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…
Blog
The Fight at Corrick’s Ford: Union Pursuit and the Death of Robert S. Garnett
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
What Confederate Units were at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford?
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?
What Federal Units were at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford?
Fought on July 13, 1861, the Battle of Corrick’s Ford (often misspelled Carrick’s) marked the climax of the Tygart Valley–Cheat River campaign. It ended in the complete rout of Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett’s remaining army and his death. Remarkably, the victory was won by a relatively small Union force, only part of Thomas A.…
Continue reading ➞ What Federal Units were at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford?
The Historical Bias Index (HBI)
While I don't think any work of history can be one hundred percent bias free, I do think it's important to be as objective as possible while still remaining accurate and entertaining for the reader. I recently experimented with A.I. (Google Gemini to be precise), to help me come up with a way to measure…
The Battle of Rich Mountain: McClellan’s Breakthrough in Western Virginia, July 1861
In July 1861, George B. McClellan launched a coordinated offensive in western Virginia, using a diversion at Laurel Hill and a daring flank march over Rich Mountain to break Robert S. Garnett’s defensive line. The resulting Union victory not only shattered Confederate control of the region but propelled McClellan into national prominence at a critical…
165 Years Ago: Virginia Convention Calls for Alliance with the Confederate States
On Tuesday, April 16, 1861, the Virginia Convention in Richmond entered secret session to debate secession and a potential alliance with the Confederate States. The next day, delegates voted 88 to 55 in favor of secession, pending a popular referendum set for May 23. Ten days into the session, on April 25, they approved ordinances…
Continue reading ➞ 165 Years Ago: Virginia Convention Calls for Alliance with the Confederate States
What Federal Units were at the Battle of Rich Mountain?
When Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan arrived in northwestern Virginia in late June to take command of his Army of the West, also known as the Army of Occupation, he reorganized and expanded it into five brigades under Brig. Gens. William S. Rosecrans, Thomas A. Morris, Charles W. Hill, Newton Schleich, and Col. Robert L.…
Continue reading ➞ What Federal Units were at the Battle of Rich Mountain?
What Confederate Units were at the Battle of Rich Mountain?
Determining the number of Confederates in the vicinity of Rich Mountain on July 11, 1861 is deceptively simple. There were only three infantry regiments, one cavalry company, and one active artillery battery present. Missing and incomplete records, however, considerably complicate efforts to quantify the Confederate strength. It is tempting to take the figures provided by…
Continue reading ➞ What Confederate Units were at the Battle of Rich Mountain?
Timeline of Events in Northwest Virginia, June 4 – July 16, 1861
Previously, we chronicled the events leading up to the action at Philippi, from April 17 to June 3, 1861. Here, we turn to the 42 days between the secessionist retreat from Philippi and the Federal occupation of the Cheat Mountain summit, a period marked by steady reinforcements on both sides, intermittent clashes as the armies…
Continue reading ➞ Timeline of Events in Northwest Virginia, June 4 – July 16, 1861
