Editing Saltville, Virginia (section)

===Civil War===
During the [[American Civil War]], Saltville was one of the Confederacy's main saltworks.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Mays | first = Thomas| url=https://www.amazon.com/Saltville-Massacre-Civil-Campaigns-Commanders/dp/1886661057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548339277&sr=8-1&keywords=saltville+massacre |title=Saltville Massacre}}; {{Cite web| last = Sarvis | first = Will| title = The Salt Trade of Nineteenth Century Saltville| url=https://www.amazon.com/Trade-Nineteenth-Century-Saltville-Virginia/dp/1792751907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548340631&sr=8-1&keywords=saltville+salt+trade}}, chapter six.</ref> The saltworks were considered vital to the Confederate war effort because the salt was used in preserving meat for Confederate soldiers and civilians. Because of its importance, the town was attacked by Northern forces intent on destroying the saltworks. On October 2, 1864, the [[First Battle of Saltville]] was fought there. In the battle [[United States|Union]] forces attacked Saltville but were defeated by [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] troops.  Following the battle a number of wounded black troops were murdered in what was dubbed the "Saltville Massacre."  (Shortly after the war [[Champ Ferguson]] was tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes for this and other killings.)

Two months later General [[George Stoneman]], a Union cavalry commander, led a second attack on the saltworksm; the [[Second Battle of Saltville]].  This time the Confederates were defeated and the saltworks were destroyed by Union troops. The loss of the Saltville works was considered a major blow to the Confederacy's dwindling resources.