The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-13
A SWAP.

n
Softly aud mysteriously sped the answer
back, so cleverly worded that it reads like
the breathless whisper Of a man in terror;
81 don't know. i did not notice. AS
Morgan's operator was asking me about
my Instruments, told him sent them to
Lexington"
Cincinnati now broke in and called
Georgetown, asking IL the "rebels" were
there. Ellsworth answered;
"Yes, Morgan's men are here, " repeating
his story of working In the dark.
The raiders remained two days in George
town waiting for the scheme to mature
and draw all the attention of the Union
commanders toward Lexington. When the
command was ready TO move off the regu-
lar operator, who was under guard pro-
posed to Ellsworth that his telegraph in
struments, which had all the time been
skillfully hidden near at hand, should be
taken by the Confederates as his ransom.
81 agree to that" said the raider. "Tele-
graph instruments are of more value to the
Southern Confederacy than Yankee operat-
ors"
The exchange was made.
Morgan now rode north, avoiding Lex
| ington altogether. Every effort was made
by the authorities at a distance to have
him attacked at or near Lexington. A new
general was sent out by Gen. Boyle TO take
| command, and passing through Frankfort
he reached Lexington the day Morgan
| passed north OF it towards Cynthiana, be-
tween Lexington and Cincinnati. Ellis
| worth found all the Offices ON the line dis
mantled and the wires out of order.
| After taking Cynthiana and Paris "a
| town half way between Cynthiana and
| Lexington), the raiders made detour and
passed around Lexington to the south,
| reaching place called Grab Orchard on
/ the 21st. The telegraph ran along the road
| toward Somerset, where Morgan, as his
| enemies knew, would naturally turn to re-
cross Cumberland river. Ellsworth tapped
the wire and soon heard message from
Gen. Boyle to his subordinate at Danville,
saying pursue Morgan. He is at Grab
Orchard, going to Somerset"
1t was II O'Clock a. m. Danville is about
forty miles north of Somerset, and Crab
Orchard about twenty-eight miles north
east. The raiders, therefore, had twelve
miles start by this timely warning and
dashed off, reaching Somerset at sundown.
The Somerset office was in fine working Or
der, but the operator in charge had just come
up from the London office, and the raider
had no trouble in personating. green
hand" The first message was from Stan
ford, near Danville, and was an inquiry
about Morgan. Ellsworth answered that
| there were no signs or him at Somerset,
and learned from Danville and Louisville
via Stanford that the pursuers ordered out
from Danville at IL o'clock in the day had
reported back to Gen. Boyle that Morgan
| was too strong to be attacked.
Resting secure on this information Nor
gan telegraphed to the offices at LeXing-
ton, Danvflle, Lebanon and other points,
countermanding, in the name OF Gen.
Boyle, all the orders for his pursuit The
| whole command then took nights rest,
and in the morning, July %, started,
well refreshed, for East Tennessee. Be
fore abandoning Somerset and the soil
of Kentucky-his old home-Morgan di.
rected Ellsworth to celebrate his clever art
by wiring north the following facetious
greeting:
| George D. Prentice, Louisville;
Good morning, George d. am quietly watch
Ing the complete destruction Of all Of Uncle Sans
property In this little burg. l expect in a short
time to pay you a visit, and wish TO know II
you Will be at home. AL we'll In Dixie.-JoHs H
| MORGAN
GEORGE l.. KILMER-