Elkin in Surry County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Elkin Manufacturing Company

Welcoming the Raiders

— Stoneman's Raid —

Elkin Manufacturing Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox

1. Elkin Manufacturing Company Marker

Inscription.

Elkin Manufacturing Company. Welcoming the Raiders. (Preface): , On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman's Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham. , ----, This is the site of the Elkin Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill where 60 women produced Confederate uniform cloth. Richard Ransome Gwyn, the manager, lived in the Greek Revival house up the slope to your left., On April 1, 1865, a 2,000-man detachment of Union Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry raiders under Col. William J. Palmer rode into Elkin. The mill workers "welomed the Yankees," who seized 500 bales of cotton and flour, meat, honey, butter, molasses, tobacco, and chestnuts, "a perfect God-send to us," one hungry soldier wrote. Palmer ordered three gristmills to grind meal for his men. Gwyn quartered the officers at his home., According to local tradition, a common bond of Freemasonry may explain why Palmer spared the mill. It is more likely, however, that Palmer declined to destroy the factory because because Gwyn was a cooperative and influential community leader. Palmer had written of an earlier instance, "We frequently meet such fine gentleman in our marches, and always make it a point to leave them them as far as possible unmolested so that they may remain to teach nobility by example to the communities in which they live.", Stoneman, bivouacked on the south side of the high-water Yadkin River, signaled Palmer late in the day that the level was falling. Stoneman's command crossed over the next morning, using a ferryboat rope, and the reunited cavalrymen continued their road. ,

(Preface):
On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman's Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham.
----

This is the site of the Elkin Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill where 60 women produced Confederate uniform cloth. Richard Ransome Gwyn, the manager, lived in the Greek Revival house up the slope to your left.

On April 1, 1865, a 2,000-man detachment of Union Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry raiders under Col. William J. Palmer rode into Elkin. The mill workers "welomed the Yankees," who seized 500 bales of cotton and flour, meat, honey, butter, molasses, tobacco, and chestnuts—"a perfect God-send to us," one hungry soldier wrote. Palmer ordered three gristmills to grind meal for his men. Gwyn quartered the officers at his home.

According to local tradition, a common bond of Freemasonry may explain why Palmer spared

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the mill. It is more likely, however, that Palmer declined to destroy the factory because because Gwyn was a cooperative and influential community leader. Palmer had written of an earlier instance, "We frequently meet such fine gentleman in our marches, and always make it a point to leave them them as far as possible unmolested so that they may remain to teach nobility by example to the communities in which they live."

Stoneman, bivouacked on the south side of the high-water Yadkin River, signaled Palmer late in the day that the level was falling. Stoneman's command crossed over the next morning, using a ferryboat rope, and the reunited cavalrymen continued their road.

Erected by North Carolina 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 North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 24, 1865.

Location. 36° 14.62′ N, 80° 51.24′ W. Marker is in Elkin, North Carolina, in Surry County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Front Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elkin NC 28621, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elkin & Alleghany Engine 100 (a few steps from this marker); Elkin & Alleghany Railroad Depot

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, June 25, 2012

2. Elkin Manufacturing Company Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Elkin & Alleghany Railway Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); David Allen's Iron Works (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Elkin Manufacturing Company (about 400 feet away); Elkin & Alleghany Railway by the 1910 Dam (about 500 feet away); First Dam on the Elkin Creek (about 800 feet away); Boone Trail Highway (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkin.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox

3. Elkin Manufacturing Company Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox

4. Elkin Manufacturing Company Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,618 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 25, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.