On the morning of June 21, 1864, Union Major General David Hunter’s ambulances, artillery, and supply and munitions wagons crossed the ford at Mason’s Creek near this site. The wagon train stalled and was left unprotected because U.S. Brig. General Alexander Duffie had moved his cavalry ahead to Catawba Mountain. Just before 9:00 A.M., Confederate Major General Robert Ransom turned over his front-line cavalry to Confederate Brig. General John McCausland, and some sixty of those troops rode down through Hanging Rock Gap to attack the exposed wagons and artillery. The Confederate cavalry played havoc with the Union cannons, munitions wagons, and their drivers. When Hunter heard the explosions and noises of battle, he ordered Brig. General William Averell’s cavalry forward, along with infantry support, to fight off McCausland’s assault. The arrival of Averell’s soldiers forced the Confederates to pull back from the gap.