Great tip for research! Take a look at the Scientific American issues below dealing with J. Wyatt Reid's claim to have invented a cipher wheel that was used by the Signal Corps during the war (50 copies ordered by Chief Signal Officer, but never patented). Also, great article describing how the Beardslee machine was used to detonate mines. Great stuff, suggest expanding search beyond 1865 to pick up the many post-war published articles dealing with the Signal Corps during the war years.

Scientific American. / New Series, Volume 14, Issue 24: pp. 391-406
p. 395 1 match of 'Signal Corps'

Publisher: Scientific American, inc. etc. Publication Date: June 9, 1866
City: New York Pages: 446 page images in vol.
This entire journal issue: http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABF2204-1014&byte=181289280

Scientific American. / New Series, Volume 8, Issue 11: pp. 161-176
p. 167 1 match of 'Signal Corps'

Title: Scientific American. / New Series, Volume 8, Issue 11
Publisher: Scientific American, inc. etc. Publication Date: Mar 14, 1863
This entire journal issue: http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABF2204-1008&byte=175082487

• Cipher Wheels, A Note Concerning - Walt Mathers 12/18/2002 20:08:07 CST (1)