Late in the morning, as Confederate Maj. James Breathed's cannon on high ground about 200 yards to the right opened fire with telling effect on Federals advancing in the Middle Field across Red Bud Run, dismounted Southern cavalry under Col. William Payne advanced into the area on the right and opened fire as well. At the same time, Confederate sharpshooters moved onto the ground in front to protect the guns and fire into the Federals' flank. In the afternoon, the sharpshooters aided Confederate Gen. John Gordon in his fight against Union Gen. William Dwight's division on the south side of Red Bud Run. Battery D, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery anchored Dwight's right flank, and sharpshooters from either Gordon's division or Payne's brigade crept toward the guns under cover of the steep bank and opened fire on the gunners. The artillery answered with canister until its supply was exhausted, then with solid shot, but the Confederates did not pull back. Eventually, Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee withdrew Payne's brigade and the horse artillery to resist Union cavalry advancing up the Valley Pike, leaving only a small force of dismounted troopers behind to screen the Confederate left at Huntsberry Farm. When Union Gen. George Crook led Gen. Isaac Duval's division across this ground in mid-afternoon, the remaining Southerners were easily pushed aside, and, as Fitz Lee later noted, the withdrawal of Payne's brigade from Crook's front allowed him to advance.
