The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-08

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Practical Engineering. Here. one Sunday
morning. l became acquainted with DIR.
Albert ]. Myer. Assistant Surgeon. U. 5.
A.. and learned from him of the system Of
military signals which he had devised and
which he was then under order to develop
and bring into practical operation.
Surgeon Myer had been authorized also
to select some young officer to assist him
in his experiments. and our accidental ac-
quaintanceship resulted in his making APP
plication for me to be relieved from duty
at West Point and assigned to duty with
him.
This was done. and remained on duty
with Surgeon Myer from Oct. 3, 1853, I'M
til March, 1850. The first three months
were spent about New York Harbor, ex-
perimenting and perfecting our apparatus
by daily and nightly signals, between Fort
Hamilton, on the Narrows, and Sandy
Hook, and Navesink Highlands Then,
everything being satisfactory, we went to
Washington and exhibited the system to
the Military Committees of the House and
Senate, which resulted in the passage Of
law creating Signal Corps. of which
Surgeon A. j. Myer was the head, with
rank of Major.
|, at my own request. was returned to
duty in my old corps, where l continued to
serve until after the secession of Georgia,
signed. being then on duty at San Fran
cisco. and | returned East via Panama,
and arrived in Richmond on June 1.
WITH THE CONFEDERATE ARMY AT
MANASSAS.
Confederate armies were being formed
at that time in West Virginia in the
Shenandoah Valley, at Manassas juno
ton, at Yorktown, and at Norfolk. On
my arrival | was promoted Captain of
Engineers. and several application were
made for me for different positions; but
President Davis had been Chairman Of
the Military Committee of the Senate
when Maj. Myer and l had appeared be-
fore II, on number of occasions, exhibit
ing the military signals; SO he refused all
applications for me, and after making me
put in operation a little factory of flags.
torches. etc. on July 1, was ordered to
take myself and my system of signals to
the army of Gen. Beauregard at Manassas
Junction.
On June "a, Gen. Mcdowell had sub
mitted to the War Department plan for
an advance upon Manassas junction. to be
begun on July s, which had been accepted.
Most fortunately for the Confederates,
however. the Federal army. with all its
resources. was not ready to start till July
~. twenty uliieS OF marching, ana
preliminary skirmlsh. used up four days
more, and only on July q was the battle
delivered.
ORGANIZING A SIGNAL CORPS.
On my arrival at Manassas, July 2.
1861, | really had much more time to in
stall my system of signals than I expected;
for 'rumors of the foes advance" now
Swelled upon almost every breeze and
lost no time. l had brought with me from
Richmond all necessary flags. torches,
glasses. ETC., and the first thing was to Sc
lect men. | soon made acquaintance
among the officers, and got the names of
about ID bright young privates who might
later be promoted as Signal Officers, and
= had them detailed and assigned to me for
duty. They were at once put upon a
course of instruction and practice.
Meanwhile l procured a horse, and be-
tween times began an exploration of the
country which was to be our theater OF
action. to find out what facilities it offered
to esta blish lines of signal.
The topography was verv far from IA
vora BILE; the country generally was fat and
gently rolling. There were but few large
bodies of woods, but very many medium
sized ones. and very much second growth
pine. Our line of battle had been chosen
along the stream of Bull Run. about three
miles north of Manassas, and the course
VI me stIefm WAS SeIeTHly WOOOcU ana
bordered with small fields and pastures,
giving very few open stretches. / was not
At all sanguine that ! would be able to
render any valuable service, bat. FORUM
ately, had the time to make thorough
search of the whole country. and as will
be seen. one line which | opened up dis
closed the vital secret of tie enemys STRAIT
egy in time to allow it to ka successfully
met
LOCATING SIGNAL STATIONS.
About a mile east of the little village
OF Manassas. OF the farm of Mr.. Will
coxen, found a high, rocky point, COW
cred with cedars, but having a good out
look over a valley to the north and west.
i made this point central station, and by
clearing it off. and by some clearing at
ether points. l got two straight six-mie
ranges: one northwest to a bluff over Bull
o Kun Valley. on our extreme left, short
way above the Stone Bridge fby which
the Warrenton turnpike crossed Bull Rum.
and the other north to Centervile about
three miles beyond the Run, opposite our
center. Another station was found near
the Run. opposite our right center; and a
fourth near our headquarters in the vii.
lage. This was the utmost that the to.
Biography permitted. ard / established
them and set the men to practicing by day
and by night.
Ii is not necessary for me to refer to the
operations preceding the 2lst. Early that
morning McDowelfs turning column wa.
approaching SUiley Ford. two miles aboy.
the Confederate left at Stone Bridge: anC
after very early breakfast. Gems. Beau
regard and Johnston. with their united
STATS, started to the front opposite theil
center. They had sent orders to Ewell or
their extreme right, to advance and turf
the enemy's left, but these orders miscar
ried in some way. and were never receiv
Af consequently fhara NO n,
our center. which was waiting in vain TO
the right TO begin. and ample time was al
lowed McDowel's turning column to com
plete its long march and to make the 6gh
upon our left.
And now | may introduce the inciden
which this paper records in detail for tn
first time.
As the rather large party, with an es
cort Of corriers. moved uvSS-.: .he road 500
after breakfast, Gen. Beauregard ca lie
me to him, and directed me TO take q couI
Ter and 90 to my central signal station O
the hill near Wilcoxen's house, and to re
main there in general observation and {
send him messages about anything tina
could be seen. ! was far from please
At the receipt of the order. for had hope
to accompany the two Generals through
out the day, and the chances of seein
anything important from this place SCENE
infinitely small. There was no help for i
however, and Beauregard deserves cred
for the thought of taking every possibl
means Of acquiring prompt information
II We had had balloon this would hav