Battle of Marion
Part of the American Civil War
Location of the battle
Date December 17 – December 18, 1864 Location Smyth County, Virginia Result Union tactical victory Territorial changes Southwest Virginia
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders
George Stoneman	John C. Breckinridge
Strength
4,200	1,500
Casualties and losses
154	120[1]

The Battle of Marion (December 17 – December 18, 1864)^[2] was a military engagement in the American Civil War that occurred when Major General George Stoneman, commander of the Union Army in Kentucky and Tennessee, raided Southwestern Virginia. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Smyth County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 George Stoneman Jr ( August 22, 1822 – September 5, 1894) was a career United States Army officer a Union cavalry general John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16 1821 &ndash May 17 1875 was a lawyer U Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South George Stoneman Jr ( August 22, 1822 – September 5, 1894) was a career United States Army officer a Union cavalry general The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Stoneman's plan was to destroy anything that might benefit the Southern war effort and was approved by his commanding officers on December 6, 1864. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year

The Confederates managed to hold the key positions on the battlefield against numerous Union charges. The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Eventually, the Confederates ran short of ammunition and were forced to withdraw. The total casualties for this battle were 274, relatively low for a battle during the Civil War. ^[3]

After the battle, the Union expedition set out to destroy the salt mines, lead works, and anything else in the area that could be of benefit to the Confederates.

Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 2.1 Advance 2.2 First day 2.3 Second day 3 Aftermath 3.1 Outcome 4 Notes 5 External links

Background

The town of Marion is located in Southwest Virginia on the Middle Fork of the Holston River in Smyth County, Virginia^[4] and was about half way between the salt works at Saltville and the lead mines near Wytheville. Marion is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6349 at the 2000 census The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. Smyth County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. Saltville is a town in Smyth and Washington counties in the U Wytheville is a town in Wythe County, Virginia, United States. Situated near the Mason-Dixon line, many of the town's families were divided and fought on opposing sides. The Mason–Dixon Line (or "Mason and Dixon's Line" is a Demarcation line between four U Until the winter of 1864, the town of Marion had been protected from fighting by the mountains and geographic location. ^[5]

Stoneman, commander of the Union Army in Kentucky and Tennessee, proposed another expedition into southwest Virginia to destroy all facilities and supplies of benefit to the Confederate war effort. George Stoneman Jr ( August 22, 1822 – September 5, 1894) was a career United States Army officer a Union cavalry general The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state This gained the approval of Major General John Schofield on December 6, 1864. John McAllister Schofield (September 29 1831 &ndash March 4 1906 was an American soldier who held major commands during the American Civil War. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year ^[6]

Stoneman used troops under General Alvan Gillem and those commanded by General Stephen Burbridge--including the 5th and the 6th U. Alvan Cullem Gillem (July 29 1830 &ndash December 2 1875 was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Stephen Gano Burbridge ( August 19, 1831 &ndash December 2, 1894) also known as "Butcher" Burbridge or the "Butcher of Kentucky S. Colored Cavalry ^[7] who had participated in the failed previous attempt to destroy the salt works at the first Battle of Saltville. Stoneman ordered Burbridge to bring his army of 4,200 men through the Cumberland Gap to join Stoneman and Gillem at Knoxville, Tennessee where Gillem was refitting his own command into a picked force of 1,500 men. "Cumberland Gap" is also the informal name for a section of the A74 in England; the name of a song by Skiffle artist Lonnie Donegan Stoneman did not reveal the objectives of the expedition to his subordinates until three days after it had departed Knoxville on December 10. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V On December 12, Stoneman's force flanked and forced back Confederate General Basil Duke's cavalry at Rogersville, Tennessee. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Basil Wilson Duke (May 28 1838 &ndash September 16 1916 was a Confederate General officer during the American Civil War, most noted for his service The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on Rogersville is a town in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The Federals defeated and scattered the Confederates the next day at Kingsport, Tennessee. Kingsport is a city in Hawkins and Sullivan counties in the U There Gillem captured 84 prisoners, including Col. Richard C. Morgan and the brigade's supply train. ^[8]

On December 14, the Union army began to push Duke's cavalry back toward Abingdon, Virginia. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Abingdon is a Town in Washington County, Virginia, 189 miles (304 km southwest of Lynchburg. The next day, Stoneman and his cavalry went into camp at Glade Spring, Virginia, which was about 13 miles (21 km) west of Marion. Glade Spring is a town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. On December 16, Stoneman's cavalry rode toward Marion, destroying infrastructure and public buildings along their path. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion ^[9]

The opposing force of Stoneman was the army of Major General John C. Breckinridge,^[10] who was the commander of the Department of Southwest Virginia. John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16 1821 &ndash May 17 1875 was a lawyer U Breckinridge's command consisted of approximately 1,000 regular troops with another 500 militia reserves. Most of the army had been transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia^[11] to help in the defense of Richmond. The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Breckinridge's army consisted of Colonel Henry Giltner's brigade,^[12] (which was formed from the soldiers of the 4th Kentucky Cavalry and the 10th Kentucky Cavalry); the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles (later renamed to the 13th Kentucky Cavalry), and the 64th Virginia Mounted Infantry. Breckinridge's army also included Basil Duke's cavalry, General George Cosby's cavalry and Colonel Vincent Witcher and his 34th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry.

On the night of December 16, Breckinridge and his troops moved out of Saltville, Virginia in an effort to stem Stoneman's advance. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Taking the regular troops with him, Breckinridge left Colonel Robert Preston in charge of the 500 militia men to defend the salt works. Breckinridge sent Witcher and his men of the 34th on ahead of his main force and ordered them to harass the Union army. ^[13]

At about 3 a. m. (Local Time), Breckinridge and his small army began to travel across Walkers Mountain. In the last few days before the march, 4^" of rain fell, making travel difficult across the muddy roads. At 4:00 a. m. (Local Time), they reached the main road near Seven Mile Ford, Virginia where Breckinridge waited for daylight before continuing. Seven Mile Ford is an unincorporated community located in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. ^[14]

Battle

Advance

Around noon of December 17, 1864, Breckinridge's men mounted their horses and rode towards Marion. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Meanwhile, Stoneman sent some of his Tennessee regiments to Wytheville, Virginia^[15] to destroy anything that looked valuable. Wytheville is a town in Wythe County, Virginia, United States. Stoneman also sent two regiments of cavalry to destroy the lead mines and smelting facilities that were located about ten miles (16 km) from Wytheville. Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly

Stoneman and Burbridge continued on toward Marion where they encountered Witcher and his men. Burbridge's front regiment easily pushed back Witcher's small regiment,^[16] who stopped just so they could fire a volley into the Union cavalry. They then continued to retreat toward Marion. Marion is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6349 at the 2000 census Witcher sent a courier to inform Breckinridge that they were coming to join them at Marion. A courier is a Person or company employed to deliver Messages packages and Mail.

First day

Breckinridge's front regiment was the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles, under the command of Colonel Benjamin Caudill. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. Caudill's men dismounted and fired into the Union cavalry, causing several casualties. As the rest of Breckinridge's troops began to arrive on the scene, Stoneman's men secured the high hill overlooking the river. Breckinridge observed that these hills were the best defensive positions in the area; following which he ordered the men of the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles^[17] to charge up the hill and drive out the Union army. The rest of Giltner's Brigade also joined in the charge, routing the Union soldiers. The result of the charge ended with the Confederate army in control of the hill.

Burbridge then began to form his men up in columns to counterattack the Confederate defenses. As soon as the men were in position, he ordered all columns to charge. After the signal, the Union Army marched forward, only to be pushed back again by the Confederate volley. Confederate Artillery commander Major Richard Page^[18] and his battery of four 10-pounder Parrott rifles began to fire, attempting to slow the charge. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine The Parrott rifle was a type of muzzle loading rifled Artillery weapon used extensively in the American Civil War. The cannon fire forced the Union soldiers to fall back with many casualties.

The Union officers then reorganized their men and advanced again. Like the previous charge, this charge also was repelled. One more charge occurred, and the Union army was pushed back one more time. The Confederates had held on to their position during the first day of battle. ^[19]

Breckinridge ordered his men to move forward and build new breastworks. A breastwork is a Fortification. The term is usually applied to temporary fortifications often an earthwork thrown up to breast height to provide protection to defenders firing These new defensive positions placed the two armies less than one hundred fifty yards apart. During the night, one Union officer was ordered to take positions at the covered bridge near the river. A covered bridge is a Bridge, often single-lane with enclosed sides and a roof He and 75 men took up positions in and around the covered bridge. This was the only advance of that night by the Union army. ^[20]

Second day

The Union army that was positioned at the covered bridge fired the first few volleys at the Confederates to harass their front positions. Burbridge attacked just as the fog lifted. Columns of Union men charged across the fields into the same fire they had received the day before. A combination of the colored and the white troops managed to push the 4th Kentucky Infantry and General Cosby's positions back. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Cosby rallied his men and counterattacked, retaking their breastworks. ^[21]

The Union soldiers that had taken positions at the covered bridge the night before began to take pressure from the 4th Kentucky in their front. They realized their location was not safe one and some to tried to run back to the Union lines. As these men attempted to retreat from their positions at the bridge, the Confederates near the bridge picked most of them off. The remaining Union soldiers at the bridge decided to wait out the battle. Later in the day Burbridge ordered one of his regiments to charge across the bridge on horseback to relieve the pressure on the trapped men. The regiment took a few casualties and then retreated. ^[22]

On the far right, General Duke was pressed hard by the heavy columns of attacking Union soldiers. Seeing this, Colonel Giltner sent his regiment to reinforce Duke. Before the 2nd arrived, Duke and his men counterattacked the Union line and routed it. Duke and Witcher then combined forces and charged the Union's extreme left flank, routing one of the Union's colored regiments. ^[23]

Burbridge and his men then fell into a disorderly retreat. The confederate rail breastworks had held, but the holding of the line had resulted in the use of a huge amount of ammunition. Each Confederate defender had fired at least seventy-five rounds, with some having fired as many as a hundred rounds. The Union army then ordered another charge with a large cavalry regiment that reinforced the Union infantry. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists The unexpected fighting capabilities of the small Confederate army had temporarily created a reprieve for the salt works. ^[24]

Aftermath

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 a point that he judged that he could no longer hold back the Union army at his front lines. Ammunition in the camp was also running low; each man had no more than ten cartridges apiece. Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which 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 the near future. ^[25]

Outcome

Although the vastly outnumbered Confederates had inflicted casualties and slowed the Union advance on Saltville, they were unable to stop it. ^[26] Finding their own path to Saltville's defenses blocked, Breckinridge and his men retreated further south, while the Union raiders advanced. ^[3]Saltville would fall to a night attack on December 20 – December 21 and the salt works were be destroyed by the Union army. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian ^[27]

The damage to the lead mines near Wytheville would keep them out of production for three months, and then only partial production would be possible. Salt production would not be resumed for over a month. All railroad locomotives, cars, depots and bridges in the vicinity had been destroyed by the raid. ^[28] Stoneman claimed to have captured 34 officers and 845 enlisted men during the raid into Virginia. ^[29]

Notes

External links

• Virginia Civil War Trails description of the battle
• History of Marion County
• Step by step of the battle

Coordinates: 36°50′9″N 81°30′58″W / 36.83583, -81.51611 (Battle of Marion)

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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