General Leggett then gave me a squad of twenty-six men and sent me out on a road to the south-east of town. Two miles out I saw a citizen fleeing from his house to the woods, as if alarmed at our approach. I gave chase and soon caught up with him. Brandishing my revolver, I said to him, "Daddy, you have got to tell me one thing or I will kill you right here; now tell me the truth."
"Well, what is it?"
"Where were you going, and what were you going for?"
"There are six hundred State militia down in the woods, about three quarters of a mile from here; I was afraid of you all, and I was going down there for protection."
"You belong to them, I suppose?"
"What are the militia doing there?"
"They are going to attack your supply train."
"That's a fact, is it?"
"Yes, and they are going to do it right quick."