We advanced out the Albany road, and it was not long before we discovered a squad of Yankees, although we remained unnoticed by them. Company B received orders to attack them. By advancing to the brow of the hill we concealed ourselves behind a fence until the enemy ascended quite near, then rising and firing my navy, that being the signal for B to open fire, we poured such a hot fire into them that it caused a stampede unrivaled in war, which I shall never forget if I should live for a thousand years. I will wager that “Harrison County Home Guards” can beat the world running, get them frightened or panic stricken.
Mounting our horses again we marched till we arrived at the forks of the road, four miles from town, where Hines concealed his force, except Company B, in an orchard behind a thick hedge. He then ordered my company to take post in a large log stable, immediately within the fork, with instructions to invite all passersby in, as they arrived.
Upon concealing my men I took position alongside of the road, and as the Yankees came by in twos, fours, and up to companies, hurrying to Corydon to reinforce Colonel Jordan, the commandant, I would step out, as a representative of the “Home Guards,” and take them in charge, or rather in the stable, disarm them gently, and send them under guard to Captain Hines.
This deception was successfully carried on till the firing in town had ceased, when we started to the town with over one hundred prisoners, which, as we confidently supposed, was in the possession of our men. Turning our prisoners over to the provost guard, who had nearly seven hundred to parole, we were soon on the road to Salem, Colonel Dick commanding.
As we advanced every mile had to be strongly contested for. Militia, home guards, and regular troops were on every hill top, bushwhackers and armed citizens behind every tree, and hardly a moment elapsed but you could hear the Minie’s sharp report. Everything was in an uproar. Families deserted their dwellings to hide in the woods. Yet nothing stopped us. On we galloped, driving all obstructions from our front, entering the town of Salem some time before night, and capturing nearly five hundred regular soldiers, militia, home guards, bushwhackers, and fighting citizens. It would be difficult to say which was best represented.