5:30 in
the morning before
General Bragg not only gave his consent , but owing to the importance of the expedition , added to Morgan 's cavalry brigade two regiments of infantry and a battery . The force marched to within five miles of Hartsville , and halted until night . The night proved very dark , and the way was rough . There was but one small ferry-boat in which to cross the infantry , and it was 5:30 in the morning before the infantry were all across , and in position two miles from Hartsville . The cavalry had had even a rougher time than the infantry , and one large regiment had not yet reported . But Morgan determined not to wait , for it would soon be light , and they would be discovered . So with thirteen hundred men Morgan moved to capture a Federal brigade of over two thousand , and in a position of their own choosing .