This northern spur of Bloody Hill saw both the opening and close of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. In the days before the fight, the field was the camp of the 1,200 cavalrymen of Colonel James Cawthorne's Missouri State Guard Brigade. At dawn on August 10th, news that the Union army was approaching from the north reached the camp, and Colonel Cawthorne ordered a regiment forward to make contact with the enemy. At the end of the field to the left, the regiment halted and formed a line of battle. Lyon's artillery unlimbered and opened fire while more than 1,200 Union infantry charged, and the Southerners retreated before the attack. After overcoming further resistance on Bloody Hill's north slope, Lyon forced the Confederates over the crest and down the south slope. With the Federals in control of the area, a Union field hospital was established in the ravine to the right. After General Lyon's death about 9:30 a.m., Major Samuel Sturgis took command of the army. By 11 a.m., with ammunition running low and Sigel's column routed, Sturgis decided to withdraw to Springfield. He placed his rear guard on this spur of Bloody Hill and marched his army off the battlefield. Once the column had passed, the rear guard fell into line, and the Battle of Wilson's Creek ended.