The map below was taken from an article in America’s Civil War. It nicely illustrates actions in West Virginia in the first year of the war. At this point West Virginia was not yet a separate state, that would not happen until 1863. There were many key differences between the western part of Virginia and the rest of the state. People in West Virginia lived on small farms struggling to exist, dealing with very rocky soil, for the most part without slaves. Communication with the outside world was generally poor. Most counties were pro-Union and voted as such in the state-wide referendum on secession. Lincoln and his generals viewed the western part of Virginia as key for several reasons. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and its spur the Northwestern Railroad linked the North to Wheeling (B&O) and Parkersburg (Northwestern) on the Ohio River for both commerce and transportation of troops from states further to the west. In addition, western Virginia provided potential paths of invasion for those troops in the west, through pro-Union areas, into Virginia via the Kanawha River, the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike, and the Bevery Fairmont Turnpike. All of the battles in the first year of the war would be fought over possession of these key railroads, rivers and roads.
The next series of posts will cover all four of the groups of battles shown on the map. First the Grafton-Philippi operation. Philippi is recognized as the first land battle of the Civil War on June 3, 1861. Second, Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill, followed by a post on Corrick’s Ford which was a direct consequence of the retreat from Laurel Hill. Third, the Cheat Mountain operation and finally the Kanawha River Operation which will be subdivided into several posts. There were also battles fought, not shown in the map after October 5th that will also be covered. Cell phone signals in many parts of these trips was spotty so it was helpful to have a Garmin in addition to an Iphone to navigate. The views while traveling in many locations are truly spectacular.
Source
Rebel Retreat at Carnifex Ferry by Chris Howland. America’s Civil War. September 2014.
The Gates to the Northwestern Country- Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill
Julius de Lagnel- betrayed by his boots
The Visitor Center and Museum Beverly, WV
The Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1861- The Battles of Barboursville and Scary Creek
The Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1861- Gauley Bridge and Hawks Nest
The Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1861- The Battles of Kesslers Cross Lanes and Carnifex Ferry
The Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1861- Sewell Mountain
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