Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
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SEE LOCATION SECTION
Engagement at Marion
A Small Town Survives
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
1. Engagement at Marion Marker
On the lower left are portraits of William C. Sexton, Katherine Killinger, and Susan Allen.
Inscription.
Engagement at Marion. A Small Town Survives. Throughout 1864, Federal raids against the Confederate infrastructure in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia attempted to destroy iron and lead mines, salt works and railroads. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the Confederate lifeline to the Deep South, and the salt and lead mines at Saltville and Austinville were prized Union targets. Small towns like Marion, located along the raiders' route, often paid a price., The engagement at Marion was fought on December 17 and 18, 1864. For two days east of town, fewer than 1,000 Confederates under the command of Gen. John C. Breckenridge (former Vice President of the United States) held off 4,200 cavalrymen under U.S. Gen. George Stoneman. The hardest fighting occurred near the covered bridge which stood to your right near the Allen home. With ammunition supplies depleted and under the cover of darkness, the Confederates left the battlefield and crossed the mountains toward Rye Valley by the only route not blocked by Union troops., Fearing the Union soldiers would burn the courthouse when they entered the town, Clerk of Court William C. Sexton attempted to save the county's records by moving them to a safe location. He was thwarted by an encounter with Union cavalrymen who set his wagon on fire. Twenty-four year old resident Katherine Killinger retrieved the records and hid them in nearby bushes until they could be safely returned to the courthouse. The soldiers also repeatedly set fire to the covered bridge. Each time, nine year old Susan Allen put out the fire with water from the river below. The stone abutments from the bridge are still visible.
Throughout 1864, Federal raids against the Confederate infrastructure in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia attempted to destroy iron and lead mines, salt works and railroads. The Virginia & Tennessee Railroad, the Confederate lifeline to the Deep South, and the salt and lead mines at Saltville and Austinville were prized Union targets. Small towns like Marion, located along the raiders' route, often paid a price.
The engagement at Marion was fought on December 17 & 18, 1864. For two days east of town, fewer than 1,000 Confederates under the command of Gen. John C. Breckenridge (former Vice President of the United States) held off 4,200 cavalrymen under U.S. Gen. George Stoneman. The hardest fighting occurred near the covered bridge which stood to your right near the Allen home. With ammunition supplies depleted and under the cover of darkness, the Confederates left the battlefield and crossed the mountains toward Rye Valley by the only route not blocked by Union troops.
Fearing the Union soldiers would burn the courthouse when they entered the town, Clerk of Court William C. Sexton attempted to save the county's records by moving them to a safe location. He was thwarted by an encounter with Union cavalrymen who set his wagon on fire. Twenty-four year old resident Katherine Killinger retrieved the records and hid them
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in nearby bushes until they could be safely returned to the courthouse. The soldiers also repeatedly set fire to the covered bridge. Each time, nine year old Susan Allen put out the fire with water from the river below. The stone abutments from the bridge are still visible.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1732.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 36° 50.942′ N, 81° 29.331′ W. Marker was in Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. Marker was on North Main Street (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Marion VA 24354, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Battle of Marion (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sherwood Anderson (approx. ¼ mile away); Royal Oak Presbyterian Church
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
2. Map and Photo on Upper Right
The map depicts the actions described on the marker, noting the location of the covered bridge and Allen house. The inset photo shows Record books saved by Katherine Killinger during Stoneman's Raid, located at the Smyth Co. Historical Museum.
Also see . . . Battle of Marion (from archive.org). Article providing background and details about the battle. (Submitted on September 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
3. Engagement at Marion Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
4. Modern Bridge over the Holston River
The covered bridge crossed the river to the east (right) of the modern bridge.
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, June 4, 2011
5. Susan Allen
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, June 4, 2011
6. William C. Sexton
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, June 4, 2011
7. Katherine Killinger
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, June 4, 2011
8. Engagement at Marion Marker
Record books saved by Katherine Killinger during Stoneman's Raid, located at the Smyth Co. Historical Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,645 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on April 21, 2022, by Drew A Gruber of N/a, N/a. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 23, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.