gow only long enough to rest his horses, he pushed on for
Mumfordsville, where the great bridge spans the Green River. But learning
that the place was held by so strong a force that it would be madness for
him to attack it, he passed a few miles to the right, and struck the
railroad at Bacon Creek. Here a stout block-house, defended by ninety
soldiers, guarded the bridge. They put up a stout defence in hopes of
being reinforced from Mumfordsville, but at last were compelled to
surrender, the block-house being knocked to pieces by Morgan's artillery.

Burning the bridge and destroying four miles of road, the command moved on
to Nolan, where another block-house was captured and a bridge burned. This
was the third time that these bridges had been destroyed by Morgan.

Elizabethtown was the next goal to be reached. As they approached the
place, Calhoun, who was in advance with his scouts, was met by an officer
bearing a flag of truce, who handed him a dirty envelope, on which was
scrawled:

ELIZABETHTOWN, KY., December 27, 1862.
To the Commander of the Confederate Force.

Sir: I demand an unconditional surrender of all of your forces. I have you
surrounded, and will compel you to surrender.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,
H. S. SMITH,
Commanding U. S. Force.

"Well," exclaimed Calhoun, as he glanced at it, "I have often been told
that Yankees have cheek, but this is the greatest exhibition of it I have
met. Who is H. S. Smith, anyway?"

"One of the numerous Smith family, I reckon," dryly responded one of his
men. "He should have signed it John Smith. This would have concealed his
identity, and prevented us from knowing what a fool he is."

But the message was taken back to Morgan, and Calhoun never saw him laugh
more heartily than when he read it.

"Go back and tell Mr. Smith," replied Morgan, trying to keep his face
straight, "that he has made a little mistake. It is he who is surrounded,
and must surrender."

The message was taken back, but Mr. Smith answered pompously that it was
the business of United States officer to fight, not to surrender.

"Very good," replied Calhoun, "get back and let us open the ball."

It took only a few shells from Morgan's battery to convince Mr. Smith he
had made a mistake, and that i