Georgia Division Signal Corps

In addition to our mounted infantry antics, we are also members and are involved in the Georgia Division Signal Corps. You will not meet a nicer bunch of guys in your life than the ones involved in our Signal Corps. The Signal Corp is not as glamorous as some of the other units, but it was a very important and is much under-represented in today's reenactment communities.

A very brief history ...

In the 1850's a system of visual signals was developed by Albert James Myer. It allowed for better and rapid communication over great distances. The system of signaling is done by the use of flags. Each flag has a square of contrasting color in the middle for visibility. Jeb Stuart worked with Myer's before the war in trying to develop the Signal Corp, but the U.S. government was slow in realizing its potential. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Confederate states immediately saw the advantages of the Signal Corp and implemented them in the battle of First Manassas. So the C.S.A. actually used the Signal Corps in battle first! The Confederate Signal Corps became "the first independent branch of professional signalmen in the history of the world." The Signal Corps was by no means a safe profession. In fact, the Signal Corps lost a higher percentage of men than any other branch during the war.

I took excerpts of this information from our Signal Corp CO, Captain Doug Williams. Captain Williams has done a great deal for the Georgia Division Signal Corps and the Signal Corps in general. He has assembled a great deal of information and history of the Signal Corp and is largely responsible for its success today.

If you are interested in finding out more information on the Signal Corps or it's history, please contact Captain Williams.

Captain Doug Williams, Unit CO

I will talk with Captain Williams and see about posting his entire article "Battlefield Communication - A Brief History of the Signal Corps"!

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