As Union Colonel John Starkweather stood on this hill watching Terrill’s brigade retreat, he recognized the importance of his position. With its twelve cannon, Starkweather’s brigade was the only Federal defense between the attacking Confederates and the Union wagons carrying ammunition and medical supplies. As survivors of Terrill’s brigade and the 21st Wisconsin fled past, Starkweather’s men held firm and awaited attack. Although nearing exhaustion, Maney’s brigade attacked up another steep slope, killed and wounded most of the Federal artillerymen, and captured the cannon before mistakenly falling back in the confusion of battle. After regrouping at the road, the Confederates charged two more times. Amid hand-to-hand fighting atop the hill, the ground became slippery with blood. Finally, with Stewart’s Confederates attacking across the field to the right, Maney’s brigade drove Starkweather’s soldiers off the ridge, and the Federals fell back and formed again on the hill behind.