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on
a ridge, between two small streams; their fires, cooking apparatus, these men formed a select body whose
lives were in danger. Captain George Davidson and Lieutenant Boulware
commanded a company from Harrison county and John Inman was in
command of the company from Shelby county. Johnson went around on the
south side to attack as cavalry and the other two companies being misled
by the guide, were three-quarters of a mile distant when the attack was made
by Johnson. They came up in a run, and were much heated and fatigued,
as it was in the month of August or September; they formed on the north and
west side. Capt. Davidson mistaking a company of moderators for Johnson's
company, and demanding who they were, were fired upon and killed without
receiving any reply. The two Daggett's, E. M. and Charles, were in the lead
when they ran into the moderators, and discovering where they were they threw
Andy Truitt, a moderator, into a whole of water, and escaped during the
excitement. Johnson was to hold the ground on the south and east. The
battle began after 12 m., Johnson firing the first gun, the ball from which
struck the meat in a man's hand as he was in the act of biting. Our
coming up was unexpected but the firing soon became general. The
action continued about four hours. It ceased and Colonel Straw was sent
around to draw us off and take care of the wounded and dead. We were again
fired upon but no one was hurt, and we marched on. Johnson was ordered
back to our breastworks and fortifications at Hilliard's: the balance of the
command were to follow, but finding no one had molested them, and expecting
to be pursued, we went back on the road and stationed ourselves in ambush
We drew off the evening before to obtain more ammunition, and found that it
had arrived. We camped next night, or rather took our stand at the edge of a
prairie near by, and in hearing of the moderators, and until 11 o'clock p. m. we
continually heard groans and lamentations, and during that night they retired
four miles below. Tom Haley commanded them during the battle and his
voice could be continually heard giving orders. Wm. Nail and a crowd with
him, becoming frightened, left their guns and running off, hid themselves.
They did not get back to their men until 11 a. m. the next day. Of the
moderators no certain information was received of the killed and wounded,
although sixteen were acknowledged killed and twenty-five were known to have
been wounded. The regulators had one, George Davidson, killed dead; two
wounded, Howell Hudson and Kane, who died afterwards. After the battle at
Hilliards we moved five miles below Shelbyville, to the camp ground. The
moderators intended going to the same place, but finding it occupied by us,
made their stand in a field at the town of Shelbyville. We went before day
with one hundred men to attack them, and to cut off a new spy company they
had raised and under the command of Richard Haley, then out foraging. We
formed our men into three divisions; one under Boulware, on the Natchitoches
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