The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-24

HIS is tho hfticth anniversary of
the development OF some of the
most remarkable Inventions in
the worlds history. y celebrated po-
huoal economist said a few days ago:
There Is ono feature OF the Amer,
Aeen Civil War on this semi centennial
shat 10 being practically ignored. 1t
lie the fact that more great Inventions
end appliances that have had q direct
{ effeot upon tho rise and fall of ma
Mons wore developed during those
years than at any other time In HIS
tory"
While these inventions to a large
sxtent arc for the purposes OF war,
they have become In many Instances
great benefactors OF peace. Modern
warfare and tho peace OF nations de
pends largely upon them to-day
Fifucth Anniversary of the Telegraph
Wire.
Tho crowds that stand before tho
bulletin board OF this newspaper to-
day. reading tho latest dispatch from
China or Tripoli, flashed around the
world In tho same hour In which Il lis
happening, do not realize that this
system OF news dispatches received It's
hrst great test in the Civil war.
Modern telegraphy, until that time.
was considered somewhat visionary
experiment. and there had been much
difficulty in securing public confidence
or financial backing. Several com
mercial enterprises were struggling for
existence. and the Atlantic cable had
become one OF the grcatest engineer
Ing fcats of the age, but tho telegraph
had not boen brought into general
utility until the people witnessed It's
wonders on the bulletin boards Of it's
newspapers.
Tho electrified wire was at the Same
time taking Its nrst great part in the
making and unmaking OF nations al
the battle front 1t is Impossible
even after a half-ceutury to estimate
the battles that We're lost or won by
tho telegraph instrument in the Civil
War 1t proved to be not only q great
Holdier. but great general.
Bntties Lost and Won by Electricity.
A military authority says that tho
successes OF tliS great Army of tho
Potomac were TO n large extent due
10 the telegraph, which connected it's
various headquarters like nerves in
ones body. allowing them TO move
with simultaneous action. Its early
demonstrations became so successful
that battery wagons" and teiegra-
Pliers wore cent out with nearly every
army corps. laying wires on con
ven!ent tree limbs or on the ground
In the rear of marching armies to
be able to flash back the call FOX
Nreinforcements or the news of victory
or disaster in a moments time.
Telcgraphy became so important n
factor in the war that secret service
men wero sent IN pursui, to cut down
the wires Of the opposing army and
soyer their connections Wire-taDpers
also aprang into existence. and many
Fecret aud false messages were
tapped" onto the wires TO the utter
bewilderment of the armies.
Messages Tint Saved Great Armies.
Washington and Richmond became
great throbbing Geographic hearts. in
which governments were being saved
by their prompt orders flashed TO the
battlefront by electricity. Lincoln
npent much OF his time at the tele-
graph instrument, listening to every
word and expression from the opera
tor.
One of the nrst great telegraph sta
tons was at City Point, Va, during
18st-e5. The operator, with his In
struments. was seated on a hard ok
box under fly-tent, with his relay
stationed on another box. With this
instrument Grant was in instant
touch with four different armies, over
a quarter million men, and had control
OF an area OF 10000 square miles
During the first years OF the war a
heavy. stiff wire was used. but this
W on SHhioSi sunni anu CH!Ile
forward with flexible insulated wire,
which enabled the construction corps
60 place the wire reel in the bacl, OF
wagon and to roll off at great
speed.
It frequently aHtonishcd the com
mander to find that after n rapid and
long march the telegraph corps was
on his heels. Even before tho camp
was established the operator was