**A Research Design**

**For the Investigation of the Battles of Saltville**

**On October 2^nd^, 1864 and December 20^th^, 1864**

**A Cooperative Project between**

**The American Battlefield Protection Program**

**And Radford University**

**By**

**Angela M. Dautartas**

**C. Clifford Boyd**

**Rhett B. Herman**

**Robert C. Whisonant**

**June 17, 2005**

**Introduction**

History in Saltville, Virginia, is as abundant as it is fascinating.
From ice-age mammals to prehistoric villages to Civil War battlefields,
this small town seems to have been a cornerstone throughout the ages.
This project hopes to preserve that sense of history by continuing to
add to the Saltville story. The focus of this study is narrowed to the
two Civil War battles that were fought to gain control of the
Salt-Works, a key resource for the Confederacy. Although these two
battles represent only a portion of the significance of this town, it is
a portion deserving of intensive study. In addition, many of the
intricate fortification systems and earthworks are still visible today,
and the grounds where the two armies clashed are still visited
frequently by those who wish to remember the past. For these reasons and
many others, this project is working to show how and why Saltville's
invaluable historic resources must be preserved and protected.

**Overview of Saltville Sites**

Saltville's salt deposits have influenced the history of the region
since at least the late Pleistocene, when large Ice Age mammals and
Paleo-Indians who hunted them were drawn to the natural salt licks
(McDonald, 1984; Roanoke Times, 1996). In the late 1700s, settlers of
European descent began commercial production of salt from brine wells
scattered across the valley floor (Boyd and Whisonant, 2002). By the
advent of the Civil War, Saltville was one of the three largest
salt-making centers in the young United States (Sarvis, 1998). During
the war, Saltville became one of the prime mineral production centers in
the South, and the defensive fortifications and battles fought there
attest to its strategic significance (Rachal, 1953; Marvel, 1992;
Whisonant, 1996).

Salt was one of the most crucial mineral resources to both the military
forces of the Confederacy and its civilian population (Lonn, 1933;
Holmes, 1993). As the conflict wore on, the salt-producing facilities at
Saltville grew into an enormous network of brine wells, storage tanks,
wooden pipes, and open-shed furnaces with large (some up to 1,100
pounds) iron evaporating kettles (Marvel, 1992). Here, two-thirds of all
the salt consumed by the South during the war was produced (Lonn, 1933).

Because of its national significance to the Confederacy, Saltville
became the principal Union military target in southwestern Virginia
(Donnelly, 1959). In response, Confederate engineers had constructed a
complex array of trenches, cannon emplacements, sentry posts, and
fortified enclosures between July 1863 and late 1864 (McDonald, 1985),
manned at one point by as many as 4,000 troops (Marvel, 1992). Two major
battles were fought in October 1864 and December 1864. The October 1864
battle is of particular interest because of the selective murders by
Confederates of a disputed number of African-American Union soldiers
lying wounded on the battlefield -- the Saltville Massacre (Davis, 1971,
1993; Marvel, 1991, 1992; Mays, 1998).

At least two dozen sites containing various components of the
battlefields and defensive earthworks system are known in Saltville. A
survey and inventory of all archeological (prehistoric through
industrial age) sites in Saltville conducted by McDonald (1985)
identified 21 sites attributable to the 1863-1864 military defenses.
Many of the locations contain multiple features, such as forts with
parapets, cannon ramps, and trenches, several sets of trenches, or (in
one case) a "double" fort. Many other Civil War features in Saltville
were not documented by McDonald, including some on the October 1864
battlefield. These can be seen in the field or on air photos, or are
known to local sources (Saltville Historical Foundation, undated; Kent,
1955; Haynes, oral commun., 2004; Totten, oral commun., 2004). None have
ever been mapped using the precision GPS/GIS technology that will be
employed in this project. Therefore, this research will produce a series
of maps that show the location, extent, and condition of one of the most
elaborate Civil War defensive systems built to protect an important
industrial location. This is the first critical step toward the
interpretation and preservation of the irreplaceable Civil War resources
at Saltville.

**Historical Background**

*The First Battle for Saltville- October 2^nd^, 1864*

George D. Mosgrove, a Kentucky Confederate soldier, described Saltville
as a "natural fortress" with hills and ridges in concentric circles,
which greatly aided in the Confederate defenses (Mosgrove, 1957). His
account of the battle of Saltville begins in the summer of 1864, when
rumors had it that Union General Stephen Burbridge's forces were
marching towards the Salt-Works on a parallel course with the
Confederate forces under General John Morgan. In late September, closer
to the time of the actual battle, Mosgrove writes that scouts reported a
force of six to eight thousand cavalry with six to ten pieces of
artillery were coming from Kentucky, commanded by General Burbridge,
General E.H. Hobson, and Colonel Charles Hanson. In addition, the scouts
reported seeing two possible African- American brigades, which were in
fact the 5^th^ and the beginnings of the 6^th^ United States Colored
Cavalry (USCC). General Basil Duke, a member of Morgan's army, also
presents an account of the battle of Saltville in his book (Duke, 1960).
He notes that in addition to the threat presented by General Burbridge,
two other Union generals, General Jacob Ammen and General A. C. Gillem,
were also advancing towards Saltville, but were coming from Knoxville,
Tennessee, as opposed to the Kentucky route Burbridge was taking.

In response to the scout's information, Colonel Henry Giltner of the
Confederacy sent Colonel Edward Trimble with 150 men to Richlands, 40
miles from Saltville, to head off the Union forces. Colonel Trimble then
ordered Colonel Giltner to take 100 of his men to the gap in Paint Lick
Mountain to protect the main turnpike road running through that gap, and
to provide reinforcements should Trimble need to fall back (Duke, 1960).
General Burbridge sent a battalion to Jeffersonville, on the Confederate
right, to try another approach towards the Salt-Works. Colonel Giltner
then sent Captain Bart Jenkins with another company to meet the Union
forces at Jeffersonville. Colonel Trimble did skirmish with Federal
forces at Cedar Bluff and was forced to fall back. The main Confederate
force of 300 men was then pushed back to the summit of Clinch Mountain,
and attempted to hold that mountain pass into the valley. The Union army
sent 500 men around Paint Lick Mountain toward Jeffersonville, flanking
the gap (Duke, 1960).

On the evening of September 30^th^, Captain Edward Guerrant made his
headquarters at the home of George Gillespie, near the grounds of
General Bowen (Davis, 1999). Late at night, the captain was awakened
with news that the Union forces were firing on General Bowen's property.
Captain Guerrant responded by sending a member of the 10^th^ Kentucky
cavalry to warn Colonel Giltner, and by sending the 4^th^ Kentucky
cavalry to picket towards the Union (Davis, 1999). That same day,
Colonel Robert Preston also arrived in Saltville with his reserves. He
was unaware of the strength of the Union forces approaching the town;
his orders had simply been to reach Saltville as quickly as possible,
according to the account of one of his reservists and friends, John Wise
(Wise, 1899).

On October 1^st^, the evening before the battle, the Federal soldiers
camped on the grounds of General Bowen, two miles outside of the
Confederate position within Saltville. At that time, only the Virginia
reserves were actually stationed within the town, with but a few pieces
of artillery. The troops were led by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson, a
man very much disliked and who did not inspire much confidence. However,
General John Williams of the Confederacy was unexpectedly at Castle
Woods, not far from Saltville (Wise, 1899).

The 64^th^ Virginia Battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Smith
with 250 men, and the 10^th^ Kentucky cavalry were both on the summit of
Flat Top Mountain, guarding possible entrances to Saltville (Wise,
1899). Following a skirmish with Federal troops, the regiments were
forced to fall back to Laurel Gap. In addition, the 4^th^ and 10^th^
Kentucky Mounted Rifles were already posted at Laurel Gap. Laurel Gap is
surrounded on either side by tall cliffs, thought to be inaccessible,
and not to be scaled. However, the Mounted Rifles were posted as far up
the left cliff as possible, and the 64^th^ battalion was stationed on
the right (Mosgrove, 1957). Colonel Trimble was also sent up behind the
mountain with his battalion. Late in the afternoon, Union forces secured
passage through the mountain by pushing the 64^th^ Battalion from its
position and crossing on the right. The remaining Confederate forces
then retreated to Saltville. At Broadford the road into the town forked
and split into two separate roads, both leading southward into the
valley toward Saltville. Colonel Giltner took the 64^th^ Virginia and
the 10^th^ Kentucky Mounted Rifles across the Holston River, and ordered
Colonel Trimble to take the 10^th^ Kentucky cavalry and the 4^th^
Kentucky cavalry down the main river road, thus covering both avenues of
approach. By midnight, the entire Federal force was able to cross the
mountain through Laurel Gap (Mosgrove, 1957).

The battle opened on October 2^nd^ with the Union troops attacking
pickets and skirmish lines. The 4^th^ and 10^th^ Kentucky cavalry under
Colonel Trimble then crossed over to ground occupied by Giltner to act
as reinforcements. Colonel Trimble's men then attacked the Union forces,
and fell back slowly. Meanwhile, the Union forces charged the 4^th^
Kentucky cavalry and skirmished with them for half an hour. Part of the
4^th^ occupied a position high on the hill near "Governor" Sanders'
house, and there General Felix Roberston's brigade of 250 men arrived in
advance of General Williams to reinforce the Confederate units (Davis,
1999).

At this point, Mosgrove's account lists fighting and changing of
positions, with a bit of confusion as to which regiment was moving
where. Ultimately, the Confederate forces ended up positioned all along
the ridges. General Williams was on the high ridge near Sanders' hill,
and Giltner was pushed back to the bluffs along the Holston River
(Mosgrove, 1957). The 10^th^ KY cavalry was on the bluff at the ford,
with the 10^th^ KY mounted rifles to their left. The 64^th^ VA reserves
were then to the left of that regiment, and the 4^th^ KY was to the left
of them. Finally, on the extreme end of the line were Colonel Preston's
reserves. Another battalion of reserves under Lieutenant Colonel Smith
and Major John S. Prather were barricaded around Governor Sanders' home
(Wise, 1899). The Federal forces advanced on the Confederate line. At
midmorning, the Union forces formed into three columns and attacked the
reserves surrounding Governor Sanders' house. The 13^th^ Battalion of
Virginia Reserves stationed at the house fought, but the Union forces
were able to push them back to Chestnut Ridge. The Union troops stormed
the yard, and followed the reserves up Chestnut Ridge, where they were
met by the Confederate brigades of General Robertson and Colonel George
Dibrell.

The three Federal columns then moved to attack Trimble's position at the
ford. One column went directly down Sanders' hill, another moved along
the river, and one swept across the wide bottom of the hill. The Federal
forces crossed the ford, scaled the opposite cliff and attacked
Trimble's position. In response, the 10^th^ Kentucky mounted rifles and
the 64^th^ Virginia was sent to support Trimble. Colonel Giltner went to
the reserves barricaded in trenches at the nearby church and moved them
down the road and up by Elizabeth Cemetery to support Trimble. Trimble
fell back, and the colonel himself was killed (Mosgrove, 1957).

The Federal forces were then repulsed on all sides, particularly on the
Confederate left. The Federal column led by Colonel Hanson was on the
far left side of the mountain. His brigade eventually met up with the
4^th^ Kentucky and Preston's reserves. Active firing ceased around 5 in
the evening, and at that point the Confederates were able to hold the
mountain pass at Hayter's Gap, which was the most direct route out of
Saltville (Mosgrove, 1957).

The Union troops continued to hold their position one mile out of
Saltville until nightfall. Generals John Breckenridge and John Echols
arrived after nightfall, with the small brigades of Generals Basil Duke,
George Cosby and John C. Vaughn. According to the memoirs of General
Duke, General Vaughn was left at Carter's Station, while General Cosby
and he were ordered by General Echols to head on to Bristol on September
30^th^ (Duke, 1960). However, the following day, they received word from
General Echols that they were to head to Saltville, and arrived shortly
after their own brigades. With the "fresh" brigades, the Confederates
were reinforced, and intended upon resuming the offensive in the morning
(Mosgrove, 1957).

Mosgrove noted that he saw at least four hundred members of the USCC in
the battle during the day. That evening, General Dibrell told Mosgrove
that his men had fought 2500 Yankees during the battle, and had taken
down 200 of those men. After dark, Captain Guerrant and Mosgrove also
met up with General Robertson, who claimed that his men had, "killed
nearly all the negroes." At the close of the evening, the 4^th^ Kentucky
relieved Trimble's battalion of guarding the ford between the
Confederate and Federal camps (Mosgrove, 1957).

Monday, October 3^rd^ began with a Federal retreat ordered by Burbridge
early in the morning, still during the dark. The Union troops abandoned
their position without taking much of their equipment, and even leaving
some of the wounded behind on the field in order to gain ground on the
expected Confederate pursuit. General Breckenridge then ordered a scout
to locate the Union forces (Duke, 1960). Captain R.O. Gaithright was
sent to pursue the Federals from the rear, while General Williams was
sent with the brigades of Duke, Cosby and Vaughn down through Hayter's
Gap to intercept the Union at Richlands. Colonel Giltner's brigade was
also sent in pursuit of the Union troops, but was instructed not to
follow too close to allow General Williams enough time to advance beyond
the Union movements.

Evidence of the Federal retreat was seen all along the route towards
Laurel Gap. Captain Gaithright eventually caught up with some of the
African-American regiments near Laurel Gap. Late in the afternoon,
Captain Gaithright also spotted the rear of the Federal column crossing
Clinch Mountain. By dusk, Colonel George Diamond with the 10^th^
Kentucky cavalry attacked the Federal rear while crossing the Clinch
River. General Duke wrote that he and General Cosby did overtake General
Burbridge at Hayter's Gap; however, mistakes in reconnaissance and other
tactical errors allowed the Union to escape. Thus, by noon the following
day, it became obvious that General Williams had been unable to head off
the Union retreat, due to their head start. The pursuit was ended and
the first battle for Saltville was over (Mosgrove, 1957).

On October 3^rd^, Mosgrove wrote that Colonel Hanson of the Federal army
was lying wounded in a field hospital, having been shot by a minie ball;
he was drunk and swearing at the hospital staff. This same hospital is
where Mosgrove writes that while surgeon William H. Gardner was tending
the Federal wounded, three armed Confederate soldiers stormed into the
hospital and fatally wounded five African-American soldiers. He also
claims to have witnessed a great deal of slaughtering of members of the
USCC on the fields, primarily by two Tennessee brigades under the
command of General Robertson and Colonel Dibrell. However, Mosgrove
never specifies the total number of black soldiers killed during the
massacre. General Burbridge submitted his casualty report stating that
of the members of the 5^th^ USCC, 22 men were killed, 37 wounded and 90
were missing. Captain Guerrant also discussed the incident in his diary.
He noted that he heard the continuous sound of rifle fire which meant
the death of, "many a poor negro who was unfortunate enough not to be
killed yesterday." He also wrote that his men did not take any Negro
prisoners, and that great numbers of the African-American soldiers were
killed. However, he did not specify any numbers of soldiers killed
(Mosgrove, 1957).

*The Second Battle for Saltville- December 20^th^, 1864*

General George Stoneman led forces comprised of General A.C. Gillem's
men, General Stephen Burbridge's Kentucky battalions, and the 5^th^ and
6^th^ United States Colored Cavalry and the 10^th^ Michigan on a raid on
Saltville on December 20^th^, 1864. The Union forces had 6-7,000 men in
total. Their objective was the same as General Burbridge's had been in
October of that year; they intended to destroy the Salt-Works.

The Confederate army pursued General Stoneman's army from Marion.
Confederate General John Breckenridge ordered one column to take the
road to the left in to Rye Valley, but this route proved problematic, as
the company lost their way several times during the nighttime passage.
In the morning, the company continued down the mountain into Rye Valley,
and turned up the valley, and marched throughout the day, ending at
Mount Airy, on the Wytheville and Marion road (Wise, 1899).

Two roads led into Saltville; the Glade Spring road lay to the
southwest, and the Lyon's Gap road led from the southeast. Three hills a
mile out of Saltville barricaded the convergence of these two roads. On
these hills, protecting these roads the Confederates had constructed two
forts, Fort Breckenridge to protect Glade Spring and Fort Statham to
guard Lyon's Gap. Colonel Robert Preston was stationed in Saltville with
500 men, charged with protecting these two fortifications. With him was
Captain John Barr, who commanded the artillery (Wise, 1899). With these
limited resources, Colonel Preston picketed both roads to try and meet
the approaching Union troops.

General Basil Duke with a detachment, who had traveled from Abingdon
along the Saltville road, and Captain Tom Barrett with men from the
4^th^ Kentucky mounted rifles were also en route to Saltville to head
off the coming raid. By the time General Breckenridge's forces reached
Preston mansion at Seven Mile Ford on the outskirts of Saltville on the
evening of the 20^th^ of December, General Duke and Captain Calvin
Morgan were already there, watching Saltville burn (Duke, 1960).

General Gillem reached Saltville first, attacking Colonel Preston's
pickets on the Glade Spring road. Shortly after, General Burbridge's men
attacked at the Lyon's Gap road. The Union forces crested both Fort
Statham and Fort Breckenridge, and moved down into the town and
descended upon the Salt-Works. Colonel Preston called the surviving
members of his reserves into retreat, and evacuated the town (Wise,
1899). The Federal soldiers destroyed 1000 of 3000 boiling kettles and
burned a number of the evaporating sheds before moving on to rip up
sections of the nearby Virginia and Tennessee railroad. However, they
failed to damage any of the actual salt wells, and the remaining kettles
and sheds were sufficient to continue the needed salt production until
the end of the war.

After the raid, General Stoneman and General Gillem fell back to
Tennessee, while General Stephen Burbridge retreated through Pound Gap
and into Kentucky.

**Research Goals**

The battles for Saltville are not the most prominently known within
Civil War history, but they are significant historical events which
should not be ignored. Therefore, one of the primary goals of this
research is to expand and affirm the knowledge base about this town and
this site in order to ultimately increase awareness of the importance of
this site. In order to accomplish this task, the research will
concentrate on determining the boundaries of the battle, and will search
for confirmation of the historical record in regards to areas of
encampment, artillery positions, barricades, and other military
movements.

A second, but equally important, goal is to examine as many of the
defining features of both battlefields according to KOCOA standards and
the effect of the action at these features on the ultimate outcome of
the battles. The defining features from both battles have been
categorized into critical, major and minor defining features, in
decreasing order of priority. The critical defining features will be
mapped, using GPS and GIS technology, surveyed using the geophysical
equipment, and archaeologically tested during the first summer's
fieldwork, while the major and minor defining features will be analyzed
during a later stage of the project.

There are several questions that can lead the direction of this project.
Those questions include: Did both battles for Saltville occur at the
locations described within the historical record? Is the record correct
in its placement of the encampments, picket lines, artillery positions
barricades and other military movements? What is the geophysical
signature of these various military features? Where is the boundary
extent of both battles? What (if any) artifacts remain on the surface,
or close subsurface to confirm the historical information? Have both
battle sites been completely examined by the local collectors? Through
the historic research, mapping, archaeological survey and geophysical
survey, it is anticipated that many or all of these questions will be
addressed and answered. The Saltville sites present a challenge in that
there is a vast amount of ground to be examined, and time is limited.
However, through prioritizing areas to be researched and through
multiple methods of analysis, it is expected that the majority of these
questions will be addressed by the completion of the project.

**Defining Features and KOCOA Analysis**

A defining feature may be any feature mentioned in battle accounts that
can be located in the ground, including both natural terrain features
and man-made structures. The KOCOA system has been developed by military
experts to analyze defining features, focusing primarily on terrain but
also with consideration for historic structures that were significant to
the battles. Key terrain, obstacles, cover and concealment, observation
points and avenues of approach and retreat are the five categories into
which a defining feature can be placed. One of these five criteria must
be met in order for a feature to be classified as a "defining feature";
the relative importance of that defining feature depends then upon its
significance to the ultimate success or failure of the regiments in
battle.

The critical defining features for the October 2^nd^, 1864 battle and
the December 20^th^, 1864 battle at Saltville are shown in Tables 1 and
2.

Major and minor defining features will be delineated in the same fashion
and surveyed and analyzed during the later stages of the project. In
addition, we must stress that many additional elements of the Saltville
defensive complex, including fortifications, gun emplacements, trenches,
and sentry posts are not included in the list of defining features
because they are not mentioned in the historic record of either battle.
However, many of these earthworks are still in excellent condition, and
should be considered within the context of any preservation planning.
Therefore, as many of these features as possible will be mapped, first
because they must be inventoried and evaluated and second, because they
afford a rather unique opportunity to analyze a potentially "nationally
significant site for the study of Civil War era military engineering"
(Lowe, 2004).

Table 1: Battle of Saltville, October 2^nd^, 1864

Critical Defining Features

  ---------------- ------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------------- --------------
  **Terrain and                                                                      
  Topographic                                                                        
  Features**                                                                         

  Name             Location      Relevance to     Field Comment  KOCOA analysis      Integrity
                                 Battle                                              Assessment

  Laurel Gap       3 miles NE of Union forced     Small creek    Avenue of approach  Location,
                   Saltville     passage en route and modern     (Union)             setting,
                                 to Saltville     road through                       feeling,
                                                  gap                                association

  North Fork of    Town of       Hampered Union   Various land   Obstacle and avenue Location,
  the Holston      Saltville and attacks, Union   uses and       of approach (Union) setting,
  River            environs      focused some     owners along                       feeling,
                                 attacks at ford  river                              association

  Sanders' Hill    Northern edge Hill held first  Wooded and     Key terrain;        Location,
                   of            by Confederates, pasture land;  obstacle (Union),   setting,
                   battlefield   then Union       some homes     observation/field   materials,
                                                                 of fire             feeling,
                                                                 (Confederate)       association

  Cedar Branch     Small creek   Union had to     Residential    Obstacle (Union);   Location,
                   between       cross creek and  and            cover and           materials,
                   Sanders' Hill fight through    agricultural   concealment         setting,
                   and Chestnut  vegetation                      (Confederate)       feeling,
                   Ridge                                                             association

  Chestnut Ridge   Northern edge Confederate      Wooded and     Key terrain;        Location,
                   of            right wing       pasture lands; observation and     materials,
                   battlefield   located here;    private homes  field of fire       setting,
                                 most intense                    (Confederate)       feeling,
                                 fighting                                            association

  Church Hill      Low hill      Formed major     Town of        Key terrain;        Location,
                   along south   part of          Saltville      observation and     materials,
                   side of       Confederate      property,      field of fire       setting,
                   Holston       center; Barr's   private homes, (Confederate)       association,
                   River;        battery located  commercial                         workmanship
                   Elizabeth     here                                                
                   Cemetery here                                                     

  Broady Bottom    Open          Union army       Town of        Avenue of approach  Location,
                   floodplain    advanced across  Saltville      (Union)             association
                   land along    this bottom land property,                          
                   north side of to attack        business and                       
                   Holston River Confederate      industrial                         
                                 center; camp     structures                         
                                 later                                               

  River bluffs     Bluffs and    Greatly impeded  Woods and      Obstacle (Union);   Location,
                   cliffs up to  Union attacks    brush, various cover and           setting,
                   50 feet high  against          land owners    concealment         feeling,
                   along Holston Confederate                     (Confederate)       association
                   River; NW and center and left                                     
                   west edge of                                                      
                   battlefield                                                       

  Hills North and  Unnamed hills Near impregnable Mixed town and Key terrain;        Location,
  West of          along NW and  positions        private        observation and     setting,
  Saltville        west edge of  unsuccessfully   property,      field of fire       feeling,
                   battlefield   assaulted by     wooded and     (Confederate);      association
                                 Union            pasture land,  obstacle (Union)    
                                                  industrial                         

  **Road and                                                                         
  Transportation                                                                     
  Networks**                                                                         

  Broadford Road   Links         Main avenue of   Modern paved   Avenue of approach  Location,
                   Saltville and approach by      road           (Union); avenue of  setting,
                   Broadford 3   Union to attack                 retreat (Union)     association
                   miles NE      Saltville; also                                     
                                 used for retreat                                    
                                 and pursuit                                         
                                 after the battle                                    

  Road East of     Secondary     Secondary avenue Modern paved   Avenue of approach  Location,
  Sanders' Hill    road east of  of approach by   road in        (Union)             setting,
                   Sanders' Hill Union toward     general                            association
                                 Saltville        vicinity                           

  Hills North and  Unnamed hills Near impregnable Mixed town and Key terrain;        Location,
  West of          along NW and  positions        private        observation and     setting,
  Saltville        west edge of  unsuccessfully   property,      field of fire       feeling,
                   battlefield   assaulted by     wooded and     (Confederate);      association
                                 Union            pasture land,  obstacle (Union)    
                                                  industrial                         

  **Road and                                                                         
  Transportation                                                                     
  Networks**                                                                         

  Broadford Road   Links         Main avenue of   Modern paved   Avenue of approach  Location,
                   Saltville and approach by      road           (Union); avenue of  setting,
                   Broadford 3   Union to attack                 retreat (Union)     association
                   miles NE      Saltville; also                                     
                                 used for retreat                                    
                                 and pursuit                                         
                                 after the battle                                    

  Road East of     Secondary     Secondary avenue Modern paved   Avenue of approach  Location,
  Sanders' Hill    road east of  of approach by   road in        (Union)             setting,
                   Sanders' Hill Union toward     general                            association
                                 Saltville        vicinity                           

  **Houses and                                                                       
  Outbuildings**                                                                     

  Sanders' House   Family home   Confederates     No longer      Cover and           Site has
                   near crest of driven from here standing       concealment         location,
                   Sanders' Hill as Union pushes                 (Confederate)       feeling,
                                 over Sanders'                                       association,
                                 hill                                                house no
                                                                                     longer has
                                                                                     integrity

  Aid Station      Southern      Wooden           Present, on    Cover and           Location,
                   slope of      outbuilding      private        concealment         design,
                   Sanders' Hill defended by      property       (Confederate)       materials,
                                 Confederates;                                       setting,
                                 Union captured                                      workmanship,
                                 and converted to                                    feeling,
                                 aid station;                                        association
                                 some USCC                                           
                                 possibly                                            
                                 executed here                                       
  ---------------- ------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------------- --------------

  -------------------- ---------- ---------------- ------------ --------------- --------------
  **Fortifications**                                                            

  Confederate          Trenches   Major Union      Trenches     Obstacle        Location,
  earthworks on        along      attacks here;    well         (Union); cover  design,
  Chestnut Ridge       north side Confederates     preserved in and concealment workmanship,
                       of hill;   finally pushed   part         (Confederate)   feeling,
                       gun pit    off hill                                      association
                       near crest                                               

  **Miscellaneous**                                                             

  Union encampment     Broady     Some Union       Town of      Encampment/     Location,
                       Bottom     soldiers spent   Saltville    avenue of       setting,
                                  night here after property,    retreat         materials,
                                  October 2^nd^    business and                 association
                                  battle           industrial                   
                                                   structures                   

  Elizabeth Cemetery   Historic   Near center of   Present and  Key terrain,    Location,
                       cemetery   Confederate      well cared   observation and design,
                       on small   lines; Union     for          field of fire   materials,
                       hilltop    crossed river,                (Confederate)   workmanship,
                       along      nearly carried                                feeling,
                       south side this position;                                association
                       of Holston hand to hand                                  
                       River      combat amidst                                 
                                  tombstones                                    
  -------------------- ---------- ---------------- ------------ --------------- --------------

Table 2: Battle of Saltville, December 20^th^, 1864

Critical Defining Features

  -------------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------
  **Terrain and                                                                      
  Topographic                                                                        
  Features**                                                                         

  Name                 Location       Relevance to    Field Comment KOCOA analysis   Integrity
                                      Battle                                         Assessment

  Unnamed hills SW of  Along southern Hilltops        Wooded,       Key              Location,
  Saltville            edge of        provided        mainly        terrain/field of setting,
                       Saltville      fortification   industrial    fire; cover and  feeling,
                       Valley         sites for       property      concealment,     association,
                                      Confederates,                 observation      materials
                                      Union soldiers                (Confederate);   
                                      came up north                 avenue of        
                                      slopes to take                approach,        
                                      forts from the                obstacle (Union) 
                                      rear                                           

  Ridges along Glade   Hills located  Union General   Wooded,       Avenue of        Location,
  Spring Road          along east and Gillem sent one commercial    approach,        setting,
                       west sides of  regiment over   and           obstacle (Union) association
                       Glade Spring   each prominence residential                    
                       Road           to attack                                      
                                      Salt-Works                                     

  **Roads and                                                                        
  Transportation                                                                     
  Networks**                                                                         

  Glade Spring Road    Rich Valley,   Main avenue of  Modern paved  Avenue of        Location,
                       SW of          approach for    road          approach (Union) setting,
                       Saltville      Union under                                    association
                                      General Gillem                                 

  Lyon's Gap Road      Narrow valley  Main avenue of  Modern paved  Avenue of        Location,
                       south of       approach for    road          approach (Union) setting,
                       Saltville      Union under                                    association
                                      General                                        
                                      Burbridge                                      

  **Fortifications**                                                                 

  Fort Breckenridge    Earthworks on  Main attack     Wooded, local Key              Location,
                       ridgetop       point of        historic      terrain/field of design,
                       overlooking    Gillem's        cemetery      fire,            setting,
                       northern part  troops; most of here; town    observation,     workmanship,
                       of Glade       the fighting    property      cover and        feeling,
                       Spring Road    occurred here                 concealment      association
                                                                    (Confederate);   
                                                                    obstacle, avenue 
                                                                    of approach      
                                                                    (Union)          

  Fort Statham         Earthworks on  Fort Statham    Wooded,       Key terrain,     Location,
                       ridgetop       held            industrial    cover and        materials,
                       commanding     Burbridge's     property      concealment      design,
                       route of       troops at bay                 (Confederate);   workmanship,
                       Lyon's Gap     until fort was                obstacle, avenue feeling,
                       Road into      abandoned                     of approach      association
                       Saltville                                    (Union)          

  Fort Hatton          Earthworks on  May have fired  Grassland,    Cover and        Location,
                       ridgetop       shots at        private       concealment,     design,
                       over-looking   approaching     property      observation      setting,
                       southern end   Union soldiers                (Confederate)    workmanship,
                       of Saltville   on Glade Spring                                feeling,
                       Valley and     Road. \*not                                    association
                       Glade Spring   named in text,                                 
                       Road approach  but position                                   
                                      correlates\*                                   

  **Industrial Site**                                                                

  The Salt-Works       Floor of the   System of salt  Various land  Object of        Location,
                       Saltville      wells,          owners and    Federal attack;  setting,
                       Valley         furnaces, and   land uses;    associated       design,
                                      storage sheds   mostly within historic         materials,
                                      that was the    current       property         workmanship,
                                      target of Union Saltville                      feeling,
                                      attacks, and    Historic                       association
                                      was damaged     district                       
                                      during December                                
                                      battle                                         
  -------------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------

**Data Needs**

Historic records will be thoroughly examined in order to gain an
understanding of the events of both battles. Examination of these
records will also help determine the defining features of the battles
and will aid in prioritizing features to be surveyed.

Local historians and collectors will be consulted in order to garner a
better understanding of the integrity of these sites, and to eliminate
the need for some "presence and absence" testing to delineate the
boundary of the battles. Consultation with these collectors will also
help ensure that the project does not rely solely on historic
information of unknown accuracy.

One of the main focal points of this project will be to amass as
thorough a spatial data set as possible. Detailed maps of the boundaries
of the battles, locations of earthworks, and locations of artifacts will
be developed in order to convert this information into a GIS that can
then be used to analyze troop movements and positions.

In addition to other methods, a metal detector survey will be used to
help locate any artifacts pertaining to the battles. The types and
frequencies of artifacts found could help describe the characteristics
of the location and determine whether they pertain to an encampment or
an area of conflict.

A description of the state of preservation of the earthworks and
battlefield features will also be developed, in connection with a
detailed description of the surrounding environment and vegetation. This
survey will be useful in the development of a preservation plan to
further protect the battlefields from natural erosion or artificial
destruction.

**Methodology**

Before the fieldwork begins, all historic records, including
publications, diaries, websites, and previous research files will be
examined in order to collect the most comprehensive background possible.

The location of several of the earthworks will be mapped and surveyed
prior to the two-week field schools in order to complete the work in
"leaf-off' conditions. In addition, areas of the battle will be scouted
and briefly surveyed to ensure that they will be accessible for future
work.

Members of the Radford University team, along with students from the
archaeology field school and a field director will comprise the
personnel conducting the majority of the fieldwork. Local historians and
collectors may also accompany project members to various sites as guides
or interested observers.

The majority of the work done in Saltville will focus on GPS and GIS
mapping and completing a geophysical survey. In addition to using the
GPS equipment to create a spatial data set noting the locations of the
battle and any surface find artifacts, metal detecting will also be used
to locate any artifacts. To facilitate the metal detector survey, a grid
will be laid out in the area to be scanned prior to any detecting. The
size of the grid will be directly proportional to the size of the area
being investigated. A small, 50 meter square area may require only a 5
square meter grid, while a larger, open area may require a 15 meter grid
or larger. Any "hit" registered by the metal detector will be flagged,
mapped onto the master grid and field map, and entered into the GPS data
logger. Once mapping is completed, the artifact can then be excavated,
the depth can be recorded, and the artifact can be transferred into an
individual bag with a code for its grid location and object designation.

Concerning the geophysics aspect of the project, preliminary electrical
resistivity scans on Breckenridge and South Walnut forts have revealed
features distinct from the natural background. Further geophysical work
at Saltville for this summer includes carrying out the following scans:\
\
(1) A surface resistivity scan of the entire Breckenridge area. The
known gravesites there will provide a basis from which we should be able
to identify any other gravesites. In addition to the surface scan, we
will repeat the scan at greater depths in order to try to discern any
other features associated with the area.\
\
(2) Resistivity scans of the \"roads\" connecting the two ends of both
the Hatton and Walnut fort systems. The goal of this is to try to
illuminate some of the engineering choices made by the designers of
these fort systems regarding available construction materials and field
engineering practices.\
\
(3) A focused resistivity scan of the south Walnut fort. A preliminary
scan had revealed a feature of possible interest in this area. We plan
to more precisely delineate this subsurface anomaly to try to discern if
it is from human activity, a natural feature, or an instrumental anomaly
(poor ground contact with the electrodes) from the previous scan.\
\
(4) Magnetic scans of the Hatton and Walnut fortification systems, and
the Breckenridge and Statham forts. With Breckenridge, the magnetic data
will be examined with the surface resistivity data to see if there are
any correlations.

In addition, field notes, field maps, daily logs, and record forms will
all be used to keep a careful, detailed record of all fieldwork and
analysis. Black and white, color slide, and digital photographs will be
taken where appropriate to augment this record. Ultimately, a detailed
GIS will be developed showing the locations of the battlefields and
locations of any artifact finds and defining features. Another map will
be created showing the potential National Register boundary as well as
core and study areas. When fieldwork is completed, all geophysical and
spatial data will be analyzed, any collected artifacts will be studied,
and the final report and GIS will be created.

**Laboratory Activities**

Although archeological excavations and retrieval of artifacts are not
major activities in this project, we do expect to find some new
materials. Most of these are anticipated to be surface or near-surface
small metallic objects, such as shell fragments, bullets, belt buckles,
and the like. Recovered artifacts will be cleaned, identified, and
catalogued, and the location of each item plotted on the base maps. This
work will be performed primarily in the archeology laboratory at Radford
University, but some preliminary work can be accomplished at the Field
Research Station in Saltville. The ultimate aim is to archive the
artifacts according to National Park Service standards in the Museum of
the Middle Appalachians. This project partner has agreed to curate the
project archeological materials for study and public education.

**Curation**

All materials from this project will be analyzed at the Radford
University Physical Anthropology and Archaeology laboratory. Upon
completion of analysis, all artifacts will be returned to Saltville to
be curated at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. The project team
members, the museum staff, and the Town of Saltville have agreed upon
this arrangement.

**Report**

A final report will be generated upon completion of all fieldwork,
artifact analysis and geophysical analysis. The report will describe the
project, site, historical significance, site integrity, and will address
the research goals, questions and answers to those questions. In
addition, the final report will also include a proposal for a nomination
to the National Register of Historic Places. The sections of the report
will include (but are not limited to):

1)  Title Page

2)  Table of Contents

3)  Introduction- site description and historical background, including
    a KOCOA description

4)  Materials and Methods- a description of the various geophysical,
    geographic, and archaeological tools and methodology used in data
    collection, photography and mapping techniques, and artifact
    collection methods

5)  Analysis- description of the analytic techniques employed in the
    archaeology laboratory and the computer and technology assisted
    techniques used to process the GPS and geophysical data

6)  Assessment- will combine the data gathered in the field and in the
    laboratory to address the research questions and goals, and will
    consider future research. Suggestions for land to be nominated to
    the National Register will be formulated from this assessment

7)  Conclusion

8)  References

**Deliverables**

Upon completion of the project, three copies of the draft report will be
sent to the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program for corrections
and suggestions. Following any necessary corrections, three copies of
the final report will be submitted, along with a copy on a compact disc.
Any GIS maps created for the project will be submitted as ArcView
shapefiles, and will include appropriate metadata. Any photographs,
digital, black and white, or color slides, will also be submitted in an
appropriate format.

**Treatment of Human Remains**

Should any human remains be unexpectedly encountered during any phase of
the project, state and federal policy will dictate their handling. If
human remains are encountered, all work will cease, and the State
Historic Preservation Officer and local law enforcement will be
immediately notified. All remains would be treated in a professional and
respectful manner. No remains will be disinterred or moved without the
appropriate permits. No photographs of human remains will be displayed
or published.

**NAGRA and ARPA Procedures**

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) (1979) and the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) (1990) are both
federal laws that seek to protect archaeological resources and Native
American burial sites on public or tribal land from disturbance or
destruction. The focus of our project is on mapping and remote sensing;
the limited test excavations that may occur will be conducted on Civil
War fortifications and will not impact any graves, Native American or
otherwise. Furthermore, all sites to be investigated are either
privately owned or owned by the Town of Saltville and are not located on
any federal (public) or Native American tribal lands.

**Conclusions**

This research design will act as a basis for the thorough investigation
of the two Saltville Civil War battlefield sites. The goal of this
project is to map and record the areas of both battles, and to amass as
much information as possible to confirm and augment the historic record
pertaining to these two events, through archaeological and geophysical
survey investigations. Support for this project comes from the National
Parks Service, Radford University, the town of Saltville, and the Museum
of the Middle Appalachians (Saltville Foundation), as well as many
individuals within the town.

**References**

Boyd, C. C., Jr., and Whisonant, R. C., 2002, Prehistoric and historic
archaeology in Saltville, Virginia: 32^nd^ Annual Meeting of the Middle
Atlantic Archaeological Conference, Abstracts, p. 22.

Davis, W. C., 1971, The Massacre at Saltville: Civil War Times
Illustrated, v. 9, p. 4-11, 43-48.

Davis, W. C., 1993, Saltville Massacre, *in* Current, R. N., editor,
[Encyclopedia of the Confederacy]{.underline}: Simon and Schuster, New
York, p. 1363-1364.

Davis, William C. and Meredith L. Swentor, eds. [Bluegrass Confederate:
The Diary of]{.underline}

[Edward O. Guerrant.]{.underline} Louisiana State University Press:
1999.

Donnelly, R. W., 1959, The Confederate lead mines of Wythe County, Va.:
Civil War History, p. 402-414.

Duke, Basil W. [A History of Morgan's Cavalry.]{.underline} Indiana
University Press, Bloomington,

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Guide to Sustainable Earthworks Management, 1998, Chapter 7. Technical
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Topics & GPS Mapping Methodology for Earthworks Management and

> Evaluation: National Park Service Journal, p. 97-112, on line at
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Holmes, M. E., 1993, Salt, *in* Current, R. N., editor, Encyclopedia of
the Confederacy: Simon and Schuster, New York, p. 1362-1363.

Kent, W. B., 1955, [A History of Saltville, Virginia]{.underline}:
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Lonn, E., 1933, [Salt as a Factor in the Confederacy]{.underline}:
Walter Neale, New York, 322 p.

Lowe, D. W. 2004, Saltville Fortifications Site Report: unpublished
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War fortifications, 5 p.

Marvel, W., 1991, The Battle of Saltville: Massacre or Myth?: Blue and
Gray Magazine, August, 1991, p. 10-19, 46-60.

Marvel, William. [Southwest Virginia in the Civil War: The Battles for
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Howard, Inc; Lynchburg, VA: 1992.

Mays, Thomas D. [The Saltville Massacre.]{.underline} McWhiney
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1998\.

McDonald, J. N., 1984, The Saltville, Virginia locality: A summary of
research and field trip guide: Symposium on the Quaternary of Virginia,
Charlottesville, 45 p.

McDonald, J. N., 1985, A survey and inventory of archaeological
resources in the Town of Saltville, Virginia: A report of activities and
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Mosgrove, George D. [Kentucky Cavaliers in Dixie.]{.underline}
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Saltville Historical Foundation, undated, Saltville and the Civil War:
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"Saltville, Virginia." [The Making of America.]{.underline} University
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> www.makingofamerica.com

Sarvis, W., 1998, The Salt Trade of Nineteenth Century Saltville,
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[Series.]{.underline} H. E. Howard Inc., Appomattox, VA: 2002.

Whisonant, R. C., 1996, Geology and the Civil War in southwestern
Virginia: The Smyth County salt works: Virginia Division of Mineral
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