A pretty good ruse... I got a good chuckle out of it. I can just picture them wagging there hand in the ears going 'toot, toot, toot...' too funny.
"
On March 24, 1864, Colonel Duckworth made a strategic decision to bluff the Federal Garrison into surrender. He accomplished this by mounting a log on wagon wheels to resemble Artillery. Duckworth's men then began sounding bugle calls to give the impression that Forrest's entire force was arriving. The commander of the Federal Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Robert Hawkins, requested to meet with Forrest himself. Duckworth sent another dispatch in Forrest's name explaining that he was not in the habit of
"meeting officers of inferior rank", but would send Colonel Duckworth, under his authority to arrange the terms of surrender. The bluff worked and Hawkins surrendered his post along with 700 Federal soldiers, 300 horses and scores of supplies. Unknown to Hawkins, a force of roughly 2,000 Federal reinforcements only six miles away were marching to his aid. "
http://blueandgrayancestors.blogspot.com/2013/02/company-f-duckworths-7th-tennessee.html
A 2nd longer account here:
http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/tncwmb/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=9449
"Within the ranks, a spirit of doom had developed over the Confederate soldiers. Many were no doubt thinking of what Gen. Forrest would say when he was informed that they had not been successful in taking the fort. Then someone had an idea. The idea was proposed to send in a demand for surrender, worded in Forrest's customary blood-curdling style and signed with his name. This coupled with Col. Hawkins previous experience with Forrest, they hoped would accomplish by strategy what force of arms had failed to do. In addition to this,
the men made ready their "home-made artillery" with which to impress the "home-made" Yankees. A black log was placed on the front wheels of a wagon, drawn by two mules, with an old box on other wheels in imitation of a caisson.
The plan was that when the flag of truce went out demanding surrender, the buglar would sound the artillery call. Soldiers lying in the cut timber would yell lustily, another artillery call, and at a different point, more ringing cheers from the soldiers. One soldier's account was, "The boys began to feel as if Forrest had changed his purpose and was really here with all the artillery." At about 9:30 a.m., the flag of truce was sent out with the note of surrender. The surrender note read: "SIR, I have your garrison completely surrounded, and demand that an unconditional surrender of your forces. If you comply with the demand, you are promised the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to usages in civilized warfare. If you persist in defense, you must take the consequences. By order of Major General N.B. Forrest."
Col. Hawkins replied, begging time to consider and demanding to see Forrest in person. The Rebel troops were in full view, in the logs and stumps. The truce escort retired, and in twenty minutes, again came. This time Col. Duckworth was present with flag. Hawkins was informed that Forrest was not in the habit of meeting with officers inferior in rank. Hawkins was again presented with the note demanding unconditional surrender. It was stated that they did not care if he surrendered or not. They were prepared to open fire with artillery which had just arrived and "not leave of them a greasy spot." Hawkins was given 15 minutes to decide.
Col. Hawkins called his officers together and asked them what they were in favor of doing. All officers said fight but Major Thomas A. Smith. Col. Hawkins said that it would save a great many lives if we would surrender, and if we renewed the fighting they would kill everyone that might fall into their hands. The enlisted men were mostly opposed to surrender also. Some of the officers, not having seen the artillery, suggested that they wait until it was shown before surrender, knowing that reinforcements were on the way. Hawkins replied that would "be too late, for Forrest would not leave of us a greasy spot."
Col. Hawkins then determined upon surrender. In this he probably was influenced by a number of factors. He was aware of the hatred between Tennesseans of opposite sides as was the present case. He also was apparently convinced of the presence of artillery. He also had previously surrendered to Forrest before and knew that they would be given fair treatment. However, if he failed to surrender, he believed Forrest would make good on his threat.
The surrender took place at 11 a.m. As soon as the Federal troops stacked their arms outside the fort, the Rebels rushed to get between them and the rifles. The buglers, horse holders, and black soldiers came bounding in when they saw the surrender. The black soldiers in the lead, yelled, "here is your artillery, Toot, Toot, Toot!" with their thumbs stuck in their ears, working the hand like a mule's ear." 
As it became apparent that Hawkins had made a mistake in surrendering, there were no paroles and the fact they had surrendered to a smaller force with NO artillery. Taken prisoner were 481 men, along with 300 horses, about 500 small arms, a few mules, and wagons, supplies and other equipment. Also taken was about $60,000 in cash, the troops having just been paid for a full year's service. The barracks and supplies that could not be carried were burned. At 12 noon, the victorious troops moved out with their prisoners toward Jacksonville (formerly a small rail stop southeast of Union City) from which place they proceeded on down the Nashville and Northwesters Railroad to Gardner Station, where they spent the night. "
BONUS:
The General Jenkins Monument in Mechanicsburg is the farthest north Confederate monument in the United States. The monument is a ten-foot obelisk designed by noted Civil War artist Gary Casteel and located besides the Rupp House. General Albert G. Jenkins was a former Congressman from Virginia and a plantation slave-owner. He died after having his arm amputated in May 1864.
https://www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/listing/general-jenkins-monument-at-the-rupp-house/1192/
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