The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-07
THE SIGNAL CORPS.
How Party Stood the Severe Smelling ut the
ANerN lInnSp.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Twenty We
| years ago last March was somewhat cventful,
rs he Army of the Potomac was then making
| history about Petersburg, Va. Although a
| quarter of n century has mustered many COM
| Tades into the great majority we are pleased at
this very late date to refer TO the commendable
| mention that was made of certain Signal
party that, at the time ! refer TO, occupied the
roof of the Avery House. in front of Peters
burg, as a Signal station. The party occupying
that station had the distinguished honor of
looking squarely into the cnemys works in
and about the vicinity of the celebrated Crater.
| The station was supplied with one Of the
| largest field telescopes, with which the men
| were enabled TO discern the minutcst move
| mcnt OF the enemy. The occasion of tho meri-
/ torious order 10 which | wish to refer took
! place on and about the Goth of March, 1865. 1t
was learned from rebel sources during tho short
armsticc after the affair of Fort Steadman, on
! the morning of the 25th when an opportunity
was given the Conlederatcs TO care for their
dead and wounded, that the way the Smelling
! of the 20th was brought about was owing TO Is
! change having been very recently made in
/ commands. The rebel Gen. Pickett had been
! ia command at this point but his command
was ordered TO another place and the ground
/ taken by Gen. Gordon. Early on the goth Gen.
/ Gordon made close inspection OF that part of
I the Union line now in his front, and his at
! tentou seemed TO be called especially to the
! Signal Station on the Avery House, rs it was
somewhat conspicuous, and possibly from his
! standpoint was considered menacing. 1t is
! claimed that while standing near the famous
6i-pound Columbiad that they had brought up
! 10 Petersburg from Fort Sumter and mounted
on trucks, that the General concluded that he
would knock that Signal party out of position,
aud upon his return 10 his headquarters issued
an order to those in charge of the Coumbiad
TO open on that Signal Station and drive them
out Of there"
Capt. J. c. Paine Signal Officer at Ninth
Corps Headquarters had ordered inspection OF
men and acCoutcrments of all the stations at
tachcd 10 the corps TO take place ut l o'clock
y. m. This order included the Walthal sta
ton, Serg't III. W. Holman and party; the
Tree Station, Sergt Jordan and PARTY; the
Jerusalem Plank Road Station, Scrgt Carroth-
ers and party, and the Avery House Station,
Scrg't Horace Judson and party; also the
Ninth Corps Headquarters party, commanded
by Serg't j, w. Marcy. The officers in charge
OF stations were ordered TO leave ono man on
lookout while the party went TO Headquarters
for inspection.
While the inspection was being made the
first shot from the ColUmbiad WAS directed at
the Avery House. The inspection was abbrev-
ated or supplemented with a prompt order TO
return 70 your stations"
Serg't Judsou at once took his place ut the
long telescope, with which he was able to almost
look down the throat of the 90 pound Column
biad. Ills view was so plain that he was able
70 announce TO those near him OF the range
and could tell when his station was in immi.
nent danger. Some of the shells PLAYED serious
havoc about, but owing 10 the danger that the
rebel cannoBecEs were placed in themselves, as
our batteries were playing into them at every
presentation OF man or muzzlc in sight much
OF their hrlng was random, mostly passing
over the heads Of the Signal party. Forty-nne
6i-pound p.ciectiles were thrown over there
that afternoon, ~ Of which were directed at
the Signal Station. Five shots were aimed at
column OF passing cavalry that was then
going 10 position on tho extreme left of the
Army Of the Potomac. Gen. Hartranft, then
commanding division OF the Ninth Corps was
occupying the lower story OF the Avery House.
but found il untonable during this afternoon.
Still further trouble was given by the Fort
Sumter SecedeT on the morning Of tho 25th,
during the fighting around Fort Steadman.
Quite number Of the attaches of Headquarters
were killed, and some Of the officers quarters
were demolished Ten days later the Signal
party, like all others on that ground had the
pleasure OF laying their hands on the wicked
monster that had been giving them go much
trouble.
We are very glad TO know that Scrg't Judson
aud ms party escaped being hit although they
were the target. The Avery House Signal
Judson, William +. Bowers, Samuel d. French,
VIM. &. Gage, OTphcus W. Wilson T. T. Ger
hart and Edward Becker ] am especially re-
minded Of this event by the possession of a
copy Of the original order from Signal Corps
Headquarters, copy Of which am pleased to
reproduce:
HEADQUARTERS. ARMY OF THE PoToMAC.
sIGsAL DEFAETMEST, March %, 1865.
General Order No. g.
Tie good conduct, gallantry and zeal of sergt
Horace Judson and his party station at the
Avery House, - commended TO the Signal CORPS Of
tbs army as worthy 81 emulation.
On the 2J,h inst. his station was subjected 10 a
severe Smelling from the enemys batteries and al
though everyone else in and about the building
wac compelled 20 leave. SerRt Judson and his
party remained at the station through all Of the
Smelling. One she'll struck the building eight feet
below the platform on which hs glass was fixed
and passed through the room occupied by his
party 81 the station.
The zeal and vigilance Of serg't H. W. Holman
ana MS party, on station at the NAlthAll House ia
also commended ScrRt Holman ia his operations
between tie lZth and 18th OF February last OBJ
taiHcd Information Of great value not only 10 the
Slgnh 1ofps o. this army but 10 tie entire army
o. tEe United states. IL is not deemed prudent
however, 20 publish the nature Of this information
This order viii be read 10 al the detachmeuts Of
the signal Corps IN tiEis army.
BY order Of the Chief Signal Officer Army Of the
Potomac. PRED 5 BESsIoE
Lieutenant, Signal Corps, Il. 8. A.
Sergt JoHs l.. PRAY, Signal COrDs, u. g. A.
FiltA Corps.
COmrade JudsOn was formerly member Of
the 9Th Ohio, and is now physician Of Glove.
land, o. COmrade II. w. Holman il now at
Independence, Iowa. ! would say ia conclusion
that this Teminiscence il only justice 10 those
10 whom j have referred, and, like old wine
is the better for being kept. l.. PRAY, Signal
Party tiith Corps, h. OF r., Toledo, o.