Battle of Saltville I
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Saltville was fought near the town of Saltville, Virginia
, during the American Civil War
. The battle was fought by both regular and homeguard Confederate
units against regular Union
troops, including one of the few black
cavalry
units, over an important saltworks in the town. The Union troops were led by Brig. Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge
.
The battle was a Confederate victory, stained by the murders of captured and wounded white and black Union troops by irregular guerrilla forces under the notorious Champ Ferguson
. Ferguson was tried after the war in Nashville, TN for these and other non-military killings, found guilty and executed. A second battle
occurred two months later when Union general George Stoneman
defeated Confederate defenders and burned the saltworks.
Saltville, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,204 people, 909 households, and 660 families residing in the town. The population density was 273.7 people per square mile . There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 124.5 per square mile...
, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The battle was fought by both regular and homeguard Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
units against regular Union
Union (American Civil War)
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 free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops, including one of the few black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
units, over an important saltworks in the town. The Union troops were led by Brig. Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge
Stephen G. Burbridge
-External links:* — Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush...
.
The battle was a Confederate victory, stained by the murders of captured and wounded white and black Union troops by irregular guerrilla forces under the notorious Champ Ferguson
Champ Ferguson
Samuel "Champ" Ferguson was a notorious Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War. He claimed to have killed over 100 Union soldiers and pro-Union civilians.-Early life and origins of Confederate stance:...
. Ferguson was tried after the war in Nashville, TN for these and other non-military killings, found guilty and executed. A second battle
Battle of Saltville II
The Battle of Saltville , was fought near the town of Saltville, Virginia, during the American Civil War....
occurred two months later when Union general George Stoneman
George Stoneman
George Stoneman, Jr. was a career United States Army officer, a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War, and the 15th Governor of California between 1883 and 1887.-Early life:...
defeated Confederate defenders and burned the saltworks.
See also
- 5th United States Colored Cavalry5th United States Colored CavalryThe 5th United States Colored Cavalry was a regiment of the United States Army organized as one of many "Colored" units during the American Civil War. The 5th USCC was one of the more notable "black" fighting units and it was officially organized, after its first two battles, in Kentucky in October...
- Champ FergusonChamp FergusonSamuel "Champ" Ferguson was a notorious Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War. He claimed to have killed over 100 Union soldiers and pro-Union civilians.-Early life and origins of Confederate stance:...
-hanged in 1865 on murder charges. - See the entry on John C. BreckinridgeJohn C. BreckinridgeJohn Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
who tried to have Felix Robertson tried for killing black soldiers. - Salt in the American Civil WarSalt in the American Civil WarSalt played a major role during the Civil War. Salt not only preserved food in the days before refrigeration, but was also vital in the curing of leather. Union general William Tecumseh Sherman once said that "salt is eminently contraband", as an army that has salt can adequately feed its men.The...
External links
- Coverage by Harper's Weekly; continued here