On April 1, 1865, Union cavalrymen under General Thomas Devin advanced across this wooded ground twice. In the morning they tested the strength of the Confederate defenses north of here along White Oak Road and were thrown back by intense rifle and cannon fire. Later, while waiting for the Union infantry assault on the east end of the Confederate line, these dismounted troopers advanced again at the explosion of rifle fire at 4:15 p.m. The trees gave them cover from Confederate fire, and their seven-shot Spencer repeating carbines made their numbers seem greater. E.M. Johnson of the 2nd New York Cavalry recalled, "We again moved toward, firing slowly from behind the trees," while Roger Hannaford of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry remembered deadly musketry and grape and canister sweeping through the woods just above the ground.