Captain Beaufort and his men were believed to see the river crossing up ahead.  The few scouts who straggled behind rightfully abandoned their duties to catch up with the main body, having successfully spied the approaching Coloured Division.  "There it is boys, let's get on over and meet back up with Rumby."  The cavalry began to make their approach right when the Union's Native Americans sprang from the forest.

First Beaufort had spied flashes of firearms, but the smoke expelled from the barrels and cacophony of the weapons confirmed their presence.  Also in this barrage were flaming arrows.  The attack may have been quite deadly and catastrophic for Beaufort's party, but the mounted force had moved swiftly down the river's edge and they would have outpaced the infantry force considerably.  Only the rear of the column would be affected, and of the 150 men 8 men were hit.

"Ride, ride hard," Beaufort commanded at the head of his column.  "Mounted riflemen, dismount at the crossing in loose formation, Partisan Cavalry on me!"  He pointed to a ranking officer, "make for Rumby's position and tell him what's happening!"  One of the cavalrymen nodded and darted to the crossing and passed over unmolested.  He would inform Rumby of the impending disaster.

The mounted force would outrun the Natives and Negroes.  The 50 Mounted Rifles dismounted and formed a loose battle line, ready to fire on the Negroes and get the first shot as soon as they were within range.  Meanwhile, Beaufort positioned his Partisan Cavalry, of which there were 142, formed behind this thin line.