[af_vet_rr]

My main point was given the timing and such what would be the tactical value of any information vs. strategic delivered electronically. Big picture operations definitely benefited, day to day combat perhaps not so much, especially as things proceeded further South away from reliable transmission sources, or at least until such could be put in place.

Given that this was late 1861 we are talking about, the information would have been very important, big picture or not. At that point, the South was still in it and there was still a lot of uncertainty.

If this had happened in early 1864 instead, the information wouldn't have been nearly as crucial, since it was only a matter of time at that point before the South fell. Plus, by late 1863, the South was riddled with spies and scouts.

[ejonesie22]

Yes, and at that time the strategic value was the most important because the large initial forces were in play. Remember the beginning of the war in general had a more "old fashioned” Continental look and feel. How the intel would benefit commanders during action was another matter. As the war progressed and changed in nature tactical become more important, especially as the diminish effectiveness of the Southern armies made them fall back to more skirmish/guerrilla like tactics and the North followed in kind. Not that there was any like of large scale battles to come mind you, but small unit combat really started to show it's value as well.

At this point (1861ish)there was also a very effective Southern Network as well.

I was meandering around the CIA site linked to me above, good refresher since my Civil War study days are some two decades in the past. I forgot about the recruiting going on in DC for the Confederate side. A lot of cross the lines activities for both sides.

Again though I was looking at technological issues. And there were hurdles on moving information throughout the war.