Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-06-28
~ W "
!, sMorgan's
: Riding Home

region where he rode. The heaGquar-
tiers OF the enemy were Mt Louisville. on
the Ohio. Cincinnati. sho ON the Ohio
and 100 miles northeast Of Louisville.
contained strong garrison aud could
easily summon help from the east and
north. The city OF Lexington. seventy
five miles cast OF Louisville and the
same distance south of Cincinnati. was
also an nlportant Federal army post.
with but thousand sabcrs at his
back and enemies numbering tens OF
thousands having quick connections by
rail- and telegraph. Morgan's game with
respect TO the three large cities was to
threaten all and tackle none. -Four
days after he entered the state he was
In Lebanon, only one days gallop from
either Lexington OF Louisville. He
took possession Of the telegraph and
intercepted a dispatch from the Fed
eral commander at Louisville TO tho
commander at Lebanon stating that n
regiment was on the way by train to
reinforce the garrison NJ Lebanon.
Morgan already had the garrison pris-
orers and promptly sent out detach-
ment TO burn the railroad bridge ahead
OF the speeding regiment
Lebanon was filed with army stores.
and after cutting OF the approaching
foe Morgan lelsurely burned all that
he didn't have use for. buildings. wag-
ons and ammunition, besides many
thousand stand OF arms. In the stock
he found 1000 Yankee sabers and told
his troopers 10 help themselves, for
new blades were very scarce In the
Confederacy. There was big heap
20 pick from. and every one OF the
band took what suited his fancy and
rode away from Lebanon with an ex-
ira sword strapped to his saddlebow.
From Lebanon the raiders rode TO-
ward Lexington, ut the same time
threatening Frankfort, an important
point on the road TO Louisville. Every
day the cavalcade picked up a strag-
Cling Federal officer or small detach-
ment OF Kentucky Home guards. The
prisoners were paroled at the conven-
lent time and set free with some story
as TO Morgan's movements which
would deceive the enemy.
At Harrodsburg the raiders had a
hearty reception by the citizens. The
entire popuiacc turned out TO welcome
the Kentucky braves. GallopIng north
from Harrodsburg. Morgan halted at
Lawrenceburg, twenty miles from
Frankfort, and waited until his spies
brought word OF the situation In
Frankfort There were 1900 or 5000
Yankees there. and the raiders turned
east toward Lexington. In their path
way lay the bridgeless Kentucky rlv-
or. The only ferryboat in the vicinity
had been sunk by the Home guard.
but the raiders fished Il out OF the wa
ter and crossed over in the night with
out being discovered.
Dashlng on 10 Versailles, fifteen
miles from Lexington, the raiders cap
tured 800 army horses belonging 10
the enemy. At the village Of Midway
Operator Ellsworth read the passing
dispatches and learned that a train
with two regiments OF Federals was
about due at that point. Morgan
quickly tore up the track and posted
bis men and guns to give the train n
reception, but was cheated OF his prey
by an alarm sent into the lines which
turned the train back 10 Frankfort. A
dispatch 10 Midway from Lexington
asking II the road was safe TO send
tralnload OF troops forward was
read by Ellsworth. who at Morgan's
dIctation answered. mo sign OF Nor
gan here" The train got the alarm
and didn't venture to Midway.
Numerous dispatches between the
Federal General Ward at Lexington
and General rinnel ut Frankfort about
Morgan passed into Ellsworth's ear
and then into Morgans. lie knew just
where his enemies were and. being
headed for Georgetown. near Licking
ton, had Ellsworth forward another
misleading telegram. This informed
the Federals that Morgan had passed
Midway and gone toward Frankfort
Georgetown gave the raiders anoth-
err enthusiastic welcome, and they tar
ried two days. But the time was not
passed in rollIcklng Morgan picked
up and drilled new recruits for his bat
talIons and also destroyed the track
and stone bridges between Frankfort
and Lexington and northward from
Lexington toward Cincinnati. Before
setting out he sent bogus dispatches
through Ellsworth TO the Federals nj
Lexington saying that Morgan's pick
cts were skirmlshing near Frankfort.
Two companies OF the raiders then gal
loped on TO the outskirts OF Lexington
IN an opposite direction and opened
Ore. while Morgan and the main body
OF troopers dashed northward and
struck Cynthiana. thirty miles above
Lexington, on the road TO Cincinnati.
cynthiana was well garrisoned by cav
airy, Infantry and artillery. Sending
his Texas squadron around TO the
right and another regiment TO the enc
my's rear, Morgan advanced the Ken
tuckians boldly UP the main street.
The Federal soldiers resisted az III
points. and II took an hour and half
OF desperate lighting to carry the town
n 81 III - ~