Signal Corps Association
1860-1865
The Signal Corps Association (SCA) 1860-1865 is a national group of
private citizens sharing an interest in the signal and secret services of the North and
South during the American Civil War. A period attired and equipped living history segment
known as the Reenactor's Division also exists within SCA; hence the acronym
“SCARD.”
The SCA provides a medium for students, researchers, historians and
reenactors to investigate the signal, telegraphic and secret service developments during
the War Between the States. Through signal training camps, reenactments, living history
programs, visits to schools and libraries, lectures and memorial programs, SCA hopes to
develop and share its archive with others through public awareness, the role and
sacrifices of military and civilian telegraphists, signalmen and others who gathered,
developed or conveyed intelligence communication on both sides of the conflict.
By encouraging the study of period tactical tele- communications and
intelligence gathering, including codes, cryptography, aerial telegraphy (flag), electric
telegraphy (wire), observation balloons, signal rockets, lights and mortars, spies,
scouts, agents and secret operations, SCA seeks to perpetuate the memory of America's
mid-19th. century military and civilian communication pioneers and care for their
monuments, markers and final resting places.
The SCA and its reenactor's division has departments, detachments and or
"stations" in more than 30 states. Many associates are not reenactors, but all
do share an interest through the study and understanding of those who manned the
telegraph key and sounder or pulled glass watch at innumerable observation posts, relaying
vital despatches via flag and torch from hills, towers, rooftops, tree platforms and the
mastheads of ships.
The SCA holds no meetings, has no mandatory events and collects no dues.
Members are as active in the association as they have time to be. Since 1987 SCA's monthly
publication , Signal Cipher, has served as the organization's official transmitter. In
January 1999 it was converted from paper to cyber text. Articles, announcements and
queries are submitted by you our readers and focus on signal, telegraph and secret service
operations, methodology, historical personages and related
subject matter.
During our transition from paper to cyber text we ask your
indulgence by not submitting feature articles for consideration.
However, please do get them ready for future calls-for-papers. In the interim, we will be
reprinting monthly features from the pages of past issues of the Signal Cipher.
Also included at this site you will find an extensive bibliography
to keep your research going for some time. Members of SCARD rely extensively on this work
which contains over 150 entries.
After the new year we intend to create separate signal and telegraph
training departments on our home page. Coupled with
documentation from the bibliography and our extensive archive, SCARD will use this site
for the introduction of national reenacting communication standards, which when linked
with practical field instruction and examination will result in the awarding of credible
and nationally recognized certification.
We hope soon to welcome visitors to our organization's general
announcement access page "Eagle's Nest" to view the list of up-coming national,
regional and local living history presentations or re-enacting events where SCARD
detachments are currently considering or have secured a functional presence.
For other comments concerning the site or to receive a statement
regarding our Signal Corps Association Reenactor's Division mission and how you
individually, or your organization, might benefit through SCARD, we encourage you to
contact our Adjutant and Inspector General's Office via e-wire at: Marley Creek Archives
We do appreciate your interest and look forward to providing you
with historically accurate documentation and a vehicle to functional period communicators!
