As the sun set on the first day of battle, about 3,000 Confederates from Missouri made their final charge here, crossing Ben Ruddick's stubbled cornfield and running straight toward Federal cannon set wheel hub to wheel hub against a line of trees. After hours of fighting withdrawals, this last Union line held firm, and the rebuffed Confederates ebbed back to Elkhorn Tavern. In the dusk, men of both armies feared they were standing on the brink of collapse, while outnumbered, hard-pressed Union cannoneers and infantrymen regrouped and reloaded at the edge of Ruddick's field.