“The Army telegraph – setting up the wire during an action”

This sketch by Alfred R. Waud is one of three illustrations accompanying the article “Army Telegraph” published in Harper’s Weekly on January 24, 1863.

William Rattle Plum. The military telegraph during the civil war in the United States, with an exposition of ancient and modern means of communication, and of the federal and Confederate cipher systems; also a running account of the war between the states (Chicago: Jansen, McClurg, 1882). Look on page 376 of 390 to view ‘The roll of United States Military Telegraph Operators.’

Civil War Telegraph System
(3:37) History Channel, YouTube, June 11, 2011