In 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Wildes of the 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry refused to burn the town of Dayton, Virginia, a Mennonite community, despite orders to do so from General Phil Sheridan. Although threatened with court-martial, Lieutenant Colonel Wildes refused to carry out the order until it was countermanded. A monument in his honor may be found in Dayton, Virginia.

The monument reads:

In memory of Lt. Col. Thomas F. Wildes
116th Ohio Regiment
Who, when ordered by Gen. Sheridan to burn the town of Dayton, Va. in retaliation for the death of a Union officer, refused to obey that order, risking court-martial and disgrace. His refusal and plea to Gen. Sheridan resulted in a countermand to the order, and saved this town from total destruction

Source: submitted by Duncan Aukland

Resources:

http://www.daytonva.us/history.htm

http://shenandoahscivilwar.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/monument-to-lt-col-thomas-wildes-dayton-virginia/