the bloody wheatfield remained quiet for the rest of the battle. but it took a heavy toll on the men who traded possession back-and-forth. the confederates had fought six brigades against 13 (somewhat smaller) federal brigades, and of the 20,444 men engaged, about 30% were casualties. some of the wounded managed to crawl to plum run but could not cross it. the river ran red with their blood. as with the cornfield at antietam, this small expanse of agricultural ground would be remembered by veterans as a name of unique significance in the history of warfare.