Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-15
Captain Butler Tells Story Of
Maine Signal Corps.
Also Relates Interesting Incidents Of
the Spanish War.
Maine Boys Were Expert Operators and Elec
tricians and Performed Difficult Feats.

POSES in the case containing the flags
used by the Maine troops in that con-
fiIct. in the corridor to the south Of the
marble staircase at Names Capitol.
The hook was in charge of George ".
Butler. late captain of the United
States Volunteer Signal Corps, and
when he returned from the service he
turned it over to General Richards, who
placed 1t among the other relies of the
late unplea 50 ntness with Spain.
In front of Santiago there were some
regular signal men. but the Maine boys
were better equipped and more COM
petcn, and the result was that they did
most Of the work. They sent the fam
Gus signal from General Shafter to Ad-
nral Sampson notifying the latter of
the enemy's surrender and the signal
book contains the original in pencil
written by General Shafter himself
Tn. dispatch was as follows:
Headquarters. 9Th Corps,
July H. 1895
To Admiral Sampson, on board S. s.
New York. via Siboney and Agui-
denas:
Enemy surrendered. Will you send
some one to represent the navy side of
the matter?
lSigned) SHAFTER.
Capt. Butler was proud Of his men
and his men were proud of him. Cen
cral Richards was particularly well
pleased with the record made by the
Signal Corps from Maine. and he in
duced Capt. Butler to write history
o: the campaign in which they partici-
Ia, faI in a ~
archives of the State. From this ac-
count the Journal is permitted to make
some interesting extracts. The story
is full of graphic descriptions Of scenes
and incidents which came under Capt
Buffers personal observation. For that
reason the following portions cannot
fail TO be Of special interest to the peo-
plt, of Maine:
The part taken by Maine troops in
actual service during the late Spanish
American war when counted by num-
bers was small, but when We take into
consideration the service performed
and the results obtained, Main. leads
every state in the Union. Maine can
look back with pride and say: Forty
lof our officers and men, in conjunction
with 81 OF the regular army. were the
eyes. cars and tongues of an invading
army Maine can also say: Our troops
We're the eyes, ears and tongues OF the
navy during the bombardment of q
besieged city. Maine was the first
state to place signal company at
the disposal of the government and the
first tn place = company in the field.
1.-THE chief signal officer Of the army
in his annual report to the secretary Of
Gar, said: In 80 days the volunteer
signal corps was not only practically
organized ami partly equipped. but one
company fNIaine) was already in the
! field with the army before Santiago
De Cuba.
ION the I'd day of May. 1895. when
th,. National Guard of Maine was mobi-
lized at Camp Powers, Augusta. in
obedience to the Presidents first call
for volunteers there came a small. in
significant squad. consisting Of a sec
ond lieutenant and 90 men. AS Maine
was only called upon to furnish a reg
iment of Infantry and batterycof ar
| tillery. many looked upon the advent
! CT this squad as huge joke. a few,
! however. regarded their presence as a
" Use precaution. Among the latter
class was General John T. Richards,
edjutant general Of the State. He at
once recognized the Importance Of this
branch of the service: he knew from
personal experience its value in the
| Civil war when IL was in it's infancy,
and reasoned that in these days of high
power ordnaTc. it's usefulness would
be proportionately increased. Although
II had been overlooked when the first
call was made, skilled signal men
would soon BE- wanted, as the Signal
corps of the regular army only con-
sisted Of 10 officers and so enlisted
T1leE.
AS the commanding officer Of the
corps I vas naturally very anxious for
,ts future, having ,iganized II a few
Sc. rs bcfu,c. and having had ii MUS
tered into the National Guard only
afr g haid struggle. the opposition
S.Lich naturally confronts anything ex-
perimental being very strong. TIL.
Signal Corps became my first consid-
Grafton; every hope and ambition was
bound up in 1t; all other interests were
OF secondary Importance"
Capt. Butler goes on to narratc the
suspense he experienced while waiting
for the call to duty. and the bitter dis.
appointment he felt when the Ambu.
lance Corps and the Signal Corps as
well were ordered to return home. H
continues:
The next day when the baggage wa.
packed and sent to the station, Ser
seant Herrick requested permission fol
the men to visit the camp Of the Is
Regiment in a body and say good by
TO Papa Murch. the genial quarter
master Of that regiment. who was ;
great favorite with all. Upon receivin,
the desired permission. they left and
was alone with my thoughts, which
We're not at all pleasant.
General Richards compliments
The Signal Corps will remain in CAM
until further orders" and Colonel New
comb turned on his heel and walke'
away.
Short and sweet. The reader shOul
have been in my frame of mind to ap
preciate the sweetness OF the colonel
voice at that time. My first impuls
was to rush across the line and shou
the good news to the boys; but, con
trolling myself until they returned.