Marion, Virginia

For the past month or so we've been working in the town of
Marion, Virginia in Smyth County. That charming little town was the site of one of the few American Civil War battles to be fought in southwest Virginia. The Battle of Marion was the result of a raid into that area known a Stonemans Raid and was a successful attempt to destroy the lead mines around Marion and the salt works at the town of Saltville. Our area of Virginia saw little action in the war as can be seen from the map. That was probably due to the mountainous terrain and the few strategic locations.


Our home is in Partick County indicated by "Pat." on the map. We are on that little hump that extends into "Car." or Carroll county and right on the line. I can throw a rock from my back yard into the latter. As you can see, Marion is a bit of a drive of about 80 miles.

One of the numerous atrocities of, as we in the south have termed, "the late unpleasantness" was the massacre at Saltville of members of the 5th Regiment Cavalry during this campaign. This unit was composed of freed black men from Kentucky.

Our time in Marion has been much less adventurous. It is a picturesque town which is among other things, the final resting place of author Sherwood Anderson. Sitting at about 4000 ft. elevation it boasts some of the most beautiful country in the Blue Ridge region. More important there is a good Japanese restaurant with a reasonable sushi lunch special.