U.S. General Stoneman's Raid

U.S. General Stoneman's Raid. The Salt Works Partially Destroyed. During the Civil War, most Confederate states operated furnaces or contracted with operators in Saltville to supply salt for the people of their states. Salt was vital as a preservative for food., The Federal army's first attempt to destroy the saltworks here failed after a fierce battle in October 1864, north of town at Cedar Branch., On December 20, 1864, U.S Gen. George Stoneman, during his raid through southwest Virginia, initiated another Federal army's attempt to destroy the saltworks by attacking Saltville from two directions. U.S. Gen. Alvin Gillem advanced from Glade Spring along the railroad that entered the southern end of the valley. U.S. Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge advanced via the Pike Road, which enters the valley from the east., That afternoon, Union skirmishers drew close to the defending forts, manned by only a few hundred Confederate reserve troops, but could not break through the valley's defenses., After nightfall, some of Gen. Gillem's troops made a daring assault and overran Ft. Breckenridge, opening the way into the valley to begin destruction of the saltworks. He was not joined by Gen. Burbridge's force until early the next morning., The Federal troops broke hundreds of kettles, burned many of the 300 structures in the valley, dismantled two locomotives and choked wells with cannonballs and railroad steel., Confederate Col. Robert Preston retreated from Saltville up the North Road with three cannon and the remainder of his reserve troops., Amid bitterly cold weather, the Union army retired from Saltville on December 22. Within a few weeks, furnaces were fired and salt was again being produced for the Confederacy., (captions) , Several hundred Va. Reserve troops under Confederate Col. Robert Preston held from afternoon until nightfall against Union Gen. Stoneman's force of nearly 6,000, led by Gens. Burbridge and Gillem., Saltworks in 1860, Saltville, Virginia