Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-06


Gus, ana in some aspects also ludic-
rous, appropriation OF an enemy's tele-
graph lines was recalled at a chance
meeting Of several veteran soldiers and
war telegraphers at Louisville recent
ly. One OF the operators present had
forwarded this characteristic despatch
from the White House to the headquar-
ters OF the army at COrinth:
Washington, July 10, 1862.
"Maj0r-GenerdI HaHock,
"COriHth, Mass:
"They are having a stampede in Ken
"A. LINCOLN.
Another one had passed along the
following from the headquarters OF
Gen. j. Boyle commanding the Fed
eral forces in Kentucky, to the War
Department at Washington:
Headquarters, U. s. A,
louisville July l3, 1862.
'HOn. 4. N. StGnton,
"geCretary Of War:
"The Confederates undoubtedly have
control Of telegraph all around us.
There is great danger in Kentucky
o. T. BOYLE,
Bugadier-General,'
This sudden uproar and alarm in
Northern camps and councils was
caused by Morgan, the Southern raider
then out on his first wild ride across
the border. His errand seemed to be
none other than to bring about the
state OF panic indicated in the de.
spatches OF President Lincoln and
General Boyle AT the head OF small
mounted column the intrepid hentuck'
ian rode at will for more than week
within the Federal lines and got away
without being forced into a single bat
tie. all through the manipulation OF
the wires by a clever hand.
When starting on this raid, Morgan
summoned to his side as a scientific
ally. George A. Ellsworth, an expert
operator. and a joker and daredevil at
the same time, as will be seen from his
full story. here published for the first
time
"On July TO- 1867" says Ellsworth.
General Morgan, with a body-guard
Of Is men and myself arrived at a
point near Glasgow, KY, on the Louis
VILE and Nashville Railroad, where 1
took down the telegraph lines and con-
nected my pocket instrument for the
purpose OF taking of all dispatches
that passed through Louisville imme-
diately called Nashville, and / answer
ed for Nashville, receiving business
for two hours. II could be plainly seen
by the tenor Of the messages that Nor
gan was known to be in the country,
and all orders to send money and other
valuables by railroad were counter
manded. Louisville also sent the news
OF the day. and thus we were furnish
ed with New York and Washington de-
spatches OF that day. During the
whole OF the time IL was raining heavy
and my situation was anything but
an agreeable one, sitting In mud ana
water up to my knees.
AT II p H. the general, being sat.
isRed that I had drained Louisville Of
all the news concluded TO close Tor
the night, and gave me this bogus mes
sage to send:
Headquarters, U. S. Provost Marshal,
Nashville, Tenn, July 10, 1852.
"'HsRrg Dent u. s. PrOUOStMdTShdl
Louisville:
'" General Forrest attacked Muir
freesboro, routing our forces, and Is
now moving on Nashville. Morgan is
reported to be between ScOttsyille and
Gallatin, in Tennessee, and will act in
concert with Forrest 1t Is believed
STANLEY MATTHEWS.
Provost Marshal
Forrest did attack Murfreesboro
and rout the enemy, but Morgan was
many a days ride from the scene. The
Raxt day but one we reached Lebanon,
and rode with the advance guard into
the town and took possession Of the
once Immediately. II was $50 In the
morning / adjusted the instrument,
and examined the circuit No other op-
orator on the line appeared to be on
hand so early. Among the dispatches
Of the day previous I found one that
had been sent from the Federal COM
maRder at Lebanon, who surrendered
to Morgan. Col A. Y. Johnson, address
ed to General Boyle, the Federal com
mander OF the State at Louisville. 1t
read
"T have positive information that
there are 400 Confederate marauders
within 20 miles Of this place, on the
cid Lexington road, approaching Leb-
anen. Send reinforcements immedi-
ately.'
Later / intercepted a despatch from
General Boyle to Colonel Johnson,
prisoner in Morgan's hands, stating
that a regiment had been ordered to
his assistance. Acting upon that time
ly notice, Morgan sent out a company
OF Texas Rangers and destroyed the
bridge on the Lebanon branch, prevent
ing the arrival OF the Federal troops.
early in the morning an operator
signing Y commenced calling B, which
had ascertained was the signal for
the Lebanon ONCE, where I was at the
key. I answered the call, and a very
interesting conversation we had.
~ asked: What news? Any more
skirmishing after your last message?'
"No., ! answered. We drove what
little cavalry there was away
"'Has the train arrived yet"
mo. About how many troops are
On train|
"'About hVe hundred
NY curiosity was then to know at
what station z was and how far away
the train with the 500 enemies was.
I began to gossip with Y, and finally
said to him