Now for something really different…
SIGNALLING
by Sgt Craig Anderson
What does the Signal Corps have to do with fighting a battle?
Actually a lot. When used properly, the Signal Corps can enhance
a reenactment for both the spectators and the participants.
For the spectators, the Signal Corps can provide a means
to explaining how communications were carried out over long distances,
prior to the telegraph or where telegraph wasn’t available. Spectators
are often intrigued by the flag waving and are caught by surprise when
they find out that there was no Morse code at the time. They can be brought
to a modern understanding that a form of signaling is still used, particularly
on ships with flags (semaphore) and at modern airports, where the flags
are replaced by orange flashlights.
For the reenactor, the use of signals affords the opportunity
to rely less on modern means of battle control (via radios) yet still get
the message across in a timely manner. Sometimes using signals can get
a message out faster than even mounted couriers can. Signals can be used
either for coordinating the Union and Confederate movements in a battle,
or for each side’s divisions, battalions, or companies individually.
Flagging signals is as easy as 1-2-3 if you can remember
that 1= down to left side, 2 = down to right side, and 3 is down directly
in front of you. An attention signal is waving the flab over your
head in a large figure "8", and an error message is holding the flag up
over your head and to the left side. The harder part is reading the signals
when you are answered, because the sequence is some what reversed. (Mirror
image)
For example:
2/3 11/2112/3 121/1/1122/22/11/112/2/22/1122/333
translates as
I a m
s i g n
a l i n g
.(In this case, the end of the sentence is the end of the message, therefore
a 333 is used instead of 33.)
Open Text Code (For spelling out words)
11 A
1221 B
212 C
111 D
21 E
1112 F
1122 G
211 H
2 I
2211 J
1212 K
112 L
2112 M
22 N
12 O
2121 P
2122 Q
122 R
121 S
1 T
221 U
2111 V
2212 W
1211 X
222 Y
1111 Z
1112 AND
1113 ING
1114 ED
2221 TION
12221 1
21112 2
11211 3
11121 4
11112 5
21111 6
22111 7
22221 8
22122 9
11111 0
As you can see, signaling by use of individual letters and their
corresponding numbers could take quite a bit of time; EXCEPT that the people
who came up with signals also came up with a kind of signal "shorthand",
called a preconcerted code. Using this, entire sentences can be reduced
to three (more or less) series of flag signals. Thus a command, such
as "recall skirmishers" comes out to nothing more than "12112/3 12212/333"
There are approximately 62 different orders that can be
given using preconcerted signal code.
Some examples of preconcerted code:
1 1 Advance
11 Ammo Exhausting
12 Artillery
111 Attack
112 Begin
Engagement
1121 Center
1122 Clear
1211 Close
1212 Concentrate
1221 Confederate
1222 Division
11212 Relay (or) Pass
11221 Reinforce
(ments)
11222 Renew
(or)
Resume
12111 Repeat
12121 Reply at Once
12112 Retire / Recall
12122 Retreat
12211 Right
2 End
engagement
22 Extend
21 Faster
222 Federal
221 Final / last
211 Fire
212 Flank
2212 Identify
2211 Infantry
2122 Left
2121 Minutes
2112 Move / proceed
22221 Wait
22212 When
22211 Yards
22122 Yes
22121 Your
Numbers can also be signaled, using the preconcerted code:
22112 One 21221 Four 21122 Seven 21111 Zero
22111 Two 21212 Five 21121 Eight
21222 Three 21211 Six 21112 Nine
It is unfortunate that some regularly armed re-enactors
see signalmen as "those silly guys out there waving flags". Those
"silly guys" are telling them where to go and what to do. So don’t
ever get a signalman mad at you, - he could end up sending your brigade
into oblivion!
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