Two Related U.S. Military Telegraphs Signed By Chief Signal Officer L.B. Norton

Two Related U.S. Military Telegraphs Signed By Chief Signal Officer L.B. Norton. The two messages are numbered 1 and 4, this being all that was offered, no others being known currently.

Norton was born in Philadelphia, in 1839. Early in the war he was commissioned into the 10th Pa. Reserves as a 1st Lieutenant. Just prior to the Battle of Gettysburg, Norton became the chief signal officer of the Army of the Potomac, and was breveted for galant and meritorious service during the Battle of Gettysburg with the rank of major.  During the battle he he directed the various signal stations throughout the Union positions, and especially the one on Little Round Top. He would continue in the position as chief signal officer until his mustering out of volunteers in May of 1867, with another brevet promotion for his service at Petersburg /Richmond Campaign.

Backing up some, prior to his official mustering out date, Norton had taken the rank of 2nd Lt. in the 30th U.S. Infantry in July of 1866, promoted again to 1st Lt. and a transfer to the 1st U.S. Artillery in 1869.  He died on 23rd December, 1871.

These two telegraph messages relate to August 22nd, 1864, during the Siege of Petersburg. The first telegraph message was received at 10:30 A.M., sent to Lieut. Chase (the signal officer for his battery), from General Butler’s headquarters.  The message reads, “What Rebel Battery? Tell Lt. Kline Of Battery …. that the Genl wishes to know if he can reach it. Signed, L.B. Norton. Again at 11:30 on the same day, Norton sends another message to Chase from General Butler, “Why have not my inquires in regards to that Rebel battery been answered   Where is it & which Battery of outs is replying.”

The battery that was firing at a Rebel battery was probably from the 3rd Pa. Heavy Artillery, which had previously been converted to a Light Battery. Lt. Kline, being from the 3rd Pa was asked to find out what the situation was for General Butler.  This all took place during the engaging the confederates along the James River. At this time, the 3rd Pa was part of General Benjamin Butler’s Department of Virginia and North Carolina, that were in place on the south side of the James River against Petersburg, and later Richmond. The 3rd would occupy various reboubts and forts in the Bermuda Hundred area until May of 1865.  Lt. James F. Kline, commanding Battery D, enlisted on Dec. 15, 1862, and was discharged on June 12. 1865.  He had been promoted to 1st Lt. on March 5, 1864.

Folded, stained, most likely by perspiration during the engagement, folded on a pocket.  Otherwise, fine.

Nice historical documents.