A Union cavalry division commanded by Brigadier General William W. Averell was prevented from attacking a lead mine located near Wytheville.

Averell and a larger force commanded by Brigadier General George Crook were part of a Union plan to damage the Confederate-controlled Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.

However, because of Confederate concern about Averell's intentions, most of the forces commanded by Jones and Morgan could not assist at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain where Crook's 6,000-man legion had a significant victory.

[4][Note 1] Brigadier General George Crook was assigned the task of attacking the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.

[9] Further east from Wytheville, along the rail line, was a regional Confederate Army headquarters at the Dublin Depot near Newbern, Virginia.

[Note 4] Other Union cavalry men were typically armed with Colt's navy revolvers, sabers, and single-shot carbines.

[20][21] A few days later, Morgan used the railroad to send his cavalry men who did not have mounts, totaling about 400, east to the Dublin Depot to assist Brigadier General Albert G. Jenkins against Crook.

Most of Morgan's men were from Kentucky or Tennessee, but Giltner's brigade was familiar with the area because it had spent two years serving there previously.

[22] Confederate troops that were not part of Morgan's command also fought at Cove Mountain, although there is a lack of clarity for all the participants.

[23] The 16th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William L. Graham, also arrived in Wytheville to assist Morgan.

[11][Note 7] From deserters and prisoners, Averell learned that the Confederate Army was aware of his Saltville objective and the size of his force.

He also learned that 4,500 Confederate troops led by John Hunt Morgan and William "Grumble" Jones were waiting for his force (about 2,000 men) at Saltville.

Given that information, Averell decided to attack the railroad further east at Wytheville, occupying Morgan and Jones so they could not intercept Crook.

[24] To get to Wytheville and the lead mine further south, Averell needed to pass southward through a small mountain gap near Crockett's Cove.

[35] Schoonmaker's 14th Pennsylvania and 1st West Virginia cavalries opened the battle by driving back the advanced guard of the Confederate force that occupied the gap.

[24] The 2nd West Virginia Cavalry waited nearby with sabers drawn, intending to take the gap in what their Colonel Powell regarded as a suicidal charge.

Morgan commanded Jones' Brigade in person, in front of Averell's left center, and made use of the Wytheville cannon.

[39] Powell divided the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry into platoons, and gradually moved it back with the precision of what Averell called a "dress parade that continued without disorder under heavy fire".

[41] Although the 2nd West Virginia was nearly surrounded three or four times during the four hours of fighting, the only break in the Union line was made by the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

[42] The 34th Ohio Mounted Infantry quickly filled the gap from its reserve position, and the 14th Pennsylvania reformed and resumed their place in the Union line.

This was said in front of a local woman from the pro-Confederate community, with hope that the bogus information would get back to the Confederate leadership.

The river grew to about one third of a mile (0.54 km) wide and rising, with a rapid current and rocky riverbed.

[33] After the command arrived at Christiansburg, the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry was sent back to guard the ford, and witnessed Confederate forces unable to cross the still–rising river.

The rail depot and four miles (6.4 km) of line were destroyed, and then a trip back to the safety of West Virginia was started.

[54] Averell praised his command, saying it "attacked and held a superior force of the enemy near Wytheville on the 10th instant, thereby enabling another column to accomplish its purpose without the opposition of overwhelming numbers".

The New York Times wrote that the "cavalry raid of that dashing and gallant officer, Gen. Averill [sic]...was undoubtedly one of the most hazardous and brilliant of the war.

Duffié moved to another division as the replacement for General Julius Stahel, who was wounded on June 5 at the Battle of Piedmont.

Crook had a major victory at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain, and completed an objective of destroying the large New River bridge used by the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.

[55] Although there are various interpretations of the outcome of the Battle of Cove Mountain, one cannot dispute that the Wythe County lead mines in Austinville continued to supply ammunition for the Confederate Army.

[34] Later in the year, Union Major General Philip Sheridan led a string of military victories in the Shenandoah Valley, and destroyed much of the agricultural infrastructure used to feed Lee's army.