For camp utensils each boy had a tin cup and that was all, except a single light skillet, which they were to carry alternately, as they were to do with the tools.

Each boy carried a blanket tightly rolled up, and each had, at the start, eight pounds of corn meal and four pounds of bacon, with a small sack of salt each, which could be carried in any pocket.

This was all.

They had no arms and no ammunition.
Their destination and the purpose of their journey were wholly unknown to anybody in the camp, except General Jackson and Tandy Walker.

The boys themselves were as ignorant as anybody on this subject.