The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-21
A spy IN The
Chimney
HANGING TO A ROPE, HE OVER,
HEARD IMPORTANT MILL.
TARY sEcRETs.

Tine mos noted and daring of the
military telegraph operators with
whom ! was acquainted during The
civil war was George z. Ellsworth
said W. F. Bassett last week lie
was stan operator and scout for Gen.
John Morgan. Ellsworth was n dare
devil. and although he was reckless
TO a fault, he engaged in many peril
Gus adventures and emerged there
from without any serious disaster TO
himself.
When Gen. Bachaer was once en-
camped some fifty miles from Chat.
tanooga, Tenn, he was very anxious
to obtain some information about tie
immediate future intentions OF the
Federals who were assembled in force
at that place. Gen. Morgan sent Ellis.
worth to Gen. Buckner as a man who
could secure the desired information
of anybody was capable of doing SO.
That night Ellsworth departed upon
his mission, and about daylight next
morning drew rein at the house Of a
man one mile from Chattanooga, who,
was known to be a true and discreet
friend of the Confederate cause. The
town was swarming with Federal
soldiers, and 1t was no trouble for
Ellsworth, dressed in an ordinary
Federal uniform. to reach there aud.
mingle among them. He was fortu-
nate In some way discovering that
there was to be a confederate among
the leading officers that very evening
in an old residence that was used for
such purposes, and ne resolved to be
close on hand and hear all that pass
ed, II It was possible for him to do so.
In the afternoon he ~leisurely walked
out to inspect the place. Re soon
saw that 1t was going 10 be difficult
for him to secure a place a the
room In which the conference was to
take place, but after inspecting the
rear of the premises he formed n
plan and went away. 1t vas in the
summer time, and the officers were
to assemble at 8 O'clock.
"As soon as darkness set in Ellis.
worth approached the house from the
rear with an ordinary haversack
swung over his shoulder, iii which
were concealed a rope. swing a hatch
ct, and at long linen ulster. He cut
Off OF a stout limb a piece about three
feet long: and had but little trouble
in reaching the low slanting roof, and
climbed cautiously to the chimney Of
the conference room. Then he tied.
each end of his rope swing to the stick
he had secured for the purpose. and
laid 1t across the top of the chimney
and let the swing fall inside so it
would reach a few feet above the
large. ol%d-fashioned fireplace. Let
ting himself down in the swing he pa
tiently awaited the coming of the Of
ficers. He had not been seated long
before a negro Orderly enrcree The
room to light tue Lamps and make all
Preparations that were necessary for
the meeting. A shoit time before 0
o'clock, they began to drop in one or
two DIT a time, and the business of the
conference was begun at the appoint
ed hour.
SIT had not proceeded far before
Ellsworth discovered to his delight
that he was listening to most import
ant secrets. 1t, in fact, proved to be
"a conference to determine upon the
future movements Of the army, aud
Ellsworth was enabled to secure all
Of the information that Gen. Buck
ner was so anxious to obtain. All of
their future plans were discussed and
laid bare to the man in the chimney.
after 12 o'clock when the confer.
ence broke up. the officers had gone
and the negro orderly was preparing
to extfnguish the lights and close
the house. an incident occurred that
was wholly unlocked for by Ellis
worth, and which frightened the negro
orderly almost into commissions. Els
worth made a slight movemnt in hts
swing, when the stick above Slipped
and he fell into the big fireplace, com
pletely covered with SCOT. With his
face much blacker tlan that OF the
orderly and shrouded in the long I'm
en- duster he emerged from the ire
place and gave Q big warwhoop. The
negro orderly veiritaoly believed that
the devil was at+sr him. and giving a
fearful shrek went read first through
the open window and fed terror
stricken from the place. Ellsworth
helped himself to a full bottle of whis-
key and some cigars that had been
left behind. and taking the swing from
the fireplace, SO as to leave no evil
aence of his visit behind aim. he re-
placed the screen and stole away in
the darkness with a full plan to the