Signal Corps of the Civil War - Signal Kit and related information

The Signal Corps
of the
Civil War Signal Flag and Torch
Informaton, Instructions
and
Information about the Equipment
Technology and Persons
who
Led that Civil War Technology
and
Major Myer's Manual of Signals
and
Items from the Signal Corps Museum
Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Here is a static display of some
of the equipment
included in a signal kit.

Close up view of some of the contents of a kit.

Wide View
Wider view showing canvas carrying bags and torches.

Myer manual signal kit contents.

Equipment bag assembly
How did we get all those things in that little bag?

Flag/Torch Kit Assembly
Shows how to roll up the torches and insert the flags and torches in to the canvas carrying bag.

Signal Corps of the Civil War information.

This Signal Corps of the Civil War index
is
constantly updated here.

Includes links to the Beardslee Telegraph, Civil War Signal Corps events
and the
United States Military Telegraph of the Civil War;
Highlighting the technology used in the American Civil War.

Myer's short Signal Manual Paperback,circa. January 1864 Completed at Cairo published by Simeon White This short paperback manual was the OUTLINE for the 1866-1879 manuals. It was hastily published following his dismissal A great deal of material was left out of this volume due to the constraints of time and economy Myer worked on his manual in 1864 and 1865 fleshing out the outline form of the 1864 version. As such, the 1864 version is not definitive; but it is useful as a general field manual	When are Two Flags Needed?	What is this patch? Also, a Federal patch photographed by Ted Wagner from the Martin Miller collection. A butternut patch from the OVCWA collection now in the Signal Corps Museum
Pretty darn good Signal and Telegraph Information	Was it Signal Corps or Signal Service or both? The Ordinance folks said "Signal Service"	When was the torch made part of the insignia? Envelopes from 1863 and 1864 from OVCWA collection now in the Signal Corps Museum
Replica Beardslees and an original at the Signal Corps Museum	An original Signal Kit (Thanks, Signal Corps Museum)	Signal Kit Contents and Signal Site Inventory
Signal flag at Ft. Gordon. From Myer estate said to have been used to signal Lee's surrender.	Additional Equipment Binoculars,bibles,inkwells telescopes and more.	Myer Circa 1857--Signal Corps Museum Myer's Colt rifle shown in above photograph Myer's Colt rifle shown in above photograph--barrel close-up
Myer's Bible (Signal Corps Museum)	Myer's Diary (Signal Corps Museum)	Myer's Diary (Signal Corps Museum)
Picket signal lantern (Signal Corps Museum)	Picket signal lantern (Signal Corps Museum)	Lock of hair in Bible possibly Major Myer's Wife's (Kate) (Signal Corps Museum)
Myer's Signature (Signal Corps Museum)	Plum's Pocket Telegraph (Catton Instrument) (Signal Corps Museum)	Awarded to PVT. Harry W. Gardner Signal Corps U.S.A (Signal Corps Museum)
Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)	Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)	Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)
Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)	Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)	Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)
Major Myer's Telescope (Signal Corps Museum)	Who was Conrad Poppenhusen? Just the man who built the Beardslee Telegraph!	Signal Corps at Stones River Signal Field Telegraph at Chickamauga
Myer end of war patent for code wheels	Lieutenant Jerome at Antietam (LARGE FILE)	Forms for Living History Events Morning Report Form Potomac Countersigns Form Signal Dept of Potomac Signal Dept of Washington Form 13--Hand Receipt for Signal Stutter Codes for Morse, flag, torch or Beardslee
David W. Gaddy's Signal Telescope article An excellent look at the telescopes used during the war.	Signal Corp at Fredricksburg The Boy Spy A description of the Beardslee, and a view of the Signal Corps and the "battle" between the Corps and the USMT brass.	David W. Gaddy's Civil War Signal Corps telescope View One View two View three View four View five
	TELEGRAPH PATENTS IN PDF FORMAT If you are interested in the evolution of the telegraph, do not miss this growing depository of Telegraph Patents from Dave Harbin's files.
NEW! Cipher Disks In PDF Format Yep, Make Your Own.	Dot Alphabet flag practice page Get a TP tube and look through it for telescope practice Use two if you use Marine Glasses ;->	Myer's 1864 Signal Circular very good explaination of how a signal team is used first Joint Army/Navy code Material included in the 1866 manual.
Myer's 1877 Manual of Signals 'Work in progress' 535 pages Brown's primary source According to Paul J. Scheips, Phd, Myer's principle biographer, the 1866 manual was based on actual field use and notes Myer made during the war but could not be published until the termination of the war. He also states that the 1877 volume was changed only by the addition of fixed telegraph and heliograph. The 1879 edition included the telephone.	What was the insulated wire used by the Signal Telegraph?	Signal patents for pyrotechnic signals G. A. Lillendahl Pyrotechnic Signal Patent--April 5, 1859 B. F. Coston Pyrotechnic Night Signal Patent--April 5, 1859 Edge and Hyde Pyrotechnic Signal Patent--April 29, 1862 G. H. Felt Signal Rocket Patent--August 25, 1863 J. J. Detwiller Signal Rocket Patent--December 18, 1866
1913 reunion at Kennesaw Mountain Note the telescope mounting and marine glasses Telescope now in Manassas Museum Courtesy of the Signal Corps Museum	Fixed Signal Corps station	Circa 1910 Signal postcard. Note the flag has a full sleeve Note the use of only two poles per the field kit issue. Not Civil War, but nice comparison.