The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-09-15
The signal Corps In the Army.

PnonAnL, no class Of mon employed IN the army
are more useful than thoSc engaged In the duty Of
Scndiia army dispatches from ono point to another,
by means of signal lngs. These flags are Of differ
cnt colors, white, black or rcd, to suit ,incrcn,
circumstances. They are either four feet or six .cot
epiare fas,cnci to jointcd poles the length of
which can he increased or diminished ne REQUIRED,
The officers in charge Of station IRE
fur'ishcd with hcld-glases and powerful
telescope, by means of which they can read
the signals from twelve to eighteen, or
twenty miles distant. For night work torches are
uscl. The operation Of trans,n ting signals ~
performed In this manner The message - sent To-
the signal station, which is generally located in the
highest tree upon the lofticst mountain hill top.
The othcer IN charge arrangcs his 'kcy" upon
circular pastebo,rd instrument, marked with nu-
mcrsis. When all IL ready, by the turning OF this
disx, tho proper hunters appear and arc called 81
10 the fnpmnn. This hagman Oh hearing the num-
Der. immediate'y places the flag IN tho position
indicated. Thus waving the flag according 10 y
number requiring II To move from light to len, will
mean certsin word The flag IL then straight.
rncd mp and another number called which may
risc the Nag above the bearers head, or drooy /,
towards the ground. Again, =, me number called
out, causes the Hagman tn make motion Will the
Tag, that conveys whole sentence of Information,
I" distant station where another signal officer has
hH, through MS ttlNNt lt, INC NUM-
bors previously sent. Tho reader of the 'i.s-
patch" sits looking through his glass, calling OF
me numbers Ia his assistant, who notes them down
| upon uhc "nold-hck." When the entire mcsS..-u
hh' been received, the numbers are transmitted a.
NE next station, and on unt i rcacl cS
| 'hc general Ia whom II II sent. The
whole time occupied in sending dis
patch OF thirty lines IL generally less than "a
many minutes. rhc ilsgmnn, by constant practice,
| WORKS rapidly, and tie renIcr calls the numbers
with equal sIccd; and where there are two OF more
| oihctIS or naHmcn, Mt n station the message IL
| tlSsoh on Ia TIE next AZ fast II Is received.
| when the mum ors reach the last station. the
Key tagnal Is sent over, and. being properly adj
Justi, inc "hcer NJ the rocciyl ng station can then
write ont Tor or read The message To- his command.
ing general. Thc-' "kev-" IRE constantly changed
combination OF "keys" IL arranged hctwccn tv q
| commanding generals, in manner that ipslres
| their dispatches against any chance ot
being read by oven the officers MAKING the siynl,
and of course IL the rcbels saw them they womb h.
unable to dcciphcr them. For instance, G,norl
| Sherman has arranged with General II ward
that tue 'key" 10 his dispatches shall be sen, nm.
der cover Of particular word. Accordingly, when
| that word Ia received, General Howard Las Nh,
| "kcy" that unlocks the remainder of the dispatch
| On Monday morning Gen. Sherman may make us,
Of 'key" that no discards in the afternoon. Thu
afternoon "key" Is known TO General How ard
| by the ''word" that accompanies the mes
| sAge. II General Sherman dos!rcs to 'spcal
WITH General Logon, who may b station,