Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. His force was three brigades of infantry and dismounted cavalry, plus two batteries, that totaled 6,155 men. Four hundred more men were added shortly thereafter. Crook sent a smaller force, commanded by Brigadier General William W. Averell, to attack a salt mine further west from Crook. A Union Army commanded by Major General Franz Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley was ordered to move south to Staunton, Virginia, where it could threaten the Virginia Central Railroad—and all three commands would meet at Staunton. The Battle of Cove Mountain occurred during Averell's movements to accomplish his portion of Grant's plan. Averell's target salt mine was located in Saltville, Virginia. During 1864, this salt mine produced an estimated two thirds of the salt used by the Confederacy. Saltville is located along the border of Washington and Smyth counties in southeastern Virginia, and is served by a spur line from the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Moving east on the main line of the railroad, a lead mine was located on the south side of Wytheville, Virginia, not far from the railroad line. The lead mine was the source for much of the lead used by the Confederacy to produce bullets for its army. Further east from Wytheville, along the rail line, was a regional Confederate Army headquarters at the Dublin Depot near Newbern, Virginia. Near the headquarters was a large Virginia and Tennessee Railroad bridge across the New River, which was one of Crook's targets. Opposing forces Union Averell departed from a camp near Charleston, West Virginia, in early May with two brigades totaling 2,019 officers and men. His brigade commanders were Brigadier General Alfred N. Duffié and Colonel James M. Schoonmaker. Duffié's brigade consisted of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment, the 34th Ohio Mounted Infantry Regiment, and a detachment of the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Seymour B. Conger. Colonel William H. Powell was the commander of the 2nd West Virginia, while Major John W. Shaw commanded the 34th Ohio. Schoonmaker's brigade consisted of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Henry Capehart; and the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Major John M. Daily. This brigade was armed with carbine versions of seven-shot Spencer repeating rifles. Other Union cavalry men were typically armed with Colt's navy revolvers, sabers, and single-shot carbines. Confederate The Confederate Army knew that Union forces were on the