The bullet that struck Toland a second too late - did the raid make it?

Colonel Toland leads an 870-man raid toward Wytheville - did the assault make it in time before a shot stopped it? The bullet that struck Toland a second too late - did the raid make it? In this episode, we follow the Union brigade's hundred-mile ride into southwestern Virginia and the choices that steered them into Wytheville on July 18, 1863. The episode traces the mission's aims, the men who led it, and the split-second moments that decided whether three strategic Confederate resources would be destroyed. Person: Colonel John T. Toland Date: July 18, 1863 Location: Wytheville, Virginia Force size: 870 men Targets: Austinville lead mine; Saltville salt works; Virginia and Tennessee Railroad - Toland rode at the head of a mounted brigade tasked to hit three critical Confederate supply sites in one fast raid. - The raid began with an 100-mile approach from the Charleston area and reached Wytheville on the evening of July 18. - Colonel John H. Powell served as Toland’s second in command and advocated a more methodical approach to the town. - The Austinville lead mine supplied roughly one third of Confederate lead for ammunition by mid-1863. - The brigade held Wytheville less than twelve hours, suffering heavy horse and personnel losses while primary objectives remained intact. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].