In the late 1850s, Albert J. Myer, an Army doctor, invented a method of communication using line-of-sight signal flags. Employed widely during the Civil War, the Myer flag system became the origin of the Army Signal Corps, and replicas of his flags emblazon the Signal Corps insignia even today.
Using various positions of the flag to represent letters of the alphabet, soldiers would wave them to send messages to other units. Both Union and Confederate soldiers became proficient in the Myers' system, known as wigwag. These specially selected soldiers had to be in an elevated location to be seen, so if a hill wasn't available, a tower was constructed. Some of these towers remain in existence today and are a reminder of this primitive code system.
Since the system is visual, the enemy, be it Union or Confederate, began intercepting the other side's messages. This forced the armies to begin encrypting. Also, due to the nature of this visual system, the signal officers, alone on top of a tower or hill with no weapon, risked their lives to send messages. Despite being somewhat removed from the front line, they were still within range, and easily within sight, of the enemy’s fire.
The first use of wigwag during battle was by the Confederates at the Battle of First Manassas (or First Bull Run for the Union.) Captain Edward Porter Alexander, who worked with Myer in developing the system, caught the glint of bayonets from his viewpoint atop a hill and immediately wigwagged the message “Look out for your left; you are turned.” It played an important role in the Confederate’s victory.
This star flag, displayed in the Museum, is a rare item. In order to enhance morale, a signal flag was modified by placing a star in the center. This special flag was awarded only to Signal Corps officers who distinguished themselves in combat. The points of the star could be used to denote important battles in which the unit had distinguished itself. This flag is only one of two known to exist today in which all five points have been adorned with battles.