Civil War U.S. Army borrowed Navy communications system

Wednesday, February 9th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Land-locked Oklahoma might seem an unlikely place to find a communications system created in the Navy, but during the Civil War years, it was perfect for the open spaces and highly mobile armed forces' units of the prairie. To move messages between camps, it took seconds to wag flags from post to post in a designated code over great distances. Usinga runner to carry messages not only took more time but was riskier, because lone runners could easily be picked off by the enemy.

Instead, soldiers developed a flag-waving system that originated from a code used by U.S. Navy ships. Those entrusted with sending and receiving the signals were part of the signal corps, made of the most educated men in the armed forces because they knew how to read and write. "If they saw someone moving, like the enemy, they' send (the message) back," said Tim Wright, a Cushing re-enactor who portrays a sergeant in the U.S. Signal Corps when he's a Yankee, and a captain when he plays the part of a Confederate. "Using one flag, it's a wig-wag system to communicate. They didn't have the time on the move to string lines for Morse code. This is a very mobile system."

The signal corps would post a headquarters, and then post signalers on different spots on high points and hills. While one officer would wave the flag, another would write down and decipher the response, and other officers would keep watch for enemies. "It would be four to five to a detachment," Wright said. `If they were shorthanded, it would be their first duty to get the signal read or get sent out, and then they would defend themselves." "The casualty rate was close to 100 percent," Wright added. "If you were in signal corps, you were going to get shot. If you can see us, then they can see you, and that flag makes a pretty good target."

Wright and other re-enactors with the U.S. Signal Corps and Company C, 19th Regiment of the Arkansas Volunteer Infantry will recreate the Battle of Round Mountain, an historic Civil War battle that took place in Indian Territory on Nov. 19, 1861. The site of the battle is a bone of contention, but many believe the confrontation took place near Twin Mounds, four miles west of Yale near Oklahoma 51. Others believe it may have taken place near Mannford, Wright said.

Cannonballs, buttons and other artifacts found in the Twin Mounds area indicate something happened there, but whether it was the Battle of Round Mountain has not been determined. Regardless of its actual site, the battle was the first of three encounters between Confederate troops and pro-Union Creek forces, led by Opothle Yahola. The Confederate forces included cavalry units from Texas, Creek and other Indian soldiers who supported the South in the Civil War.

On Feb. 18-20, re-enactors will recreate the battle and relive the times. The re-enactment will take place on undeveloped land adjacent to Jim Thorpe Park in Yale. Expect to find artillery, cavalry, infantry and medical setups, settlers, a blacksmith, broommaker, kettlecorn maker, a lady's parlor, gentleman's emporium and a lady's dance on Saturday night, all typical of the 1863-64 period. "We want it as period as possible, and it will all look as period as possible," Wright said. The Battle of Round Mountain re-enactment will include demonstrations of drills and cavalry tactics and participants will dress, speak and act in character.