a silk scarf about his throat and now he unwrapped it—“did

with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest

information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore

endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had

matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation

was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry.

On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and

six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers,

advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the