Ethan and Henry had moved toward the edge of the clearing and only had to take a few steps further to be in the trees. They turned just as the two small cannon were fired into the hundred or so men still in the open area, from a distance of not more than fifty yards. The rattle of musketry followed from the militia, and more than a dozen men were left on the ground as the others quickly cleared the open area. A number of the Regulators, including Henry, took positions behind trees and began to return fire, while Ethan moved farther back into the woods with others who were unarmed. For more than an hour, hundreds of rounds were fired by both sides, with the members of the militia kept in order and therefore more exposed than the Regulators, who quickly hid themselves in the brush and trees. Finally, all the antagonists were well concealed, with human targets difficult to find. Only the dead and wounded were in the open area, and it seemed obvious that a number of the militiamen were also down.

The firing became spasmodic, and then Tryon’s voice could be heard shouting, “Hold your fire! Hold your fire!” A few minutes passed until all firing ceased, and then the militiamen began to move forward cautiously. Most of the Regulators and observers had caught their horses and left the area, but a few hundred men remained in the immediate vicinity. Ethan noticed that Husband had returned and joined the other Regulators. Commanded by their experienced officers, the militiamen formed a rough circle around the edge of the clearing, in effect controlling the area.

Ethan found his brother and suggested that they go home, but Henry said, “I have to stay with the other Regulators, to protect our interests and to support our leaders.”

As Henry, Husband, and others confronted the enraged Tryon and his militia leaders, Ethan joined a group of men who were caring for the casualties lying on the ground or leaning against trees. Nine of the men in the clearing were dead and more than twenty of those remaining were wounded. He heard one of the officers report that nine militiamen had also been killed and more than fifty wounded. The governor ordered the militia not to permit anyone else to leave the clearing and, in a surprising move, instructed his surgeons to care for the wounded Regulators.