A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be led to the rear of the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged to, and would be led in a line parallel thereto, while one man would hold an end of the wire and uncoil it as the mule was led off.

When he had walked the length of the wire the whole of it would be on the ground.

This would be done in rear of every brigade at the same time.

The ends of all the wires would then be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole army.

The men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all commence at once raising the wires with their telegraph poles.