Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/103

 The Signal Corps in the Confederate States Army, 97

earthwork, riddling the parapet in front of our guns, ploughing up the earth in every direction and tearing down immense trees in a manner baffling description. The scene was the most terrific con- ceivable. "

General Trudeau also says: " It," the redan fort, " presented the most appalling picture of ruin and desolation. The parapet was plowed up in every direction and torn to pieces. Trees were hacked down and torn to shreds by the heavy shells and the rifled cannon."

The signal men at Battery No. i had no protection whatever not even that of the parapet behind which the gunners squatted when not firing for their position was in rear of the guns, where fell, as Captain Rucker says, " many shot and shell."

Upon the capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10 by Admiral Foote and General Pope, the signal party escaped across Reelfoot lake, taking French leave of the commanding generals and paddling across on a raft of their own construction They repaired at once, of their own motion and without orders, to Corinth, Mississippi, then headquarters of the army, and reported for duty. The signal officer is merely mentioned by General Beauregard in his report of the fight at Shiloh Chapel (or Pittsburg landing) as doing active staff duty. After the battle, seventeen men were detailed to be instructed for duty in the Signal Corps ; but as glasses were scarce, and all the country between Corinth and the Tennessee river was heavily wooded, the men were mounted and served chiefly as scouts and couriers while their instruction was going on and until sent elsewhere.

Among those detailed at this time was Carlo Patti, a private of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee infantry Colonel Smith. He quickly learned his duties and was zealous in their performance. When not employed with his flags and spy-glass, he was incessantly playing his violin. He was once sent as lance sergeant in charge of a squad of prisoners to Mobile, and it was amusing to see the care and watchfulness he displayed in authority. It would have broken his heart had one of his prisoners escaped. To finish with Carlo : He remained with the signal corps until captured off Havanna in a blockade runner in 1864. He was bound for the Rio Grande to join General Slaughter via Havanna and Mexico, but after his capture never returned to the Confederate States. Peace to his ashes ; he was not a bad sort of a fellow.

On falling back from Corinth, the signal men being sufficiently instructed to go on duty were dispersed 'co several points in the command. Clagett with one party going to Mobile, Davidson with