The men were just wrapping up lunch when an artillery duel opened up between the Union artillery near Fourteen Mile Creek and Gregg's artillery, which had been called forward by General Gregg to a hilltop 700 yards (600 m) distant.
Mændene var netop ved at afslutte deres frokost, da en artilleriduel begyndte mellem unionsartilleriet ved Fourteen Mile Creek og Greggs artilleri, som var blevet kaldt frem af general Gregg og placeret på en bakketop 600 meter væk.