Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-05-21
rELEGRAPHERS OF THE WAR.
Certificates of Honorable Service Are
Given to Field Operators of
the Civil War.

THE old boys of the army telegraph
corps who served as telegraphers in the
civil war are now receiving certificates
OF honorable service, and they hope in
future to receive due recognition from
grand army organizations.
In 1850 the Society of the United
States Military Corps, composed of
army telegraphers of the civil war was
organized, and at once p%etitioned con-
gress to recognize the corps as a part
of the United States army in the war of
the rebellion. Gen. Logan became deep
~ interested in the subject, aud intro
duced a bill in the senate recognizing
the telegraphers rs an integral part of
the army. At that time he was chair
man on military affairs, and by order of
his committee he reported the bill for
passage. 1t was favorably reported
in the senate at a subsequent congress
by him, but he died before it could be
reached for passage and Gen. Howley,
who took his place on THE committee, |
took charge of it..
Gen, Rosecrans, while chairman of
the house committee on military af-
fairs, reported a similar bill. In fact,
from 1850 TO the date of its final adop-
ton every committee on military af-
flaws OF both houses of congress recon-
mended this legislation. Once the bill
both houses, but reached the
president too late for his signature. At
mother time it passed the senate, but
not be reached in the house. 1t
VAS again passed by both houses and
a law in 1897. 1t gives the mill {
AIRY t~elegraphers a legal standing as an
integral part of the army and an hon
'rable discharge.
Inc secretary of war has caused n
aGdsome photographic certificate to be
repaired, and is issuing them to suryi- /
ofs or the representatives of deceased
lehbers as fast as the records in the
ar office can be examined. /
Al the outbreak of the war no gov c
,hllent mad a military telegraph corps. /
mere was no law for one. Indeed, it c
as even supposed to be impracticable. /
the demonstration was made so ef. i
ctVe that every government at once ;.
II as a part of its army and for G
'afs II has been so in this countrv .
he teIegraphers of the army are nj. =
aoE preparing to go TO Cuba as a CORPS >.
the United States forces. "a
ne reports and letter of Secretary !,
war stanton, Gems. Grant, sherman Il,
'lieI'an, Burnsides, Sheridan, Logan l..
oheld, Franklin, Banks, Warren and r.
VI! o'hers bore such strong testi. Ht
my OF the military characterand eff. ~ I
hcy OF the service that from the first 49,
re was no doubt congress would give w.
, 'e'egraphers a legal army status co
! al honorable discharge, but il 10
ne after more than half of them were
'he'r graves, This certificate con. "a
Il beautiful illustration of the use wi
ne Telegraph on the field of battle" "a
ere 1t was often employed.
' Tue STATE encampment TO be held rrnni
creator ILL.,, early next month. the GA
A. X. boys will be asked to recon. Ia
c'r,'ncates as honorable DISCHARGES BA,
p'n 'he meaning of the requirements w
to membership. VIII
might be mentioned that by order o C0i
ne secretary of war all of thn c;rha, Poi
) were held by the army operators, lni
thus became the trusted cnstodi,rs W.
III the great army secrets. Tho =
aInes sustained by the corps in tho r
'ione evidence the great dangerits f
'pers were in throughout the scrv. t.
Chicago Inter Ocean.