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Auction archive: Lot number 78

Missouri and Western Telegraph Company Telegrams, Some Concerning Colonel Everett Peabody and a Traitorous Telephone Operator, Ca 1861-1862

Estimate
n. a.
Price realised:
US$4,200
Auction archive: Lot number 78

Missouri and Western Telegraph Company Telegrams, Some Concerning Colonel Everett Peabody and a Traitorous Telephone Operator, Ca 1861-1862

Estimate
n. a.
Price realised:
US$4,200
Beschreibung:

Lot of approx. 268 telegrams from the Missouri and Western Telegraph Company, mostly addressed to Major William E. Prince, 3rd US Army Infantry, from 1861 through March 1862, with 14 that concern a possibly traitorous telegraph operator feeding valuable information to an ardent secessionist. Individuals of note who sent telegraphs to Prince include: General George McClellan; General Lucius Fairchild; Major General John C. Fremont; Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis; Edward D. Townsend; Colonel Everett Peabody; Captain G.C Bingham; Major Van Horn; Lieutenant Colonel P.R. Anthony; Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis; Indian Agent W.W. Dennison; and General Henry W. Halleck. Also included in the lot is an oath of service by a telegram operator named McDill and a letter of recommendation written by the Governor of Massachusetts to the Secretary of War on behalf of Prince dated December 13, 1862. Prior to the Civil War, Major William E. Prince already had an impressive military career serving in the Mexican American War and in the Northwestern Territory. After the Battle of Santa Cruz, he was brevetted a captain for his gallant and meritorious service. When the Civil War began, the army stationed him in Kansas as captain of the 3rd Infantry of the US Army. Months before the Battle of Lexington in Kansas, Prince received several reports on the position of the Confederate Army. On August 30, 1861, from Kansas City, MO, Colonel Everett Peabody of the 25th Missouri Infantry telegraphed Prince: A dispatch from Lt. Joseph this morning says one hundred and fifty Rebel cavalry are parading the streets of St. Joseph with fifteen hundred more a short distance off. The next day, Peabody sent Prince another update: There is but one Secession Camp numbers variously estimated at from three to six hundred the rest have either gone towards Lexington or South the camp is at twenty miles marching distance the line is cut between St. Joseph and St. Louis and we can get no advice from Genl Pope If I understand your position I must look to you for protection (Kansas City, August 31, 1861). Scandal struck the regiments when Major Thatcher accused a telegram operator, E.B. McDill, of an alleged breach of confidence (Williams to Prince, Leavenworth, KS, September 2, 1861). [Thatcher] says a prominent secessionist [is] in this place [and] has a verbatim copy of the message spoken of but refused to tell persons name or show copy, wrote Peabody (Peabody to Prince, Kansas City, September 2, 1861). Prince had a copy of McDill’s oath on file where he denounced the Confederacy and promised not to aid them in any way. Peabody arrested McDill for the charges. McDill demanded his release on the reverse of one of Peabody’s telegraphs and informed Prince that another officer had been opening his dispatches for Peabody. Outraged, Prince telegraphed Peabody and asked if he shared their messages with others. Peabody responded: Of course no one has opened your dispatches except myself The reason why I was determined to change the telg arrangement was that a dispatch I sent to you this morning of which nobody could have known, since I told no one except my Major, was known all over town at once (Kansas, September 2, 1861). His answer and arrest were not enough for Captain Prince. McDill was released that evening and sent a message to Prince: My arrest was doubtless malicious as you will see by Col Peabody’s messages. I am satisfied Maj Thacher did the revealing…It has hurt my standing in this office and hurt the business of the office also (Kansas City, September 3, 1861). Prince continued to receive messages from Peabody and other officers about Confederate forces throughout the day with conflicting accounts. Peabody informed Prince, I have been compelled to place pickets in every direction in consequence, as I believe the operator having revealed my dispatch to you this morning—send another agent here (Kansas, September 2, 1861). R.C. Clowry involved himself and telegraph

Auction archive: Lot number 78
Auction:
Datum:
11 Mar 2017
Auction house:
Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
Este Ave 6270
Cincinnati OH 45232
United States
info@cowans.com
+1 (0)513 8711670
+1 (0)513 8718670
Beschreibung:

Lot of approx. 268 telegrams from the Missouri and Western Telegraph Company, mostly addressed to Major William E. Prince, 3rd US Army Infantry, from 1861 through March 1862, with 14 that concern a possibly traitorous telegraph operator feeding valuable information to an ardent secessionist. Individuals of note who sent telegraphs to Prince include: General George McClellan; General Lucius Fairchild; Major General John C. Fremont; Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis; Edward D. Townsend; Colonel Everett Peabody; Captain G.C Bingham; Major Van Horn; Lieutenant Colonel P.R. Anthony; Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis; Indian Agent W.W. Dennison; and General Henry W. Halleck. Also included in the lot is an oath of service by a telegram operator named McDill and a letter of recommendation written by the Governor of Massachusetts to the Secretary of War on behalf of Prince dated December 13, 1862. Prior to the Civil War, Major William E. Prince already had an impressive military career serving in the Mexican American War and in the Northwestern Territory. After the Battle of Santa Cruz, he was brevetted a captain for his gallant and meritorious service. When the Civil War began, the army stationed him in Kansas as captain of the 3rd Infantry of the US Army. Months before the Battle of Lexington in Kansas, Prince received several reports on the position of the Confederate Army. On August 30, 1861, from Kansas City, MO, Colonel Everett Peabody of the 25th Missouri Infantry telegraphed Prince: A dispatch from Lt. Joseph this morning says one hundred and fifty Rebel cavalry are parading the streets of St. Joseph with fifteen hundred more a short distance off. The next day, Peabody sent Prince another update: There is but one Secession Camp numbers variously estimated at from three to six hundred the rest have either gone towards Lexington or South the camp is at twenty miles marching distance the line is cut between St. Joseph and St. Louis and we can get no advice from Genl Pope If I understand your position I must look to you for protection (Kansas City, August 31, 1861). Scandal struck the regiments when Major Thatcher accused a telegram operator, E.B. McDill, of an alleged breach of confidence (Williams to Prince, Leavenworth, KS, September 2, 1861). [Thatcher] says a prominent secessionist [is] in this place [and] has a verbatim copy of the message spoken of but refused to tell persons name or show copy, wrote Peabody (Peabody to Prince, Kansas City, September 2, 1861). Prince had a copy of McDill’s oath on file where he denounced the Confederacy and promised not to aid them in any way. Peabody arrested McDill for the charges. McDill demanded his release on the reverse of one of Peabody’s telegraphs and informed Prince that another officer had been opening his dispatches for Peabody. Outraged, Prince telegraphed Peabody and asked if he shared their messages with others. Peabody responded: Of course no one has opened your dispatches except myself The reason why I was determined to change the telg arrangement was that a dispatch I sent to you this morning of which nobody could have known, since I told no one except my Major, was known all over town at once (Kansas, September 2, 1861). His answer and arrest were not enough for Captain Prince. McDill was released that evening and sent a message to Prince: My arrest was doubtless malicious as you will see by Col Peabody’s messages. I am satisfied Maj Thacher did the revealing…It has hurt my standing in this office and hurt the business of the office also (Kansas City, September 3, 1861). Prince continued to receive messages from Peabody and other officers about Confederate forces throughout the day with conflicting accounts. Peabody informed Prince, I have been compelled to place pickets in every direction in consequence, as I believe the operator having revealed my dispatch to you this morning—send another agent here (Kansas, September 2, 1861). R.C. Clowry involved himself and telegraph

Auction archive: Lot number 78
Auction:
Datum:
11 Mar 2017
Auction house:
Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
Este Ave 6270
Cincinnati OH 45232
United States
info@cowans.com
+1 (0)513 8711670
+1 (0)513 8718670
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