Rapid Communication

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Before the use of the "talking wire" or telegraph, during the Civil War, the fastest way of sending written communications was by sending the documents with an express rider or courier. Needless to say, this was hazardous occupation, but the courier did have some protection because normally a small detail or squad of soldiers would be provided as an escort. In the summer of 1863, Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt (commanding officer of the District of the Frontier) established a semi-weekly Military Express between Fort Scott and Fort Blunt (formerly Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory) to expedite communications between the two "Union" forts. In order to do this, a relay station was established at Baxter Springs where riders and horses could be changed. There were additional "Union" camps between Fort Scott and Fort Blunt where horses and riders could be changed, but Baxter Springs was the largest relay station on the southern half of the old/ original Military Road. The following documents describe the establishment of this Military Express and are located on Pages 478 and 479, Series I, Vol. 22, Part II "Correspondence in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion."

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