Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

sir: I have the honor of reporting to you the result of my expedition into Monroe County, Kentucky, having received orders from yourself, on the third instant, to take all the men who had serviceable horses, of your battalion, and proceed to Monroe County, Kentucky, for the purpose of bringing into Glasgow for safety some Government property, said to be deposited on Peters Creek, in Monroe County, Kentucky. I started on the evening of the third instant from Glasgow, Kentucky, with eleven men beside myself. We <*>ravelled fourteen miles that evening and camped for the night. On the morning of the fourth instant we rode into Tompkinsville, where we had some horses shod; then riding out of town two miles, we camped for the night.

On the morning of the fifth instant we went to Bethlehem meeting-house; then went to the Widow Lane's, and stopped to rest and feed our horses — this in Monroe County, Kentucky. The boys being very tired, lay down to sleep awhile and rest. I stepped out of the house when the boys were sleeping to see that all was right, and I soon heard distinctly the sound of horses' feet approaching us, which seemed to be about seven hundred yards distant, though coming rapidly. I returned to arouse the boys, and did so with considerable difficulty. Every man soon had his gun, and was ready for any emergency. We went to where our horses were tied, and succeeded in moving them all to the rear of the house save two. The rebels were then upon us. The night was dark, but they numbered between two hundred and fifty and three hundred. The advanced-guard, consisting of about seventy-five men, passed the house far enough so as to let the centre of the column rest opposite the house. Seeing our two horses, they halted their column, and commenced an examination of the horses. The information they received was from our twelve carbines, which told them that Yankees were about. The sudden fire confused the rebels, though they returned our fire; but their column was cut in the centre, both ends falling back on the road to our right and left.

We were soon ready for another exchange of shots, and bouncing over the fence into the road — changing our base of operations right and left, facing six each way — we let them have twelve more shots, which were returned by about seventy-five rounds from the enemy, who were still falling back. Seizing this favorable opportunity, we took off on double-quick to a grove of timber about two hundred yards off. We had hardly reached the timber before the house we had left was surrounded by the whole of the rebel command, hallooing out: “Where are these d — n Yankees?” They were soon informed by the reply of our twelve carbines, which told the rebels well of our whereabouts. We then fell further back into the woods to avoid pursuit, knowing we were fighting twenty times our number. We were now dismounted, our horses all having broke loose on the first round of firing. We lay in the woods until sun-up, hoping to recover our horses; but to our regret, when the sun rose it showed the enemy in possession of our battle-field, and they were picking up our horses. We were at this time almost helpless, and observing the old adage, “that small boats should keep near the shore,” we struck up our march for Glasgow, which place was reached on the morning of the seventh instant. Our losses were twelve horses and twelve equipments, and one gun. The boys had several holes shot through their clothes, but no flesh wounds. The rebels report their loss as follows: Four men killed, one horse killed and three wounded. Yours respectfully,