Anderson Attacks: Miles Farm - Day One 5:00 - 5:20 p.m.

Brigadier General Samuel Read Anderson is in command of the right wing of Loring's Army of the Northwest on Day One of the campaign. He led his own brigade (with Colonel Robert Hatton now commanding it), Burks' Brigade, Marye's Battery and Shumaker's Battery through Spring Gap towards Lowell's Cross Roads. Anderson ran into Colonel Samuel H. Dunning's Brigade and Captain Phillip Daum's Battery "A," West Virginia Light Artillery near the Miles Farm, on the Old Town Road east of Lowell's Cross Roads.

The terrain favored the Federals, with a hill and open fields to their front. They pushed their artillery to the front and prepared to receive a Confederate assault through the Miles Farm.  Anderson planned a flanking movement, with Burks' Brigade moving through the woods and attacking the Federal right. Once they opened fire, Anderson's (Tennessee Brigade) would begin a frontal assault up the hill.

Burks began his move through the woods south of Old Town Road as Dunning moved his three center regiments (the 4th, 5th and 8th Ohio) slightly to the rear to allow Daum's Battery to have a clear field of fire. Dunning could see Burks movement into the woods, and moved his own regiment, the 5th Ohio, into the woods on his right refuse his flank.

As Burks' Brigade crossed a path leading south from the Miles Farm, the 13th Indiana opened fire on Burks' right, forcing him into an engagement prematurely. His brigade faced north and attacked, his right in the open field, his center near the path leading to Miles, and his left in the woods engaging the 5th Ohio.

As Burks' Brigade engaged, Anderson's Brigade stepped off, moving up the hill towards the Miles house and farm buildings. Dunning, with Captain Daum's guns up front, prepared to meet the attack by advancing his infantry back in front of the guns. Anderson's right engaged first, followed by the rest of the line. There was soon firing all across the line, with the Miles buildings in between the opposing sides. Daum's guns were able to fire some canister through gaps in the infantry to their front, slowing down Anderson's advance.

On the Confederate left, Burks had also stalled, but was keeping pressure on the Federal right. At least four of the Confederate regiments to the front and front right of the Federal line were armed with rifled muskets, posing a threat to Capt. Daum's guns should any of the infantry give way. After a few rounds of canister, the Federal artillery started to withdraw.

The Union infantry held their position until their guns were withdrawn. Without canister to keep Anderson at bay, Dunning's line started to fall back and retreat towards Lowell's Cross Roads to the west. Anderson's Brigade was right behind them and managed to engage the rear regiment of the retreating Federals, forcing it deep into the woods to the north of Old Town Road.

Dunning's men have filed through town and are taking position in a familiar place; the hill to the northwest of Lowell's Cross Roads. It was here that they defeated Anderson's Brigade on Day Three of the previous campaign.  As Dunning's men take position, Anderson's are about to arrive on the hill east of town. With 40 minutes before dark, the battle could go either way - one side taking Lowell's Cross Roads or both forces sleeping in line of battle until the next day.