My goodness…another version of the US Civil War “code talk telegram” story
Still another version of the Civil War “code talking” Chinook Jargon anecdote/joke!
An actual example of Civil War telegram encoding (image credit: The Huntington)
This tale was a durable feature of USA folklore for some time after the Civil War ended in 1865.
With reference to the suppression of telegrams the following authentic statement is given by a prominent participator in the occurrence. Just prior to the battle of Fredericksburg while General Burnside was in command, General Rufus A. Ingalls, who was quartermaster of the army of the Potomac, and another distinguished general desired to telegraph to Senator Nesmith, of Oregon, then in Washington, a private matter. They were well aware of the espionage of the war department, and how to convey the desired information to their friend puzzled them for a while. A brilliant idea seized them, however, to send it in the Chenook tongue which they, being old Pacific coast officers, were conversant with. They were also aware that Senator Nesmith understood it. The dispatch was accordingly sent in that tongue, directed to the senator and signed “Ingalls.” It fell into Stanton’s hands. All the experts and linguists in the country were handed the mysterious telegram; none could read it. Stanton became suspicious, and worried and desperate, and finally sent to New York for experts. None could translate it. After four days had elapsed Stanton addressed a note to the senator to call at the war department, and on his arrival handed him the telegram and demanded to know its purport. Nesmith, who, as well known, was a thorough war democrat and a friend of [President Abraham] Lincoln, looked at the date of the dispatch and after reading its contents assumed his senatorial dignity and went for Stanton in a severe tongue-lashing and refused to tell him the contents. Nesmith immediately went over to the white house and protested against Stanton. Old Abe asked what was the nature of the dispatch from “Rufe.” Nesmith, translating it, read as follows: “We are going to have a battle in a few days. Are all out of whisky. Come down and bring some, and we will have a nice little game of poker.” Lincoln laughed heartily and said: “Go down, I will give you a pass for yourself and friends.” Nesmith with a party went down taking sufficient commissary along and for several days enjoyed himself. While they were all sitting in the tent one night engaged in the seductive American game of poker, the orderly brought in a telegram for Gen. Ingalls, which read as follows: “Gen. Ingalls, if you ever send a dispatch in such language again, you will be cashiered from the service. E. M. Stanton ” Ingalls tossed the message to Nesmith, who, on reading it, replied, “Stanton ain’t president of the United States yet by a d-d sight.”
— from “Two Suppressed Telegrams”, in the Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News of March 13, 1882, page 3, column 3
