Stoneman's 1864 raid | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
![]() Stoneman's 1864 Raid brought Union troops from Tennessee and Kentucky into southwestern Virginia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
George Stoneman | John C. Breckinridge | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
5,700 | 2,800 |
Stoneman's 1864 raid, also known as Stoneman's raid into Southwest Virginia, was an American Civil War expedition by Union troops into southwestern Virginia. The expedition occurred from December 10 through December 29, 1864. Union Major General George Stoneman led cavalry and mounted infantry from Tennessee and Kentucky into territory under the command of Confederate Major General John C. Breckinridge. The purpose of the raid was to damage infrastructure used for the Confederate war effort. Targets included salt mines in Saltville, Virginia; lead mines in southern Wythe County; and the railroad used to transport those resources. The salt was used by for food preservation and the lead was used to make bullets. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad was used to transport both resources for the Confederacy, and it was also used to transport Confederate troops.
The expedition began at Bean Station, Tennessee, on December 12, the forces from Tennessee and Kentucky combined. Skirmishing occurred near Bristol, Tennessee. In Virginia, skirmishing happened near Glade Spring and near Abington on December 15 as the Union troops moved toward the salt mines. Avoiding the heavily–guarded salt mines, Stoneman's troops had a small fight (classified as an action) at Marion on December 16, and also captured the Confederate regional headquarters at Wytheville. On December 17 the lead mines in southern Wythe County were captured and severely damaged. On December 17 and 18, Stoneman had the largest fight of the expedition near Marion. After Breckinridge and his forces retreated from Marion on December 19, Stoneman was able to capture Saltville and damage its salt mines. This occurred on December 20 and 21.
While Stoneman was involved in the various skirmishes and actions, one of his regiments destroyed a significant quantity of railroad infrastructure, including bridges, locomotives, and railcars. After Saltville, the two Union forces split as one unit returned to Kentucky and one unit returned to Tennessee. The return trip was difficult because of cold weather, worn-out horses, and harassment by Confederate militia and cavalry.
Union Brevet Major General Stephen G. Burbridge was the commander of a division from Kentucky that joined Stoneman and a brigade from Tennessee commanded by Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem. They traveled from Bean Station, Tennessee, to Bristol and Virginia. The raid in Virginia occurred mostly in Washington, Smyth, and Wythe counties.
Total Union casualties for Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia were 20 killed and 123 wounded. The raid is listed as beginning on December 10, 1864, at Bean's Station, Tennessee; and lasting until December 29. [1]
Major General George Stoneman was second-in-command in the Department of the Ohio, and based in Knoxville, Tennessee in late 1864. [6] For his excursion into southwestern Virginia, his command consisted of two forces: one from Kentucky and one from Tennessee. [7] [Note 1]
Governor's Guards: This Tennessee brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem, and totaled to 1,500 mounted soldiers that were chosen for the expedition. [8] [Note 2] The brigade consisted of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (Union) commanded by Colonel Samuel N. Patton; [9] the 9th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (Union) commanded by Major James H. Hornsby; [10] and the 13th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (Union). Lieutenant Colonel B. P. Stacy commanded the 13th Tennessee, and Major Joseph H. Wagner commanded one of the regiment's battalions. [11]
Burbridge's Division: Brevet Major General Stephen G. Burbridge was the commander of this division. [12] [Note 3] This mounted force was organized into brigades and consisted of 4,200 soldiers according to Stoneman's report, while Burbridge reported that its size was 4,000. [15]
Other units: Battery "E" Kentucky Light Artillery (Union) and the 10th Michigan Cavalry Regiment were also part of the Union force. [3] The 10th Michigan was a detachment of 50 soldiers, led by Captain James B. Roberts, that was Major General Stoneman's escort. [Note 4]
The Confederate forces were under command of Major General John C. Breckinridge, who was the commander of the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee. [34] Upon receiving intelligence that a Union force was moving from Tennessee to Virginia, Breckinridge began assembling forces. He arrived in Saltville by train with Brigadier General John Echols on December 15. [35] Breckinridge's force totaled to about 1600 soldiers excluding Vaughn's brigade. [36] For the Battle of Marion, the militia portion of the force remained in Saltville, giving Breckinridge a force of about 1,000. [37] [Note 5]