An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
The Battle of Belington / Laurel Hill was fought from Sunday, July 7 to Thursday, July 11, 1861 between Union forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris and Confederate forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett in what is today Barbour County, West Virginia. It involved around 8,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Over…
Continue reading ➞ Previous Belington / Laurel Hill Research
On June 27, 1861, a Confederate foraging expedition descended on the unionist town of Buckhannon, scattering civilians and briefly seizing vital supplies along the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Though a small clash, the raid and the rumors it sparked pushed George B. McClellan to launch his campaign against Robert S. Garnett, setting the stage for the fight…
Continue reading ➞ Divided Ground: Buckhannon’s Unionists Face a Confederate Incursion
In June 1861, as Union forces secured the B&O Railroad after the rout at Philippi, a nighttime raid on a secessionist militia at Righter’s House erupted into violence and fiery retribution. The clash at Coon Run reveals how the fight for strategic ground in northwestern Virginia quickly devolved into a bitter war between neighbors. Following…
Continue reading ➞ Irregular War in Northwestern Virginia: Captain Cable’s Raid on Righter’s House
In a rain-soaked dawn attack at Philippi, Union columns under Benjamin Kelley and Ebenezer Dumont scattered Col. George A. Porterfield’s inexperienced command, sending it fleeing in what became known as the “Philippi Races.” The brief fight secured the B&O lifeline and shattered secessionist momentum in northwestern Virginia at the very outset of the war. Events…
Continue reading ➞ The Philippi Races: How a Rain-Soaked Surprise Secured Northwestern Virginia
In the tense weeks following Virginia’s secession vote, rival unionist and secessionist forces in northwestern Virginia maneuvered for control of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Skirmishes at Fetterman and Glover’s Gap produced some of the war’s earliest casualties and set the stage for the opening of McClellan's campaign in the region. On April 17, 1861,…
I recently came across this neat episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast focusing on Matilda Humphrey, the civilian who fired the first shots on the morning of June 3, 1861, alerting Porterfield's command and likely preventing an even worse disaster for the secessionists. It shows how seemingly small, unforeseen events can have major consequences in…
Continue reading ➞ Ancestral Findings Podcast – The Shot Heard in Philippi
Determining the composition of the Union force that attacked Philippi on June 3, 1861, is, thankfully, easier than for their opponents. The orders outlining which units were to take part, and the number of companies assigned, have long been published. Even so, estimates of the total strength vary, and the sources do not always explain…
Continue reading ➞ Union Forces Involved in the Action at Philippi
As one of the earliest engagements in the American Civil War, the Action at Philippi on June 3, 1861 is clouded in faulty and incomplete information. We owe it to history (and the ancestors of the men involved) to get an accurate picture of who was present on that day, for either side. Today we…
Continue reading ➞ Secessionist Forces Involved in the Action at Philippi
The American Battlefield Trust released an informative video a few years ago about the Battle of Corrick's Ford. Kris White tells the story on location. Parsons, WV is a nice little town and I always enjoy stopping there with my family. The house where Robert S. Garnett's body was taken still stands. https://youtu.be/qRovfQezbUQ?si=cKZDxLvUhjRgXeZ9
Welcome to version 1.5 of the Spirit of ’61 Battlelog. Developed over several months, this release includes two new battles and substantive revisions to four others. It is now 76 pages and over 37,000 words. Here is a detailed list of all changes in this version: Revised narrative for Battle of Hoke’s Run. Added entry…
Spirit of '61 