The exact location of Jackson was entirely unknown to Mr.De Loche; but he was sure that his neighbor would know it and would give information of my presence, and this made my stay unpleasant to him after the call of Dr.Smith.
I have stated that a detachment of troops was engaged in guarding workmen who were repairing the railroad east of Memphis.

On the day I entered Memphis, Jackson captured a small herd of beef cattle which had been sent east for the troops so engaged.

The drovers were not enlisted men and he released them.

A day or two after one of these drovers came to my headquarters and, relating the circumstances of his capture, said Jackson was very much disappointed that he had not captured me; that he was six or seven miles south of the Memphis and Charleston railroad when he learned that I was stopping at the house of Mr.De Loche, and had ridden with his command to the junction of the road he was on with that from La Grange and Memphis, where he learned that I had passed three-quarters of an hour before.

He thought it would be useless to pursue with jaded horses a well-mounted party with so much of a start.
Had he gone three-quarters of a mile farther he would have found me with my party quietly resting under the shade of trees and without even arms in our hands with which to defend ourselves.
General Jackson of course did not communicate his disappointment at not capturing me to a prisoner, a young drover; but from the talk among the soldiers the facts related were learned.