On the frosty morning of October 23, 1864, fighting erupted across this field and ridge as Union cavalrymen skirmished on foot and crawled over the long open field from Byram's Ford to the base of the hill that soon became known as Bloody Hill. A line of 2600 blue-coated dismounted Union soldiers stretched for nearly a half-mile at the foot of the hill, hunkered down and jammed against a sheer 15-foot rock wall, while atop Bloody Hill a line of 3800 Confederate cavalry soldiers extended across Byram's Ford Road for nearly a half-mile. Four Confederate cannons sent artillery shells crashing over the field as smoke rose above the Confederate line and rifle fire poured onto the approaching Union soldiers. The combined opposing armies brought more than 6000 guns into action, creating a deafening din. Union attempts to advance up the slope were driven back by intense Confederate fire until some Union sharpshooters reached the log house by the road on the slope and opened fire. After several hours of battle, at 11:00 AM, the Confederates withdrew because they were running out of ammunition and could no longer maintain their heavy fire on the Union attackers.