Battle of Marion

Battle of Marion
Part of The American Civil War

Location of the battle.
DateDecember 17, 1864 (1864-12-17) – December 18, 1864 (1864-12-18)
Location
Result Union victory[1]
Territorial
changes
Southwest Virginia
Belligerents
United States United States Union Confederate States of America Confederacy (CSA)
Commanders and leaders
George Stoneman John C. Breckinridge
Strength
4,200–5,500[2] 1,200–1,500[2]
Casualties and losses
89 killed
55 wounded[2]
91 killed
29 wounded[2]

The Battle of Marion (December 17–18, 1864)[3] was a military engagement fought between units of the Union Army and the Confederate Army during the American Civil War near the town of Marion, Virginia. The battle was part of Union Maj. Gen. George Stoneman's attack upon southwest Virginia, aimed at destroying Confederate industrial infrastructure near Saltville and Marion. Union Cavalry and Infantry regiments—some 4,500 soldiers in total—left Tennessee on December 17 for southwestern Virginia.[4]

Through two days of fighting, a Confederate force under the command of John C. Breckinridge—totalling 1,200–1,500 infantry and cavalry—was successful in holding defensive positions in and around the town of Marion.[5][6] On the first day, successive Union attacks were defeated by a well-coordinated Confederate defenses near a covered bridge outside of Marion.[6] By the end of the second day, dwindling ammunition supplies forced Confederate forces to withdraw from the area. With casualties for both sides approaching 300,[7] Union forces proceeded to destroy the salt mines, lead works, and other beneficial Confederate infrastructure in Marion and Saltville.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Marvel, p. 129.
  3. ^ Official Records, p. 437.
  4. ^ Official Records, p. 442.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mosgrove was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Foote, pp. 721–723.
  7. ^ Guerrent, p. 599.
  8. ^ Marvel, p. 128.