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[816] but the direction taken from Jeffersonville has revealed their design, and the Confederates hastily call together at Wytheville all the detachments which are found in the neighborhood. The inhabitants are almost all armed and join them. When the first squadrons of the Unionist Second Virginia enter the streets at a gallop, they are received by a murderous fire from all the windows, which throws them into disorder: the remainder of the regiment comes to their support, and they charge through the town, capturing two guns placed in battery at the market-place, and reach a small bridge on which a railroad passes to enter the city. The Federals burn the bridge, and thus cut the road, but their position soon becomes critical. The railroad brings a reinforcement of two hundred men to the Southerners, who move forward from house to house, sheltered from the enemy's balls. The Federal officers serve as a target to the skilful Virginia hunters. Colonel Powell, commanding the Unionist cavalry, is seriously wounded. Despite Toland's arrival with the Thirty-fourth Ohio, the Federals, driven from all the streets, are compelled to take refuge in the market-place; Toland is soon killed and the number of wounded rapidly increases. The Unionists, to keep off the enemies they cannot reach, set the houses on fire and retreat, leaving their wounded and the guns which they have captured. The Confederates drive them out of the town, rescue the prisoners, and capture part of their guard. Although pursued without vigor, the situation of the Federals is critical. The bridge which they have burnt can be so easily rebuilt that their expedition may be considered a failure; the Wytheville fight has been for them a complete defeat; the orders that Toland was carrying are written in cipher, and no one has the key. It is therefore necessary that his successor, Lieutenant-colonel Franklin, should retreat by the shortest road through the Kanawha Valley. On this route of course the Confederates will await him. He takes a northerly direction, crosses East Mountain, and halts at Raleigh Court-house. The Federals' supplies are exhausted, and they march for two days upon what they can gather up in this almost deserted country. When they reach East Mountain the enemy's cavalry has the audacity to forbid them access to it, but they have all the
Philadelphia, Jos. H. Coates and co., 1883.
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