| U.S. Military Telegraph Corps | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Military Telegraph battery wagon, Army of the Potomac headquarters, Petersburg, Virginia, June 1864. | |
| Facts About U.S. Military Telegraph Corps | |
| Years of Existence: | 1861–1866 |
| Number of Employees: | Over 1500 |
| Line Constructed: | 15,389 miles |
| Total Expenditure: | $3,219,400 |
The U.S. Military Telegraph Corps was formed in 1861 following the outbreak of the American Civil War. David Strouse, Samuel M. Brown, Richard O'Brian and David H. Bates, all from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, were sent to Washington, D.C. to serve in the newly created office. In October of that year, Anson Stager was appointed department head.[1] During the war, they were charged with maintaining communications between the federal government in Washington and the commanding officers of the far-flung units of the Union Army.
- ^ "A Southern Yankee: Anson Stager". Archived from the original on 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2008-10-07.