Stoneman at Greever's Switch

— Stoneman Raid —

Sidebar. On December 1, 1864, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 5,700 cavalrymen eastfrom Knoxville, Tennessee, to destroy iron-, lead-, and saltworks in Virginia that wereessential to the Confederate war effort. After actions at Kingsport and Bristol,Stoneman struck at Marion, Wytheville, and Austinville, then destroyed thesaltworks at Saltville. Stoneman returned to Tennessee on January 1, 1865, havinglaid waste to every factory, railroad, depot, and warehouse in his path.

Sidebar. Fountain Beattie (Nov. 10, 1840-Mar. 25, 1923), born at the Town House, enlisted in the 1st Va. Cavalry at Abingdon, Va., where he met John S. Mosby. Beattie later became one of Mosby's fifteen original Partisan Rangers and Mosby's closest confidant.

Before you is the Middle Fork of theHolston River, and beyond it is theVirginia and Tennessee Railroadbed (now Norfolk Southern) laid in1856. The ruins of the Beattie family home (Town House) are visibleon the hill to your left front.

In December 1864, UnionGen. George Stoneman led a cavalry raid from Tennessee into southwest Virginia to destroy the Austinvine lead mines, the saltworks atSaltville, and the Virginia andTennessee Railroad. After a briefengagement at Abingdon on December 13, Confederate forces retreatedand Stoneman's men continuedtheir march. The next day, theFederals camped here at Greever'sSwitch along a seven-mile stretchof the railroad. Stoneman soonestablished his headquarters at thePreston House at Seven Mile Ford,although according to local tradition, he first paused at the TownHouse. There, however, the wife ofFountain Beattie's brother, Claiborne Watkins Beattie (Co. A, 23rdBattalion Virginia Infantry), greet-ed Stoneman at the door with agun and ordered him to leave. Hefollowed her orders and campedfor the night at the foot of the hill.

The Federals soon pushednorthward and engaged Confederateforces at Marion, Atkins Tank,Mount Airy, Wytheville, and Austinville. Then Stoneman turned westand attacked Saltville on December22, overwhelming the garrisonthere and damaging the saltworks.Although he reported that the workswould be inoperable for months,they resumed limited servicein a few weeks.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Chilhowie, VA  |  Smyth County  |  24319  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Transportation Through the Ages
Chilhowie
Farthest West, 1750
Town House
Sulphur Springs Church and Campground
William Campbell's Grave
Fort Kilmachronan
Seven Mile Ford
Mrs. Eliza M. Jones
History of Saltville Valley

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.