Dicas para copiar via ssh usando o tar:

send:
tar cf - myfiles | ssh remotehost " ( cd /destination/path ; tar xf - ) "

get:
ssh remotehost "( cd /source/path; tar cf - desiredfiles ) " | tar xf -

multiple ssh connections can be strung together to move the file across multiple machines:

send through:
tar cf - myfiles | ssh remotehost1 " ssh remotehost2 \" ( cd /destination/path ; tar xf - ) \" "

get through:
ssh remotehost1 " ssh remotehost2 \"( cd /source/path; tar cf - desiredfiles ) \" " | tar xf -