Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-10-13
AlistelIanp.
our War Correspondence.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY or POTOMAC,
i CULPPPER, Va, Sept. 26.
NJ EDITOR being new recruit have OF
evu, learned great deal in regard to the
nus merry Of the Signal Corps during the week
vbh has elapsed sitce wrote you last from
.bhb may CLEAN few facts worthy of pubca-
ss presume there are many Of your readers
M ure ignorant Of the kind OF service it is in.
ul to perform, as well as Of the minor details
&da. operations, and for the benefit of such,
BIOL ose to make brief explanation. The duty
#ib Corps is to convey or send messages by
[nsar Of signals made with flags during the day
<sad lib torches in the night. The system was
=lsF .od to supply the place Of the ma netic tele-
gat and establish a means OF communication
#vil points where it was impraetcable to run the
#msi The expense Of a telegraph line. Parties
Edle Corps occupy the SUBMITS Of mountains in
Fhsi immediate vicinity Of the enemy, and, by
Enssrs Of powerful glasses, keep close watch Of
Eis movements day and night, sending all in
Nsfmaton thus obtained through intermediate
baton, to Gen. Meade's headquarters, where
mere is d station always on the alert to receive
Endforward messages. Again the commander Of
cb army corps has from five to eight parties in
lie mmlud, by means Of which be keeps him
Eslfin instant communication with Gen. Meade.
# o. dlgs used are Of two coors black and
EtAs IL white c ntres, and Of two sizes-four and
axf square The color Of the flag used is not
uei ed 10 affect the message sent, but merely
|eA ~ the operator to select the color most in
csal wi the background against which the
uslehmln on the next station must look to read
Etsh -oge, thlt the motions Of his flag may be
noTs readily distinguished. The largest flag il
osy used when the distance to be sgnalled is Sc
geaI .llt toe other can not be seen. No flag
usn 15r enlisted man is supposed to understand
hef aIning Of the notions he makes in signal
Esa, 4t waves 70 tie right, left or front, at the
an certain numbers by the commissioned off,
II
cerin charge OF the station. What these num-
bels are, and the corresponding signals, | an MOI
uE r'y 70 divulg. Messages are thus sentbe
I'VE d stations twety miles apart, although, am
iald, tresl5es apoveriu. glass ard quick
resc 70 receive uem from 80 great distance
Iva, detailed aiew days since as one Of Z
Il parts TO 40 to thepony Mountain station, situat
/ edsus four mills distant, toward the front, fol
/ ,he purpo,e Of rsairing the platform from which
/ Tie guli. are mde, falling such trees about the
suunpit as obs,rued the view OF the surrounding
ooun,fy, DC, &c Riding 10 within q half mile
dthe station, left our horses at a deserted
farm house and roceeded on foot to the summit.
vhero a mos, magnificent panoramic landscap'
Iview rewarded ior our toll over the rugged
Iooip4,h 1hNaeys which spread out at oul
het ON a,l side were thickly dotted with tn,
vhla tents Of oefrand Army, while far ava!
an 's -, oen.V fosr.PtEe southernbJdud
|Iyo the picture, large clouds OF smoke betrayed
HE lleatouis OF the rebel hordes. To the
Isei a4rd the horizon rested on the majestic crag
III Blue Ridge, which extended from North t
Sd at hr as the eye could reach. Not being
Iibk b accomplish our mission the same day, WI
Irsp ed to the old farm house and disposed 0
Ioan yes for the night In one Of the rooms WI
i not lb 'ound considerable furniture, but, bette
AAt 4.., large old.ashloued fireplace, in whicl
/ ssl ou had "rousng fire, dispelling the chill
Edt mountain atmosphere, giving US an add
II TOD relish for our "tack and coffee, and put
dug 10 such pleasant humor that midnigh
Oat o, still sitting in the rudy, homelke lish
4 Ma laze, smoking our briars and "spinnini
aEl The next morning We finished our job
lad loAding up" with tomatoes, potatoes, turn
| ps .., ETC., from the garden little dainties 70
/ vii soldiers seemed determined to retain par
hH Ulele Sans talk about rations to the con
nj! notwithstanding we returned to the cam
'tinsuucdon, aud SO ended my first trip to
station"