At Third Winchester, Union troops advanced through this area and across the Middle Field in one of the Civil War's most bitterly contested struggles. When the Union army launched its first main attack at 11:40 am, the XIX Corps marched through the woods toward the Second Woods, where Confederates under Gen. John B. Gordon waited. After sharp fighting, the Confederate line was flanked and forced to retreat, but a counterattack drove the Federals back. Two more Union brigades attacked, and the sides exchanged intense fire from just sixty yards apart before Gordon counterattacked again and the Union line collapsed, sending Federal troops fleeing across the Middle Field to the safety of the First Woods. Union losses were nearly 1,500 killed or wounded, including every regimental commander. Another Federal brigade came forward but was pinned down by heavy fire and then forced to retreat after exhausting its ammunition. With the battle in the balance, Union commander Gen. Philip H. Sheridan directed General George Crook's VIII Corps to relieve the XIX Corps. One of Crook's divisions crossed north of Red Bud Run, moved west, then turned south to re-cross the waterway and attack Gordon, while his other division charged across the Middle Field. This two-pronged assault forced Gordon to abandon the Second Woods and withdraw to the rear, where he joined Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early's final defensive line north and east of Winchester.