Today in History:

774 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 774 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW VA. Chapter XXVIII.

of your entire command to the enemy when in their power will be a good example to those of our enemies who have, throughout the State of Kentucky, busied themselves with tyrannizing over and oppressing those who honestly differ with them in political opinion. Let all those who wish to serve their country join the army and show to the world they are not cowards, and not employ their time in trying in a cowardly manner to secure the arrest of those neighbors who differ with them in political sentiment.

We are now, on the 29th instant, again at Knoxville, Tenn., having returned from one of the most daring and adventurous expeditions on record with a very small loss in numbers, but having struck a blow from which the enemy will not soon recover.

Yours,

R. M. GANO,

Major, Commanding Batt. Cav. in Morgan's Brigade, C. S. Army.

Brigadier General JOHN H. MORGAN

Commanding Brigade in the Kentucky Expedition of July, 1862.


Numbers 13.

Report of George A. Elsworth, Telegraph Operator, Morgan's command.

KNOXVILLE, TENN., July 30, 1862.

SIR: On July 10 General Morgan, with a body guard of 15 men and myself, arrived at a point half a mile below Horse Cave, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, where I took down the telegraph line and connected my pocket instrument for the purpose of taking off all dispatches as they passed through. Owing to a heavy storm prevailing south the atmospheric electricity prevented me from, communicating with Bowling Green or Nashville. The first I heard was Louisville calling Bowling Green. I immediately put on my ground wire south, and noticing particularly at the same time what change it would make in the circuit. It did make it stronger, but owing to the storm mentioned above affecting telegraphs more or less, Louisville did not suspicion anything wrong, and I answered for Bowling Green, when I answered for Bowling Green, when I received the following message:

LOUISVILLE, KY., July 10, 1862.

S. D. BRUCE, Commanding, Bowling Green:

You and Colonel Stoughton move together. I fear the force of Colonel Stoughton too small to venture to Glasgow. The whole force should move together, as the enemy are mounted. We cannot venture to leave the road, too far, as they may pass around and ruin it.

J. T. BOYLE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

I returned the usual signal, after receiving the message, of O. K. Louisville immediately called Nashville, and I answered for Nashville. Receiving business for two hours. This business was mostly of a private nature and I took no copies. It could be plainly seen by the tenor of the messages that Morgan was in the country, and all orders to send money and valuable by railroad were countermanded (as they supposed); but little did the operator at Louisville think that all of his work would have to be repeated the next day. Louisville also sent the news of the day, and thus we were furnished with New York and Wash


Page 774 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW VA. Chapter XXVIII.