noon
A staff-officer was riding toward him at breakneck speed . `` Fall back -- the retreat has been sufficiently covered ! '' came the order , and much relieved , Colonel Lyon ordered his battalions to retreat to the creek road , where they came up side by side with the front of the regular cavalry column . Minty had met Johnson at noon . It was now after three o'clock , and the Confederate advance had been delayed three hours . It could not be delayed longer , however , and Minty , Wilder , and the Riverlawns continued to fall back . Johnson reached Reed 's Bridge shortly after three o'clock , and marched for Jay 's Mill , arriving there an hour later .