midnight
Colonel Boone knew that Morgan was near , and was fearful of an attack . He telegraphed both to Nashville and to General Buell at MacMinnville for reinforcements , but no attention was paid to his demand . Instead , he was ordered to send nearly half of his force away to intercept a drove of beef cattle which it was reported the Confederates were driving down from Kentucky . That the citizens might not know that his numbers were depleted , Colonel Boone did not send this force away until midnight , thinking no one would see them depart . But sharp eyes were watching . Nothing was going on in Gallatin without Calhoun 's knowledge . He lost no time in reporting to Morgan , and the attack came swiftly .