 During the night of 4 / 5 November , the Chinese and North Koreans mounted a full @-@ scale assault on the US 24th Infantry Division , pushing back an American infantry regiment nearly 2 kilometres ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) . The Chinese force subsequently turned west , advancing between the Taeryong and Chongchon rivers and threatening the rear of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade by cutting the Pakchon – Sinanju road . The following day they attacked an American artillery battery which was guarding a vital concrete bridge near Kujin . The British and Australians then successfully counter @-@ attacked the Chinese forces occupying a number of nearby ridgelines during the day but were in turn counter @-@ attacked before being pushed off the high ground during the night . In their first battle with the Chinese , the 3rd Battalion , Royal Australian Regiment ( 3 RAR ) captured a well defended hill with only limited offensive support , and held it in the face of heavy counter @-@ attacks before confused command decisions resulted in a disorganised night withdrawal while still in contact . The withdrawal threatened to open the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade 's left flank and the Australians were ordered to immediately reposition on the ridge , yet ultimately it was too late to regain the feature in darkness . However , following heavy fighting the pressure on the Australians unexpectedly ceased after midnight , and parties of Chinese were observed beginning to withdraw . By early morning the Chinese attack had been checked and 3 RAR had redeployed to new positions in the paddy fields around the railway crossing north of Maenjung @-@ dong . 
