![]() ![]() Scores of these unfortunate victims left families dependent upon charity, as the United States neither extended aid to their destitute families nor admitted needy survivors to a pensionable status. They fully merited the gratitude of the Nation for their efficiency, fidelity, and patriotism, yet their services have never been practically recognized by the Government or appreciated by the people.įor instance, during the war there occurred in the line of duty more than three hundred casualties among the operators -from disease, death in battle, wounds, or capture. Serving under the anomalous status of quartermaster's employees, often under conditions of personal danger, and with no definite official standing, the operators of the military telegraph service performed work of most vital import to the army in particular and to the country in general. In addition to the utilization of existing commercial systems, there were built and operated more than fifteen thousand miles of lines for military purposes only. The exigencies and experiences of the Civil War demonstrated, among other theorems, the vast utility and indispensable importance of the electric telegraph, both as an administrative agent and as a tactical factor in military operations. Scores of these unfortunate victims left families dependent on charity, for the Government of the United States neither extended aid to their destitute families nor admitted needy survivors to a pensionable status." During the war there occurred in the line of duty more than three hundred casualties among operators-by disease, killed in battle, wounded, or made prisoners. The men who performed the dangerous work in the field were mere employees-mostly underpaid and often treated with scant consideration. It was simply a civilan bureau attached to the quartermaster's department, in which a few of its favored members received commissions. Greely, "had neither definite personnel nor corps organization. "The telegraph service," writes General A.W. Yet their lot, as McClellan's army advanced toward Richmond later, was to be far from enviable. These operators with thier friends at dinner look quite contented, with their coffee in tin cups, their hard-tack, and the bountiful appearing kettle at their feet. "The moment troops were in position to go into camp, the men would put up their wires." Grant pays a glowing tribute to "The organization and discipline of this body of brave and intelligent men."ĪT THE TELEGRAPH TENT, YORKTOWN ~ May, 1862 "No orders ever had to be given to establish the telegraph." Thus wrote General Grant in his memoirs. ![]()
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