The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-03-19
Clothes Line Telegraph.

y u AWAaN y es&RtN = NANH - tfsas
I In the early part Of 1868. when the
I Union army was eneamped 81 Falmouth
and pirketine the banks OF the Kahra-
hammock, The utmost tact aud ingenuity
was displayed by the scouts and videttes
IN gaming a knowledge of contemplated
movements ON either side; and bero a.
at various other times, the sbre ewduoss
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
4 There came to the Union lines d ne
gro from farm on the other side Of
the river, known by the name Of Dab
ney who hns known TO possess a re-
markably clear knowledge Of the topog-
raphy Of the whole region; and he was
employed as q cook hiH body servant
at headquarters. When lie first saw our
system Of army telegraphs, the idea in
terested him intensely, and he begged
the operators to explain the signs Co
him. They did so and found that he
could understand and remember the
meaning Of the various movements a.
well as any of his brethren Of palor hue.
Not long after, his wife who had come
with him, expressed great desire to be
allowed 20 20 over 20 the ether side as
"a servant 10 secesh woman whom
Gen. Hooker was about sending over to
her friends. The request was granted.
Dabney's wife went across the Kappa
hammock, and in few days was duly
installed as laundress ut the headquar-
tiers of n prominent rebel general -
Dabney, her husband, on the north bank
was soon found to be wonderfully well
informed MS to all the rebel plans
Within an hour of the time that move
ment of any kind was projected, or even
discussed among the rebel generals,
Hooker knew all about it. He khew
which corps was moving or about 10
move, in what direction, how long they
lad been on the march, and in what
force; and all this knowledge came
through Dabney, and his reports always
turned out to be true.
Yet Dabney was never absent, and
never talked with the scouts, and seem
ed to be always taken up with his du-
ties as cook and groom about head
quarters.
How he obtained his information re-
manned for some time puzzle to the
Union officers. At length, upon much |
solicitation, he unfolded his marvellous
secret to one of our officers.
Taking him 70 point where a clear
view could be obtained Of Fredericks- !
burg, he pointed out little cabin in
the suburbs near the river bank, and /
asked him if he saw that clothes line,
with clothes hanging on it 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 Cor the officers,
and cooks, and waits around, and as
soon as she hears about any movement
OF anything going Oh, she comes down
md moves the clothes on that line SO /
can understand it in minute, That
gray shirt is Longstreet; and when she
5akes it of, it means hes gone down
about Richmond. That white shirt
means Hill; and when she moves it up
20 the west end of the line, Hills corps
las moved up stream. The rcd one is
He's down on the right now
md If he moves she will mo,e the red
shirt.
One morning Dabney came in and re-
ported q movement over there ''But,"
says he, ut don't amount to anything,
hey are just making believe"
An officer went out to look at the
;,othes-line telegraph through his field
glass. There had been quite shifting
Iyer there among the army fannels,
but how do You know but there is
in it,"
Do you see those two blankets PIN
ned together at the bottoml" said Dab
ley. Yes, but what of it 2'said the Of
icer. why, that's her way Of making
! fsh-trap; and when she pins the
:lothes together that way, it means that
zee is only trying to draw us into his ,
ish-trap.'
As long MS the two armies lay watch
ng each other ON opposite banks Of the /,
ream, Dahney with his clothes-hnet
elegraph, continued TO be one OF the
romptest and most reliable of Gen I.
lockers scouts. Frank Moore's Aaec- !
otes.