The National tribune., 1881-08-20
For THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
THE GHOST OF A LANTERN.

In the month of January, 1862, was stationed
with my regiment upon Arlington Heights Va.
On the 22d day of the month mentioned | was
ordered TO take my company and relieve the gar
TisOn of one of the smaller forts built to afford
protection to the National Capital from the
enemy lying to the southwark The Signal
Service, afterwards effective was then in its
infancy, and the Corps, to which had previously
been for a short time temporarily attached was
kept at drill almost constantly both day and
night. In fact, there was scarcely an hour out of
the twenty-four when the flag or lantern could
not be perceived in motion on Georgetown
Heights, or "Red Hill" as it was sometimes
called by the soldiers. There were stations both
up and down the Potomac forming continuous
line of communication for many miles, and as l
was able TO read the dispatches or messages l
found relief from many weariSome term of duty
In deciphering them they Were transmitted to
and fro
/ On the night of January 81, about twelve
O'Clock | started out as my custom, to make
the rounds of the fort, and thus assure myself
that everything was it should be, and had
nearly completed my errand when Private HOl-
man, the guard stationed in the southwest angle
of the redoubt, called my attention to the pecu-
liar movements of light located some little
distance in a southerly direction from the Signal
Service station upon the "Red Hill"
This light seemed to be in a ravine, or back of
some obstruction, that hid it from every other
point of view outside of line drawn through
the angle in which we stood, in a southeasterly
and northweSterly direction. To assure myself
of this fact | even went outside of the fortifca-
-
taking numerous observations by the way, and
found the light, apparently proceeding from
lantern, invisible except from points within
twenty-five or thirty feet upon either side of the
line mentioned.
When first pointed out to me the light was
seemingly some eight feet or so above the ground,
(although, of course, owing to the darkness l
could only guess at the elevation and was NOV
ing in a circle as though mounted upon a staff
and being rapidly swung about above the head
of whoever had it in hand. Suddenly it was
lowered to the position of charge bayonets," and
again revolving perpendicularly, like a wheel
upon its axle. This movement was kept up for
perhaps a minute, then ceased, and the lantern
began to act intelligently. The first word flashed
out was able to understand without reference
to my key to the system which was yet in my
possession. 1t startled me. danger" was
spelled plainly as though written in the largest
sized capital letters upon a copy-book placed close
before me under the broad light of day.
With a rapidity / never in all my life have
seen equaled the word was repeated; then fol-
lowed another, with repeat, and part of which
/ could not make out. Thus far and the light
disappeared as though it were hastily and vio-
lently dashed to earth Quick as the motions
had been, however, / had succeeded in getting
the numbers and combinations. Meantime had
noticed that the regular stations were working
harmoniously as far down as Fort Washington,
and in Ineligible communication with those
upon the opposite and surrounding heights.
After waiting sometime to see if there would
be a recurrence of the strange proceeding, went
to quarters, and by aid of my signal book deciph-
cred the message, which read thus: Danger
danger-help- -help-mur"-the it ended. To
say that l was puzzled would but family express
what felt. Twas bewildered, alarmed annoyed, =
could hardly tell why,-and stood for some time
debating in my own mind what course had best
pursue. / at length turned in, and next morning
reported the matter to headquarters and was well
laughed at for my pains.
The next night, February /, / indicated the
locality as nearly as possible, and directed the
sentinel stationed in the line of observation to
keep close watch and upon appearance of any
light in that vicinity to make it known by hay
ing me sent for.
1t lacked but a few moments of midnight when
the warning came fastening to the spot l saw
a repetition of the phenomenon of the preceding
night and from the same point. The swift hOri-
zontal or nearly horizontal revolutions succeeded
by the perpendicular, then the message" Dan
ger! Danger! Help! Help! Mur"-and sud
den extinguishment of the signal fire.
The next morning | procured leave of absence
and visited the camp of the Signal Corps above |
Georgetown. Inquiry there developed the fact
that none of the men had been absent or unac-
counted for either of the occasions above indi
Gated, even for half an hour. Assuring myself
of this fact / next turned my steps in the direc
tion from whence the strange light must have
proceeded. The spot was found without diff
Guilty. 1t was narrow ravine, not very large, |
running down toward the river, and at the bot
tom nearly, if not quite, destitute of timber /
From it, by aid of my field-glass, / could almost
recognize the sentinel posted in the angle from
which had first beheld the mysterious signaling