Near this site on April 1, 1864, Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby caught up with and attacked the rear guard of Union General Frederick Steeles army. Union General Samuel A. Rice, in charge of the supply, pontoon and brigade trains, rushed to support the troops under attack. After eight long and bloody hours of savage fighting between a small southern cavalry brigade and a large union division, darkness fell upon many wounded and dead. Nearly 400 union prisoners were taken.