Tag Archives: telegraph

attracting a crowd

Posted on September 11, 2014 by SUMPTER

fireworks by the bay 150 years ago this week politics was a major topic out in the Far West. The September 9, 1864 issue of San Francisco’s Daily Alta California featured side by side coverage of a couple political rallies … Continue reading →

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Aprilpole

Posted on April 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

A photograph of the “Military telegraph construction corps” taken by Alexander Gardner in April 1865: You can read more about this photograph at the Cornell Library. Apparently as the Overland campaign began in May 1864 a new insulated wire began … Continue reading →

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“marred in the transmission”

Posted on October 18, 2013 by SUMPTER

President Davis got out of the office for a bit in October 1863 and toured South Carolina, Georgia, and General Bragg’s recently victorious Army of Tennessee on Missionary Ridge outside Chattanooga. Here’s a report that focuses on his speech to … Continue reading →

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Cutting Wires

Posted on October 4, 2012 by SUMPTER

According to the Naval Historical Center, “A landing party from Thomas Freeborn cut telegraph lines stretching from Occoquan and Fredericksburg, Va., to Richmond, Va., on 4 October 1862.” It’s already been 15 months since the Freeborn’s commander, James Harmon Ward, … Continue reading →

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Guardians of the Technology

Posted on February 23, 2012 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 24, 1862: Guarding the telegraph. The Second regiment E. S. Home Guards, Col. Wilkins, is detailed for duty to guard the telegraph line from Salisbury, Maryland, to Cape Charles, Virginia. Headquarters at Drummond town; … Continue reading →

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St. Louis Blues v. Grays

Posted on January 10, 2012 by SUMPTER

Isn’t the telegraph great?. People in New York can read news from St. Louis as quickly as from Gotham itself. Missouri, a border state, is more divided than other states. The Union Provost-Marshall General wants to monitor newspapers throughout the … Continue reading →

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Telegraph Roadies

Posted on January 2, 2012 by SUMPTER

From The New-York Times January 3, 1862: IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON; … ARMY TELEGRAPHS. … … WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 2. … The Army Telegraph Corps have returned from Hancock, having completed telegraphic connection between Frederick and Wheeling. They will next proceed … Continue reading →

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The Natives Are Restless

Posted on May 7, 2011 by admin

Plans are being made to complete a transcontinental telegraph line, but for now the Pony Express still runs. Apparently the Indians in Northern California didn’t get the memo on Manifest Destiny. From The New-York Times May 6, 1861: LATER FROM … Continue reading →

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Extra! Extra! Lincoln’s Inaugural Address!

Posted on March 4, 2011 by admin

Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861. Here’s an article from the March 5, 1861 issue of The New-York Times describing how modern technology was used to report the words of Lincoln’s Inaugural address (The New York Times Archive): … Continue reading →

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