The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-01-04
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NINE Clothes Line Tnlcgrnph.

Iu the early part of 1868, when the Union
army was encamped at Falmouth and pick.
citing the Rappahnncck, the utmost tact
and ingenuity were displayed by the scouts
and viGettes in gaining a knowledge of con.
tomplated movements on either side; aud
here, as at various other times, tho shrewd.
ness of the African camp attendants was
very remarkable.
One circumstance in particular shows
how quick the race are in learning tho art
of communicating by signals.
There came into the Union lines negro
from a farm on the other side OF the river
known 10y the name of Dabney, who was
found to possess a remarkably clear kuowl-
edge of the topography of the whole re.
gion and he was employed as cook and
body servant al headquarters. When he
FIRST saw Our system OF army telcgraphs,
the idea Interested him intensely, aud he
begged the operators to explain the signs
to him. They did so. and found that he
could understand atl remember the mean.
ing OF tho various movements as well as
any of his brethren OF paler hue.
Not long after, his wife, who had come
with him expressed a great anxiety TO be
allowed to 90 over the other sido as ser
want to "sccesh woman" whom General
Hooker was about sending over to her
friends. The request was granted. Dab.
ney's wife went across the Rappahannock,
aud in few days was duly installed as
luundress at the headquarters of a promi-
nent rebel General. Dabney her husband,
on the north bank, was soon found to be
wonderfully well informed ns to all the
rebel plans Within an hour OF the time
that a movement OF any kind was projected
or even discussed among the rebel Generals,
Hooker knew all about 1t. lie knew which
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 Daiucy was never absent, and never
talked with the scouts, and seemed TO be
always taken up with his duties as cook
aud groom about headquarters.
How he obtained his information remained
. | for some time puzzle to the Union Off.
GERS. At length, upon much solicitation,
he unfoldrd his marvellous secret TO one Of
our officers. c
Taking him to point whero clear view
could be obtained OF fredericksburg he
pointed out little cabin iu the suburbs
near the river bank and asked him if he
saw that clothes line with clothes hanging
omit 10 dry. We'll, said he, -" that clothes
line tells me in half an hour just what goes
on at Lees headquarters. Y on see my wife
over there she washes for the officers, aud
cooks aud waits round, and as soon as she
hears about any movement or anything GO
ing on, she comes down aud moves tile
clothes on that line 30 can understand in
minute. That there grey shirt is Long
street, add when she takes it off it means
he's gone down about Richmond. That
white shirt means Hill, and. when she
moves it up to the west end oe the line
HiA's corps has moved up the stream. The
red one is Sl0newell; he's down on the
right now, and ifho moves she will move
that red shirt"
OLe morning Dabncy came in aud report
ed movement over there. " Bat" says
he, il don't amount TO anything. They're
just making believe
An officer went out to look at the clothes
line telegraph through his field glass.
The% had been quite shifting among the
army flattels "But how do you know
but there's something in t?"
ado you see those two blankets pinned
together at the bottom a.? b" asked Dabney.
Yes, but what OF il? said the officer.
Why, that's her way Of making a fish
trap aud when she pins the clothes t0gelh
r that way, it means that Lee is ouly try
ing to draw MS inlohis lish.trap."
AS long as the two armies lay watching
each other on opposite banks of the stream,
Dabney with his clothes.line telegraph,
continued to be one of the promptest aud
most reliable of General HoOkel's scouts
Frank Moore'S anecdotes