The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-11-05

GEu llllIueulalcly prepareu loI dHothel a.
tive campaign, for
Like the impatient steed of war,
He snuffed the battle from affair.""
His next objective point was Gallatin on
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, ~
or so miles northwest of Sparta, and some
% or 80 miles northeast of Nashville.
Bragg was preparing to invade Kentucky
and Morgan undertook to make an incur
sion in the Federal rear, having several
objects in view. He desired to surprise
and capture the garrison at Gallatin, de-
stroy portions of the railroad to embarrass
Gen. Buell., and, also, TO monopolize, as
much as possible, the attention of the Fed
eral cavalry. Within day or two after
his return from Knoxville to Sparta, Nor
gan started on the march for Gallatln.
Capt. Joseph Desha, formerly of the lst
Ky, joining him, en- route, with ~ or 81
men. Morgan crossed the Cumberland
at Sand Shoals ford. Marching rapidly
! the column reached louisville, 16 miles
from Gallatin, at midnight, of the second
days march from Sparta. Without halt
ing at Hartville, the command pushed on.
but, when few miles from Gallatin, it
turned off from the turnpike to avoid the
pickets.
SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF COL. BOONE.
Having learned that the Federal com
mandant, Col. Boone, was in the habit OF
sleeping in the town, away from his com
mand. Morgan ordered Capt Desha to go
in advance and secure the person Of Cot
Boone. before the command should at
tack the garrison. which was encamped
outside of the town. Day was dawninS
when Desha reached the house where
Boone was staying, finding him., however,
up and dressed, ready to go to his camp
Without making a scene or making any
demonstration of resistance the Federal
commandant surrendered. Morgan imme-
diately sought en- interview with Boone,
and having represented to him that 1t
would be folly for his garrison to offer
any resistance, he advised him to write
TO the officer in command at the camp,
directing him to surrender Recognizing
that the surprise was complete and his
command helpless, Col. Boone readily
complied with Morgan's suggestion, the
result being that some 200 Federals fell
into Morgan's hands without the hrlng OF
gun.
Two companies had previously been sent
off for some purpose, thus luckily avolding
CAPTURE. Shortly after the surrender OF
Boone and his men, train going to Nash
vile came along and, Of course, was cap
tured. On the train were 50 fine horses
which the Morgan men gladsomey appro-
priated As usual there were also valu-
able stores, which were disposed Of in
: the customary way. Boone's men had
been armed with fine Springfield rifles
With these Morgan supplied such Of his
men as had inferior guns, after which
he destroyed the surplus. The prison
: ers were paroled.
Ellsworth installed himself in the tele-
graph office and forthwith began the dis
tribution of "romances" all along the lines.
Very ingeniously he endeavOred to decoy
a train from Nashville, but in this he was
unsuccessful. In accordance with lnstruc-
tons from Morgan he telegraphed in Col.
Boones name, to the commandment at
Bowling Green to send him achievements,
as he expected to be attacked. This gen.
erous plan to capture and parole soldiers,
who might desire to go home and see
their friends, also miscarried. Ellsworth
then turned his attention to Nashville, but
the operator there was cynically suspi-
cious and asked some hard questions.
ELLSWORTH A DON QUIxoTE.
Outside Of telegraph office Ellsworth
was a failure-altogether impracticable.
Brayely enough, but foolishly, he con-
ceiyed an idea that he could capture q
T., certain Capt. King" a noted and dan
gerous bushwhacker, who had signally
baff1ed the best laid schemes of Morgan's
most daring scouts. Not intimating his
intention to anyone, Ellsworth sailed
forth, with one companion, sort of San
cho Panza, ON a Quixote expedition to
conquer the formidable Capt. King
His "Rosinante'' was Col. Grenfell's war
horse, which he had found already
equipped. Behind the saddle was strapped
a buff coat, and in the coat was the Eng
lishman's gold. Everything on the horse
was highly valued by the owner. Ellis
worth, neglecting the formality of asking
Col. GrenfelPs permission to use his ele-
gantly caparisoned charger, rode boldly to
"Capt. Kings" house. The redoubtab!e
bushwkacker seeing only two men ap-
preaching, held the fort scorning to take
to the bushes To Ellsworth's imperious
demand of him to surrender King, d.sdain-
ing to reply in words, Immediately opened
upon his assailants with shotgun and re-
volver, wounding "Sancho Panza," and
putting the Quixotic Ellsworth to inglo-
rious fight. Capt. King vigorously and
very viciously pressed the retreat, and
Eancho Panza, lost Col Grenfelrs horse,
fine saddle, buff coat and gold. st.
Leger was awfully mad-his rising pas
sions reminding one Of volcano in erup-
ton. He sought Ellsworth, swearing he
would kill him on sight. Ellsworth was
kept beyond the zone OF danger for three
days, it requiring that length of time to
pacify the belligerent St Leger Grenfell.
Whenever he took the chair" in tele-
graph office, however, Ellsworth was
master Of the situation" No man,
watching him when he was deceiving the
regular operators, battling with calm con
fdence their efforts to detect him, and
turning TO his own advantage their very
suspicious. would hesitate to pronounce
him a genius. After the war, he invented
O plan TO prevent just such tricks, as he
used to practice at way stations, from be-
ing played When the bugle sounded the
warning note for departure from Gala
tin, Ellsworth sent flying over the wires
additional fiction, humorous and sensa-
tional. He unblushingly announced that
Morgan was at the head of 1900 men, and
he transmitted the information with an
ingenuity that carried conviction. In his
dispatches to Federal commanders, he told
fabulous stories of certain imaginary COM
mands, under officers whom they well
knew. By way of pleasantly, he tele-
graphed Geo. d. Prentice. the famous edi.
tor of the Louisville Journal that he
would better look out for his hair" that
Wash Morgan, with 40G Indians dressed
In war paint, was on the trail. seeking
his scalp.
oBSTRUCTING TUNNEL.
The train that Ellsworth had attempted
unsuccessfully to decoy from Nashville
eventually yentured out, but, when il wa,
within six miles Of Gallatin, negro CAV,
1t timely warning, enabling it to escape
capture. Morgan then destroyed a rail
road bridge, between Gallatin and Nash
vile, and fine TUNED, 800 feet long
was made impossible for months. TIL,
roof of the tunnel was of peculiar rock
liable at all times to disintegrate and tum
L. % a., h,,.xA