Signal Corps Event Report - Huddleston House, Cambridge City, Indiana

Our duty at the Huddleston Farm was to support the 19th US Infantry, 35th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the 1st Ohio Artillery in a living history demonstration. Dave Bock made the trip from Michigan for the event along with Ted Wagner from Plainfield, Indiana to form a Signal Party. Dave Bock brought a lot of signal equipment that quickly became a major draw for both those soldiers present as well as spectators.

On Saturday, Dave and Ted setup their camp. A static display was created showing the contents of a signal kit. The kit was complete with night torches. A telegraph station was assembled under the fly next to the daniel's battery. After securing a work party from the 19th US, we surveyed the grounds of the farm for the east end of our telegraph. The work party was instruction on the operation of the flying telegraph. A line was erected from the west end through the farm to the east end. The work party successfully erected several poles stringing the wire between the two ends.

Later on Saturday, several members of the infantry and artillery were instructed in the use of flags. For close instruction, they practiced with the action flags. After the men practiced with the flags, we demonstrated the operation and use of the signal torches. The torches quickly became the topic of conversation around camp. It aroused enough interest that we decided to use the torches at night to send a signal. A party was to be formed and so they might create a message send from one party to
the other later in the evening. Many men anxiously waited for night!

The use of flags and telegraph was explained to visitors throughout the day. The children were captivated by the telegraph. Messages were sent from the west end to the east end both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday evening, several groups of visitors came to camp. The camp was very active with the usual past-times of soldiers. Capt. Schrodi utilized the telegraph to send a telegraph asking for instructions on the position of his command. For quite some time, the telegraph was active with a lot of communication. Dave Bock explained the use of flags and telegraph to visitors and answered their questions.

After the night began to quiet, two signal parties were formed to operate the torches. The torches were made by Dave Harbin. These great torches were hand made from information in J. Willard Brown's book and information gathered from the Signal Cipher. It can't get better than this! Many thanks to Dave Harbin!

Using the location surveyed during the day, a signal party marched to location to send their previously composed message. The operation of the torches was a sight and sound to behold! The WHOOSH of the torch generated many smiles. The candle in our possession that allowed us to see what we were writing had to be placed behind the signalman. We placed it on the ground directly behind his feet about 4 feet.

He stood with this feet together in order to block the light and prevent any confusion by the other party as to the point of reference. The message was successfully received. For many of us, seeing the torches in operation illustrated the important job of the signalmen. Where many soldiers' duties were not practical after nightfall, signalmen's duties never ceased.

On Sunday, Dave Bock instructed Ted Wagner and Mike Callahan in the maintenance of the torches. We checked wicks, checked the wick length, trimmed the wicks, checked for proper fit of the flame shields and flame guards, and later emptied the turpentine into the fuel canteen for storage and in preparation of assembling a signal kit. The torches require constant maintenance to allow them to operate properly. It was an imporant job!

We then assembled a complete signal kit. That step-by-step assembly can be seen here: signal kit.
Two signal parties were formed in order to see flags used in operation. Capt. Schrodi wanted to send a message instructing the infantry and artillery to act on that message. Capt. Schrodi took a signal party out into the field. Ted Wagner, Mike Callahan, and Jason Hawley formed the other signal party. We remained at our post looking for messages.

Wave, wave, wave, wave. Both parties have each others attention. 21112, 333. We respond, 122, 333. We're ready. The message begins. The corporal in charge of the infantry company sees a message being taken and assembles his men. The corporal in charge of his men on the cannon also sees a message is coming in and assembles his men. Ted calls out the signal being received and Jason Hawley writes it down. The sending party signals 333. We respond 11,11,11,3, 333. The message
is then deciphered.

"Enemy approaching. Throw out skirmishers". The message is then delivered to the corporal and a skirmish line is formed at the edge of the bean field. The cannon is moved and adjusted to support the skirmishers. As the skirmishers begin to advances, shots are heard. The skirmishers advance, probing. Smoke is seen in the distance. The artillery takes careful aim and fires.

Many lessons were learned by all of us unfamiliar with the operation of signals. We learned that more practice will be a great asset. We also learned the operations of a signal party is important and takes good amount of attention. Our goal for next year is to instruct those interested of the 19th US and the Ohio Valley Civil War Association in the operation and use of signals. We will also then practice sending signals as much as can be arranged.

Three reproduction code wheels made by Dave Harbin	One of the code wheels disassembled. Dave Harbin put a lot of work into these.	Dave Bock's period KOB (original)	Reproduction torches made by Dave Harbin. GREAT pieces.
Static Display	Discussion	Good Look	Static Display
1st Ohio	Relaxing while message is received	Jason Hawley sets up his Birge's WSS display	Getting situated to receive a signal
Mike Callahan at the key	Reproduction Daniels Battery	Decoding a message	Static Display
Ted Wagner at the key	Practicing with a four foot flag	Practicing with a four foot flag (minus one pole segment)	Static Display (note torch)
Learning with an action flag	Learning with an action flag	Setting hole for telegraph pole	Setting the pole
Practicing with a four foot flag	More learning	Distant station	Receiving message
Posed "running the wire"	West end telegraph station	West end station (see battery below table, telegraph pole, and anchored wire)	Spool of telegraph wire