THE CIVIL WAR: A TRAGEDY WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED

A Tribute to Those On Both Sides Who Died For What They Believed IN

WEST VIRGINIA IN THE CIVIL WAR

.....The hills of what was then Western Virginia, and after June 20, 1863, West Virginia, truly produced brothers who fought against brothers and neighbors who fought against neighbors. Men went south from all parts of the state to fight for their native Virginia. Others felt duty bound to fight for the Union. The battles of Droop Mountain and Cloyd's Mountain were both fought chiefly by Western Virginia troops. Sentiments of why Westen Virginia men fought for the South can be found in works by some of these men in their own hand. I hope to include at least one of these men's testimonies and I will give you the title of another's diary. It is hard for many to understand today, but, when Virginians of that era spoke of their "country," they were speaking about Virginia. It is because this loyalty to Virginia that men like Robert E. Lee could leave the U.S. Army to fight for their "native soil."

.....I could also give you many of the units that men from Western Virginia and many of the men's names, but this has already been done by others. If you will click on the link to "West Virginia in the Civil War," you will find a considerable amount of this information.
.....At this moment, I do not know all that I will include in this page. Instead of rigid planning, I will let this page grow as I glean items from my already existing files and as new photos from my visits to the battlefields are processed. Since I keep a list of "Works Cited and Consulted" of historical publications, I will try to include a list of books pertaining to West Virginia in the Civil War. Some of these books are quite recent. This page will grow over time so please drop back every so often to check for growth.

.....Along with a company of home guards, the County of Mercer of Virginia raised ten companies that fought for the Confederate Cause all during the war. One of those who answered the call was David Johnson who was a leading citizen of Mercer County before and after the war. He played in a leading role as a member of the "Committee of Safety" in the struggle to settle the county seat at Princeton. In his book "A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory," he states why he and others fought for the "Old Virginia.":

The Words of David Johnson: Why men from Western Virginia fought for the South

After the war, because of their loyality during the war to the South, most people in the border counties of West Virginia could not teach school or vote.

BATTLE AT CAMP ALLEGHENY

This battle has the distinction of being fought at the greatest elevation than any other battle of the war.

photo by Okey L. King

Photo by Okey l. King

.....In the field above the trees, Southern Troops were quartered in rough stones huts. The foundations of the huts can be seen today as piles of rubble.

.....The previous Summer and been cold and damp and the winter that these troops were on the mountain was terrible. All through this theater of action, men died of one sickness or another. Many died of the measles. If I remember correctly, some of the troops at this highest Confederate Camp were men from Georgia who were not accostumed to such conditions.

Cheat Summit

photo by Okey L. King

.....A double line small white crosses marks the graves of Union Soldiers many of whom were from Ohio. Lee launched a attack against the Federal troops at Cheat Summit, which is just west of Durbin, but the operation was botched when his subordinates failed out to carry out thier parts of the plan. Many of the men in the graves above died of desease.

Battle of White Sulphur Springs

.....Probably the most desecrated Civil War battlefield is the one at White Sulphur Springs. Instead of a preserved battle ground, there is an ugly mall, a nursing home, a fire station and a couple of churches. The only reminder is a very modest small monument. The battle reenactment is held nine miles away in Greenbrier State Forrest. It is nothing short of a disgrace.

.....Because of the present state of the battlefield, it is impossible to take modern photos. The old photos below came from: THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS The traditions, history, and social life of the Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs BY WILLIAM ALEXANDER MACCORKLE, LL.D.

W. A. MACCORKLE CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA MCMXXIV Copyright, 1916, by THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY

.....It is not my intention to describe the battle of White Sulphur. You can read about the battle in other articles. The noise of the battle, which took place on August 26th and 27th of 1863, could be heard all the way to Second Creek which was a distance of about 19 miles. In his writings, Newton McDowell says his mother sent him and his younger brother to see how the battle was going. I believe his older brother was a participant in the battle. But, Newt wrote that they had only reached the area of Harts Run before they met a boy coming back the other way. They learned the battle was over.

.....Before we continue, another correction has to be made. The battle has been called the Battle of Dray Creek. But, the battle was fought on Wades Creek. Dry Creek is about a mile and a quarter from the battlefield. Somehow this mistake irks me no end.

.....The battle has also been called the battle of the Law Books. It is said he objective of each army was to secure the law books at Lewisburg. This informationin is from an article in a issue of the Wonderful West Virginia magazine.

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.....This is a view one would have of the approach to the battlefield as it was more than a hundred years ago

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.....This is a view of the battlefield showing empty fields. They are no longer empty today. ...........................

.....This view shows the apprach to what is now the intersection of US Route 60 and State Route 92. At that time, Route sixty was the James River Kanawha Turnpike and Route 92 was Anthony's Creek Road. ........................................

.....The house on the right is the one of the old Dixon houses. It was one of the houses used as a field hospital.

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.....This last photo is the scene looking up Anthony's Creek Road as it looked then. Now, on the left, there is a hardware store, a Mormon Church, the Fire House, the Church of God, the White Sulphur Care Center, and a drugstore. One the left is the mall and a carwash. The whole mess is another reminder of the that money is more important than preserving our heritage.