Lincoln in the Telegraph Office: Recollections of the United States Military Telegraph Corps during the Civil War
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Paperback
This is a reprint of a book published in 1907 by David Bates, who was the manager and cipher-operator for the War Department's telegraph's office from 1861 to 1865. He was close friends with Thomas Eckert, who was the chief of that department's telegraph staff for the same period. As such, during the war they both saw and participated in numerous episodes which have become history. Both were trusted by President Lincoln and used by him, and Secretary of War Stanton, for missions outside Washington, D.C.
As such, Bates saw Lincoln on almost a daily basis, quite often several times a day. It was in Bates' office where Lincoln composed the Emancipation Proclamation over a period of a few weeks. In fact, according to Bates, Lincoln kept his working copy there.
As some of the events Bates and Eckert participated in were considered "very sensitive," both men kept records of their activities; but did not share them until well after the war, when many of the leaders they dealt with were deceased.
If you are a student of the American Civil War, then this book is a must-read, if only for the little episodes which add so much to history. Plus, the book has verbatim copies of numerous important telegraph messages which both men either sent or received, which are often just mentioned in passing in other books on the war.
One of my favorite stories from the book concerns the Confederate operatives in Canada, who were often busy buying and shipping war supplies through Northern cities and ports. As there was no direct communication between the Rebel operatives in Canada and Richmond, three men at a time regularly left Canada by various routes to Richmond, so that at least one of the ciphered message they were carrying would make it to Richmond.
However, unknown to the operatives in Canada, one of these men always found an excuse to pass through Washington. He was a Union man and he stopped by the telegraph office in Washington, so the message he carried could be copied and deciphered. As a result, numerous Confederate operations were shut down and their participants captured. The Confederate government began to suspect there was a leak, but President Lincoln himself suggested a plan to not only direct suspicion away from the Union spy, but also make him appear a hero.
Don't let the size of the book deter you. Although it is 430+ pages in length, as it is a reprint the text and spacing is larger than normal in today's books, and the pages just seem to fly by.
NOTE: Unlike a couple of reviews on Amazon, my copy is well printed, without any errors, although I wish the display of camera copies of a few letters were larger, but then the paperback copy I have is only 8-inches tall. It is also not abridged.
From some comments on Amazon, you might want to ensure you get the University of Nebraska publication. The hardback copy is from a different publisher.
As such, Bates saw Lincoln on almost a daily basis, quite often several times a day. It was in Bates' office where Lincoln composed the Emancipation Proclamation over a period of a few weeks. In fact, according to Bates, Lincoln kept his working copy there.
As some of the events Bates and Eckert participated in were considered "very sensitive," both men kept records of their activities; but did not share them until well after the war, when many of the leaders they dealt with were deceased.
If you are a student of the American Civil War, then this book is a must-read, if only for the little episodes which add so much to history. Plus, the book has verbatim copies of numerous important telegraph messages which both men either sent or received, which are often just mentioned in passing in other books on the war.
One of my favorite stories from the book concerns the Confederate operatives in Canada, who were often busy buying and shipping war supplies through Northern cities and ports. As there was no direct communication between the Rebel operatives in Canada and Richmond, three men at a time regularly left Canada by various routes to Richmond, so that at least one of the ciphered message they were carrying would make it to Richmond.
However, unknown to the operatives in Canada, one of these men always found an excuse to pass through Washington. He was a Union man and he stopped by the telegraph office in Washington, so the message he carried could be copied and deciphered. As a result, numerous Confederate operations were shut down and their participants captured. The Confederate government began to suspect there was a leak, but President Lincoln himself suggested a plan to not only direct suspicion away from the Union spy, but also make him appear a hero.
Don't let the size of the book deter you. Although it is 430+ pages in length, as it is a reprint the text and spacing is larger than normal in today's books, and the pages just seem to fly by.
NOTE: Unlike a couple of reviews on Amazon, my copy is well printed, without any errors, although I wish the display of camera copies of a few letters were larger, but then the paperback copy I have is only 8-inches tall. It is also not abridged.
From some comments on Amazon, you might want to ensure you get the University of Nebraska publication. The hardback copy is from a different publisher.
