A newly arriving commander was required to
acknowledge and receipt for government property turned over to him by his
predecessor. Around 11 July 1864, Brvt. Capt. S.A. Dillingham took over the
signal station at Fort Reno, Tenallytown, north of Georgetown in northwest
Washington, D.C. (See map on page 651 of Brown’s history.) He duly filled out
Form 13 , “List of Signal Equipments and Signal Stores…” and a copy is
preserved at the National Archives. Those files also include an undated, but
presumably contemporary price list. To provide a listing of signal property
that might have been expected at a late-war signal station, these have been
combined into the following list. Prices shown afford an idea of relative cost
or value. An “X” is shown to indicate Capt. Dillingham’s acknowledgment of an
item (two “Xs” indicates two), thus indicating what his specific station had at
the time. See Chapter VI of Brown for explanations and illustrations. Comments
are supplied in brackets to the right and at bottom.
Signal telescopes and straps ($21.50) XX
Signal telescopes
Signal telescope straps
Signal telescope holders
Telegraph telescopes and tripods
Telegraph telescopes ($65.00)
Telegraph telescope tripods
Marine glasses, cases, & straps ($22.00) X
Marine glasses
Marine glass cases
Marine glass straps
Pocket compasses ($1.50) X
6-foot white flags ($2.50) X
4-foot white flags ($2.00) XX
2-foot white flags X
6-foot black flags ($2.50) X
4-foot red flags ($2.25) X
2-foot red flags X
Jointed staffs, complete ($5.00) X
Joints of staff
Canvas cases and straps ($4.00) X
Small straps (.17) XX
India rubber cases ($3.75) X
Foot torches ($2.75) X
Foot extinguishers (.60) X
Foot flame shades ($1.75) X
Flying torches ($3.50) X
Flying extinguishers (.50) X
Flying flame shades (.75) X
Wind shades (.60)
Lance sockets (.63) X
Lance straps (.30) X
Wormers (.25) X [To
pull up the wicking in the torch?]
Canteens ($3.25) [Oversize,
1-gal. turpentine container for torches]
Canteens and straps X
Canteen straps ($1.25)
Haversacks ($1.50) X
Funnels (.15) X [To
fill fuel canteen from service can,/torch from canteen]
Pairs pliers (.25) X
Pairs scissors (.30) X
Lance heads ($1.25)
Lance sheathes (.60)
Dispatch books (.68)
Dispatch blanks (.30)
Wands (.04)
5-gallon copper cans ($8.00) X
Practice poles
Tap borers (.60)
Spigots ($1.00)
Packing cases ($1.50)
[Added by hands:]
Cipher discs X
Message books X
Turpentine ($115.00/bbl.; $2.90/gal.)
Kerosene oil [For
lantern]
Wicking (.05 per ball; $10.00 per bale) [Looked like
a ball of string]
Thread ($1.25/lb.) [To
patch/repair flags]
Matches (.03/box; $4.00/gross)
Signal rockets
Rocket sticks
Signal lights
Coston lights
Handles for Coston lights [“Signal pistols”?]
Boxes for Coston lights
Added from price list, not on Form 13:
Sets of signal equipment ($45.00)
Hammers ($1.25)
Handsaws ($2.25)
Screwdrivers (.40)
Claw-chisels (.60)
Marking brushes (.20) [For stenciling?]
COMMENTS: The distinction between
“signal telescope” and “telegraph telescope,” and between“dispatch book” and
“message book” is unknown. Although “lance” could refer to the lightweight
poles used for telegraph lines, it seems probable that what is referred to
above is the arrangement for carrying a guidon or identifying signal flag when
mounted. (Cf. 1861 Rev. U.S. Army
Regulations, Chapter L, paras 1440-1441. and the fact that this captain had
“one each.”)