The enemy seeing Barlow's division isolated from the rest of the army, came out and attacked with fury.
Barlow repulsed the assault with great slaughter, and with considerable loss to himself.

But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault.
Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river crossings built by our troops, and covered the crossings.

The second assault was repulsed, again with severe loss to the enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn without further molestation.

General T.G.Stevenson was killed in this move.
Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place, there was a ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush, making it almost impenetrable by man.

The slopes on both sides were also covered with a heavy growth of timber.