An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
The Action at Glover’s Gap occurred on Tuesday, May 28, 1861 between irregular secessionist militia commanded by Stephen Roberts and a detachment of Company A, 2nd Virginia Infantry (U.S.) commanded by 2nd Lt. Oliver R. West in Marion County, West Virginia. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's two-pronged invasion of northeastern Virginia began on May 26,…
Benjamin F. Butler, a major general of Massachusetts volunteers, assumed command of the Military Department of Virginia on Wednesday, May 22, 1861. His department encompassed everything within a sixty-mile radius of Fort Monroe. The massive stone-and-brick bastion fort, constructed between 1819 and 1844, stood at Old Point Comfort overlooking the entrance to Hampton Roads. Following…
Continue reading ➞ 165 Years Ago: First Vermont Regiment Occupies the Town of Hampton
A few months ago, YouTuber Jeffrey the Librarian released an informative video on the American Civil War, focusing on the events of July 1861. He takes a broad view of the conflict, covering developments not only in Virginia but also in Missouri. It is one of the best videos I have seen on the subject.…
Over the past several months, we have done a deep dive into the Tygart Valley–Cheat River Campaign and updated nine battle pages with fully expanded narratives, orders of battle, casualties, contemporary newspaper articles, and lists of sources. Check them out: Action at Fetterman Action at Glover’s Gap Action at Philippi Action at Righter’s House Action…
Continue reading ➞ Nine Battle Pages Updated – And What Comes Next
In a previous post examining which Federal forces were involved in the July 13, 1861 Battle of Corrick’s Ford, I noted that, given the ferocity and duration of the fighting, it is difficult to explain how Union losses remained so light, with just two killed and roughly six or seven wounded. This figure comes directly…
A wealth of primary sources exists concerning the Battle of Corrick's Ford, fought on July 13, 1861, in Tucker County, West Virginia, and its aftermath. Official reports from several Union commanders involved in the action, however, are conspicuously absent. It was customary for each colonel engaged in an action like this to submit a report…
Continue reading ➞ Colonel Ebenezer Dumont’s Report from Corrick’s Ford
I've written about John Lott, allegedly "The first colored man that shouldered a musket in the Union Army," previously for Spirit of '61. In particular, his involvement in a murder at Philippi the day after Union forces occupied the town. The information I’ve since uncovered is a fascinating and unconventional story that stretches from southern…
Continue reading ➞ New at Emerging Civil War: The Enigma of John Lott
Welcome to version 1.6 of the Spirit of ’61 Battlelog! Over the past several months, we have focused on revising and updating our battle narratives for the Tygart Valley–Cheat River Campaign. With these updates completed, our Battlelog is now 88 pages and over 44,800 words. Here is a detailed list of all changes in this…
After McClellan’s victory at Rich Mountain, Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett’s army fled Laurel Hill in a rain-soaked retreat through the mountains of western Virginia. At Corrick’s Ford, along Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, the pursuit caught up with them, ending in the collapse of Garnett’s command and the death of the first general…
Continue reading ➞ The Fight at Corrick’s Ford: Union Pursuit and the Death of Robert S. Garnett
The Battle of Corrick’s Ford (often misspelled Carrick’s), fought on July 13, 1861, marked the climax of the Tygart Valley–Cheat River campaign in northwestern Virginia. It ended in the complete rout of Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett’s army and his death. The action was a rearguard fight, with a small portion of Garnett’s force holding…
Continue reading ➞ What Confederate Units were at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford?
Spirit of '61 