When May 3 dawned the hot chase was near its end. Forrest had given his men ten hours' sleep while Streight's worn-out men were plodding desperately on. This all-night's ride was a fatal error for the Federals, and was a main cause of their final defeat. The short distance they had made was covered by Forrest's men, fresh from their night's sleep, in a few hours, and at half-past nine, while the Federals were at breakfast, the old teasing rattle of small-arms called them into line again. About the same time word came from Russell that he could not take the bridge at Rome, and news was received that a flanking movement of Confederates had cut in between Rome and the Yankee troopers. The affair now looked utterly desperate, but the brave Streight rallied his men on a ridge in a field and skirmishing began. So utterly exhausted, however, were the Federals that many of them went to sleep as they lay in line of battle behind the ridge while looking along their gun barrels with finger on trigger. The game was fairly up. Forrest sent in a flag of truce, with a demand for surrender. Streight asked for an interview, which was readily granted. "What terms do you offer?" asked Streight. "Immediate surrender. Your men to be treated as prisoners of war, officers to retain their side-arms and personal property." During the conversation Streight asked, "How many men have you?" "Enough here to run over you, and a column of fresh troops between you and Rome." In reality Forrest had only five hundred men left him, the remainder having been dropped from point to point as their horses gave out and no new mounts were to be had. But the five hundred made noise enough for a brigade, it being Forrest's purpose to conceal the weakness of his force. As they talked a section of the artillery of the pursuers came in sight within a short range. Colonel Streight objected to this, and Forrest gave orders that the guns must come no nearer. But the artillerymen moved around a neighboring hill as if putting several small batteries into position. "Have you many guns, general?" asked Streight. "Enough to blow you all to pieces before an hour," was the grandiloquent reply. Colonel Streight looked doubtfully at the situation, not knowing how much to believe of what he saw and heard. After some more words he said,-- "I cannot decide without consulting my officers." "As you please," said Forrest, with a sublime air of indifference. "It will soon be over, one way or the other."