Early in the battle, Union troops in the Middle Field suffered heavily from Confederate artillery commanded by Maj. James Breathed on the high ground of the Huntsberry Farm, and Col. George Beal's brigade on the right end of the Union line was hit especially hard. Col. Alexander Strain, commanding skirmishers of the 153rd New York on Beal's right flank, asked division commander Gen. William Dwight for permission to capture the guns, but was refused. Beal later sent the 30th Massachusetts and elements of the 29th Maine to reinforce Strain and his skirmishers with orders to neutralize the battery. The Federals crossed Red Bud Run near this spot, but while struggling through the swampy waterway they were seen by Breathed's gunners and supporting troops, who opened fire and killed several men. Finding the battery strongly supported, the Union force abandoned the effort and withdrew across Red Bud Run. Earlier, Lt. John Mead Gould of the 29th Maine had ridden across the water near here to investigate reports of Confederates on this side of Red Bud Run and found skirmishers of the 30th Massachusetts wading in water and mud at their waists; beyond the brook he encountered cavalry skirmishers with drawn sabers, so dirty and strangely dressed that he could not at first tell whether they were advancing Confederates or retreating Union troops, but after riding closer he determined they were Confederates and hurried back.
