Today in History:

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

Page 779 Chapter XXVIII. MORGAN'S FIRST KENTUCKY RAID.

To GEORGETOWN: Mr. Fulton wishes to know if the rebels are there.

CINCINNATI.

To CINCINNATI: Yes; Morgan's men are here.

GEORGETOWN.

To GEORGETOWN: How can you be in office and not be arrested?

CINCINNATI.

To CINCINNATI: Oh, I am in the dark and reading by sound of the magnet.

GEORGETOWN.

This settled Cincinnati. Question after question was asked me about the rebels and I answered to suit myself. Things had been going on this way about two hours, when Lexington asked me where my assistant was. I replied, "Don't know." He then asked me, " Have you seen him to-day?" I replied, "No." Well, from this time out no telegraphing could I do in the beautiful city of Georgetown.

Wishing to keep myself busy and make myself useful, I concluded to call on Mr. Smith, the operator, who was under guard in my room. I did so. I informed Mr. Smith that I would furnish him with a mule in the morning and I should be pleased to have him accompany me to Dixie, as I understood he was in the employ of the United States Government. This was anything but agreeable to the said Smith. It seemed to me I had hit the young man in the right place, and I remarked that had he not sent his instruments to Lexington I would have taken them in preference to his person. His face brightened and an idea struck him very forcibly that he would make a proposition. He did so, and it was to furnish me the instruments if I would release him. This I agreed to, as telegraph instruments are of much more value to the Southern Confederacy than Yankee telegraphers. I accompanied Mr. Smith to the servants room, and there under a bed in a chest were the instruments. After Mr. Smith's giving me his word of honor not to leave town for twenty-four ;hours he was at liberty to visit his wife and young Smiths.

On arriving at Cynthiana I found that the operator had skedaddled.

I tested the wires, and found no fluid from either Cincinnati or Lexington, nor were the wires in working condition when I left the next day.

At Paris the operator had made a clean sweep. He left the night before, taking all his instruments.

At Crab Orchard there was no office, and I put in my pocket magnet. This was at 11 a. m., and the first message I heard was the following:

LOUISVILLE, KY., July 21, 1862.

Colonel WOLFORD, Danville, Ky.:

Pursue Morgan; he is at Crab Orchard, going to Somerset.

BOYLE.

No sooner had the Danville operator receipted for this than the operator at Lebanon suggested the following:

The LEBANON JUNCTION: Would it not be well for Danville and offices below here to put on their ground wires when they send or receive important messages, as George Elsworth, the rebel operator, may be on the line between here and Cumberland Gap?

LEBANON.

The operator at the Junction agreed with him and said it would be a good idea, but it was not carried into effect.

Arrived at Somerset that evening. I took charge of the office. I ascertained from citizens that the office had been closed for three weeks


Page 779 Chapter XXVIII. MORGAN'S FIRST KENTUCKY RAID.