Telegraph to Fortress Monroe

WASHINGTON, March 9. – The telegraph line to Fortress Monroe was built by order of the Secretary of War, under the direction of the General Manager of the Military Telegraph lines.  The extension of the Government line from Warrington, Delaware, to Cape Charles was constructed in three days.  Thirty miles of the submarine cable was manufactured for the channel, crossing in twenty days from the date of the order, by S. C. Bishop, of New York City.  The 16 miles laid before the recent gale was recovered in good condition.  The cable to replace the portion lost off Cape Henry was furnished by Mr. Bishop.  In five days the shore end was landed at Cape Charles, at 4 o’clock this, Sunday morning, by Mr. N. H. Rees, Assistant Manager of Government telegraphs, who has had the immediate charge of the work.  Its completion at this opportune moment, bringing the news of the victory of the Monitor and the disabling of the Merrimac, has saved the country from great anxiety and suspense.  The delay in completing the cable connection has been owning entirely to the continuous boisterous weather.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 4