The Portland daily press., 1882-05-05
Ingenious Devices to Convey Informa
ton During the Rebellion.

Gabriel n. P. Gale, gentleman widely
known through his hotel connections, ana
brother Of the present proprietor Of the Hotel
Lafayette, narrated to = Philadslphis Press re-
porter Saturday throo interesting stories OF war
telegraphing:
The Union army in 1852 lay encamped on the
north bank of the Rappahanneck, opposite
what WAS to be the DISASTROUS field of Fredos-
icksburp. On the bank of the river, in the ex-
treme front Of the Union line, stood the house
of Mrs Gray, . leng, rambling stone bulidlnR,
whose front of throe stories faced tho river
The roof slopcd stseply toward the rear, where
Gray herself, an elderly widow, ad received
the Unisn advance with every demonstration
of welcome and her house soon became raw
orite rendezvous for ysung ofncers. PR re
cause of this, aside from Mrs. Gray's cheerful
hearth and good fare, was the bsauty OF her
daughter Ssilis, . brunette Of perhaps 20 years
with glossy black hair and deep blue eyes: A
Young lieutenant was badly wounded by those
batteries and spent all his spare time at the
feet of this fair southernsr, who professed such
sympathy with the Union cause.
Late one rainy night . sentinel pacing back
and forth before the stone front OF the Gray
house heard faint but sharp noise cutting the
still air. 1t sounded like the click OF tele-
graph instrument and it seemed to come from
beneath his fest. Greatly perplexed, he called
the sergeapt Of the guard. They listened care
fully and wsre presently Joined by the gallant
lover of Sallie Gray. Conviction OF treacbery
smote his heart, aud with sergeant he uncere-
moniously entered the Gray dwelling. Sallie
and her mother, despite the late hoar. wore m nns-
lily sewing by table in the sitting room. The
ladies rose iD apparent surprise and indignation
at the intrusion.
sStep aside, if you plsass,'' said the sergeant.
"What dces this msaz?" asked Mrs. Gray
shafR1tT; appeal to you FOR protection, cried
t.a yaunG lady to the IsItsnAnt. That officer
could only shake his head and sternly wave her
aside.
"You are false. Yeu have deceived me. he
said hoarssly; ~ the girl who had promised to be
his bride sank sobbing upon . sofs
The soldiers could hear the ticking moro plain
ly now. They moved the table, lifted the car
pet, and discovered trap-door lsA1ing to q
cellar Of whose sxistsncs they had no suspicion.
A light below was instantly qusnched, but
thew foaflessly descended and discovered tele-
graph instrument, with An insulated wire run
ming through the osllar wall and evidently
passing beneath the river 10 the enemy on the
other side. Crouchisg in = corner WAS the OPP
orator, yosng and handsome man, who had
never before bssn seen about the heuss, having
lived for days in the CELLAR. You arc my
prisoner from the sergeant brought the dis
fre,sed wall from Door Sallis Of ssMy husband,
oh, rny husbandln The heart of the Union
lieutenant went back once mere to the girl he
left behind hin.
But, notwithstanding the detection Of this
line of ssmnanieatisn, the enemy seemed to
know OF every movement Of the Union troops.
It.was mystery to the ofilcsrs how thoy gain
ed their knowledge. There were no moro tele-
prxph Uirsn, and there was no passing across
the river. At last the mystery was solved.
Within the Unien lines but in sight OF the
enemy. there stood low frame house, occu-
pied by negro who did washing for the SOL
diers He hung his clothing to dry in the front
ward; but it was noticed that in tho porch there
always hung three flannel shirts, one red, one
were his Union eolors. But the shirts were not
always in the same position, and suspicious
sergeant finally became convinced that the
negro used them to signal across the Kappa
hammock Tho arrest Of the negro and the effect
ual use of tbs shirts to deceive instead OF to in
form the enemy followed.
was nearing Berlin, Va. To receive orders
from headquartsra in the rear, the troops had
laid ton miles of insulated wire, running
through the woods, now beneath tho leaves and
again carried among the tree tops It was inn
possible to picket the entire line, and large
part of it was exposed; but it Was thought to be
effectualy concealed. A scout one day lying
in an bush, heard soand like the ticking OF .
clock. Creeping forward, he was astcnished
to see q Johnny" In his sray'uniform, setting
on the ground, chuckling to himself and busily
writing. The scout spfRng to his feet, and
levelling his revolver, said to the laughing
rebel, "what are you doing hsrs?" II surrend-
err" was the chAgrined reply, the smile sud-
denly disappearing. Tho scout discovered that
the rebel had cut the wire and had connect
cd the ends with loop running into clock,
the electricity securing the sscapsmsnt 80 that
the messages ticksd themselves plainly into the
rebels ear. Ths ingsniousi machine was cap
tured with the rebel.