The valley in front naturally funneled Southerners advancing up the hill and compacted their formation, and Totten's Battery was positioned at the top of the ravine to cover this avenue of approach. Some of the fiercest fighting took place here as the Missouri State Guard first bushwhacked through thick undergrowth, then pushed their way up the ravine toward the Union line. General John B. Clark of the Missouri State Guard reported that the enemy's fire was returned with such terrific effect as to drive him from his position and cause him to make a retrograde movement under cover of the hill and thick brush timber. Private Thomas Isaac Duvall and Lieutenant William Russell Duvall both fought here for the Missouri State Guard.