 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.