At Middle Creek, Garfield attacked the south end of a strong Confederate line on a heavily wooded ridge overlooking the creek rather than attempt a conventional assault on the entire position. His force of approximately 1,800 Ohioans and Kentuckians came under fire as he ordered Capt. F.A. Williams to lead three companies of the 42nd Ohio across the freezing waters of Middle Creek and up the rocky spur opposite Graveyard Point toward the 5th Kentucky under Col. J.S. Williams, while two companies of Kentuckians moved along the ridge from Graveyard Point toward the left end of Marshall’s line, anchored by dismounted cavalry companies commanded by Clay and Thomas. Captain Williams’s attack was driven back by a sudden heavy volley from the 5th Kentucky, and when the Confederates counterattacked, the Ohioans repulsed them with a single volley that left seven rebels dead. Garfield then sent two more companies of the 42nd Ohio and one company of the 14th Kentucky under Maj. Don A. Pardee across the creek to support Williams, and this combined force, fighting “Indian fashion,” moved farther up the valley and began advancing up the spur called Piney Point toward Moore’s 29th Virginia on the 5th Kentucky’s left flank.