John Reid's proslavery militia men set up cannon on this high ground on the flank of John Brown's Free State guerilla force and fired into Brown's line of defense while Reid's men attacked the center of the defensive line. Reid also placed snipers on this high ground, pouring fire into Brown's Free State guerillas' line of defense along the banks of the Marais Des Cygnes River. Elements of Brown's Free State guerillas retreated across the Marais Des Cygnes River and regrouped north of the river to prepare for another assault by proslavery forces. Reid's proslavery force then rode into Osawatomie, looted and burned the town, left only three buildings standing, and returned to Missouri without pursuing Brown's Free State guerillas any further.