The Elbert County tribune., 1907-04-25

RADIO springs, VINO Is just recovering
from a severe illness. has done so
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. l was then
assistant adjutant general of the
United States, assigned to duty at Har-
risburg to make draft under the state
laws of Pennsylvania. There was no
military force on the border and mot
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 half-organ-
lied regiment of cavalry, that Capt. W.
j. Palmer was recruiting at Carlisle,
to report to me at Chambersburg for
duty as scouts.
thus became commander Of an
army of nearly 100 men, or about one
man to each mile of border had 10
guard; but Captain Palmer proved to
be a host within himself, as he en-
tered the confederate lines every night
for nearly a week under various dis
guises. obtained all information pos
sible as to the movements of Lees
command, and with the aid of William
b. Wilson, an expert telegrapher, 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
ent and prospective. as far as he had
been able to ascertain them.
As rapidly as these kilograms
reached me they were sent to Gov
ernor Curtin, who promptly forwarded
them to the war department, whence
they were FASTENED to General McClel-
lans headquarters, who was then NOV
ing through Maryland against Lee;
and all the important information that
Mcclellan received from the front OF
Lees army until their lines faced each
other at Antietem, came from Captain
Palmer's nightly visits within the en-
emy's lines and his prompt reports TO
me in the morning. Howell Cobb's d.
vision finally reached as far north as
Hagertown, and Captain Palmer spent
most of the night within Cobb's camp
and learned from leading subordinate
officers that the destination of Lees
army was Pennsylvania, and that
Cobb's demand would lead the move
ment probably TIE next day.
81 need hardly say that / hastened
the information to Curtin, who hur-
ried 1t through to Washington, whence
Mcclellan received 1t within a few
hours. Mcclellan was then ignorant
VI Ilt tAdCl VI bth'i di
Reynolds, whom he had sent to Penn
sylvania TO organize force of emer-
gency men and bring them to the aid
of Mcclellan in western Maryland. He
did not know. therefore, who was in
command at Chambersburg or what
force was there, but doubtless sup
posed that either Reynolds or some
part of his command was already there
on its way to join him. General Nc
Clellan, on receipt of the news that
Lee was likely to advance into Penn
sylvGnia, sent substantially this tele-
gram to the commander of Chambers
burg without naming him: Il am ad-
vised that Lees probable destination
is Pennsylvania, and if he shall ad
your forces and obstruct his march
until can overtake him and give bat
tie"
The occasion called for prompt ac-
ton. AS | was the commander and
had less than 100 men, all told. and
not twenty of them within fifteen
miles of me, the prospect of concen-
trating my forces and marching out
to meet one of Lees army corps was
not specially enticing. l promptly ad
vised Curtin of the situation and of
the orders | had received from Nc
Clellan. Thaddeus Stevens happened
to be in the executive chamber when
message was received and McClelan's
order to me to confront one of Lees
army corps with my force, which did
not amount to corporals guard
within reach, caused considerable mer-
rinent. Stevens, who at that time
never lost an opportunity to slur Nc
Clal1np said. ss\NplI MrClura min Ia