The following descriptions, taken from a variety of sources, help identify major landmarks related to the Battle of Belington/Laurel Hill. Since there are few reliable maps of Camp Laurel Hill and none of unit positions, we have to rely on these written descriptions to tell us where the battle unfolded. The numbers correspond to areas…
Tag: battle
Map of Laurel Hill Battle
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. I created…
Who Died at Righter’s House? An Early Civil War Mystery
An accurate accounting of Civil War casualties is often difficult, especially when record keeping was spotty at best. Newspaper articles, personal reminisces, and official reports are exaggerated and unreliable. This seems particularly true for the Action at Righter’s House, which was among the first deadly exchanges in the Civil War. On Friday, June 21, 1861,…
Continue reading ➞ Who Died at Righter’s House? An Early Civil War Mystery
Orienting the Laurel Hill Spy Map
Yesterday, I shared a re-created map of Laurel Hill Camp drawn by a Union spy named William Fletcher. The Confederate Army of Northwestern Virginia occupied this position from June 16 to July 11, 1861. The camp didn't leave much in the way of physical remnants except for a small cemetery, so identifying its boundaries is…
Laurel Hill Camp Map
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. It was a small skirmish but played a role in the more consequential Battle of Rich Mountain. Laurel…
Union Troops in Patterson’s Creek Skirmish
A few days ago, I posted an accounting of all Confederate soldiers involved in the Patterson's Creek / Kelley’s Island Skirmish. Having the names of all participants on the Confederate side only tells half the story, however, but I recently came across a contemporary newspaper article that sheds light on the Union troops involved. The…
Continue reading ➞ Union Troops in Patterson’s Creek Skirmish
The Fate of Ashby’s Men (and Horses)
I recently consulted the 7th Virginia Cavalry regimental history by Richard L. Armstrong to verify a list of Confederates who fought in the Skirmish at Frankfort and Patterson’s Creek and find out what happened to them, in order to have an accurate accounting of all casualties.
My Trip to Hampshire County, West Virginia and Vicinity
Earlier this month, I took a trip up to the Romney, West Virginia area to visit some Civil War sites and take pictures for this encyclopedia. It was a beautiful, warm day, but it was clear I would spend most of it in the car. My goal was to hit the Romney, Keyser, Cumberland triangle and parts in between.
New Facts Found in Skirmish Near Alexandria
On Wednesday, I posted an article I came across in the Richmond Dispatch, July 4, 1861, which described a previously unidentified skirmish near Alexandria, Virginia. The article is full of inaccuracies and partial information, which means I had to do a deep dive to figure out what happened. Information on the Confederate force is scarce.…
Continue reading ➞ New Facts Found in Skirmish Near Alexandria
Unknown Skirmish Near Alexandria?
I was searching through newspapers.com for casualty announcements in June and July 1861, and came across a previously unknown skirmish near Alexandria, Virginia that took place on or around June 30th. At first I thought it was referring to the Engagement at Arlington Mills, but that happened almost a month earlier. I haven't seen this…
Spirit of '61 