The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-11
TIE EVENING STORY
A Teleeranlllc Click.

LICK
Ray Dexter and became telegra-
pliers when we were but little more
than fifteen years old. We worked
for several years in the same office
and were among the first to read by
ear instead OF by sight After that We
drifted apart to come together again.
in telegraphie parlance, on the same
railroad Ray being operator at one
station, at another. We were bosom
friends and had many a confidence
over the wire.
When the Civil war broke out ], who
had come north from Georgia to learn
telegraphing, went back to my nalEs
state and enlisted as a cavalry man -.
the Confederate army. what pecaiiiS
of Ray Dexter I did not know
One morning in the summer "
1862, while we were confronting liz
Union army in Tennessee, i was SEN
for by the colonel, who asksa me q
were not a telegrapher. When az
mitted that was, he told me Ms-S
wanted at general headquarters. mere
met tae general, who said tilat q COPY
of the enemy's cipher code had 1alist,
into his hands and he desired TO aNaii
himself of 1t to learn sometn4HB -
their movements. Our interview -
suited in his sending me out 70 the
enemy's rear for the purpose " e .e !
ping his wires. I dressed myselL as e
camp follower and provided lnysSlA
with a basketful of suspenders, sochss
buttons and such other wares as a
usually sold by peddlers. una e.. So ~
a false wooden bottom hid my lele-
graph machine and connections W neN
fully equipped I sailed forth.
General Rosecrans was then at MuF-
freesboro. threatening Bragg al. tuita-
hona Ny object was to strike some
point on a main telegraph line Wtlefe
/ could tap the wire and, II posslples
take off orders indicative of the enc
mys intended movements. 1 IolloWSu
the Nashville and Chattanooga ran
road till I reached the federal pickets,
circled around their right OUTPOST at
Triune and came down in their rear
between Triune and MurfreesDo[o.
This plan had been laid out Tor me ny
my general and had this advantage:
When the enemy moved against Tulla-
homa he must first draw in his right
wing at Triune, since the troops there
had the greater distance to maren.
The result showed that this view was
correct.
For several days L lurked near the
military telegraph between Murfrees-
boro and Triune without any results
I had no difficulty in tapping the wire,
but there was nothing of moment
nsssinay over it. [ concealed myself in
the woods, not attempting to sell my
wares to the Yankee soldiers, only re
lying on them to conceal my tele-
graph machine and have reason LOT
ed. had lonely time of it in the
woods by myself, my fears OF detec-
ton having ample opportunity TO as
sert themselves 1t is one thlng 70 De
cut down in a charge and quite an
other to be dragged to the lmD OF a
tree and be hanged for spy, as GER
tainly would be If caught either tapA
ping the wire or even with my appa-
ratus.
one morning I awoke in my bivouac
Il
knew that the federal pickets were
kept under arms from about till 1
o'cloek in the morning every day 10 pc
ready for an attack. Perhaps It was
this that induced me to try the wire.
I did 50, and took off an order for the
general commanding at Triuns 10
march by roads leading SoutheaStN=ard
at once. Glad to have my watch over,
I was winding UP my wire prior to
hiding it under my wares when a troop
of federal cavalry came riding through
the bushes. 1t did not take them long
to determine what 1 was up to, and
they hurried me OF to the general
commanding the right wing.
He was preparing to march, but
took time to attend to my case. He
scrubbed something on a riece of pa
per and handed it to an operator of
the military telegraph, who went to an
instrument in the same tent and began
to click the key. I heard him send a
report of my case to general head I
quarters and the reply; TRY by
drum head court martial and hang
Immediately. Since you are prepar-
ing to march, never mind the court
martial"
The moment the message began to |
come over the wire recognized the
touch of my old friend Ray Dexter. !
The announcement of my immediate !
execution and a hope for its recall or
at least postpOnement came at the |
same moment.
Take it to Captain L. said the gen
the message and tell him to send for the |
oieer of the day to execute the order"
The operator went out, leaving his |
telegraph instrument where could al |
most reach 1t. I bent over and clicked. |
Ray, I'm the man you have just I
sent the order to hang. For Gods sake, |
help met
The general was so busy with prepa-
rations that he did not notice my use 4
Of the instrument Ray simply sent an /
o. K to indicate that he understood, |
to the operator, who heard it as he came |
back. I was delighted to hear an order /
to send me to Murfreesboro.
reached Murfreesboro at noon and /
found the center of the army preparing /
to move the next morning. When was /
taken into the house occupied by the /
commanding general, Ray came to me
and taking both my hands in his. said
that he would do everything in his pow
er to save me. After much persuasion
he succeeded. and was entered on the
rolls as a prisoner OF war.
O. NORMAN EDDY.
QUAKER REFLECTIONS.