and cannons from Cannon Hill about above the valley, which has clear views of the battle site. The rebels replied with a volley of their own. Then, a "constant and well-directed fire was opened up on them from the town, and in half an hour not a rebel was to be seen" (Workman, 2006). The Confederate force was in full retreat. Weems' attack on the railroad bridge crossing the Cheat River had failed utterly. Fragments of artillery shells have been found on the hillside around Palmer's Knob and below where the Confederates grouped for their charge toward the bridge. Cannonballs have been found for years on Cannon Hill and in town. Oxen had pulled the cannons to the top of the hill, presumably to defend the bridge. Howitzers mentioned in contemporary records were likely used at close range along the barricade of crossties that defenders had established. Deployment of cannons during the battle for the bridge would explain why the Confederates retreated without reaching it. Meanwhile, with the remainder of his forces, Jones had moved two miles (3 km) west to Macomber where the River Road (now WV 72) connected Rowlesburg to the Northwestern Turnpike. He sent Col. John S. Green and his 6th Virginia Cavalry to drive in pickets and attack any perimeter defenses—creating in effect a pincer move against Rowlesburg. At two o'clock shots were heard in town from the direction of the River Road where Green's forces were driving the pickets back to the Union lines. Green advance until his troops were less than a mile from town, just beyond a point known as The Cliffs. There a log barricade thrown up by the Union forces stopped them. As the Confederate cavalry approached, Union Lt. McDonald ordered his riflemen to fire. Unable to charge past the enemy as Jones had commanded, Green ordered his men to fall back, then sent for Jones. This decision would infuriate Gen. Jones and eventually led to Green's court-martial in September. Col. Green next ordered troops armed with carbines to dismount and move forward along the road and engage McDonald's force. They came under heavy fire from the mountaineers in the rifle-pits and fell back. Green sent another dismounted group higher up the steep mountainside to circle above McDonald's men. Strengthened by Lieutenant Hathaway's Company K, the Union line held once again. According to one source, Hathaway's force consisted mainly of "about