By July 25, 1863, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and about 450 Confederate raiders, pursued across three states by a large Union force under Brigadier General James M. Shackelford, reached Smithfield with enough fight left to outwit its defenders. A home guard under Captain William Collins rode south from town to meet them, but after going only about a mile the militiamen ran straight into Morgan's men, were surrounded and disarmed before a shot was fired, and lost their best horses. Collins was then forced to ride a mule at the head of the column back into Smithfield and tell the townspeople that the arriving soldiers were advance Union forces who should be fed and treated well. By the time the townspeople discovered the deception, Morgan and his men were already enjoying their meal.