 Meanwhile , to the north , under the command of Captain Howard M. Moore , C Battery , US 61st Field Artillery formed its six 105 mm M2A1 howitzers into a semi @-@ circle and created a perimeter around them , strongly defending their positions with automatic weapons from behind their gun shields . Assaulting from the east , the Chinese attempted to infiltrate the gun @-@ line using a number of creek beds and paddy bunds for concealment . One of the American howitzers was depressed and brought into action , firing over open sights at point @-@ blank range , bouncing shells off the frozen paddy fields which then exploded among the assaulting troops . A second howitzer was turned around 45 minutes later , augmenting the fire of the first . The Americans expended 1 @,@ 400 rounds at a range of between 45 to 270 metres ( 49 to 295 yd ) ; however , the weight of fire was insufficient to halt the assaulting force . Supporting fire from a nearby battery was directed by a spotter aircraft overhead , and this temporarily stemmed the Chinese onslaught . Running low on small arms ammunition and having lost one howitzer destroyed as well as two men killed and seventeen wounded , the Americans faced the prospect of being overrun . The gunners killed a member of a Chinese demolition team just 18 metres ( 20 yd ) from the bridge . Finally , after crossing the Taeryong in single file under fire , B and C Companies of the Argylls began to systematically clear the road supported by machine @-@ gun fire from the Middlesex , while A Company also continued to advance . At 09 : 00 the lead tanks and infantry of the relief force arrived , closely followed by the remainder of A Company . The Argylls rapidly cleared the gun position and the Chinese withdrew north along the railway to a nearby hill while the American tanks continued to engage them . Over 70 Chinese dead were found in the vicinity of the gun @-@ line , however , from their new position the Chinese continued to dominate the road . 
