Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-04-26

4 IEoul htNtIt Iiucsb, huS uout NJ
much for the entire state that anything
about him is of interest.
The following story of General
Palmer In war times Is taken from the
History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania
! Cavalry. written by Col. s. X. Mcclure.
/, for years editor OF the Philadelphia
Inquirer:
An interesting story may be here
told of the methods by which infor'
nation was obtained to guide the ac-
tions OF great armies. / was then
assistant adjutant general of the
United States. assigned TO duty at Iiar.
risburg to make draft under the state
laws of Pennsylvania. There was no
even an officer Of the army who had
exercised any command OF troops.
was compelled. therefore. TO exercise
what little military authority could be
enforced under the circumstances. and
Governor Curtin ordered "a hnlf-orEan-
lied regiment OF cavalry. that Capt. W.
]. Palmer was recruiting ut Carlisle.
to report to me at Chambersburg for
duty as scouts.
1 thus became commander of an
army OF nearly 100 men. or about one
man to each mile OF border I had to
guard: but Captain Palmer proved to
be host within himself. as he en-
tered the confederate lines every night
f.. -. 81 liz.
.uiscs. obtained all information pos.
sibie as to the movements Of Lees
command. and with the aid Of William
II. Wilson. an expert iclcsraphcr. who
Was cooperating with him. attached
his instrument to the first telegraph
wire he struck and communicated TO
me all movements OF the enemy. pres
cnt and prospective. m far m he had
been able TO ascertain them.
As rapidly as these kilograms
reached me they were sent To Gov
crnor Curtin. who promptly forwarded
them to the war department. whence
they were has,cncd to General McClcl-
ian'S headquarters. who was then moN'
inr through Maryland against Lee:
and all the important Information that
Mcclellan received from the front OF
I.e.'s army until their lines faced each
other at Antictcm. came from Captain
PaImcr'S nightly visits within the en-
cmy's lines and his prompt reports TO
me In tho morning. Howell cobb'E di.
vision finally reached IN far north ~
iIa.criown. and Captain Palmer spcn,
most of the niRh, within cobh's camp
and learned from leading subordinate
officers that the destination uf Lees
army waS Pennsylvania. aud that
Cobb's demand would lead the move
men, probably the next dag.
Il need hardly say that ! FASTENED
the information to Curtin. who hur.
ricd IL through to Washington. whence
Mcclellan received IT. within few
hours. Mcclellan was then Ignorant
OF the exact movements OF General
Reynolds. whom he had son, to Penn.
syiyania to organize force OF cmcr-
scncy men aud, bring them To the aid
did no, know. therefore. who was In
command at ChambcrHburg ar what
force was there. hut doubtless sup.
posed tha, either Reynolds or somc
part of his command was already there
ON its way To join him. Gcncral Me
ciciian. on receipt Of the news that
Lee was likely TO advance into Penn.
syivania. sent substantially this tclc.
gram TO the commander OF Chambers.
burg without naming him: Il am ad.
viscd that Lees probable destination
is Pennsylvania. aud II he shall ad.
vance in tina, direction. concentrate all
your forces and obstruct his march
until can ovcrtakc him aud give bat
tie"
The occasion called for prompt ac-
tion. As / was the commander and
had less than 100 men. all told. aud
not twenty of them within fifteen
miles of me. the prospect of concen.
trating my forccs and marching out
to meet one OF Lees army corps was
not specially cnticing. I promptly ad
vised Curtin of the situation and of
the orders | had received from Nc
Cieiian. Thaddeus Stevens happened
to be in the executive chamber when
message was received. and McClcllan's
order to M. to confront one OF Lees
army corps with my force. which did
not amount TO corporal's guard
within reach. caused considerable mer.
rimont. stevens who at that time
never lost an opportunity 10 slur Nc
Clcllan. said: well, Mcclure will do