Custer's entire First Brigade under Colonel Pennington then came forward behind a large group of skirmishers and continued the uncoordinated attack started by his lead regiments. They also were driven back by the Confederate skirmishers and artillery. Undeterred by these setbacks, Custer was determined to capture the Confederate artillery and hold a position on the Lynchburg road. After Colonel Henry Capehart's Third Brigade followed Pennington's men on to the field, Custer sent all of his men against the Confederate position. Nearly 50 Union troopers were felled by canister used by the Confederate artillerymen. When Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) William Wells's Second Brigade arrived, Custer continued the attack as dark came on, even though thick woods sheltered the Confederate position. Even with the addition of Wells's brigade another Union assault failed. Historian William Marvel credits the support of Gary's troopers and Colonel T. M. R. Talcott's (armed) engineers along with Walker's heavy ordnance for the strong showing and lengthy holdout by Walker's men.