At Germantown, eight miles, we passed Corse’s division (Fourth) on the march, and about noon the train ran by the depot at Colliersville, twenty-six miles out.  I was in the rear car with my staff, dozing, but observed the train slacking speed and stopping about half a mile beyond the depot.  I noticed some soldiers running to and fro, got out at the end of the car, and soon Colonel Anthony (Silty-sixth Indiana), who commanded the post, rode up and said that his pickets had just been driven in, and there was an appearance of an attack by a large force of cavalry coming from the southeast.  I ordered the men to get off the train, to form on the knoll near the railroad-cut, and soon observed a rebel officer riding toward us with a white flag.  Colonel Anthony and Colonel Dayton (one of my aides) were sent to meet him, and to keep him in conversation as long as possible.  They soon returned, saying it was the adjutant of the rebel general Chalmers, who demanded the surrender of the place.  I instructed them to return and give a negative answer, but to delay him as much as possible, so as to give us time for preparation.  I saw Anthony, Dayton, and the rebel bearer of the flag, in conversation, and the latter turn his horse to ride back, when I ordered Colonel McCoy to run to the station, and get a message over the wires as quick as possible to Memphis and Germantown, to hurry forward Corse’s division.  I then ordered the train to back to the depot, and drew back the battalion of regulars to the small earth redoubt near it.  The depot-building was of brick, and had been punctured with loop-holes.  To its east, about two hundred yards, was a small square earthwork or fort, into which were put a part of the regulars along with the company of the Sixty-sixth Indiana already there.  The rest of the men were distributed into the railroad-cut, and in some shallow rifle-trenches near the depot.  We had hardly made these preparations when the enemy was seen forming in a long line on the ridge to the south, about four hundred yards off, and soon after two parties of cavalry passed the railroad on both sides of us, cutting the wires and tearing up some rails.  Soon they opened on us with artillery (of which we had none), and their men were dismounting and preparing to assault.  To the south of us was an extensive cornfield, with the corn still standing, and on the other side was the town of Colliersville.  All the houses near, that could give shelter to the enemy, were ordered to be set on fire, and the men were instructed to keep well under cover and to reserve their fire for the assault, which seemed inevitable.  A long line of rebel skirmishers came down through the cornfield, and two other parties approached us along the railroad on both sides.  In the fort was a small magazine containing some cartridges.  Lieutenant James, a fine, gallant fellow, who was ordnance-officer on my staff, asked leave to arm the orderlies and clerks with some muskets which he had