The sheriff of Florence City immediately reported the news that "the French Army might attack General Wilkinson" to Lieutenant Brandt of the state militia.
Brandt hurriedly led a few soldiers on horseback, trailing the French Army from afar. Sure enough, he found that after the French had marched a few miles along the Tennessee River, they stopped and began to cross over.
Although he didn't know the position of Wilkinson's corps, it was clear that the French army was not heading towards Huntsville.
So he sent messengers overnight to Tupelo, Corinth, and other places, attempting to contact General Wilkinson in those areas.
Lieutenant Brandt's luck was good. Only two days later, he encountered an American patrol cavalry on the way to Tupelo.
In the temporary command post of the American Army in Halyville Village, Major Pike, upon hearing the cavalry's report, urgently said, "General, we should withdraw to Tupelo immediately."
