The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-26
TELEGRAPHERS or THE WAR.
Given to Field Operators Of
,-s. So 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 1880 the Society of the United
States Military Corps, composed of
army telegraphers of the civil war was
organized, and at once petitioned 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, and intro
duced bill in the senate recognizing
the telegraphers as 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. It was favorably reported
in the senate at subsequent congress
by him, but he died before it could be
reached for passage and Gen. How,ey,
who took his place on the committee,
took charge of it.
Gen. Rosecrans, while chairman OF
the house committee on military af-
fairs, reported similar bill. In fact,
from 1880 to the date of it's final adop-
ton every committee on military af-
flaws of both houses of congress recon-
mended this legislation. Once the bill
passed both houses, but reached the
president too late for his signature. At
another time it passed the senate. but
could not be reached in the house. It
was again passed by both houses and
became law in 1897. 1t gives the mill
tary telegraphers legal standing as an
integral part of the army and an hon
orable discharge.
The secretary of war has caused a
handsome photographic certificate to be
prepared, and is issuing them to survi.
vors or the representatives of deceased
members as fast as the records in the
war office can be examined.
At the outbreak of the war no gov.
eminent had military telegraph corps
There was no law for one. Indeed, il
was even supposed to be impracticable,
but the demonstration was made so eff.
fective that every government at once
adopted it as part of it's army and for
years it has been so in this country
The telegraphers of the army are al
ready preparing to go to Cuba as a corps
of the United States forces.
+ The reports and letter of Secretary
of War Stanton, Gems. Grant, Sherman
Mcclellan, Burnsides, Sheridan, Logan
Scofeld, Franklin, Banks, Warren and
many others bore such strong testi
mony of the military character and eff
cheney of the service that from the first
there was no doubt congress would give
the telegraphers legal army status
and an honorable discharge, but i,
came after more than half of them. were
in their graves. This certificate con
tains beautiful illustration of the use
of the telegraph on the field of battle,
where it was often employed.
AT the state encampment to be helt
at Streator, ILL.,, early next month, the
G. \. R. boys will be asked to recog
nize certificates as honorable discharge,
within the meaning of the requirement!
for admission to membership.
1t might be mentioned that by orde1
of the secretary of war all of the ciphe,
keys were held by the army operators
who thus became thetrusted custodian
of ali the great army secrets. TIL
casualties sustained by the corps in tn
war alone evidence the great danger it,
members were in throughout the serv
| ice.-Chicago Inter Ocean.