What is Battle of Marion?
{{Infobox Military Conflict |conflict=Battle of Marion |partof= [[George Stoneman|Stoneman]]’s Raid into Southwest Virginia |image=VAMap-doton-Marion.PNG |caption=Location of the battle |date= December 17-18, 1864 |place= Smyth County, [[Virginia]] |casus= |territory=Southwest Virginia |result= Union tactical victory |combatant1=[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] |combatant2=[[Confederacy]] |commander1= [[George Stoneman]] |commander2= [[John C. Breckinridge]] |strength1= |strength2= |casualties1=154 |casualties2=120 }} The '''Battle of Marion''' (December 17–December 18, 1864)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwm.edu/Library/arch/Warletters/civilwar/cwtimeline.htm|title=Wisconsin War Letters Timeline|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080905203701/http://www.uwm.edu/Library/arch/Warletters/civilwar/cwtimeline.htm |archive-date = 2008-09-05}}</ref> was a military engagement in the [[American Civil War]] that occurred when Major General [[George Stoneman]], commander of the [[Union Army]] in [[Kentucky]] and [[Tennessee]], raided Southwestern [[Virginia]]. General Stoneman's plan was to destroy anything that might benefit the Southern war effort and was approved by his commanding officers on December 6, 1864. The [[Confederate States Army|Confederates]] managed to hold the key positions on the battlefield against numerous Union charges. Eventually, the Confederates ran short of ammunition and were forced to withdraw. The total casualties for this battle were 274, relatively low for a battle during the Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/va3/valleywar/battle/marion_battle.html|title=Battle of Marion Summary}}</ref> After the battle, the [[Union Army|Union]] expedition set out to destroy the salt mines, lead works, and anything else in the area that could be of benefit to the Confederates. ==Location== The town of [[Marion, Virginia|Marion]] is in southwest [[Virginia]] on the Middle Fork of the [[Holston River]] in [[Smyth County, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smythchamber