Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-26
[WHoLEN NO. 279.


Union army was encampcd at Falmouth
and picketing the Rappahannock, the
utmost tact and ingenuity were displayed
by the scouts and videttes in gaining q
knowledge of contemplated movements on
either side, and here, as at various other
times, the shrewdness OF the African camp
attendants was very remarkable.
One circumstance, in particular, shows
how quick the race are in learning the art
Of communicating by signals.
There came into the Union lines n me-
gro from farm on the other side of the
river, known by the name Of Dabney, w..o
was found to possess remarkably clear
knowledge Of the topography Of the whole
region; and he was employed as COOK and
body servant at headquarters When he
Grst saw our systems of army telegraphs,
the idea interested him intensely, and he
begged the operators to explain the signs
to him. They did so, and found that he
could understand aud remember the pean-
ing Of the various movements as we'll as
any OF his brethren Of paler hue.
Not long after, his wife, who bad come
with him, expressed great anxiety TO be
"tSUtt w kV OFtl w tht VlntE blQt w
servant TO secesh woman. whom General
Hooker was about sending over to her
friends. The request was granted. Dab
ney's wife vent across tho kappahannock, 4,
and in few days was duly Installed as
laundress at the head. quarters Of promi-
nent rebel General. Dabney, her husband,
on the north bank, was soon found to bc
wonderfully well informed as 10 all the
rebel plans. Within an hour Of tho time
that movement Of any kind was pro-
joctod, or even discussed among tho rebel
Generals, Hooker knew all about IL. lie
knew whicl, corps was moving or about to
move, in what direction, how long they had
been on the march, and In what force and
all this knowledge came through Dabney,
aud his reports all turned out to be true.
Yet Dabney was never absent, and never
talked with the scouts, aud seemed 10 be
always taken up with his duties rs cook and
groom at headquarters.
How hc obinined his information, re.
maincd for somc time puzzle TO the
Union officers. At length, upon much
solicitation, he uniolded his marvellous
secret TO one Of our officers.
Taking him to point where a clear view
could be obtained Of Fredericksburg, he
pointed out little cabin in the suburbs
near tho river bank, and asked him il he
saw that clothes line with clothes hanging
on il TO dry.
"Well, said he, "that clothes line tells
me in half an hour just what goes on at
Lees headquarters. You see my wife
over there; she washes for the officers and
cooks, and waits around, and as soon as
she hears about any movement or anything
going on she comes down and moves the
clothes on the line so that can under
stand il in a minute.
That there gray shirt is Longstreet's
and when she takes Oft IL means he's gone
down about Richmond. That white shirt
means Hill, and when she moves il up to
Tie west end of the line, Hills corps has
moved up the stream. That red one is
Stonewall; he's down on the right now,
and it be moves she will move that red
shirt"
One morning Dabncy came in and re-
ported movement over there. "But,"
says he, sit don't amount to anything
They're just making believe"
An officer went out TO look ut the clothes
line telegraph through his field glass.
There had been quite a shifting over there
among the army fannels. "But how do
you know but there is something in it7'
"Do you see those tRo blankets pinned
together at tho bottom2'' asked Dabney.
"Yes, but what of ii?' said the officer.
"Why that's her way of making her
ish-irap; and when she pins the clothes
together Ia that way. II means that Lee is
only trying 10 draw us into his fish trap
As long as tho two armies lay watching
each other on opposite banks Of the stream,
Dabney, with bis clothes line telegraph,
continued TO bo enc Of the promptest aud
most reliable Of General Ilookcr's scouts.