Ellet's brigade, accompanied by the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment, led the Union advance. The Union troops encountered Confederate fire, and a request was sent to Mower to bring up artillery. The 18th Texas Infantry charged, and drove in the Union skirmishers, but met the main Union line and was forced to withdraw. Aware that the Union forces outnumbered his forced and worried that he would be outflanked, the commander of the 18th Texas Infantry ordered his men to withdraw across the bayou. The Union batteries were brought up, and Edgar's battery and the Union artillery engaged in an artillery duel for an hour, delaying the Union advance. Mower grew impatient and sent most of his brigade to the right, but found that the bayou could not be crossed. Walker learned that his wagons were safely out of the area, so he ordered his men to retreat from the bayou and burn the bridge. The Union infantry was halted at the burned bridge, but a cavalry force waded the bayou and while pursuing captured roughly 25 Confederate stragglers. The Union forces rebuilt the bridge and entered Richmond, burning the town to the ground.
