Civil War Battles & Skirmishes in West Virginia

[rustycoinUT]

Civil war battles and skirmishes in West Virginia

Camp Alleghany

In December, Confederate forces under Col. Edward Johnson occupied the summit of Allegheny Mountain to defend the Staunton-Parkersburg Pike. A Union force under Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy attacked Johnson on December 13. Fighting continued for much of the morning as each side maneuvered to gain the advantage. Finally, Milroy’s troops were repulsed, and he retreated to his camps near Cheat Mountain. At year’s end, Edward Johnson remained at Camp Allegheny with five regiments, and Henry Heth was at Lewisburg with two regiments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carnifex Ferry

Learning of Col. Erastus Tyler’s rout at Kessler’s Cross Lanes, Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans moved three brigades south from Clarksburg to support him. On the afternoon of September 10, he advanced against Brig. Gen. John Floyd’s camps at Carnifex Ferry. Darkness halted several hours’ fighting. The strength of the Union artillery convinced Floyd to retreat during the night. Floyd blamed his defeat on his co-commander Brig. Gen. Henry Wise, contributing to further dissension in the Confederate ranks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheat Mountain

Gen. Robert E. Lee directed his first offensive of the war against Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynolds’s entrenchments on the summit of Cheat Mountain and in the Tygart Valley. The Confederate attacks were uncoordinated, however, and the Federal defense was so stubborn that Col. Albert Rust (leading the attacks) was convinced that he confronted an overwhelming force. He actually faced only about 300 determined Federals. Lee called off the attack and, after maneuvering in the vicinity, withdrew to Valley Head on September 17. In October, Lee renewed operations against Laurel Mountain with the troops of Floyd and Loring, but the operation was called off because of poor communication and lack of supplies. Lee was recalled to Richmond on October 30 after achieving little in western Virginia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Droop Mountain

In early November, Brig. Gens. W.W. Averell and Alfred Napoleon Alexander Duffié embarked on a raid into southwestern Virginia to disrupt the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. While Duffié’s column destroyed military property en route, Averell encountered and defeated a Confederate brigade under Brig. Gen. John Echols at Droop Mountain. The Union columns reunited at Lewisburg the next day but were in no condition to continue their raid. After this battle, Confederate resistance in West Virginia collapsed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenbrier River

During the night of October 2-3, Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynolds with two brigades advanced from Cheat Mountain to reconnoiter the Confederate position at Camp Bartow on the Greenbrier River. Reynolds drove in the Confederate pickets and opened fire with his artillery. After sporadic fighting and an abortive attempt to turn his enemy’s right flank, Reynolds withdrew to Cheat Mountain.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harpers Ferry

Learning that the garrison at Harpers Ferry had not retreated after his incursion into Maryland, Lee decided to surround the force and capture it. He divided his army into four columns, three of which converged upon and invested Harpers Ferry. On September 15, after Confederate artillery was placed on the heights overlooking the town, Union commander Col. Miles surrendered the garrison of more than 12,000. Miles was mortally wounded by a last salvo fired from a battery on Loudoun Heights. Jackson took possession of Harpers Ferry, then led most of his soldiers to join with Lee at Sharpsburg. After paroling the prisoners at Harpers Ferry, A.P. Hill’s division arrived in time to save Lee’s army from near-defeat at Sharpsburg.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hoke’s Run

On July 2, Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson’s division crossed the Potomac River near Williamsport and marched on the main road to Martinsburg. Near Hoke’s Run, Abercrombie’s and Thomas’s brigades encountered regiments of T.J. Jackson’s brigade, driving them back slowly. Jackson’s orders were to delay the Federal advance only, which he did, withdrawing before Patterson’s larger force. On July 3, Patterson occupied Martinsburg but made no further aggressive moves until July 15, when he marched to Bunker Hill. Instead of moving on Winchester, however, Patterson turned east to Charles Town and then withdrew to Harpers Ferry. This retrograde movement took pressure off Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley and allowed Johnston’s army to march to support Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas. Patterson’s inactivity contributed to the Union defeat at First Manassas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kessler’s Cross Lanes

On August 26, Brig. Gen. John Floyd, commanding Confederate forces in the Kanawha Valley, crossed the Gauley River to attack Col. Erastus Tyler’s 7th Ohio Regiment encamped at Kessler’s Cross Lanes. The Union forces were surprised and routed. Floyd then withdrew to the river and took up a defensive position at Carnifex Ferry. During the month, Gen. Robert E. Lee arrived in western Virginia and attempted to coordinate the forces of Brig. Gens. Floyd, Henry Wise, and William W. Loring.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moorefield

While returning to the Shenandoah Valley after burning Chambersburg, McCausland’s and Johnson’s cavalry were surprised at Moorefield on August 7 and routed by pursuing Union cavalry. This defeat impeded the morale and effectiveness of the Confederate cavalry for the remainder of the 1864 Valley Campaign.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippi

Col. Thomas A. Morris, temporarily in command of Union forces in western Virginia, mounted a two-prong advance under E. Dumont and B.F. Kelley against a small Confederate occupation force at Philippi under Porterfield. Kelley marched on back roads from near Grafton on June 2 to reach the rear of the town, while Dumont moved south from Webster. Both columns arrived at Philippi before dawn on the 3rd. The resulting surprise attack routed the Confederate troops, forcing them to retreat to Huttonsville. Although a small affair, this was considered the first major land action in the Eastern Theater.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rich Mountain

Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia in June 1861. On June 27, he moved his divisions from Clarksburg south against Lt. Col. John Pegram’s Confederates, reaching the vicinity of Rich Mountain on July 9. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. T.A. Morris’s Union brigade marched from Philippi to confront Brig. Gen. R.S. Garnett’s command at Laurel Hill. On July 11, Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans led a reinforced brigade by a mountain path to seize the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in Pegram’s rear. A sharp two-hour fight ensued in which the Confederates were split in two. Half escaped to Beverly, but Pegram and the others surrendered on July 13. Hearing of Pegram’s defeat, Garnett abandoned Laurel Hill. The Federals pursued, and, during fighting at Corrick’s Ford on July 13, Garnett was killed. On July 22, McClellan was ordered to Washington, and Rosecrans assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia. Union victory at Rich Mountain was instrumental in propelling McClellan to command of the Army of the Potomac.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shepherdstown

On September 19, a detachment of Porter’s V Corps pushed across the river at Boteler’s Ford, attacked the Confederate rearguard commanded by Brig. Gen. William Pendleton, and captured four guns. Early on the 20th, Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. Hill’s division counterattacked while many of the Federals were crossing and nearly annihilated the 118th Pennsylvania (the “Corn Exchange” Regiment), inflicting 269 casualties. This rearguard action discouraged Federal pursuit. On November 7, President Lincoln relieved McClellan of command because of his failure to follow up Lee’s retreating army. Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside rose to command the Union army.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smithfield Crossing

On August 29, two Confederate infantry divisions crossed Opequon Creek at Smithfield and forced back Merritt’s Union cavalry division back along the road to Charles Town. Ricketts’s infantry division was brought up to stop the Confederate advance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summit Point

As Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan concentrated his army near Charles Town, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early and Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson attacked the Federals with converging columns on August 21. Early moved east via Smithfield against the Union VI Corps. Anderson struck north against Wilson's Union cavalry at Summit Point. There was cavalry fighting near Berryville. The Federals fought effective delaying actions, withdrawing to near Halltown on the following day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will add more content as i find it

rustycoinUT

[rustycoinUT]

This content was provided by wvatom. Thanks!!!


The need for good experienced men, few and far between at this juncture of the war, was heard again. General Floyd had chased the outposts on the Fayette Road all the way to the Gauley River and stationed himself, with 4,000 men, upon Cotton Hill on November 1st. This hilltop commanded control of Gauley Bridge and Montgomery's Ferry. From here Floyd open fired with a pair of 6 pound rifled pieces of artillery which quickly brought all river operations by the Union troops to a halt. The only way supplies could be moved in or out of the area was under the cover of darkness. This, as you can guess was a tremendously hazardous affair.
There has been much written about the activities around Cotton Hill during the first two weeks of November. This was the Unions first real opportunity to defeat or capture a Rebel force of any size. General Rosecrans was adamant about the proceedings of the Union Army and I will point this out over the next several pages. He had set up camp on the east side of the Gauley River near Gauley Bridge. Here he recruited more horses for his teams, tried to supply new clothing to those who needed them, and also reassigned men who had been in the hospitals. He now had with him four brigades of men; one brigade each under the following men- General Cox, General Schenk, General Benham, and Colonel McCook.
General Rosecrans had summoned General Cox to Carnifex Ferry on September the 15th to discuss the approaching conflict with Floyd. They formulated a plan by which Generals Benham and Schenk would work in concert to capture or destroy General Floyds forces near Fayetteville, just southeast of Cotton Hill. The plan called for General Benham, with a force of some three thousand men, to cross the Gauley River at Loop Creek. He would make his way around or over Cotton Hill and attack General Floyd from the front. General Shenck would cross New River at Townsends Ferry, 15 miles above Gauley Bridge, using boats improvised out of wagon bodies and virtually anything else they could find. Colonel McCook was ordered to watch Millers Ferry, where he was camped, and be ready to cross and move on Fayette Court House at a moments notice.
General Cox was to cross at Montgomery's Ferry and support General Benham if necessary. Of course all of this had to be well played out in order for the plan to be successful, timing and surprise being the two important aspects. If successful they could cut off General Floyds retreat, thus either capturing or destroying Floyds command. General Rosecrans anticipated problems in crossing New River and advised General Schenk "if you cannot cross, you will come down and attack by the front, while General Benham will cut off their retreat."
The Seventh played an important part in the events and operations around Cotton Hill and Fayetteville during those first two weeks of November. On November the 2nd General Rosecrans sent the following dispatch to General Benham:
Headquarters, Dept. of Western Virginia
Camp Gauley Mountain, Nov. 2nd, 1861
“You will immediately prepare to cross the river for an operation up Paint or Loop Creek. The steps thereto are rest for the men, boats to cross, and ammunition in sufficient quantities. Tyler will be ordered to send you 500 picked men, Woods 500, and Siber 500. It will take probably two days to organize this movement. We hope to cross at or near Millers Ferry in force, at the same time we make a strong demonstration or attack on their front. Let everything be done to secure supplies; every faculty made use of. Advise me of your progress.
W.S. Rosecrans
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
On November the 4th Colonel Creighton, of the Seventh, leading a detachment of 430 men, boarded a river boat and steamed down the Kanawha River to a point approximately 7 miles below Gauley Bridge, and directly opposite Loop Creek. Here the men of the Seventh joined the other forces under General Benham at about dusk. There had been several reports around camp that many regiments had shunned the mission of crossing Cotton Hill because of steep and dangerous cliffs, but General Benham remarked 'give me the Seventh Ohio Regiment and I can drive the Rebels to hell, a place beyond the confines of this lower world.'
On the sixth of November the Seventh was ordered across the Kanawha River and up Loop Creek to establish a camp at the foot of Cotton Hill. The men were not prepared for what they were about to attempt because Loop Creek was not an ordinary creek. To make things worse the march was to occur at night and in complete silence so as not to alarm the enemy.
Just prior to dawn the men arrived at 's farm, some nine miles up Loop Creek, and set up camp. At this point the men were about three miles from General Floyds forces then encamped just east of Cotton Hill.
Colonel Creighton was in command of this force and he sent out pickets and scouts to determine the exact position of General Floyd. He advised his men to report their findings directly to General Benham, which was done. At this time detachments from the 44th and 37th Ohio were placed under the command of Colonel Creighton bringing his command to approximately 1200 men. The command remained here until the 12th of November keeping in constant touch with General Benham.
At this juncture the weather became a direct factor in the outcome of the campaign. On the 9th General Schenk made the first attempt to cross New River, with no success. The high river condition caused by a torrential downpour of the past few days had made a crossing impossible. His boats were of little use to him in his efforts to ford the swift and fast moving water. General Cox constructed flatboats to move his troops across the river and in an hours time had 500 men on the other side of the river.
To complicate things the air had turned very cold and it was creating severe difficulties for the men. One of the men of the Seventh described the scene of the camp during the morning of the 10th of November as follows: "The severe frost of the night did much mischief in the wet socks of the soldiers while sleeping in the open air. It was amusing , in the latter part of the night, to see men racing about in camp at double quick to prevent their feet from freezing to the ground.
In preparation for the campaign the regiment was allotted only four days rations and very little camp equipage. It was determined that the men would be gone a few short days and General Floyd would be pushed out of the Kanawha Valley. No one had envisioned the weather turning as bad so quickly, this, with the lack of tents and other necessities brought severe hardships to the men.

Rosecrans, on the 10th, issued orders for Benham to advance on the right of the enemy, General Schenk to advance on the left, and Cox was to move into position to strike them from the front, which would be from the north. Colonel Devillers, with the 11th Ohio, crossed the New River above its mouth into the Gauley and moved to a flank position of the enemy. Cox moved to the top of Cotton Hill with his command and could see Floyd retreating down the Fayette Pike without any resistance. General Benham's command was nowhere to be seen. If we trace the footsteps of the Seventh we can see what indeed happened with Benham's brigade and some of the reasons behind his decisions, and why he was so tardy in his pursuit of Floyd.
On the 12th of November the regiment was ordered forward to Cassidy's Mill. The mill was located east and a little south of their present location. Their journey would be short but because of the extremely hazardous terrain it would not be easy. Shortly after daylight the regiment began their move up the mountain taking an old bridle pathway and following it to the top. As Colonel Creighton reached the top he peered down on the troops which were following and could see a mile long snake like appearance of the troops winding in and out along the bridle path behind him. The single line formation continued as the men began the descent on the other side of the mountain, it also being a very trying trip for the hungry and cold men.
Cassidy's Mill was reached about 10 pm that evening and Colonel Creighton immediately posted his pickets and sent the scouts out to scour the area and check the position of the enemy. Lewis R. Davis of Company A, Edwin Hart of Company D, and Joseph E. Clarke of Company E scouted the area closest to Floyds camp and were nearly captured on several different occasions. It had been a long and very arduous trip for the men and it took its toll. The weather was still very unfavorable. The rains continued to fall throughout the day and evening making any movement by the men very difficult.
General Benham decided to send the Seventh to Cassidy's Mill because of the terrible condition of New River and the unlikeness of General Schenks ability to cross with his command. The original plans would now have to be altered to suit the weather. Controversy abounds over the next several steps in General Benhams movements. He ordered the detachments of the 44th and 37th Ohio regiments to leave the Seventh at Cassidy's Mills and proceed to join him at the base of Cotton Hill near Hershbergers farm. This movement left the Seventh, all 430 of them, only three miles from the entire Rebel force under General Floyds command. The Seventh was so close that they could here the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had General Benhams force been at the same location as the Seventh was, he surely could have done irreparable damage to Floyds forces. This not being the case, they allowed General Floyd and his entire command, at 2:30 am on the morning of the 13th, to effect his escape moving down the Raleigh Road south out of the Kanawha Valley.
General Floyd's scouts must have seen what was about to transpire and directed the General to remove his forces from such a vulnerable position. When the Rebels left they destroyed nearly all of their camp equipment and left many wagons burning in their hasty retreat. When the Seventh arrived at the deserted Rebel camp, Dickersons's farm, evidence of their eagerness to get out was everywhere. The fences were lined with carcasses of cattle that were to be food for the army. In some cases the beef was still intact on the carcass.

The Seventh joined the rest of General Benham's forces here at Dickersons's farm at about 11 pm on November the 13th. At midnight the forces under Benham began the pursuit of Floyds men. They reached Fayetteville about 1:30 pm. Still in the pursuit, Benhams' men reached Hawkins farm at about 4 am on the following morning. Hawkins farm is located approximately 5 miles south of Fayetteville on the Raleigh Pike and the men halted to eat their breakfast here- two army crackers per man
The chase continued and at noon on the 14th the regiment arrived northwest of McCoy's Mill, here the forces under Floyd decided to make a stand, or at least hold Benhams forces while the remainder of his troops got off safely. About this same time the 13th Ohio overtook the rear guard of the Rebels. Here a sharp encounter occurred which resulted in the mortal wounding of George Croghan, Colonel of the 2nd Georgia Cavalry and formerly of the United States Army. The Colonel had been taken to one of the nearby homes and left there to die in peace. When General Benham appeared on the scene he was informed of the injured Colonel nearby. Not knowing who the Colonel was he went to try to get further information from him. To his astonishment he discovered Colonel Croghan, a former classmate at West Point. Trying to comfort him as best as possible, the Colonel confided to General Benham that he was against the war and was politically forced into taking the command and that he missed the Old Flag tremendously. He died not long afterward with General Benham by his side.
The Seventh was held in reserve initially but this, however, did not last long. At about 1 o'clock the Seventh, headed by Colonel Creighton, was ordered to perform a flank attack upon the forces under Floyd. Companies A and K were in the front while the attack was taking place. Just west of McCoys Mill is a small ridge by which Colonel Creighton and the Seventh passed behind, and then over, thereby completely surprising Floyds troops. The surprise was complete and the regiment opened with two pieces of rifled artillery upon the Rebels. This caused great confusion among the Confederates, and being flanked gave them no alternative but to fall back. When the Seventh saw the retreat they immediately pursued at close range, close enough to here the Rebel bugler signaling the retreat. At this point the fight became a rout and as the enemy retired they discarded everything that might impede their plight.
The forces under General Benham continued their pursuit. Shortly after passing through McCoys Mill a small stream whose banks are exceptionally steep for its size was encountered. Within the stream could be seen the remnants of many wagons, full of gear, and also some cannon strewn about on the bottom as the Rebels continued to retreat in total disarray.
The chase continued relentlessly onward. Floyds troops were in a disastrous situation, they must now continue to run or face capture by the Union forces. Their retreat was hampered by the road conditions which by now were almost impassable. If they stopped for anything General Floyd knew his forces would be destroyed. However, due to the Unions inept leadership, General Floyd was allowed to retire without further molestation.
General Schenk arrived at the scene, Kenton's farm, three miles east of McCoys Mill, and ordered a halt in the pursuit. Therefore, at 11 pm on the evening of the 14th of November General Benhams forces ceased the pursuit and began their return to Gauley Bridge. After all the work the men had put forth to route the enemy they were told to retire.
After much discussion with the men the decision was made to return at once and not wait until morning. There was nowhere to bunk down for the night because they were already soaked from the continuous rains of the passed few days. The troops were very disappointed that they were not allowed to finish off the task they had been given.
General Benhams report, on the return of his forces after the pursuit was halted, illustrated the horrid conditions that the men had faced :
"As the men were still, or more than nine tenths of them, without shelter in a most drenching rain or succession of violent thunder storms, many without blankets, which had been thrown off during the ardor of the chase, and as they were still standing around their fires, unable to sleep in the rain, upon the open ground, the greater part of the command, though most unwilling to give up the pursuit, felt that if we were so ordered that it would be best for themselves, after a few hours halt (it could not be called rest), to retrace their steps that very night rather than remain standing in the cold and wet until morning, with only the prospect of their return. We accordingly commenced our return (from Kentons farm, 15 miles out from Fayetteville, on the road to Raleigh) soon after 1 o'clock am, reaching McCoys Mill about 4 o'clock am, we rested until about 6 am of the 15th, when we moved onward, and with a single halt reached this place, Fayetteville, soon after noon, being still in excellent spirits, their main disappointment being in not having been permitted to continue the pursuit of the Rebels. We are at this hour partly in houses, but a great number are out in the open air in the village, where it is now snowing upon them, which, added to their great exposure, will, I fear, half annihilate their effective strength.
“I have now but to report the noble conduct of the forces during this most toilsome march, where through all their great exposure in the storm, upon the route, and in bivouac, without shelter against the rain or snow that fell in each of the last three nights, not a murmur was heard by me, but every duty was performed with great cheerfulness and alacrity, and the principal officers of the command were worthy of the men they lead.
“Colonel Creighton of the Seventh Ohio, executed the maneuver from our right flank which decided the rout at McCoys Mill, in the most gallant style.
In the morning they were to march to Gauley Bridge were they would board steamers that would take them back to Charleston. That night, the 16th of November, after marching continuously for several days, they threw themselves upon the ground, wet clothes and all. When they awakened in the morning they found themselves with a blanket provided by mother nature of about 4 inches of snow. Many of the men's wet clothes were actually frozen to the turf, making it very difficult to free themselves from the ground.
General Rosecrans submitted a report to General McClellan discussing the operation around Cotton Hill. Portions of which follow:
November 25th, 1861
....."One of the plans for capturing Floyd failed on account of the high water, the other, while it was successful in driving them from this part of the country, failed to capture and destroy their force for want of vigorous and energetic execution of plans confided to General Benham."
....."It has been with great regret that I have to censure a general officer for the failure to capture the rebel forces who were justly ours."
On November 29th, 1861 General Rosecrans sent the following dispatch to General L. Thomas in Washington D. C.:
"On the 26th instant I found it necessary to arrest General H. W. Benham for unofficer like neglect of duty. He applied for a leave of absence on a medical certificate, with permission to visit a city, and has gone to New York."
General Floyds forces never again returned to the Valley of the Kanawha. They continued their flight to Raleigh where they set up camp for the winter and remained until the following spring. Lee's entire campaign in Western Virginia was regarded by many as being a total failure, was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina to become commander of the installation there.
On the 17th of November the regiment crossed the Gauley River and boarded the steamer Marmora which transported them back to Charleston where they rejoined the rest of the Seventh.

rustycoinUT

[demonboy279]

In 1861, western Virginia was the scene of a fierce struggle which magnified the bitterly divided sympathies of its populace. In effect, this area of Virginia experienced its own civil war, and within two years, the great conflict engulfing the United States led to the formation of the new state of West Virginia. By the fall of 1861, Union forces had gained tenuous control over most of this region, although Confederate cavalry raids were frequent and discouraging to Union supporters. One such raid, carried out on November 10, 1861, targeted the town of Guyandotte, Virginia, which served as the hostile host of a Union recruit camp. While successful, this action precipitated the burning of the town by Union troops and sympathizers in one of the Civil War's early acts of retaliatory destruction. These events foreshadowed the increasingly harsh nature of the Civil War, reflecting the hardships suffered by the soldiers of both sides, as well as the civilian population and local communities. Guyandotte's fate was a result of the residents' suspected collaboration with the Confederate raiders and the town's established reputation as a "hot bed of secession."
By the middle of the nineteenth century, Guyandotte was a small, bustling port on the Ohio River. Founded in 1810 at the confluence of the Ohio and Guyandotte rivers in Cabell County, the town featured a number of profitable businesses including the Buffington Mill, reportedly the largest flour mill on the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.1 Guyandotte hosted many river travelers and a road, built in the early 1830s, connected the town with the James River and Kanawha Turnpike at Barboursville, the county seat. To boost commerce, locks and dams were built along the Guyandotte River in the early 1850s, enabling navigation southward into the Guyandotte Valley.2 The Guyandotte Herald predicted continued growth for the town, stating that "once the Guyandotte is fairly opened, the increase of business will be beyond conception."3
In 1857, Eli Thayer, a United States congressman from Massachusetts, unveiled his plans for founding a colony in the region. Thayer, a staunch abolitionist, firmly believed that the colony's labor force would be provided by organized emigration and lead to the elimination of slavery. Following a successful venture in Kansas during the tumultuous mid-1850s, Thayer set his sights on Virginia, the country's most prominent slave state. This small-scaled colonization plan exemplified the bitter divisiveness which led the country inevitably toward armed conflict. While many Virginians were hostile toward his plans, others, especially those from the less prosperous western part of the state where slavery was not as important, welcomed Thayer and the influx of labor and capital promised by his venture.4
After a brief visit to the area in May 1857, Thayer selected a site ten miles west of Guyandotte for his fledgling community, which he named Ceredo. On July 25, he returned to address a town meeting in Guyandotte. Thayer assured local citizens that his primary objective was to make a profit and that he had no intention of violating state laws regarding slavery. The Guyandotte audience supported Thayer's plans with resolutions welcoming the new colony.5
While the Northern press applauded the reception given Thayer, a tremendous outcry arose from the South condemning Guyandotte's citizens as "yankee speculators" and "anti-Virginians." In response to the criticism, another meeting was held in Guyandotte on the afternoon of August 26, attended by the town's vocal anti-Thayer faction. The resolutons passed at this meeting vowed to extinguish any attempts to abolish slavery and declared steadfast loyalty to Virginia. Congressman Albert Gallatin Jenkins, who had recently visited the budding community, gave a stirring speech denouncing Thayer and Ceredo. Jenkins, a Cabell County native, also called upon Virginia Governor Henry Wise to intervene, but Wise refused to become involved in the controversy.6
Regional tension was exacerbated as a result of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, which strengthened support for secession in Guyandotte. Although few of the town's citizens were slaveholders, they protested against Northern sympathy for Brown and vowed "to repel at all hazards" any further encroachment upon their right as Virginians to own slaves.7 Local supporters of the newly formed Confederacy rejoiced when Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17, 1861. William McComas, the Cabell County delegate to the convention which decided the fate of the Old Dominion, voted against secession, as would a majority of the county's voters one month later. The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer declared the county's vote misleading, however, and noted that Guyandotte in particular was a "hot bed of secession." The town voted to secede, reportedly the only town along the Ohio River to do so, and the Virginia state flag was boldly displayed.8
A meeting held in Guyandotte on April 20 was attended by several local militia companies and a large number of county residents. A newly sewn state flag was raised by two of the town's oldest citizens "amid the enthusiastic applause of the multitude and the rejoicing of the ladies, a large number of whom were present."9 One of many speeches given that day was interrupted by the arrival of a steamer, which brought the official news of Virginia's break with the Union. The already upbeat mood turned jubilant, and salutes were fired to the Confederacy and to President Jefferson Davis. Albert Jenkins, who had given up his congressional seat, arrived and led some of the volunteer companies to his farm at Greenbottom, where they began drilling in preparation for war. Known as the Border Rangers, these local men soon joined a Confederate force at Camp Tompkins in the Kanawha Valley.10
Despite the troops' departure, Confederate sympathy remained rampant in Cabell County, especially in Guyandotte. Property and livestock were stolen from Union sympathizers and some were forced to flee into Ohio.11 On May 25, when merchandise bound for a Guyandotte resident was seized as contraband in Proctorville, Ohio, some of Guyandotte's citizens threatened to cross the Ohio River and take the goods by force. Nearly two hundred members of the local Ohio Home Guard gathered to repel any "invasion." Responding to fears expressed by some Guyandotte citizens, the Ironton Register stated that "if the people of Guyandotte keep that traitor flag down, and attend to their own affairs, they need not be at all afraid of trouble from loyal citizens of the Government."12 Although no fighting occurred and tempers cooled, Guyandotte's reputation was further blemished in the eyes of Union supporters.
In July 1861, a Union regiment, the Second Kentucky Infantry, was ordered to Guyandotte as a result of the Border Rangers' seizure of a steamboat near Greenbottom. Shortly after the arrival of Union troops on July 11, several of Guyandotte's citizens took the oath of allegiance and Union flags were prominently displayed. A uniformed Home Guard unit rowed across the river accompanied by an elderly female color-bearer, Mrs. Caroline White. White, a Union supporter from Guyandotte who had fled to Ohio, presented a flag to one of the Union companies and gave them her blessing, to which the soldiers replied with "vociferous cheers."13 After dispersing local militia in a brief fight at Barboursville on July 13, however, the Second Kentucky moved into the Kanawha Valley and civil chaos in the county resumed unchecked.
To counter the aggressive Confederate sympathizers, Union authorities initiated the formation of local Union regiments. In Ceredo, threats of destruction issued by area secessionists led the townspeople to form the Fifth Virginia Infantry. Later in the year, Kellian V. Whaley, who had filled the congressional seat vacated by Albert Jenkins, was authorized to form another Union regiment, the Ninth Virginia Infantry. Whaley began raising troops in Ceredo, but in late October the regiment's recruit camp was moved to Guyandotte, a step which must have horrified the town's Confederate supporters.14 Nearly one hundred and fifty troops were stationed in Guyandotte, but they were untrained recruits who had not yet been mustered into service. Sickness, particularly measles, was prevalent in the camp. The regimental surgeon recorded that twenty men were on furlough and eighteen others were hospitalized. Colonel John Zeigler, who commanded the Fifth Virginia, lent Whaley about thirty-five cavalrymen, but their commanding officer refused to allow his troopers to patrol outside the town, thereby rendering them ineffectual. The head of the cavalry detachment, Lieutenant William E. Feazel, declared, "I did not come here to scout, but to recruit my horses and get them shod." The lack of reconnaissance left the town open to an attack, a fatal mistake exploited by the Confederates.15
In the first week of November, Confederate General John B. Floyd ordered a cavalry force to "proceed in the direction of the Ohio River, and to strike the enemy a blow. . . ."16 The raid was led by Colonel John Clarkson, whose force numbered about seven hundred horsemen from the Fifth and Eighth Virginia Cavalry regiments, the latter led by Colonel Albert Jenkins. Clarkson's cavalry departed from Camp Dickerson in Fayette County on November 4 and struggled through the rugged mountain wilderness, reaching the outskirts of Barboursville at sunset on November 10. The Confederate cavalry charged into town at full speed, capturing several Union sympathizers before crossing the Mud River and moving toward Guyandotte.17
It is uncertain when Guyandotte was chosen as the target of the Confederate raid. In fact, Ceredo may have been the original destination. Seven companies of the Ceredo-based Fifth Virginia had been ordered to the Kanawha Valley, leaving only a small Union force to guard the town. Somewhere along the march, however, the decision to attack Guyandotte was made and the fate of the Federal recruits was sealed. It is quite possible that a few of the town's citizens who had sons serving under Colonel Albert Jenkins had gotten word to their boys that a Union regiment was forming in the town. This may have infuriated the proud Border Rangers and sparked cries for action. The Border Rangers, now Company E of the Eighth Virginia, were certainly elated at the thought of returning to Guyandotte. Corporal James D. Sedinger, a native of the town, recalled, "the boys were all happy then. We were going home for the first time since the spring."18
As Clarkson's column approached Guyandotte, orders were issued for the assault. The Border Rangers were to seize the suspension bridge which spanned the Guyandotte River, preventing escape to the west, while a detachment led by Major Henry Fitzhugh moved to the east end of Guyandotte to complete the encirclement. The remaining Confederate cavalry penetrated the center of town to attack and annihilate the small Union force.19
Guyandotte was deceptively peaceful on Sunday night, November 10, 1861. Some of the recruits were returning home from worship services while others were visiting with friends or simply relaxing, unaware of the dramatic events about to unfold. The silence was shattered as the Confederates raced into town unopposed. A Union picket guarding a small bridge just outside the town had seen their approach, but he was so stunned by the sudden appearance of the enemy that he failed to fire a warning shot. The Border Rangers, headed by Captain James Corns, met another picket as they stormed the suspension bridge. Standing firmly in harm's way, the Union soldier shot and killed one of the Border Rangers before being hit by return fire. Sedinger noted, "why he did not throw down and surrender was always a mystery to us. He was a small red headed man -- would weigh about one hundred and forty pounds." The Confederate company dismounted on the west side of the bridge as the remainder of Clarkson's force began its attack.20
When the first shots rang out, the Union soldiers dashed into the streets, curious as to the source of the commotion. The Ninth's young drummer boy began sounding the alarm, but his instrument was pierced by a Confederate bullet. By the time the recruits realized they were under attack, it was too late. Many were cut off from their Enfield rifles and were unable to resist as the Confederate cavalry raced through the town hunting down Union troops and sympathizers. Some tried to flee across the suspension bridge but were cut down by the Border Rangers, who had secured this escape route.21
Others who attempted to swim across the Guyandotte River were fired on by some of the town's Confederate supporters gathered along the riverbank. Several witnesses later described the murder of a Union recruit attempting to swim across the river by a former sheriff of Cabell County, Wilson B. Moore. Moore apparently persuaded the youth that he would not be harmed if he surrendered. When the recruit reached shore, Moore aimed his revolver at the Union man and "discharged its contents into his head, literally blowing his brains out, mutilating his head in a shocking manner."22
Major Whaley and a small portion of his command positioned themselves near the suspension bridge. Whaley decided to seek assistance and ordered Lieutenant William Wilson to take command of the tiny resistance force. Wilson wrote of his experience shortly after the battle: "We continued to fire for some time. I saw Sine fall. He said he was a dead man. I saw one little man bleeding at the mouth. He cursed and swore, but continued to load and fire. . . . He was grit to the bone -- no better soldier, when wounded, certain. About this time I was wounded and the enemy drew nearer. I gave the boys orders to leave, and every man to take care of himself."23
Meanwhile Whaley had made his way to the stables, seeking cavalry support to reopen an escape route across the bridge. To his dismay the major discovered that although the horses were saddled, no troopers could be found. He managed to round up a few Union recruits who continued to resist the Confederates' overwhelming numerical advantage. These Union soldiers fought bravely but they were steadily pushed back and forced to make a final stand around the Forest Hotel. Suddenly Captain Henry Clay Pate, who had four years earlier been on the losing end of a battle with John Brown in "Bleeding Kansas," stormed forward with his Petersburg Rangers. This fierce charge overwhelmed the remaining defenders and ended the battle. Major Whaley's life was threatened when he refused to assist Pate in rounding up the scattered Union recruits, but Colonel Clarkson rode up and saved him, declaring, "he is a brave man, and I desin so to report him."24
Although Union armed resistance had been brief, the victorious Confederates spent the remainder of the night rounding up terrified recruits who were either attempting to flee the town or hiding in hope that the new day would bring relief. A tragic incident occurred in the Forest Hotel when Colonel Clarkson mistakenly shot and killed Confederate Captain Tom Huddleston, commander of Company I, Eighth Virginia Cavalry. Huddleston's death deeply affected his men. A trooper of the Confederate cavalry wrote, "I saw many of his old comrades near his dead body in tears, and others kissed his pale, tranquil face, which they will never see again."25
At least three Confederates were killed on the night of November 10 and ten others wounded. Despite later Northern reports of a "massacre," only ten Union recruits were killed, while at least ten more were wounded. One of the Federal casualties was Captain George B. Bailey, Whaley's second-in-command, who was shot in the chin and apparently drowned while attempting to swim across the Guyandotte River. Bailey had briefly attended the United States Military Academy; when he was expelled his position had been filled by his boyhood friend, Ulysses Grant. Ninety-eight Union troops and sympathizers were taken prisoner by the Confederate cavalry. They were assisted by a number of Guyandotte's Confederate supporters, who used the occasion to settle grudges against their fellow townspeople who had sided with the North.26
An incident which typified the bitter divisiveness in Cabell County was the murder of Achilles Fuller, a Union supporter, on November 10. Earlier in the year Fuller had killed Henry Shelton, a Confederate supporter whose sons served in the Confederate cavalry. On the evening of the raid on Guyandotte, Private George Shelton and a few of his comrades from the Eighth Virginia Cavalry split off from the Confederate column at Barboursville and rode to the Fuller home, where Achilles Fuller was discovered and immediately murdered.27
Although it remains difficult to assess the extent of Guyandotte's citizens's involvement in the raid, there is little doubt that many were exhilarated by the sudden reversal of power. Contemporary accounts which accused several local citizens of shooting at the fleeing Union recruits are too prevalent and similar to be entirely without merit. The claim that residents of Guyandotte had foreknowledge of the raid and had furnished intelligence to the Confederate cavalry may have been true; however, the attack was so sudden, unexpected, and overwhelming that success was inevitable.28
On the morning of November 11, the Confederates tied their prisoners in pairs with rope readily supplied by a Guyandotte merchant.29 A quarter-inch rope was then used to bind each pair to the next, until all were tied together. As they were herded out of Guyandotte, the captured Union soldiers and citizens were subjected to verbal abuse by the town's women, many of whom were wearing their "secession aprons."30 The march commenced at a run as the column proceeded south along the Guyandotte River. The pace was so severe that Major Whaley requested he and his men be shot rather than forced to endure such a torturous march. Whaley made a daring escape at Chapmanville, but the remaining prisoners were subjected to further hardships until the column reached Newbern, Virginia, where the captured soldiers and citizens were force into rail cars which transported them on to several prisons in Richmond. During the grueling march to Newbern, several secessionist refugees from Guyandotte heckled and threatened the Union prisoners. Some also testified against their release, although other former Guyandotte residents living in Richmond worked on their behalf and provided assistance for their return to western Virginia.31
As the triumphant Confederates withdrew from Guyandotte with their prisoners in tow, the steamer SS Boston appeared, moving slowly up the Ohio River. Aboard were approximately two hundred Union soldiers from the Fifth Virginia Infantry, who had advanced from their camp in Ceredo after learning of the attack. When shots were fired at the steamboat by the rearguard of the Confederate column, a small two-pounder aboard the SS Boston responded, "sending a ball through a rebel's brick house." The boat then veered to the Ohio side of the river and landed near Proctorville. Here an unruly, frightened mob of Ohio Home Guards had gathered to defend the town. These men and boys, anxious and excited, boarded the SS Boston, which took them across the river toward Guyandotte. As the steamer neared the Virginia shore, two men were spied along the riverbank waving white flags. Although J. C. Wheeler, the adjutant of the Ninth Virginia, stated in his report that these were "hypocritical secession citizens," they were in fact Union supporters, who were attempting to convince the citizens of Proctorville to halt their random firing into Guyandotte. The SS Boston landed about one mile above the town near the home of Robert Stewart, a prominent secessionist. A rumor that fleeing Union recruits had been fired on by inhabitants of the home stirred the men into a frenzy and the dwelling was quickly burned.32
The Union men then marched into Guyandotte, where they found a number of dead and wounded comrades and heard reports citing collaboration between some of the townspeople and the Confederate cavalry. The rage of the gathered Union troops and sympathizers now boiled over. Most accounts of the incident accuse Colonel John Zeigler of issuing orders to burn Guyandotte. Whether or not orders were given is irrelevant, since according to one observer, "three regiments would not have prevented them from burning the town."33
The business section of Guyandotte was completely gutted, purportedly to prevent the Confederates from returning for supplies. The Buffington Mill was burned, as was the Forest Hotel. Even churches were not immune from the torch. The Guyandotte Baptist Church was burned after two unsuccessful attempts when Union soldiers tore off the shutters and stuffed them with straw before setting them alight in the church belfry. The Guyandotte Methodist Episcopal Church, South may also have been burned.34
Many houses were set ablaze, with special attention given to the town's most prominent secessionists. Women and children were forced into the streets, and some of the residents reportedly had to leap out of windows to escape the flames. Union reports later declared that no homes belonging to Union supporters were torched. One eyewitness, however, claimed that the first home to be burned belonged to a Union man, as were the majority of the residences consumed by fire. One example typifies the random destruction inflicted upon Guyandotte. Mrs. Charlotte Douthit, the wife of a prosperous Guyandotte merchant, had witnessed the seizure of her husband and eldest son by Confederate troops in the aftermath of the raid. On the morning of November 11, Union troops appeared at Mrs. Douthit's front door and warned her to remove any valuables from the house, as they had orders to burn it. Mrs. Douthit pleaded with the soldiers and told of her distressing sacrifices, but the soldiers burned the Douthit home and a brick storage building filled with wheat.35 A few homes were saved by their owners, who doused the flames following the departure of the Uion troops. Another home was saved by the determination of the woman of the house, Mrs. Mary Carroll. Mrs. Carroll barricaded her family in the home and ignored the soldiers' admonitions to get out. Her iron will prevailed as the troops grudgingly moved on.36
Later in the day Union Colonel William Bolles of the Second Virginia Cavalry arrived in Guyandotte aboard a steamboat. Upon seeing the wanton destruction, he immediately sought out Colonel Zeigler and implored him to bring his troops under control. When Zeigler declared that he could not subdue his men, Bolles rode through the streets threatening the Union troops, who were finally persuaded to stop the devastation. Before departing from Guyandotte, Colonel Zeigler's troops arrested sixteen local citizens for their role in the battle. These men were immediately shipped off to Camp Chase Prison in Columbus, Ohio.37
The Confederate raid on Guyandotte, exaggerated as a "massacre" by the Northern press, shocked and angered Union supporters. Shortly after the news reached the northern panhandle town of Moundsville, the streets filled with "excited men and women" who assaulted four secessionists and jailed three while shouting, "Guyandotte must and shall be revenged." A committee of Union men went to the homes of other secessionists and ordered them to leave town. The raid also led many Northerners to re-evaluate the nature of the war: "One thing is becoming more and more evident each day, both to patriots and traitors. And that is, that this rebellion will be put down at whatever cost of blood and treasure. The time for dallying and temporising with traitors is gone . . . rigid retribution is now to be the policy."38 Guyandotte's fate was a chilling portent of the devastation that would be increasingly levied not only on the soldiers fighting the war but also on the civilian population supporting it, particularly in the South.
There was little sympathy in the North for the citizens of Guyandotte. Although the participation of some of the townspeople in the Confederate raid was undoubtedly a factor in its destruction, Guyandotte's notoriety was also an essential element. The Ironton Register commented: "Guyandotte's machinations hath kept the border in constant alarm; its people hath sown to the wind, and already reaped the whirlwind." Another northern paper, the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, was even more blunt in its unconcealed glee at the town's fate: "Guyandotte . . . has always had the reputation of being the `ornaryest' place on the Ohio River." After comparing the town to Vicksburg, the paper added that Guyandotte "ought to have been burned two or three years ago."39
The raid instilled a fear in Union supporters living in this border region which remained throughout the war. This fear spurred Union authorities to maintain troops in Guyandotte during much of the next four years. Ironically, the county seat was moved to Guyandotte in 1863 because it was deemed more secure than Barboursville. Although Confederate cavalry returned to Cabell County on several more occasions, their success at Guyandotte was not repeated. Following the Confederacy's defeat in 1865, soldiers from both sides returned home to rebuild their lives.
Guyandotte also rebuilt and before long the business section was thriving once again. By 1872, more than fifty businesses were operating in the community, including six legal firms, a photograph gallery, a jewelry store, a woolen factory, a book and stationary store, four hotels, and five saloons. local newspaper estimated that one thousand people resided in Guyandotte and described the citizens as "social, hospitable, and generous."40
The town's growth, however, was adversely affected by the emergence of the neighboring city of Huntington, formed in 1871 to serve as the terminus for the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railroad. Legend has it that the new city was built by C&O company president Collis P. Huntington after he was arrested in Guyandotte for riding his horse on the sidewalk. Regardless of the reason, his decision had a fateful effect, as the city named for him soon eclipsed and eventually incorporated the historic town of Guyandotte.41

This is where the info came from. Figured ill give credit where credit is due. and hope ya dont mind me posting this just thought it might be useful or at least interesting.
http://www.wvculture.org/hiStory/journal_wvh/wvh54-2.html

[munderwood66]

I would consider myself a casual or dabbler in civil war relic hunting, from the above article "The chase continued and at noon on the 14th the regiment arrived northwest of McCoy's Mill, here the forces under Floyd decided to make a stand, or at least hold Benhams forces while the remainder of his troops got off safely. "
I've tracked them this far, "Just west of McCoys Mill is a small ridge by which Colonel Creighton and the Seventh passed behind, and then over, thereby completely surprising Floyds troops."
I have hunted a site thoroughly, very few signals left, 3 or 4 minnies 1 musketball (looks chewed) and some period relics have come up, still another tract between it and another where a minnie was found I'm working on getting permission to search to see if any more comes up. following the article I know approx location of Kenton's farm where they stopped pursuit (still researching info).
Main focus and where I need some help is some personal accounts of this action from either or both sides involved (from the article it appears to be 7th and 13th Ohio, 14th Regiment (REBEL?) 2nd GA CAV?. I've got some locations tied in, trying to get as much specific site details as possible to check against current/recent mining, development etc, to find the good potential sites.
Thought I would throw this out there in case someone could point me toward some. Hoping for e research material, time and work and spousal constraints don't allow me to get in much library or hist society time (actually none).

[creekrat]

might want to check out the story of the ghosts ofmurders hollow,near east dam at lick creek .might dig a few relics there? as far as i know no one has hit the right spot yet.............creekrat

[WVaTom]

The mill site's can be good if you don't mind wading through the laurals. I see a few Mountaineers here! Very Good. Let's go detecting this weekend. I will be home until the 30th and back again on the 20th of June. Will be taking a extra 10 days off in July. Have detector will travel.:bthumb:

[munderwood66]

Excerpted from http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/hayes/chapterxvi.html

November 13.--Had a good march down to Gauley--the
whole Third Brigade under General Schenck. Weather warm
as summer, almost hot. Crossed New River at ferry near its
mouth, worked by Captain Lane and his good men, thence down
left bank of the Kanawha to the road from Montgomery Ferry
to Fayetteville, thence about two miles to Huddleston's farm,
where we bivouacked among briars and devil's-needles -- officers
in corn fodder in a crib. The band played its best tunes as we
crossed New River, Captain Lane remarking, "I little hoped to
see such a sight a week ago when the enemy were cannonading
us." About 10:30 o'clock General Schenck got a dispatch from
General Benham saying Floyd was on the run and he in pursuit,
and urging us to follow. At midnight the men were aroused
and at one we were on the way.

November 14, Thursday.--A dark, cold, rainy morning.
Marching before daylight in pitchy darkness. (Mem.:-- Night
marches should only be made in extremest cases; men can go
farther between daylight and dark than between midnight and
dark of the next day, and be less worn-out.) We stopped in
the dark, built fires, and remained until daylight, when we
pushed on in mud and rain past enemy's entrenchments on
Dickinson's farm to Fayetteville where we arrived about eight
or nine A. M. After passing enemy's works, [we found] the
road strewed with axes, picks, tents, etc., etc.--the debris of
Floyd's retreating army. Fayetteville, a pretty village, de-
serted by men and by all but a few women. We quartered with
Mrs. Mauser; her secession lord gone with Floyd. We heard
P. M. of General Benham's skirmishers killing Colonel St.
George Croghan today--colonel of Rebel cavalry and son of
Colonel George Croghan of Fort Stephenson celebrity. Died in
a bad cause; but Father O'Higgins, of the Tenth, says he be-
haved like a Christian gentleman. Colonel Smith wears his
sword. Shot through the sword-belt.

[bigjohn]

great info // thanks.

[corklabus]

I can't hardly believe the specifics of these posts about WV. So much of this stuff is practically at my front door. I've been prowling the net for a while for this type of information and now here it all falls right in my lap at once. Of course I'm across the River from Fayetteville and I'm a bit more interested in my extreme immediate area, but then how much closer can ya get for nothin' ??
Troop movements and Floyds' escape are my major interests and this really helped a lot. Somewhere I did run across something that said Floyd had made a second attempt at Gauley Bridge, but I'm thinking this was before his total route.
I'm wanting to concentrate on US 60 from Gauley Bridge through to Lewisburg, but not particularly much beyond Rainelle. Mostly interesting in surrounding areas off the beaten path. Hopefully finding something better than pop tabs.
Thanks for spending your time to post this stuff. I appreciate it GREATLY.

[reirelics]

Glad you found some thing that will help you in your quest
at Civil War Quest a great place to be and happy hunting.
Raymond

[WV911]

I too am across the river from Fayetteville. I live on the route that they used from Carnifax Ferry, and crossed the river at Pattersons Ferry and also Shawver Bridge. There are a few scattered reports of fighting, but I dont know where to start looking. Lots of good info so far .... im lookin forward to getting out there.