Abingdon in the Civil War Wyatt's Revenge - Abington VA - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

Abingdon in the Civil War-Wyatt's Revenge— Stoneman's Raid — (preface)
On December 1, 1864, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 5,700 cavalrymen east from Knoxville, Tennessee, to destroy iron-, lead-, and saltworks in Virginia that were essential to the Confederate war effort. After actions at Kingsport and Bristol, Stoneman struck at Marion, Wytheville, and Austinville, then destroyed the saltworks at Saltville. Stoneman returned to Tennessee on January 1, 1865, having laid waste to every factory, railroad, depot, and warehouse in his path.

En route to Saltville, Virginia, from Knoxville, Tennessee, in December 1864, Union Gen. George Stoneman fought a series of engagements as he and his force rode north from Bristol. Stoneman arrived in Abingdon in the early morning hours of December 15. His men left a wake of destruction behind them here, destroying military supplies, tearing up railroad track, burning rolling stock, and damaging the printing press of the Abingdon-Virginian newspaper. Soon they continued their northward trek, except for one estranged officer.

Capt. James B. Wyatt, Co. M, 13th Tennessee Cavalry (US), a former resident of Abingdon, lagged behind Stoneman’s Paid Advertisement


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column. Wyatt, evidently seeking revenge from encounters with the county court system as a youth, continued to hold a grudge against a local judge. Taking advantage of this return to his hometown, Wyatt decided to wreak personal havoc here by burning the Washington County courthouse. Once ignited the blaze, the roaring fire soon destroyed the courthouse and numerous county records. Burning cinders set other structures afire. Wyatt lingered too long enjoying the sight and attracted the attention of two Confederate cavalrymen who arrived in town ahead of units pursuing Stoneman. Wyatt put spur to his horse and the chase began. It ended on Church Street a few blocks east of here, when Wyatt’s horse fell, killing Wyatt.

The present courthouse, the first Virginia Courthouse built during Reconstruction, opened in 1868 on the site of the 1850 courthouse that Wyatt burned.

“Noble I. McGinnis, a prominent citizen of the town and a member of the County Court, had some time previous to the war; punished me for an offence of which I was not guilty.” —Capt. James B. Wyatt.

(captions)
Capt. James B. Wyatt, from History of the Thirteenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry U.S.A. (1903)

Stoneman's Raid December 1864

Abingdon, showing buildings burned (shaded) December 1864 Courtesy Historical Society of Washington Co., Va.

Type of site: Battlefield Address: 208 W Main St, Abingdon VA 24210 Marker is located in the northeast corner of the Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum property. Abingdon, VA USA 24210 Admission Charged: No Charge Website: [Web Link] Phone Number: Not listed Driving Directions: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/05/2021 Don.Morfe visited it