Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-11-24
EcKERT PROUD OF
HIS WIRE RECORD
|Ormer Western Union Chief
Noted Civil War Figure.
|EADED MILITARY TELEGRAPH

Stationed In Washington - Fought
Jay Gould. and Western Union, but
Finally Allied Himself With Little
Wizard Against Competitors.
To the present generation General
homas Thompson Eckert, who has
cen seriously i'll at his summer home
Long Branch. n. J., is known as
Drmer president of the Western I'm
bn Telegraph company and a veteran
{ the key and sounder. To another
Generation which still thinks Of the
eriod during the great civil war, Gen
raj Eckert's name suggests the band
4 daring telegraphers which proved
4 such assistance 10 the Union cause.
Moreover his subsequent fame is as
othing to him as compared with his
var record. He is eighty-five years of
&c.
Secretary of War Stanton in his re-
ort TO President Lincoln in 1863 said.
The military telegraph. under the
General direction of Colonel Stager and
Major Eckert, has been of inestimable
Falue to the service and no corps has
|urpassed, few have eQualed, the tele-
fraph operators in diligence and devo-
ion to their duties"
Eckert Raconteur.
That the praise was merited is indi-
ated by many anecdotes with which
General Eckert has RECALLED his friends,
or he was good story teller and
when stationed at the White House
you'd swap yarns with President Lin
oln to their mutual delight.
One story gave an idea of the hard.
hips and catch-as-catch-can accommo-
pations the military telegraph corps
vas obliged to put up with of necessi-
y. 1t was during the operations in
Missouri that an operator from Spring
held named Gregg married, and, de-
pite the perils Of the war, insisted on
having his bride accompany him when
he detachment was suddenly ordered
10 move.
In the party were six soldiers and
mother operator, wifeless and the en-
ire party stopped at farmhouse one
hight where there was but one spare
oom, which contained two beds. The
bridal couple were allotted one bed.
md the operator and half a dozen sol
iiers took the other, lying crosswise
Under the one blanket, which left their
feet well out for the chickens TO roost.
General Eckert was a pioneer in the
leld of practical telegraphy and work
I'd his way up from the ranks. He
vas born in 1925 at st. Clairsville. O..
Ind began to operate the keys when
be was postmaster of the town OF
Wooster. o. He was then twenty -four
Fears old. He became much interested
n this work and within the next three
Years had become such an expert that
be was intrusted with the construction
bf the lines over the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago road. When these
we're completed in 1852 he was APP
pointed superintendent Of the Union
Telegraph lines.
The outbreak Of the war not only
Fuined him, but very nearly cost him
bis life, as he was condemned by a
Confederate court martial for alleged
treason and only escaped by persuad-
ng the court to accept a $500 bail
bond for his appearance on the day
appointed for the hanging.
Headed Military Telegraph.
In 1862 he was called to Washing
Ton by Colonel Thomas A. Scott, then
assistant secretary of war and placed
IN charge Of the military telegraph Of
The department of the Potomac, with
the rank of captain and headquarters
with General Mcclellan in the field.
He was after few months promoted
10 the charge Of the military telegraph
at Washington. ranking as
major. AS such he enjoyed the conf
hence Of President Lincoln and Secre-
nry Stanton and successfully organ
1ed the entire military telegraph sys-
ksm.
In 1854 he was brevetted lieutenant
colonel and made assistant secretary
'bf war and In 1865 he was made a
|brigadier general by brevet He re-
18nCu loOO W uNIcpl bht OihNC VI
Eeneral superintendent of the eastern
'division of the Western Union Tele-
|graph company. In this position he
the construction OF lines
10 connect with the new transatlantic
cables.
When Jay Gould secured control of
HE Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
company General Eckert accepted the
position of president of the reorgan-
sed company. In this position he be-
gan a rate war against the Western
Union which lasted until the Atlantic
Ind Pacific was absorbed by the West
|orn Union. In 1880 General Eckert
WAS elected president Of the newly or
|ganized American Union Telegraph
|company. In this position he contin-
he'd to fight against the Western I'm
hon, with the result that in 1881 the
Various telegraph companies were con-
L-~nl~kol 18th To Gn,.I1 "a The dnu,