The Louisville Daily Journal editor thought the "invasion" was an attempt to disrupt the vote between Bramlett and Wickliffe as reported below on 30 July 1863:

Southeastern Kentucky - We are inclined to believe, from all our sources of information and observation, that the reported advance of a rebel force upon Madison county is "a weak invention of the enemy" to drive Union men from their homes, and thus lose their votes. The mountain districts of our State will go solidly for Bramlette and the whole Union Democratic ticket, and it is most essential to the success of the conspiracy which placed Wickliffe in nomination that the vote of those districts should be decreased as much as possible, and it is therefore a cunning ruse of the enemy to get up the belief that a large force under Pegram, Scott, or Buckner was advancing. We cannot trace the rumor to any definite source. The Lexington Observer states that at an early hour on Tuesday, citizens of Madison county came flocking late into the city in large numbers, fleeing, as they proclaimed, from an invading rebel force, estimated at six thousand; and at a later hour it was reported that the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, had been captured, and that the enemy were crossing the Kentucky river. As a measure of proper precaution, Brigadier-General Haskell, declared martial law in Fayette county. Yesterday, the scouts brought in more definite intelligence, and upon this we found our belief that no enemy is advancing. The same impression evidently prevails at Lexington, for the order declaring martial law was rescended yesterday, and all excitement seems to have subsided.

End