The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-31
The Army Signal Corps.

A member OF the United States Signal
Corps gives the following description Of the
mode Of sending dispatches between differ
ent portions Of the army:
Probably no class Of men employed in
the army are moro useful than those engaged
in the duty Of sending army dispatches from
one point to another, by means OF signal
flags. These aags are Of different colors.
white. black, or red, to sui: the circumstan-
ces of the case. They are either four or six
feet square. fastened to pointed poles, which
can be increased or diminished in length as
required. The officers in charge OF station
are furnished with field glasses and powerful
telescopes. by means Of which they can read
the signals from twelve to eighteen miles dis
tant. For night work. torches are used.
The operation OF transmitting signals is per-
formed in this manner: The message is sent
to the signal station, which is generally To-
Gated in the highest tree upon the loftiest
mountain or hill top. The officer in charge
arranges his key upon circular pasteboard
instrument. marked with numerals. When
all is ready. by the turning OF this disc, the
proper numbers appear, and are called OF to
the Hagman. The tlagman on hearing the
number. Immediately places the dag in the
position indicated.
Thus. waving the flag according to mum.
Der, requiring it to move from right to left,
will mean certain word. The dag Is then
straig tened mp, and another number called,
which may raise the dag above the bearers
head. or drop it toward the ground. Again.
some number called out causes the aagman
to make motion with the flag that conveys
whole sentence OF information to distant
station, where another signal officer has been
reading Of. through his telescope, the num-
bers previously sent. The reader Of the dis.
patch sits looking through his glass. calling
OF the numbers to his assistant, who notes
them down upon the feld.book. When the
entire message has been received, the num-
bers are transmitted to the next station, and
50 on until i. reaches the general to whom it
is sent.
The whole time occupied in sending dis
patch Of thirty lines is generally less than as
many minutes. The Hagman. by constant
practice. works rapidly, and the reader calls
tho numbers with equal speed; and when
there are two or more officers or hagmen at
station the message is passed on to the next
as fast as 1t is received. When the numbers
reach the last station the key signal is sent
over. and being properly adjusted, the officers
at the receiving station can then write out
for or read the message to his commanding
general. These keys are constantly changed.
A combination Of keys is arranged between
two commanding generals in manner that
insures their dispatches against any chance
of being read by even the officers making the
signals, and OF course if the rebels saw them
they would be unable to decipher them. For
instance. Gen. Sherman has arranged with
Gen. Howard that the key to his dispatches
shall be sent under cover Of a particular
word. Accordingly, when that word is re-
ceived, Gen Howard has the key that un-
locks the remainder Of the dispatch.
On Monday morning, Gen. Sherman may
make use Of a key that he discards in the
afternoon. The afternoon key is known to
Gen. Howard by the word that accompanies
the message. If Gen. Sherman wishes to
speak with Gen. Logan, who may be sta.
toned miles away. his arrangement OF key
words may be totally different from those
used in communicating with Howard.
Signal officers. by long practice, are often
able to abbreviate messages especially when
they know thar the station beyond is COM
manded by nm officer familiar with the abbre-
viations. A bystander looking on. when
message is being sent. will zee the aags in
tho hands Of the men near him waving rapidly
and train his eyes rapidly in every direction to
see where the persons nre who nre taking
notes. lie will see no one. unless favored by
sight, through the telescope. at the station.
The great merit Of this system Of signalling
consists in the secresy with which messages
may be sent, and returned, although it is
equally advantageous in an engagement,
when secret messages are not required and
orders are rapidly conveyed from one point
of the field to another II is at this time
that the signal officers and men are in the
greatest danger. The rebels have an often.
sive way OF interccpting dispatches with
Minnie bullets, sent by the ride OF some
sharpshooter detailed to pick of the dag
men and Others engaged at the signal station
Signal men are generally mounted on horses,
and armed with sabres and Remington's six
shooters"