"The Burnt City"
Gladeville (present-day Wise) served for a time
in 1862 as the headquarters for Confederate Gen.
Humphrey Marshall, who directed operations in
Southwest Virginia. Despite its relative isolation
in this part of the state, the community here
endured numerous encounters with Union and
Confederate forces during the Civil War. A Federal
raid here on June 1, 1862, led to the capture of
preacher and county clerk of court Morgan T. Lipps.
Lipps's response to demands that he offer a
sermon to his captors was that "I don't cast
pearls before swine." He ultimately relented and
was released. The Federals soon departed but
burned part of Gladeville first.
On July 7, 1863, fighting erupted in the
streets of the town as Union Gen. Julius White's
force attacked, "completely surprising and capturing
the place by storm." Among the prisoners
were 18 officers, including Col. Benjamin E.
Caudill, and 99 men of the Tenth Kentucky
Mounted Rifles (CSA).
In October 1864, Union Gen. Stephen G.
Burbridge's forces swept through Grundy and
Crab Orchard en route to Saltville. Burbridge
failed to capture and destroy the salt works, but
"a detachment sent to Pound Gap forced its way
through and drove [Confederate Lt. Col. Clarence
J.] Prentice, with a superior force, from his
works at Gladeville, capturing several prisoners,
a number of small arms and 1 piece of artillery."
The Federals left the courthouse here in ruins.
"This city ... has 9 resident families.— One
blacksmith & one saddle shop— & one store
house, large church-like looking court house
but no Church nor jail. Its population is
about 1000 minus 965." — Confederate Capt.
Edward 0. Guerrant, February 14, 1862
"[We arrived at Gladesville—the 'burnt city.'
The country & town especially are much
changed in appearance. Few houses ever
stood in Gladesville—now much fewer are
left, save in their smoldering ruins & charred
& blackened skeletons." — Confederate Capt.
Edward 0. Guerrant, September 7, 1862
Comments 0 comments