keep moving about between a distance of about 4 miles out and the picket stationed at the forks of the roads above town, and in case they should see an enemy to fall back, and as soon as within hearing of the other pickets to fire, so as to alarm them, and they to alarm the camp.

The guards at camp were directed to give the alarm in case they heard the report of a gun and the sergeant of the guard to have the long-roll beat instantly. The companies were then to be quietly formed on the color front.

The sergeant of the guard and myself visited the sentinels frequently during the night, and cautioned them to be watchful and attentive. I had every light in camp extinguished and all noise silenced, and staid with the sergeant of the guard and corporal of relief at post Numbers 1 all night. We went the grand-rounds before and after 12 o'clock.

About 2 o'clock the hospital steward came in from the hospital in town, and with him I visited the pickets below town and renewed the instructions and charged them to keep on the alert; that any negligence on their part would not only jeopardize their own but the lives of hose who were sleeping quietly, thinking their comrades would warn them of any danger. Colonel Boone had just visited the pickets and in town. I then went back to camp, and the first intimation I had of an enemy was about 4.30 o'clock. One of the pickets which I had placed at the intersection of dirt road with the pike leading to Cumberland River, about a mile from town (a place where I had not placed pickets before), made their escape and got into camp and reported a force of cavalry in Gallatin.

Immediately I ordered the long roll to be beat. I also ordered my horse and some men to go with me to reconnoiter, but saw what was up and helped form the men. We got formed and counted the men and am certain we had not more than 96 men to fight with. They had captured our pickets, and by the time we got formed closed in around us so that the Texas Rangers, on our left, were no farther than 40 yards from us. At this juncture a flag of truce came in. Captain Hughes, the senior officer present, went out to receive the flag. They told him they had captured Colonel Boone, just as he came out the door on his way to visit the picket, and that the camp was surrounded, as he could see himself, by 2,500 men. Captain Hughes said he saw that our little squad would soon be cut down, situated as they were, but told the bearers of the flag, Colonel St. Leger Grenfell and Lieutenant-Colonel Duke, that he did not like to take upon himself the responsibility of surrendering the men, and requested a short time to confer with the other officers, which was granted. Captain Hughes called the officers together, and after a short consultation they concluded that it would be sinful to have the little batch of brave men cut down by a force that was supposed to be about 1,800, and accordingly agreed that Captain Hughes should surrender us upon condition that officers and men should be well treated and paroled. We then surrendered 124 guns, including the guns of the pickets. After we surrendered they sent out and picked up the little squads along the railroad.

Officers and men were well treated. The officers were allowed to retain all personal property. I saw no officer or soldier who appeared frightened in the least, and believe if it would have conduced any to the good of the country every man in the little band would have fought while a spark of life glowed in his bosom.

Additional statement of Lieutenant Boone.

There were no pickets posted during the day on account of the weak