Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-18
AVERMONT BOY SENTIT.
How Secretary stanton Received Word Of
tho Fall of RichmOnd

tho Fall OF Richmond,
Tho following narrative taken from the
columns of the Lynn, Mass, Item will be
of especial interest in this vicinity, the
subject Of the sketch being a native of Wi
noosk:
Tho natural thought when war Is mem
toned is that of soldiers the clash of
arms, and the roar of battle. But not
alono on generals, soldiers, horses and
cannon does a nation depend for the con-
duct of war. A host of silent influences
are at work, which have an important
bearing on the results and without which
success would be impossible One of the
most potent of these influences was the
telegraph. The Importance OF this won
derful invention was never so fully real
lied as during the war of the rebellion.
An army OF operators was recruited, sta
toned at all points. and sent into the field
to assist the military operations there, and
to place President Lincoln and the war de-
partmcnt in instantaneous touch with the
commanders of armies corps and minor
divisions of the Union forces.
The regular telegraph offices increased
their working forces and strengthened
their equipment to handle the extra
amount of business that the war suddenly
brought to them. The government organ
lied a special force. and the history OF
what this army OF tickers accomplished is
our nation. The demand for skilled
manipuators OF the Geographic instru-
ments was so heavy that even boys were
pressed into service and where they pos
sessed the requisite nerve and knowledge
soon became men" and were intrusted
with positions OF the very highest respon-
sbility. Many of these men are enrolled
as heroes in the records of the martyrs In
the cause of their country. Others sur
vived the great conflict and still live to
tell the story of their share in the great
conflict. and to illustrate what even a boy
may accomplish IL he is possessed OF n
manly spirit. OF this class is
WILLIAM Il. KETTLES.
the subject OF this sketch. who entered
the service as a boy, and who to-day Is n
veteran tclegraphcr listening TO the tick
of the soundcr and translating its mystic
code for the benefit OF the readers of the
Item. lie was born in Winooski Falls. VT.
August II. 1s4S. when only IL years old he
went to work as messenger boy in the telc-
graph office at Burlington, VT Like all
smart boys in an Office he soon picked up
the art of sending and receiving messages
by wire, and in n short time became quite
expert as an operator One day In 1863.
Gen. Eckert's chief assistant. who was a
Vcrmonter. happened into the Burlington
office, where he saw young Kettles Mt
WORK. IuhlnE II fancy 10 tIe nON, ne OlleT-
ed him n situation in Washington, which
was promptly accepted. and the lad soon
found himself installed as an operator In
tho national capital. After working awhile
for Gen. McCallum, who was at the head
of the military r. r. service, he was trans
ferred to the war department. Here he
was thrown in contact with the heads Of
the nation. 1t was no uncommon thing for
President Lincoln to drop into the office,
hnqIIn ha nj "a to-
and receive from him the news direct from
the front.
When Richmond fell II was his good
fortune to receive the news direct from
the operator who was in the suburbs of
Richmond when Gen. Weitzers orderly
brought the news. and wired direct to
Washington. The following account OF the
receipt of the first despatch from Rich
mond during the war is copied from
Plum's Military Telegraph in the Civil
War"
w. b. Wood operator, was about to
close his Office and move on, when he
espied the horseman and thinking from
his furious riding that possibly he bore
important messages. Wood awaited his
approach. Operators Dealey and Homan
were on duty at Fortress Monroe, which
office being quickly Informed of the fall of
Richmond, connected the war department
office direct, so that a copy OF the telegram
might he taken there while 1t was being
received at the fortress for Norfolk.
LITTLE WILLIE KETTLES,
n precocious boy and an expert operator
in Di (War Department. offlce-he who
had worked the line to Harper's Ferry and
while an engagement was pro-
crossing at those points, and Lincoln
Stanton and Halleck were sitting by,
eagerly listening to each word as it was
read from the instrument. or cautiously
suggesting plans of operations that the
reports called for--this boy answered II. IT,
III. Sharpen for Richmond" said Dealey
Then Wood, who was five miles thcrefrom
called, and Di answered. For about four
years Richmond had not been heard in
Washington. Woods office was almost
within the limits of the former city, and
III was wild with JOY The following mes
sage then came:
RICHMOND, ". April 3, 1865
To Brig. Gen. Geo F. Shepley, Military
Governor, Norfolk, Va:
We entered Richmond at o'clock this
(Slgned) G. WEITZEL,
Brig. Con. Commanding.
Bedell was standing by Kettles, and no
sooner heard the purport OF the telegram
that he rushed into Eckert's room and told
him. Probably no other message was over
received at the national capital that caused
such rejoicing The surrender OF Lee and
Johnston created perhaps profounder joy,
but not such boisterous pleasure. II took
the message" said Kettles. 1.-The Lord only
knows how, and upsetting inkstandt and
l hurried to Mai. Eckcrt's
room whore he and another snatched 1t
md run to Stanton's Office" Charles A.
/ mixer came into the operating room at
the same time. and espying friend. the
only person near, on the broad ground In
front, called to him and reported the glor-
GUS news, which he was fairly aching to
ell somebody. While the operators were
FALLING up distant Offices to spread the glad |
idings. Secretary Stanton rushed In, and
up Kettles In his strong arms, |
lctually held his Mt arms length out OF the |
window, to the view OF the fast gathering |
,rowd which Tinker's friend below, by his |
iproarious conduct, was drawing.
Stanton addressed the crowd In few re- |
marks complimentary to Kettles, and re-
,eated the news OF the downfall of the |
'ebel government, as the capture of Rich
nond was interpreted The crowd called |
IN Kettles for speech, but he was too
much disconnected, and retired amid the |
oud huzzas of n jubilant multitude. Be-
ore Stanton, who was in his shirt sleeves, |
'etired, and while the tears of 10y and |
gratitude were falling "a strange thing |
or that NAM. he said to the operators, |
Boys, i consider the telegraph my right |
irm, and II ever l can do anything for |
you, don't hesitate to ask It," Below, the |
'xultant crowd was still gathering, and |
hats flew high in air ut the inspiring intel |
igence. That night the nations heart pal |
,itated In pride and rapturous transports. |
All felt positive at last that a happy end |
WI n q In brv F,,k,.