F. W. Chesson File: SW\PC1.HTM
144 Fiske Street,
Waterbury, CT 06710
SECRET WIRES
*
Peninsular Connections
The River Road to Richmond: Part I.
At 3:15 PM on April 2nd, 1862, the steamer Commodore, formerly
of the New York and Fall River Line, broke its telegraph connections
and cast off from Mattawaman Creek, near Old Alexandria, and started
down river for Fortress Monroe, and Destiny.
Aboard was Major General George B. McClellan, along with Generals
Barnard, Williams and Barry. Among his ample staff were the Prince de
Joinville, the Duc de Chartres and the Comte de Paris, all exiles of
the House of Orleans. Present also was John Jacob B. Astor, Jr. and
assorted other dignitaries, excited to be at last embarked for what
would forever be known as The Peninsula Campaign.
Also aboard were eight telegraphers, selected by Eckert and
personally approved by McClellan, as recounted by War Department
operator Charles A. Tinker....
"Three came from Headquarters in Washington, three from Fairfax
Seminary and one or two from Upton's Hill. Besides myself, there were
Caldwell, Bunnell, Emerick, Charlie Jacques, Lathrop, Henry L. Smith
and Snyder."
The steamer already had a telegraph office in one of the state
rooms, in service for two weeks and prepared for immediate connection
to the Fort Monroe circuits upon arrival.
For "The Young Napoleon," the departure from the Washington scene
could not have occurred a moment too soon.
"Officially speaking," he wrote to wife Ellen, "I feel very glad
to get away from that sink of iniquity...."
Since "sink" then referred to a cesspool or privy, his feelings
were on the strong side concerning the war-time Capital and its
simmering political intrigues. Indeed, he still rankled over his
removal as Supreme Commander (General-in-Chief), executed by Lincoln
as General Order No. Three on March 11. The President's desire to
allow him to devote full time to the immense campaign before him, with
likely reinstatement after taking Richmond, hardly mollified the
suspicious McClellan, who saw conspiracies behind every door.
As an example of the political infighting aswirl in Washington,
consider the following enciphered telegrams....
Intrigue by Cipher
On March 12th, McClellan dispatched the following "Private"
telegram to Eckert, via his personal operator, A. Harper Caldwell,
from the Army of the Potomac's field headquarters at Fairfax Court
House, Virginia:
Egypt me country I occurred at for instance he has it my desert
Andes peak am and have and all Mrs. Smith Andes worried say meant
God very truly today not for about what not love do by nothing well
will well done. (MC 504, Roll 33, Frame 265)
Translation:
"For Mrs. McClellan. Do not be at all worried by what has
occurred and say nothing about it. I have meant well for my country
and God will not desert me. (I) am very well today. George B. McClellan."
And on or about March 13, Anson Stager telegraphed the following
to Caldwell:
Burmah Columbus the application should will a for hungry as you
heed of for of javelin sharp on appointment that be recognize friend
Huron lake for of as taken will of his money yours marrow made him
no general which big reasons the satisfactory by be colonel staff
wheat. (91-1454)
When deciphered, the raw decode read:
"For HURON. For reasons which, as a friend of the General, you
will recognize as satisfactory, no heed should be taken by him of
(the) application that will be made for the appointment of Colonel
Marrow of Columbus on his staff. Yours, JAVELIN."
Colonel Marrow, of the 3rd Ohio, appears to have been a more-or-
less innocent party to the intriguing. HURON must have been a ranking
officer close to McClellan to have been assigned his own codeword.
He might well have been Colonel Thomas M. Key. A former Ohio judge,
Key had been on McClellan's staff since their Department of the Ohio
days, and handled political and other sensitive matters. Governor
Dennison of Ohio already had the codename DANUBE at this time,
alphabetically distant from HURON and JAVELIN, so he can probably be
eliminated.
Marrow does not appear in either Boatner's Civil War Dictionary,
nor in Long's "Civil War Day-to-Day" almanac. But note the ironic
line in the cipher- text which reads:
"...MARROW MADE HIM NO GENERAL...!"
About this time, Dennison also sent the following cautionary
advice to the Fairfax headquarters:
"Let me advise your immediate urging your telegraph operator to
furnish promptly on receipt to the President and Secretary of War,
copies of all your dispatches to your Chief of Staff (Brigadier-General
Randolph B. Marcy, who was also McClellan's father-in-law.)" (40-1227)
Head Operator Caldwell was anxious for movement, too. On March 12th,
he telegraphed McClellan in cipher:
"If we stay here much longer, I must have a man to receive
(translate?) ciphers. The other man has no experience with them.
(I) will know tonight how long we stay (here) and if they want the
line extended. (The) consultation of Division Generals at four AM
(is) getting along finely, but (I) have to look sharp for something
to eat. No rations and no forage here. Please think about sending
(some). I will telegram tonight." (33-90)
On March 14, Caldwell enciphered another message to Eckert,
which is interesting in adding a compliment to a fellow operator,
concealed in its end-of-column nulls:
"Headquarters tomorrow (will be) at Seminary. (I) will know soon
whether (an) office (will be) required here (at Fairfax) and let you
know. (I) have every reason to believe (that) General (McClellan is)
much pleased with (the) telegraphing here. (We) have done our best.
(I) am anxious to go with (the) next movement (to the Peninsula) if
you can possibly arrange (it)." (33-83/85)
(see Appendix for raw decode and hidden message.)
These messages were among the first sent in a new cipher, No. 12,
which would see use during the Peninsula Campaign until late July.
Its essential components included:
Transposition blocks of 6-column width, 3 to 10 lines in depth,
with three basic routes, AFRICA, AMBOY and AMERICA.
Hour and half-hour time indicators.
Extensive list of codewords for persons, places, military equipment
and maneuvers. Out of thirty place names identified, twenty-five were
in Virginia. (see Appendix)
Preparations for Fort Monroe to become the nerve-center for "The
River Road to Richmond" had commenced early in the year with laying a
telegraph cable across Chesapeake Bay to the Cape Charles area, as
described in the chapter "The Fort Monroe Connection."
On March 16th, at 2:10 PM, the following was sent by Eckert to
Lemuel Sheldon, Chief Operator at Fortress Monroe. The cipher was a
simplified one, furnished to General Wool and other important area
commanders. While it had codewords for Wool (ANDES) and his fort (DAWN),
Eckert had to spell out "G. B. McClellan, Maj. Genl." and also Army
of the Potomac", thereby considerably weakening the single transposition
route. Although cleverly worded, McClellan's name and rank could well
have been left in the clear.
"Burmah three McClellan orders it tomorrow of a lofty Andes the
will dawn await G commanding figure seventy B further where leave
army dawn gold for of Potomac for to me Genl Quincy Adams maj from is
evening the division superintendent. (43-215)
Translation:
"A division of the Army of the Potomac will leave tomorrow
evening for Fort Monroe, where it is to await further orders from
me. G. B. McClellan, Maj Genl Commanding." Eckert inserted a
telegrapher's salutation "73 Adams Quincy" as filler. At the bottom
of the page he appended:
"Mattingly: Please inclose the message to Sheldon and send it
to him by this evening's boat and oblige. Eckert."
An immense assemblage of steam and sail-powered transports,
straining the efforts of Quarter Master General Montgomery Meigs,
set off southward on March 17. At its peak, some three hundred
steamers and schooners, plus ninety barges were crammed with over
120,000 men and 14,600 animals. From his Washington headquarters
in the old Club House, McClellan was kept in touch of loading
operations and departures via a direct wire from his flagship,
"Commodore" where teen-aged Jesse Bunnell was Head Operator.
While the Richmond newspapers described the armada's progress
in close detail for their both apprehensive and fascinated patrons,
Northern readers were not so fortunate. Secretary of War Stanton
applied strict censorship, not only arresting the editors of the
Boston Journal, and the Sunday Mercury and Journal of Commerce of
New York, but threatening them with courts-martial. He further ordered
Postmaster General Montgomery Blair to bar from the mails any journals
publishing "facts excluded from the telegraph." The mercurial Stanton
then issued an April 1st Edict, forbidding correspondents to accompany
the army south, only to soon free the editors and allow reporters'
passes to be issued, if reluctantly, a week later.
By Rail to Richmond!
McClellan apparently was his own "Cipher Operator" on March 18,
when he composed an enthusiastic telegram to Stanton in his old
"Numbers Code" of the previous summer, though using the new codeword
ANDES for his signature.
"Please have McCallum provide engines and cars sufficient to
transport supplies only, for an army of one hundred and thirty
thousand men, including twenty thousand horses over the West Point
and Richmond Railway. The road is about twenty eight miles long.
The only trouble at present is in regard to horse transports. If
they arrive promptly, we shall have raped (sic?) in glorious results.
Signed, McClellan."
A week after the Potomac River Armada's departure, there were
still troops and equipment to be moved out. On March 24, Eckert
telegraphed two operators, using an Army of the Potomac Headquarters'
own U.S.M.T form. From a postscript added to Jesse Bunnell, it is
evident that he was preparing to join McClellan's staff for their
trip down river.
To: Lathrop and Morrison C. (Centerville?)
"I wish you to go back to Seminary and remain there until the
troops leave. Get there tonight. I was not aware that any troops
had been left. (Jesse) Bunnell, I wish you to take care of my blankets.
Eckert" (43-139)
During the Peninsula Campaign, young Bunnell operated from the
Commodore to Washington, and was later with McClellan at Antietam.
Stanton's autocratic manipulations of the press added to the
turmoil of the massive logistical operations on the River Road to
Richmond. He ordered suspension of telegraph privileges for the
Philadelphia Inquirer for publishing a dispatch which General Wool
had already permitted. And when John Quigg of the New York World
personally captured and interviewed a Confederate straggler, the
audacious reporter was clapt in the Fort Monroe guardhouse. For a
while, the correspondents' mail was censored by a junior staffer,
De Witte Clinton, and base censors confiscated every copy of a Harper's
Weekly which had dared to show the enemy defenses at Yorktown.
On April 15, Telegraph Supervisor, E. S. Sanford, visiting Fort
Monroe, wired Stager in Washington on his impressions of the firing
of a fifteen-inch Rodman gun, in a duel with the Confederate batteries
on Sewall's Point. He was obviously impressed with the ordnance....
"Colonel Anson Stager, Washington. The Union fifteen inch gun,
loaded with shell was fired a few minutes ago. The music of the
Infernal Sphere still sings in my ears. When the shell stops, I will
inform you by telegraph. E. S. Sanford (86-275)
On the following day, Sanford telegraphed to W. B. Dinsmore, at
the Adams Express Company in New York. As virtual founder and Director,
he had a more than casual interest in its support operations for the
Peninsula Campaign. Scratching out the "U.S.M.T." and "Army of the
Potomac Headquarters" heading he wrote instead:
"Fortress Monroe, April 16th, 1862."
"This Fort is fast becoming a second Washington in (the)
accumulation of goods and confusion. We need more help. Eddy and
two good clerks ought to be sent forthwith. The men are worked
night and day and are far behind in their work. There will be no
falling off in the business for the next thirty days.
E. S. Sanford." (86-286)
Sanford was indeed correct in his estimation on the explosion
of both military and civilian commerce into Old Point Comfort's
surroundings. With the opening of McClellan's advanced base at
White House, much of the traffic would be diverted up the Pamunkey
River. However, enough would remain so that Adams Express would
open a branch office at the fort, complete with their own letter-heads.
One of these, dated May 4th, 1862 was used to convey the following:
Frank Eddy, Adams Ex. Agent, Cheeseman's Landing.
Where is the safe you sent yesterday? We send packages for the
5th and 52nd N.Y.Vs & Surgeon Genl. Smith & a lot of special orders.
Let me hear if you want more, or shall we wait and sent to Yorktown?
DS (86-20)
Unceasing rain and mud were not the only foes of the line
builders, military bureaucracy took its stubborn toll as well....
Circa April 18, 1862:
"Mr. E (Eckert) Two of Spring's men cannot pass a guard at a place
about six miles in front (of here). They have McClellan's pass, given
until further orders. The men are in (this) office. (They) have been
detained since five o'clock. Mr. Spring is in a great hurry for (the)
wagon. They say there are five teams coming with no pass. X ops"
(23-352)
Camp Winfield Scott, near Yorktown. April 19, 1862. (enciphered)
"Five operators arrived here today. (Their) instruments (will) be
here tomorrow. (We) will have Abel and Smith's offices open tomorrow
evening. Spring delayed all yesterday on Cheeseman's Point line by
guards refusing (to honor their) special pass from headquarters. (The)
office (will be) open tomorrow morning. (I) begin to see our way now.
All going well. No news. Raining little. Caldwell." (333-683)
With Johnston's evacuation of Yorktown on May 5th and the
subsequent capture of Williamsburg, the way up the Peninsula to
Richmond now seemed open to the Army of the Potomac. However, the
greatest trials lay just ahead.
Saturated by the heaviest rains in a generation, the sub-tropical
swamp conditions of the Lower Peninsula soon took a toll on men,
animals and equipment in both Blue and Grey. The struggling line
repairers and over-worked operators were no exception, as seen in the
following telegrams from Caldwell to Eckert:
May 6, 1862: "Bogardus wants leave of absence for few days or
must resign. He has been greatly exposed and has done splendidly
ever since he came here. He regrets to ask it at this time but is
not fit for duty. He has proved himself too true a man to lose."
(33-673)
May 6, 1862: "(Parker) Spring did his best today. All his
teams except three (were) stuck fast in mud (but an) office (is now)
open within 4 miles of Williamsburg. He will push forward as rapidly
as possible tomorrow. (The) cut roads (are) very bad. We are still
in the old camp. We have four ops in the advance and can send more
as fast as they are needed. J. R. Waite says you have accepted his
resignation and desires me to tell you he leaves for the Fort tomorrow
with my consent. We will have no trouble, but plenty work to do.
Caldwell" (33-91,92)
If the rain, mud and obstinate officialdom weren't bad enough,
Spring's line builders had to cope with wagon teamsters knocking down
their laboriously-raised telegraph poles as if they were dead saplings
to be casually brushed aside. Eckert was obviously "not amused," as
evident in this telegram....
May 9, 1862: Eckert at Fort Monroe to Caldwell at Williamsburg.
"See Colonel Colburn or Genl Marcy and get them to issue orders
to prevent teamsters from driving against and knocking down our poles.
It must be stopped at once. I cannot put up with the annoyance any
longer(!) Eckert."
To Spring, Williamsburg: "Have sent Caldwell (a) message to see to
getting orders. If you see Col. Colburn, give him my 73 and ask him
(to) please give the order. Give him (your) statement of facts and he
will attend to it. Eckert."
About a week after Williamsburg fell, the following hopeless
telegram was received at the War Department....
(Blank page)
Recd. 11:45 AM May 14th '62 Patterson, NJ
"Hon. Edwin M. Stanton Sec. of War
The citizens of Patterson N.J. have resolved to send for their
dead on the battle field of Williamsburg. Can the bodies be recovered?
Answer today. Answer paid. H.O. Hedge For Comm. of 27" (57-117)
May 18, 1862. (incomplete) from White House, May 18th, 8 PM.
Col. A. Stager, Wash.
"I have an office open at the fourteenth mile post from Richmond
in a saw mill where there is an abundance of bridge lumber ready (of)
sawed sizes commonly used. Tinker, Smith, operators (and) McClellan
(were) delighted with (the) success of the telegraph. (It) has been in
communication with Gen. Stoneman (for) some time. Got some valuable
information from operators. Everything on our line working like a charm.
Painter and Operator Smith made a reconnaissance. Bully for Smith, in
honor of which the band is playing that air. Will write you tomorrow
about field telegraph. Don't buy it but try it. It is believed by a
large and respectable class of men and the members of my staff that I
do not need it. Col. Colburn says that you treat his congratulations
of your promotion with contempt. (He) says it is not proper treatment
just because you rank him. (He) wants you (to) treat him just as you
did when you were a captain like himself. (The) following received...."
(Sender probably Caldwell) (105-900)
Professional and personal rivalries arose in the above telegram,
as the Beardslee Machine made its appearance as a field telegraph. The
sender appears to be Chief Operator Caldwell, as he mentions "my staff."
Colonel Colburn, of McClellan's staff, seems to have had his nose out
of joint over Stager's promotion and seniority...!
Eckert's line builders had an advantage in a telegraph line
between Williamsburg and Yorktown which the retreating enemy had left
partially intact. But its maintenance was both arduous and risky.
On May 16th, for example, operators Dolan and Emeric volunteered to
fix a break. Leaving Yorktown without horses, they had to trek ten
miles, nearly to Williamsburg, to effect repairs. Then the
commanding officer there refused to allow them to return without an
armed escort, citing the death of an officer by guerrilla ambush only
the day before. The two countered with the importance of their duties
at Yorktown and set out alone, meeting not a single human being.
"SEVEN MILES FROM RICHMOND...!"
Caldwell to Eckert: May 22, 1862:
"We are now seven miles from Richmond. It rained hard all night
and the line works hard. (I) have all the repairmen are out this
morning. Bogardus is sick and the doctor advised him to go to the
hospital. I have let him go to Fort Monroe. Tinker is sick here,
but is better this morning and thinks he will be able for duty in a
day or so. Several of (Parker) Spring's men are also sick. Will do
all I can for them. Have arranged for a main battery at Dispatch
Station. When it is working (I) will order (a) battery at "K"
(Keys' IV Corps) up there if you think best. Please answer. When will
you be out? Caldwell" (449-92)
May 25th, 1862: Sheldon, Fort Monroe. I have collected (the)
amount of receipts charged to Cowlam. (It is) not necessary to send
statements of amounts due from any other operators at present. Eckert.
Caldwell, McClellan HQ. Your plans are satisfactory and I have
full confidence of their being carried out. Send those vouchers to
Col. Stager at Washington. I will arrange to have the money forwarded
according to the direction you give. Keep me posted fully. Caution
Smith and Tinker about exposing themselves to capture. Assign operators
to places as you may think best for the time being. Remember, there are
some in reserve at Williamsburg and Yorktown. What stationary do you
require? Eckert" (43-167)
May 29, 1862: "Can you send by tomorrow's boat two good operators(?)
Bogardus and Smith have left and I am afraid of being short of operators.
Lines working well and everything going on smoothly. Please answer
immediately." (449-91)
The "Bohemian Brigade" of reporters and artists also suffered the
discomforts and dangers of the field. Samuel Wilkeson of the Tribune
had hardly arrived from Washington onto the Williamsburg battlefield,
when he fell victim to dysentery, sometimes referred to as "Jeff Davis'
Secret Weapon."
"I have spent the past three days anchored to a privy," he wrote
back to Managing Editor Sydney Gay, "surviving only on black tea and
blasphemy."
Others, dodging McClellan's May 12 order forbidding them to go
beyond headquarters at White House on the Pamunkey River, took their
chances in the interest of news gathering.
"It was sleeping in fence corners and living on the inevitable
hoe cakes, bought from female members of the local colored community,"
one stalwart observed.
Townsend of the Herald, and a dozen or so more fortunate ones
managed to board with an accommodating planter named Michie. Their
host's "Southern Hospitality" included the sending up of potent
"wake-up" juleps to his slumbering guests.
On May 19th, operator Henry L. Smith sent the following to his
kinsman H. K. Smith, in care of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at
Winchester, Virginia:
"Outpost near Chickahominy Bridge. Read your letter but cannot
answer for a few days as (I) am out of paper. (I) am on the advance.
Our pickets can see rebels plainly. All well. Saw Dennis (Doren) a
few days ago. He sends 73. Henry." (57-1040)
If H. K. was surprised at this private message, he was about to
receive a more startling surprise on the 25th, in the form of an
unexpected visit from Stonewall Jackson on the twenty-fifth. Smith
was lucky to escape capture, a fate befalling fellow operators
Drummond, Buell, Moore, Lamb, Clark and Burr. (For Drummond's captivity
see the chapter "Grounded Wires" and Plum: Vol.1, pp 160-164)
Despite harsh and dangerous working conditions, the line-builders
and operators continued to cover new ground and, in fact, above ground,
as well.
The innovation of Aerial Observation was not new to the Peninsula
Campaign. In the summer of 1861, General Butler, acting on his own
initiative, engaged the well-known civilian balloonist, John La Mountain,
to make observations of Confederate activities to the north and west of
Fort Monroe.
Arriving on June 12th with his two balloons, La Mountain commenced
making regular ascensions two days later, surveying enemy territory out
to a radius of thirty miles. August 3rd saw a new innovation in mobile
observation when the aeronaut ascended from the gunboat Fanny to a
height of 2,000 feet, quite out of range of the startled Confederate
gunners manning the Sewell's Point batteries below. This was three
months before Professor Lowe's own ascent from his balloon barge, the
George Washington Parke Custis.
On the Peninsula, however, it would be Lowe's turn to demonstrate
state-of-the-art military aerial reconnaissance above the battlefields.
And at Fair Oaks, May 30-June 1, 1862, instant reportage by telegraph
from the passenger basket opened new vistas for battle-field observation
and maneuver control.
Eckert to Sheldon & Caldwell, at Ft. Monroe & MC HQ. June 1, 1862
"Your messages received announcing the success of balloon and
telegraph combined--the most wonderful feat of the Age. (I) have not
language adequate to the subject (and) regret that I was not there.
Give my compliments to Prof. Lowe and (Parker) Spring. If they feel
as proud over the enterprise as I do, they have been well repaid and
will long be remembered in connection with the Army of the Potomac.
I hope it has been satisfactory to Genl. McClellan. (I) should like
to know. Eckert." (43-254)
Eckert to Prof. Lowe at MC's HQ June 3, 1862
"Glad to know you succeeded so well. (I) was confident you would
find (Parker) Spring all I represented him to be. Should he be called
away, you can get an operator from Head Quarters Office at any time.
Mr. Fonda at Yorktown is in charge of cipher business (so) I could
not well spare him. Mr. Booth is at Head Quarters and will render
you any assistance. All feel interested and will be glad to respond.
I shall be glad to see a detailed account of the Telegraph Station
in the Air. Some profess not to see it (but) my vision is clear.
Eckert." (43-251)
Caldwell to Eckert Fair Oaks/Seven Pines Battle May 29-30
Mc (McClellan's HQ) 10:45 AM (probably May 29 or 30, 1862)
"(Parker) Spring is getting ready to go up in Balloon now.
Look out for message. Would it be possible to connect through.(?)
Caldwell." (449-88)
Caldwell to Eckert Early June, 1862
"Spring's and the other vouchers go (to Washington) today. A
high wind and storm prevented the ascension again. Every thing
going on smoothly. Business very heavy. Caldwell" (449-94)
Even members of the Bohemian Brigade's fifty artists and
journalists managed to make ascensions with Lowe. Included were
boy-reporter George Townsend of the Herald and artist Arthur Lumley
of the New York Illustrated News, who produced a memorable panoramic
view of the battlefields from a thousand feet above the carnage below.
Down on the contested ground, correspondent Wilkeson encountered
Corps Commander Heintzelman, who promptly made him a volunteer aide.
Eagerly, the Tribune man galloped off through the woods, carrying
orders to all parts of the command. With his bass voice, he bellowed
encouragement to the troops and so helped stem the retreat of Casey's
routed brigade.
Though his efforts and courage earned him citations in later
official reports, Wilkeson ended the day in dismay over his nephew,
slain in combat. He suppressed his grief by staying up until three
in the morning, writing his account by candlelight, feeling lost in
the immensity of the confused combat arena. His graphic account
nevertheless far surpassed the rival Herald's reportage, which had
treated Fair Oaks as a brilliant victory for McClellan.
Closely rivaling Wilkeson's report was that of Billy Church of
the Times, who carried on the callings of his craft even after being
shot in the leg.
By late May, White House on the Pamunkey had become the major
supply base for McClellan's advance on Richmond, with strings of
freight cars and even locomotives unloaded from barges and transports
clogging the sluggish Pamunkey. Message traffic was likewise increased,
causing Adj. Gen. Seth Williams to have Caldwell wire Eckert the
following:
AFRICA go please Andes blue says white you come see humming fix
ingrate wants Barney Williams at will him answer soon it and cipher
card general men Irving for dinner." (33-608)
Note the expression "cipher card general," "card" being an end-of-
column null, which reveals a bit of cryptographic information. But
perhaps Caldwell was also making subtle fun of generals like Wool, who
were given simple ciphers whose routes and limited codewords could be
printed on a pocket-sized card.
Translation:
"General Williams says (that) McClellan wants cipher men at
White House, Williamsburg and Yorktown. Will you please fix it
for him." Filler reads: "Come go Richmond soon."
As the month ended, there was yet another casualty in the ranks
of the U.S.M.T. Corps, this time at its top command, Anson Stager.
May 31st, 1862. Eckert to Sheldon at Fort Monroe:
"Stager no better, very much discouraged. (He) starts for home
this evening if able (and) will reach Cleveland on Monday (June 2).
By this arrangement I am compelled to remain here until his return,
which I hope will be soon. Booth will reach F (Fort Monroe) tomorrow
morning. (He) has a letter for you I wrote in great hurry.
Can you find any one who is coming here by tonight's boat? If so,
will you take the trouble to send my letters done up in a package to
me. (I) am anxious to get them. Please notify me if you are fortunate
enough to find some one who will bring them, (and) where I may find
him on his arrival here. Eckert."
On the second day of the Seven Pines/Fair Oaks Battle, McClellan
found time to write the following, non-enciphered telegram to his
wife, then visiting in Hartford, Connecticut.
June 1st, 1862. Mrs. G. B. McClellan, care of N. Shipman,
Hartford C. Private.
"We had a desperate battle yesterday and today the enemy took
advantage of a storm which flooded the Chickahominy to attack the
troops on the right bank. They renewed the attack this morning (but)
have everywhere been repulsed. Our loss (was) heavy. G. B. McClellan
Maj Genl." (65-441)
The new month commenced with a change of command at Fort Monroe.
Old John Wool was reassigned to the Department of the East, head-
quartered in New York City. His mark upon the site's history was
assured in the renaming of Fort Calhoun on the Rip Raps shoal to
Fort Wool, which still endures. His replacement, General John Adams
Dix, also a grey-beard, kept the post until mid-July, 1863.
The "Gentlemen of the Press" and especially the reporters would
not have been happy with the following telegram of June 2nd from
Eckert to Caldwell. In its original form, Eckert made several
corrections, as he dealt with multiple communication and management
problems in Stager's absence.
June 2nd, 1862. Caldwell, McClellan (HQ)
The Press Reports are very lengthy and occupy a great deal of
time in sending. They must not interfere with the important Army
Messages (inserted here) unless by order of Genl McClellan. They may
take preference over paid business, as at present it gives
information that Genl McClellan would have to give (out himself) if
not given by the Press. Ask Demming if he cannot hand in his report
at an earlier hour. Our hurry of business commences early in the
evening and continues so late that chances are reports will not get
through in time. Whenever these reports are so important as to
convey intelligence that might be taken in place of one from Genl.
McClellan, make statement to that amount and (the) circuit will be given.
Send me a list by telegraph of the names of all Operators,
Builders, repairmen, teamsters and employees, whatever, in the service
of the Military telegraph with the Army of the Potomac. Give time and
rate of pay (of) men under Spring and McCandless. I must make a return
at the close of every month of men (so) employed. Eckert (43-288, 289)
The casualties piled up, but at least the railroad and the
telegraphers were present to speed their evacuation and ease their
sufferings....
United States Military Telegraph
Received...June 3rd, 1862 From...White House (Va.)
To...Col. McCallum, Wash.
"I have kept the two locomotives on the constant move day and
night. Have unloaded principally cars. Will have steam up on
another locomotive tomorrow. We have carried great quantities of
rations and forage, and bring back about six hundred wounded each
day. General Heintzelman and the Quartermaster tell me that we
are doing splendidly. McAlpine." (65-30,31)
On June 4th, 1862, Eckert commiserated with Sheldon over his
problems, which ranged from technical difficulties to personnel
matters, the latter of which opened the telegram....
"Sheldon, Fort Monroe. "(I) have no doubt you pasted him
sufficiently. He may not like the place, as well he might, and
will when he gets acquainted. In addition to 'On to Richmond,'
may be added 'the Balloon in the Brain.'
Am very sorry you are having such confounded hard time with
(the) lines. I hope you will get on to the advance soon. I wish
you would make some arrange ment with Genl. Dix to send squads of
cavalry out from Yorktown when repairs are needed. All are on
tip-toe here for news of the advance. (The) heavy rains cause
some apprehension. Keep me posted fully as possible. Eckert."
(43-270)
The "pasting" referred to probably was more of a "posting"
to a hazardous and/or uncomfortable telegraph station, then a
physical encounter.
Even the top operators on McClellan's staff were wilting under
the combined pressures of business and climate. On June 5th, Eckert
was forced to interrogate Caldwell as to omitted text in a cipher
message.
"Can you explain to me the reason why the words 'some before
guns' and 'Genl Sumner before succeeded' and 'our before man have
behaved' do not appear in Genl McClellan's message of the first,
inst. Were (all) the words counted? Eckert." (43-558)
June 6, 1862, to Sheldon, Fort Monroe:
"How much Battery have they on at Dispatch Station? I sent down
25 cups complete of new Main Battery material, to be sent forward and
put up. Did you receive it? It was sent on Monday last (June 2).
(I) have ordered Caldwell (to) send men out at once. Let me hear from
you often, as to (the) working of the circuits. Eckert" (43-242)
A Little on the Lighter Side...
On June 10th, during a lull in the Chickahominy fighting, a
telegram was sent by U. S. Military Railroad superintendent David
McCallum to R. S. McAlpine at the sprawling White House supply depot.
It provides a tiny facet of humor amid the titanic struggle then in
progress....
"Yesterday I gave passes to two Rail Road Conductors, Thomas
Pilkington & S. D. Laughlin, with directions to report to you for
duty. They were back in the streets of Alexandria during the last
night, dead drunk. And should they report themselves to you, you
will please not employ them."
McCallum soon had more important matters to concern him, as a
nasty jurisdictional dispute blew up over rail traffic control.
McAlpine, his deputy at White House, had to contend with no less than
the Secretary of War, himself.
White House, 13 June. Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secy of War, Di.
"Neither Mr. Schnell, Mr. Holden or Mr. Glascott are presently
nor have they been in my employ. I wrote to Col. McCallum about a
week ago that I would like to have him arrange for Mr. Holden to come
here to act as telegraphic train dispatcher, as he has held a similar
position previously, I know. Wrong information, I think, has been
given in this matter. Col. McCallum has the matter of a railroad wire
under consideration and intends, I believe, asking Col. Stager for
one upon his return to Washington. I repeat, that I did not intend,
nor will I in any manner interfere with Col. Stager's department.
G. McCallum, Agent." (65-33,34)
Eckert had to also attend to other areas of the U.S.M.T network,
and on June 17th he responded to the pleas of Cipher Operator J. B.
Pierce at Mount Jackson....
"Will send you an Operator soon as possible. Quite a number of
them are on (the) sick list. Eckert" (43-753)
The following two messages indicate that McClellan had long-
range plans for a pincers-movement on Richmond, such as was to be
fully developed between Grant and Sherman in the war's final months....
McCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS, June 20, 1862--10 p.m.
Mr. FELTON, President Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad, Philadelphia:
Will you please send me by telegraph in cipher, and also by mail
at once, all the information you have in regard to the bridges on the
Charlottesville and Lynchburg, Richmond and Danville, Lynchburg and
Burkesville, Richmond and Petersburg, and Seaboard and Roanoke Railroads,
giving the heights, length, and nature of the structures.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, McClellan's, June 20, 1 PM
Maj. Gen. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, Commanding, New Berne:
How many troops could you bring to White House and leave
everything secure in your present position, and what time would it
require to get the disposable troops to Fort Monroe? What is the
earliest moment you can move with your present transportation on
Goldsborough? Answer at once. GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.
To which, Burnside replied:
"We can put 7,000 infantry in Norfolk in five days, but no
artillery, cavalry, or wagons. We can land at a point on the Chowan
to attack Petersburg with 7,000 infantry, twelve pieces of artillery,
250 cavalry, and enough wagons for ammunition and four days' provisions
in five days.
We can move on Goldsborough at sixty hours' notice with 10,000
infantry, twenty pieces of artillery, five companies cavalry. From my
present information I think we can take Goldsborough and hold it for
the present, although 13 miles of the railroad between here and Kinston
have been destroyed. At all events we can go to Kinston and repair the
railroad and bridges between here and there. We have already built the
bridges over the Trent and Batchelder's Creek, and will probably have
to build one more bridge of 80 feet at Core Creek and one of 400 feet
at Kinston, the latter is not destroyed and we may save it."
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General.
Lee, however, had planned his own offensive against McClellan
for June 23rd. In the meantime, Eckert wired Sheldon at Fort Monroe
about extending cipher privileges to two generals:
"(I) think it necessary that Genl. Mansfield should have cipher.
Will send the cards and have you go (and) explain. Will also attend
to that of Burnside. Eckert." (43-228)
He also had to cope with the Human Factor in maintaining the
efficiency of the Telegraph Corps....
(For:) Smith and Tinker, Dispatch Station, Va.
"Good account of your progress. Caldwell will arrange for any
changes that may be required in operators for the advance, consult
him. You must be prudent in your movements forward. (I would be)
sorry to have you caught. I have one opr too many now in Richmond.
To (Parker) Spring, McClellan HQ, Va.
"Sorry to hear of another death in your family. Will do all in
my power to gratify your wishes. I hope you won't be compelled to go
this time. Have arranged to have money on those vouchers forwarded
from here by Express. You must not go to Richmond without (indistinct)
invitation. Eckert" (43-666)
The Peninsula continued to take its toll. Far more troops on
both sides had been laid low by dysentery fever and infection than
by combat, and additional hundreds would soon follow. Eckert coped
with health problems and other matters in this June 22nd telegram
to Caldwell:
"Sorry to hear (that) Norris is sick. You must see that the
men have medical attention, and that their cases are taken in time
so as to prevent anything serious. Parsons, Ryan, Nail, Holbrook
and one or two (other) men if possible (will) go down by tomorrow's
boat. Give Col. Colburn my 73. I thank him for the compliment he
pays the men in (the) Telegraph Service. (I) hope to be able to send
you sufficient help in short time. Eckert" (43-330)
Thus, the first phase of the Peninsula Campaign was ending and
now McClellan's generalship and teen-aged U.S. Military Telegraph
would be put to their Extreme Test in the days ahead....
* * *
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