First Battle of Saltville, 2 October 1864

Background. Saltville is a town in Smyth and Washington counties, Virginia, named for the salt marshes in the area. The town was the site of significant Confederate saltworks. The battle over these saltworks was fought by both regular and Home Guard Confederate units against regular U.S. Army troops, which included two of the few black cavalry units of the United States Colored Troops.

The Battle. On October 2, 1864, Union forces attacked Saltville. The engagement was fought between regular and Home Guard Confederate units and regular U.S. Army troops, which included two black cavalry units of the United States Colored Troops. The Union attack was repelled, resulting in a Confederate victory. The battle was significant due to the strategic value of the saltworks in the town.

Aftermath. Following the battle, a number of wounded black troops were murdered, an event dubbed the "Saltville Massacre." William Marvel's 1991 analysis of the records concluded that five black soldiers, wounded and helpless, were definitely murdered at Saltville on October 3, and as many as seven more may have suffered the same fate that day; the Confederates may have murdered as many as two dozen U.S. troops in total. Shortly after the war, Champ Ferguson was tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes for these and other killings.