An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
Though minor in comparison to the clash that would erupt at Bull Run days later, the fight at Blackburn’s Ford rattled Union confidence and emboldened Confederate troops. With McDowell now seeking another route forward, the war’s first major battle loomed just beyond the horizon. Confederate Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard arrived at Manassas Junction on…
This pencil drawing by famed artist Alfred Rudolph Waud (1828-1891) depicts a Union artillery piece and camp of 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, led by Lieutenant Charles H. Tompkins, near Falls Church, Virginia on July 1, 1861. Exactly one month earlier, Tompkins led a chaotic reconnaissance on Fairfax Court House, in which several of…
Continue reading ➞ Outpost Watching Falls Church, Virginia, 1861
Amid the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain, a deadly ambush at Hanging Rock left soldiers on edge as Confederate guerrillas vanished into the wilderness. This small but impactful action marked a dramatic moment in the struggle for control over northwestern Virginia’s strategic mountain passes. The death of Brigadier General Robert S. Garnett and the crippling…
In a tense twilight skirmish at the covered bridge over Middle Fork River, Union and Confederate forces traded deadly volleys, with bullets tearing through the darkness. This fierce encounter would prove to be the critical opening move that cleared the Union’s path to a decisive victory at Rich Mountain just days later. Following the Confederate…
Continue reading ➞ Bullets Over Middle Fork: How a Bridge Fight Opened the Path to Rich Mountain
When the departure of Lew Wallace’s 11th Indiana left the B&O Railroad exposed in July 1861, Pennsylvania Reserves faced off against Confederate raiders in another fierce skirmish at New Creek Station. In early July, Colonel Lewis “Lew” Wallace and his 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment, stationed in Cumberland, Maryland, along the Potomac River, were ordered to…
Continue reading ➞ The Bucktail’s Stand at New Creek: A Detailed Account of the July 1861 Skirmish
Uncover the full story of the Battle of Scary Creek as we piece together the most accurate records of involved units and casualty figures available. The Battle of Scary Creek holds significance as one of the earliest substantial engagements prior to the First Battle of Bull Run. Although involving only about 2,100 men, it included…
Continue reading ➞ What Units Fought at the Battle of Scary Creek?
The Battle of Scary Creek was fought on Wednesday, July 17, 1861 between Union forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox and Confederate forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise in Putnam County, West Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory, but ultimately had no affect on the overall campaign. Union forces captured…
In July 1861, Union troops under Brig. Gen. Jacob Cox clashed with entrenched Confederate forces at Scary Creek, leading to a fierce battle of strategy, deadly crossfire, and unexpected losses—including the capture of several Union officers. Dive into the gripping details of how this intense fight turned the Union’s advance on its head. In early…
In July 1861, as Union forces advanced into the Kanawha Valley, a Confederate cavalry charge at Pocatalico River set the stage for the looming Battle of Scary Creek. But was this bold skirmish the victory it was claimed to be, or merely a fleeting clash amplified by Confederate hopes? As 34-year-old Maj. Gen. George Brinton…
Continue reading ➞ A Brilliant Little Dash: The Skirmish at Pocatalico
Was the skirmish at the mouth of the Pocatalico River on July 16, 1861 a bold cavalry charge or blown out of proportion? Conflicting accounts tell vastly different tales, leaving us to sift through exaggerations and incomplete records to understand what really happened in this lesser-known prelude to the Battle of Scary Creek. A dramatic…
Continue reading ➞ What Happened at Poca? Unpacking the Truth
Spirit of '61 