breckinridge ordered his field officers to make an inspection of the troops and to report back with the condition of his army. the number of men wounded and killed had depleted his army to the point that he could judged that he could no longer hold back the union army at the front lines. ammunition in the camp was also running low; each man had no more than ten cartridges apiece. with their supplies destroyed by stoneman's army at the towns of wytheville and abingdon, there was little hope of being resupplied or reinforced in time.