Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-10
TEE BRAVE OPERATORS.


By the effort Of personal friends the
history Of the telegraph operators has
been collected, and it is known that of
the entire number 1919 were either killed,
died Of disease, or were captured while
in the line of duty. 1t is estimated that
more than 100 others suffered from the
casualties Of the service. The fact that
at least twelve members of the corps were
killed by the enemy; that probably fifty
died In the service; that not less than ten
were wounded and fully 200 captured,
attest beyond question the danger Incl
dent to service in the military telegraph
corps Of the union army in the war of
the rebellion. OF the ], $50 operators en-
gagged In and surviving the service, not
withstanding the remarkable facilities
they have enjoyed for keeping track of
one another, and nine years effort to find
ter comrades, they do not now know
that four years ago when a society was
organized there were over 40 alive.
INSTANCES OF HEROIsM.
One of the operators who remained at
his Office in Winchester, Va, until the
retreating federals had nearly all left,
was himself about quitting, when lie re-
ceived a telegram from the commander
for HarPer's Ferry calling for reinforce
ments. His stay to transmit that dis
patch resulted in his capture and inpris-
Onment IN Libby prison. For years he
has been suffering from the effects OF his
imprisonment and is in daily fear of the
third stroke of paralysis.
1t is believed that General Porter was
saved from defeat ly the bravery of
an operator, who connected his instru-
ment with the field line during the battle
of Gaines Mill, and with only a tree to
shelter him from the storm of bullets
and shells, sent and received many dis
| patches, whereby General Mcclellan was
| enabled to reinforce General PortoE most
/ opportunity. Several Of the operators
/ orderlies were shot, and messages had to
1 be sent by two or three messengers to
insure delivery.
In 1880 General G.. X. Warren wrote
/ II often talk with those who We're with
me Of the operator who. In the first Of
/ our attacks on Petersburg, brought his
wire to the front under musket range .Ol
/ the enemy and operated it behind a tree
that proved to be hollow, and which any
! of the cannon shot, which were at Gloss
range and flying fast, would have gone
clear through with little loss of force
I and again, of the one on the Weldon rail
road on the Sunday morning we wer,
! sheIled out Of 1t, both from the north ani
west. and who worked his recorder in
southeast angle, and outside under the
musket fire that, byits sound so near and
/ the pattering of the balls around, con
/ fused the records of his sounder, anl
many others on other occasions. So
have always felt great deal for thei
herOism."
Yet another, who helped to construc
a line from Fort Sanders on College HiI
at Knoxville, Tenn, during the siege
when he received four bullets through
his clothes and one through his hat, an,
Tor his bravery was brevsted captain b,
/ General Burnside, in consequence Of eZ
! posure In east Tennessee has been an In
tense sufferer from rheumatism, partis
paralysis, pains ia the head, and is al
most blind. His devoted wife is his on
ly support.
Another, in the department Of Yves
Virginia, enlisted in an Indiana req