Item No. 6123636

In this December 1862 telegraph message written upon a pre-printed form of the American Telegraph Company, Colonel Benjamin F. Smith of the 126th Ohio Volunteers seeks information from the North Mountain Station near Martinsburg. “Is the 126th Ohio still camped at North Mountain?” the colonel asks. It is then requested that the return message be transmitted to the headquarters of the Defenses of Washington. Smith’s signature with rank appears after the message. Smith would serve in command of the 126th, and at many times a brigade, during the remainder of the war as part of the Army of the Potomac’s 6th Corps, earning a brevet brigadier’s star in 1865.

On the reverse is a note addressed to a Lieutenant W. G. Fitch, who was serving as officer of the day in the Defenses of Washington. The note asks Fitch to “have this dispatch sent to its destination and oblige,” and is signed by Captain Wesley Merritt, who was then serving as an aide in the capital’s defenses. Merritt would one of the young officers promoted to command of a cavalry brigade in June 1863 and would finish the war as a major general.

The message is dated December 24 on the reverse, which corresponds to the time that the 126th Ohio was stationed in the Martinsburg/North Mountain area in what is today West Virginia.

It measures about 8” x 5 1/2” and is in very good condition with light foxing and toning. The transcript appears below:

To: Telegraph operator
North Mountain Station, Virginia

Is the 126th Ohio still camped at North Mountain? Answer Head Qrs, Defenses Washington.
B. F. Smith
Colonel

Lieut. W. G. Fitch
Officer [of the] Day
Head Qrs Df Washn
Corner 15 1/2 Penna Ave

Dear Fitch:
I wish you would have this dispatch sent to its destination and oblige.
Yours
Merritt