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permit his prisoners [to] retire. As I believed his terms could not be acceded to, and it was useless to risk the lives of innocent unoffending gentlemen. He replied that they were gentlemen and he should be sorry to hurt a hair of their heads, but that he had secured them as hostages for his own safty and the safety of his men and he should use them accordingly. After thoroughly ascertaining that they would surrender on no terms, and that the prisoners held by them would be released on no other than the terms mentioned by Capt Brown we retired and on a conference being had with all the Field Officers then present it was resolved and announced by Col Baylor the commanding Officer that at daylight the position of the Insurgents should be assaulted and taken with the Bayonet, in order to secure as far as possible the safety of the prisoners. This communication was made to the Officers and men of the Frederick Military and re- ceived with evidences of satisfaction. The aforegoing resolution it is pro- per to say contemplated the assault to be made by the Frederick and Va military—then on the ground. About 2 Oclock on Tuesday morning Col Lee [ 18 ] of the U.S.A. arrived, in com- mand of a company of Marines, and took command of all the mil- itary present and of the operations.