A Motley array.
Some were aged men, too old for field service, some were boys, too young, and a few were Confederate veterans on furlough because of wounds or sickness.
Of this last class were
Colonel Flournoy and
Colonel Eaton Coleman.
Colonel Flournoy got together a small party of horsemen and pushed forward to reconnoitre the enemy and report his progress.
Colonel Coleman assumed the command of the forces at the bridge and prepared its defences.
He was a clever engineer and a veteran of several years' active service.
He moved two hundred and fifty men across to the end of the bridge nearest the enemy.
The river bank was steep and high.
This he cut down to about four feet, throwing all the earth as removed down the bank, and showing no fresh earth in front.
His command were ordered to crouch down carefully concealed until the enemy should arrive at point blank.
Then at the word they would rise, take good aim and fire.
The rest of the command was held in reserve, under
Colonel Flournoy, on the right bank of the river, where field-works had long ago been constructed upon the bluff some twenty feet above the bridge.
This work was armed with four six-pounders, which were worked upon the advancing enemy under command of
Captain Marshall.
