First Battle of Saltville

First Battle of Saltville
Part of the American Civil War

View of part of the Saltville battlefield
DateOctober 2, 1864 (1864-10-02)
Location
Smyth County, Virginia
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Stephen G. Burbridge Alfred E. Jackson
Units involved
5th United States Colored Cavalry Confederate Home Guard
Strength
5,000–5,200 [1][2] 2,000–2,800 [1][2]
Casualties and losses
450 [1]
Map of Saltville I Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program

The First Battle of Saltville (October 2, 1864) was fought near the town of Saltville, Virginia, during the American Civil War. The battle over significant Confederate saltworks in town was fought by both regular and Home Guard Confederate units against regular U.S. Army troops, which included two of the few black cavalry units of the United States Colored Troops. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge, then commander of U.S. forces in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, led the U.S. Army troops.[3]

Confederates murdered both black and white wounded soldiers after the battle, in what has been called the Saltville Massacre.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference vcvws was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Dietzen, Elizabeth (7 December 2020). "Saltville During the Civil War". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 7 September 2024.