The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-27
War Telegraphing.

Gabriel N. P. Gale, gentleman wide
~ known through his hotel connections,
and brother Of the present proprietor of
the Hotel Lafayette, narrated to Press
reporter Saturday three interesting sto-
ries OF war telegraphing. Mr.. Gale
served during the rebellion as First
Lieutenant of the Eleventh New York
Battery. and, like every other old soldier,
loves to tight over again the battles of
the past. The experiences he told YES
terday are striking examples of how
Confederate cunning was out1anked by
Yankee wit. >. ....f .- :.
The Union armyin 1862 lay encamped
on the north bank of the Rappahannock,
opposite what was to be the disastrous
held of fredericksburg. On the bank of
the river, in the extreme front of the
Union line, stood the house of Mrs.
Gray, long, rambling stone building,
whose front OF three stories faced the
river. The roof sloped steeply toward
the rear, where the stone side was but
one story high. Mrs. Gray herself. an
elderly widow, had received the Union
advance with every demonstration of
welcome, and her house soon became a
favorite rendezvous for young officers.
A prime cause of this, besides Mrs.
Gray's cheerful hearth and good fare,
was the beauty Of her daughter Sallie, a
brunette of perhaps twenty years, with
glossy black hair and deep blue eyes.
A young Lieutenant was badly wounded
by these batteries, and spent all his spare
time at the feet of this fair Southerner,
who protested 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 telegraph instrument,
and it seemed to come from beneath his
feet. Greatly perplexed, he called the
Sergeant of the guard. They listened
carefully, and We're presently joined by
the gallant lover of Sallie Gray. Con-
victions of treachery smote his heart,
and with the Sergeant he unceremou-
iously entered the Gray dwelling. Sallie
and her mother, despite the late hour,
were busily sewing by table in the sit
ting-room. The ladies rose in apparent
surprise and indignation at the intrusion.
Step aside, if you please" said the
Sergeant.
"What does this mean?" asked Mrs.
Gray, sharply. ,.l..... ....
" Frank, | appeal to you for protec-
tion," cried the young lady to the Lieu
tenant. That officer could only shake
his head and sternly wave her aside.
=" You are false. You have deceived
me-" he said, hoarsely, as the girl who
had promised to be his bride, sank sob
bing upon sofa.
The soldiers could hear the ticking
more plainly now. They moved the table,
lifted the carpet, and discovered trap
door leading to cellar of whose exist
ence they had no suspicion. A light be-
low was instantly quenched, but they
fearlessly descended and discovered a
telegraph instrument, with an insulated
wire running through the cellar wall and
evidently passing beneath the river to
the enemy on the other side. Crouching
in corner was the operator, young
and handsome man, who had never be-
fore been seen about the house. having
lived for days in the cellar. You are
my prisoner from the Sergeant brought
the distressed wall from poor Sallie of
"My husband, oh, my husbandw The
heart of the Union Lieutenant went back
once more to the girl he left behind him
But, notwithstanding the detection of
this line of communication the enemy
seemed to know of every movement of
the Union troops. 1t was mystery to
the officers how they gained their
knowledge. There were no more tele-
graph wires, and there was no passing
across the river. At last the mystery
was solved. Within the Union lines,
but in sight of the enemy, there stood a
low frame house, occupied by negro,
who did washing for the soldiers. He
hung his clothing to dry in the front
yard; but it was noticed that in the
porch there always hung three flannel
shirts, one red, one white and one blue.
The negro said that they were his Union
colors. 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
Rappahannock. The arrest of the negro
and the effectual use of the shirts to de-
ceive, instead of to inform, the enemy
Observation-Disclosures Press. nils
A Peculiar Calendar.