The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-06-13
MILITARY TELEGRAPHERS.
A Gathering of NotahS Men i'm New
York Gas.

ciates brought together a number of
men of unusual careers and interest.
At the head of these were Andrew
Carnegie, Gen. Thos T. Eckert, once
Assistant Secretary of War, and Col.
Robert Clowry, President of the West
ern Union Telegraph.
1t is doubtful if any three names
could be given which represent greater
aggregate wealth than these, and who
have had occasion to use telegraph
blank. Gen. Eckert occupied for many
years the position now filled by Col
Clowry. Mr.. Carnegie, the father of
the Telegraph Corps, is known wher-
ever the English language is read and
spoken.
The names on the committee COM
prise others well known wherever the
telegraph reaches; namely, Mr.. Chas.
A. Tinker, Albert b. Chandler, d.
Homer Bates, w. J. Dealy and Marion
II. Kerner.
The first three-Tinker. Chandler
and Bates-comprise the celebrated
trio of cipher operators who were en-
ployed in a confidential capacity in the
War Department during the four years
of the war. when Gen. Eckert, as AS
Military Telegraph. Messrs. Dealy and
Kerner were engaged in the field with
the army, along with a number of sur
vivors, who will attend the gathering.
Probably no persons living or dead
have enjoyed such close confidential
personal relations with Mr.. Lincoln dur
ing those unforgotten days as these
three boys, whose duty it was to serve
day and night in the telegraph room of
the War Department, where Mr.. Lin
coin was accustomed to spend much of
his time in communication by cipher
with the Generals in the field Much
of the true inwardness, not to say cuss-
edness, that came between the Presi-
dent and his Generals and the politi-
clans might be explained by these tele-
graph boys f,
1t is a remarkable coincidence that
telegraph line reaching Washington led
into this War Department room, and
whether military or commercial, the
wires were liable to be tapped by the
War Department censors, by direction
of Secretary Stanton.
Gen. Eckert and Col. Clowry reached
the Presidency of the w. U. in later
years, Mr.. Chandler and Mr. Bates oc-
cupying the same position with the Pos
tai and Baltimore & Ohio respectively,
Mr.. Tinker becoming manager at WASH
ington
1t is a remarkable coincidence that
majority of prominent military tele-
graphers were from the West. Gen.
Eckert before the war was employed
by the Fort Wayne Railroad; Mr.
tinker, who was one of Ellsworths
Zouaves. came from Chicago to Wash
ington to volunteer as telegrapher;
Mr.. Chandler was a railroad clerk in
Pittsburg, while Mr.. Bates and a num-
Der of others were students of Mr. Car
iyic
operator in Col. Scotts outer depot Of
flee in Pittsburg, at salary of $50 a
month, while the millionaire students
were glad to be making s35 month
1t Is well known that in this celebrat-
ed 2' office number of boys grad
uated under Mr.. Carnegie's instruction
who became distinguished during the
war. and some famous in financial and
industrial enterprise.
On the call of the President the first
troops to reach the Capital were not
the 9Th Mass. as related by New Eng
land historians. These were preceded
by the Pennsylvania militia. followed by
Col. Scott with a party of telegraphers
and railroad men who had been called
to Washington by Secretary Cameron,
to repair and operate the railway and
telegraph destroyed by the Confeder-
ateS
Carnegie was among the first to reach
the city, having been compelled by the
blockade to go by boat from Baltimore
to Annapolis. and hence entered the
Capital in the cab of locomotive. Tho
he did not serve in the military corps.
he did much to promote the movements
of the army between the East and the
West. as Superintendent of the Penn
sylVania Railroad and in supplying tele-
graph and railroad recruits.
OF other military telegraphers who
ct, 30 80 (tn,~
Brown: q. F. Flack. late of the Stand
ard Oil Company; Theodore Paisley, a
prominent Pittsburg city official: Dode
MOreland, and j. Spencer Kerbey, of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The Military Telegraphers as an or
ganizatiOn is entirely distinct from the
Society of Old Timers, who are COM
service rs years. Necessarily the mill
tary telegraphers of the civil war are
also old-timers.
During the war the telegraphers
served in civilian capacity under di-
rect control Of the War Department
only. Their position in the field on the
staff Of the Generals was unique, being
entirely independent of all officers, but
they were courteOusly treated as guests
or friends of the Washington officials.
This anomalous condition also gave rise
to some friction, as the Generals, and
especially subordinates sometimes i'm
agined that the honored guest in tent
was communicating some things by wire
to Washington that they did not want
to be known there.
Tho they did not enjoy the adyan-
tages of commission or the privileges of
being enrolled as enlisted men, entitled
to place on the roll of honor and the
enjoyment of a pension, Congress has
passed an act giving them proper rec
ognition for their services. Because of
the limited membership and peculiar
service it is proposed to organize a Mill
tary Telegraph Society along the same
lines as those of the Revolutionary Gin
or the Mexican MOnteZumas. or
the Loyal Legion of our late war, which
transmit the honors of membership to
the eldest son.
These societies are exclusive to the
extent of admitting only regularly COM
miSsiOned officers or sons of officers.
similar to the Sons and Daughters of
the American Revolution. These socie-
ties comprise the only genuine aristo-
cracy that Americans enjoy, and the
telegraphers occupy a peculiarly uniu1e
niche in the temple of fame. which it is
will be erectd at Arlington to
of those who served their coun-
try honorably in time of war and peace.
Veterans in the City.
c. w. Miller, I'd Pa. Cav, Tecumseh.
Okla. Comrade Miller, who is a banker
and real estate dealer, was a mere boy