five o’clock
By a swift advance he hoped to surprise and capture this force . As the command crossed the line from Tennessee into Kentucky , the enthusiasm of the men knew no bounds . They sang `` My Old Kentucky Home , '' and cheered again and again . Tompkinsville was reached at five o'clock on the morning of the 9th of July . The Federals , under the command of Major Thomas J. Jordan , of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry , though surprised , made a stand , and the battle at once opened . But a few shots from Morgan 's mountain howitzers utterly demoralized the Federals , and they fled in confusion . Major Jordan , after retreating about a mile , succeeded in rallying about seventy-five of his men , and made a stand to cover the retreat of his force .