The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-07
IN THE SIGNAL CORPS.
Continued From Second Page.

the wand was made more rapidly from
day today, as we gained in proficiency.
Being obliged to reverse the motion IN
reading, many laughable mistakes &C.
CURED. think boys never worked
harder at school than we did to master
the code. AT the end of two weeks we
were called for final examination, each
by himself, at the private office of the
chief. lt was severe task, resulting in
the acceptance of only five officers, the
others returning to their regiments and
q new detail ordered to fill their places.
Those accepted were Lieuts. S. NJ. Eaton
and John W. Dana of the 18th Me-, John
G. "A bbott w. P. Minor, IS Conn, and
George +. French, Sth vt.
In justice to the officers rejected, it
should be noted, that the time allowed
before examination was not half as much
as that given at GEORGETOWN, or in the
Army of the Potomac. The enlisted men
were carefully drilled in the use of flags
and torches, the mum bers of the code
being called off, they having no knowl-
edge of ther significance. The Alphabet
code was followed by the Gunboat code,
Field Telegraph etc., all to be thoroughly
committed each officer being obliged to
detroy all codes on going into the field,
and taking an oath not to divulge them.
The men were naturally curious to
know the meaning Of the signals, and
would incidentally learn some of those
used daily, but were cautioned about
trying to learn the code. At one of the
practice stations the officer was absent
for the day, and his place supplied by
another not fully familiar with the code.
In calling off d message ne made mis-
take. The fagman hesitated, and said,
Il think you are mistaken in the num-
ber." The officer, surprised, exclaimed,
What. do you know the code?" The
soldier realizing that lie had committed
himself, finally acknowledged that he did
to some extent, and on being further
questioned, admitted that he and another
conlrade had fitted key 90 the officers
trunk and obtained and copied part
of the code. For this fragrant offence
both were court martialed and sent to
ship Talnud for two or three months.
Stations were established at the Gus
tom House, at Carrollton, nine miles up
the river, and at Algiers across the river.
1t was necessary to find elevated positions
in order to signal over buildings and
trees
The Custom House afforded q good
outlook from the top of the walls, which
had been built up four stories and left
unfinished, owing to settling of the
foundations. On the top of this pile of
stone Lieut.. S. M. Eaton built platform
commanding fine view of the whole
SOAhtAJ Loi many LIlllCS. n QUAIL
ing about 10 feet square, used by the
architects, was occupied for quarters.
AT Carroliton Lieut.. Butterfeld built
snug station on the top of large tree,
using the trunk for support and the
large limbs for braces. looking in the
distance like bird house on a pole.
The roof over head served as platform
for the fiagman, while the room was oc-
cupied by the Lieutenant for quarters.
/ was ordered to Algiers, where my
regiment was stationed. Finding large
ice house three stories high, huilt OF
brick we soon had strong platform
made from one of the rear windows
thirty feet or more above the ground.
affording a good view of the Custom
House, while the large hall nearly 100
feet long gave us ample quarters. The
hall had been used by the rebels for
drill, and In 1t were quantity of old
guns, knapsacks and equipments of vari-
GUS kinds.
For signal outfit each officer was sup
piled with telescope, with which signals
could be read twenty-five miles in a clear
atmosphere, with high elevations, as
often done in Virginia, and a good field
glass suitable for 6, s or even 10 II IS.
The signal kit for the men was supplied
with six flags, two six feet square, three
four feet, and two two feet, the latter for
action flags, of different grounds white,
black, red, with squares in TIE center OF
a different color, easily distinguished.
and used according to background and
distance. The signal staff was of hick-
DRY made in four joints each four feet
long, tapeJing from 1 10 inches at the
butt to IL inch at the tip. The fourth
joint was used for flags, the third for
torches, the staff when ready for use he
ing 70 feet in length. The torches con-
sisted of flying torch, and foot TORCH
the one as you see) readily adjusted to
the staff, the other used for a stationary
or fixed light. as motions could not be
interpreted without it. A variety of arti-
cles, such as canteens, haversack service
can ETC., completed the outfit, all made
up as compactly as possible.
In Decenl Der Lieut.. French was ordered
to Baton Rouge, La, and he described
his station there:
A s soon as the men were properly
drilled we built station on the top of
one of the towers of the State House; not
an easy job, as the rebels had burnt
clean when obliged to evacuate the CITY.
The walls and towers were left intact
Obtaining lad ders and lum Der, we soon
had a platform for each story, and reach
ing the TOP Is feet or more from the
groun0, we foored it over, except a
small opening. This gave us fine out
look. At the same time an officer with
three men was sent to Plaquemine, Is
miles down the river, where he built his
station on the top of church, enabling
us TO signal over the tops of the trees. I
think this was
THE LONGEST DISTANCE SIG
NAILED
in the Department of the Gulf. A lit
tie later. matters took on a livel1er turn.
More troops arrived and the gun heats
were REINFORCED. The feet at this time
consisted of the flagship, Hartford. Mo
nongahela, Richmond. Mississippi, with
the gunhoats Essex, Sachem and Alba
tross, with some half dozen OF more
mortar boats