is placed
Telescope, so adjusted as 70 take the exact line
of the eassOm house, and remains thsra q ger
manent fixture. There is also upon this first
stage = firm seat for the signal officer, and from
which he issues his orders and sends or receives
his dispatches. Upsn the upper stage taa Aag
or light, or whatever signal may be used, IS
placed under the care Of some experienced
operator who knows the sign and niodons Of
the torch or the flag which he handles in obs-
diencs to the sigual officer upon ths stage bsloW,
bat who does nos know q single word Of the
message or she information winch his motions
aud waves and other gestures eel ont TO the
station at kesdquarieTF. The Wstchnsn at The
stations are relieved al intervals of from two 20
four hours aud the penalty for neglect c. duty
or sleeping on the post is IS severe s5 u any
other part Of the service.