 Advancing up the ridge they had just abandoned , Browne 's battalion came under intense fire from Ruffin 's emplaced infantry and artillery . Within a few salvoes , half the battalion was gone and , unable to continue , Browne 's men scattered amongst the cover provided by the slope and returned fire . Despite his success , Ruffin could not descend the hill to brush away the remnants of Browne 's battalion , as Dilkes 's brigade had by now emerged from the wood and was forming up at the base of the slope . 
