The tablet below which is in downtown Berkeley Springs (formerly Bath) across from the courthouse summarizes the first independent campaign led by Stonewall Jackson. Leaving Winchester on January 1, 1862 on the Northwestern Turnpike he took 8,500 men and 26 cannons west in an attempt to disrupt Union control of western Virginia (now West Virginia). He would head through freezing rain, sleet and snow to the county seats of Bath (now Berkeley Springs) and Romney, and then perhaps on to Cumberland, Maryland or Parkersburg along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. After fighting a series of battles in Bath, he shelled the town of Hancock, Maryland. The Union evacuated Romney on the 10th and Jackson marched into the city four days later unopposed. After a series of arguments with subordinates, William W. Loring and Richard Garnett, Jackson returned to Winchester on the 23rd. Loring then was recalled before the end of the month. The Federals would march back into and reoccupy Romney on February 7th. In the end the whole expedition was largely an exercise in futility.

A map of the territory covered by Jackson’s men during the expedition is shown below.

On January 2nd Jackson reached the place shown on the marker below referred to as Camp Mud. During the war it would have been called Unger’s Crossroads. Jackson bivouacked here before moving on to Bath. After battles there he would return here from January 7th to the 13th before marching on to Romney. Due to all the rain and snow his men sarcastically named the area Camp Mud. Conditions got so bad that after 3 days the camp was moved a half mile to the northeast which the men sarcastically named Camp No Better.

On January 4th after a day of fighting Jackson’s Stonewall Brigade commandeered the hotel and buildings around the springs. Jackson then ordered General William W. Loring’s Brigade forward to attack the Union positions at Great Capacon, Sir Johns Run and Hancock, Maryland. As Loring’s men marched in the snow until 2:00 AM they became deeply resentful of Jackson’s Stonewall Brigade resting back in the hotel. This resulted in a rift between Jackson and Loring that was never repaired.

Shown below is what was then called the Springs Hotel which was owned by the Union family of David Hunter Strother. It is now called the Country Inn of Berkeley Springs and sits next to the Berkeley Springs State Park.

At 10:00 AM the citizens of Bath heard the canons from the 4th U.S. Artillery. Jackson’s main body advanced on the city while he deployed units to outflank the three companies of the 39th IL, which were facing 20 times their number. The 39th IL broke and escaped to Sir Johns Run and Hancock. Jackson pressed on attacking other companies of the 39th IL at Great Capacon, Sir Johns Run and Alpine (across from Hancock).

Warm Springs Mountain where the guns were heard at around 10:00 AM is shown below. You can see the high ground on the other side of the Viet Nam Memorial which is in front of the courthouse. The picture to the right was taken on the other side of the monument.

The Federal garrison then retreated to Sir Johns Run to cross the ford to Maryland. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station that serviced Bath was located here. The action is interpreted by the tablet. The 38th IL, and the 84th and 110th PA made a stand against the Confederates after being reinforced by the 13th IN but they were running out of ammunition. After dark the 13th IN reboarded its train and returned to Great Cacapon. The Pennsylvanians marched down the railroad and crossed the Potomac at Hanock. The Illinois soldiers crossed the river and during the long march to Hancock their uniforms froze.

Troop positions after the Battle of Bath.

The following day Jackson demanded the surrender of Hancock. The town, reinforced by Brigadier General Frederick Lander, refused and Jackson shelled the town.

The images below were taken in Hancock, Maryland

After failing to cross the Potomac, Jackson would return to Unger’s Crossroads. In the meantime, to try and relieve pressure on Union forces at Hanover, Brigadier General Benjamin Franklin Kelley sent a force of just under 2000 men from Romney toward Blue’s Gap as a feint toward Winchester. Colonel Samuel H. Dunning of the 5th OH left Romney shortly after midnight on January 7th. He would take 6 companies of infantry each from the 4th OH, 5th OH, 7th OH, 1st WV and 14th IN. They would be joined by three companies from the 1st WV Cavalry, the Ringgold Cavalry and the Washington Cavalry, as well as one section of Baker’s Parrott guns and Daum’s battery. By 7:00 AM they were within a mile of the gap. Confederate forces attempted unsuccessfully to burn the bridge over the North River. Dunning deployed the 5th OH up the mountain to the left and the 4th OH to the right. A brief firefight ensued. The Union cavalry charged and Rebel resistance quickly disintegrated in a rout. Seven Confederates were killed, and seven taken prisoner. Two pieces of artillery were captured along with 10 horses and camp equipment. In the gap a mill and hotel that were used as soldier’s quarters were burned. Colonel Dunning estimated he faced from 800-1800 men. He and his men were back in their camps after a total of only 15 hours. Kelley thought he had caused Jackson to fall back toward Winchester but this would prove not to be the case.

On January 10th Jackson left Unger’s Store for Romney, 37 miles away, via Bloomery Gap. He would march on muddy roads and through harsh winter conditions. Kelley would evacuate Romney the same day and Jackson would move into the city unopposed on the 14th and 15th. Jackson had planned to move on Cumberland, Maryland but severe winter weather led him to modify his plans. Jackson left Loring’s Division to occupy Romney and returned to Winchester on January 24 with his old Stonewall Brigade and Ashby’s Regiment.

Loring and his men did not take kindly to being left in Romney. Later that month several officers in his division petitioned Confederate Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin to withdraw them from their isolated position, 40 miles from Winchester. On January 30th Benjamin wired Jackson that he should move Loring to Winchester. Jackson complied with the order, but infuriated by the interference with his command filed charges to court martial Loring and resigned his commission in a letter to Virginia governor John Letcher. General Joseph Johnston and Governor Letcher intervened and Jackson withdrew his resignation. The charges against Loring were dropped, and he and his men were reassigned out of the Valley District leaving between February 2nd and 4th. Union troops rentered Romney unopposed on February 7th.

Sources

The Devastating Hand of War; Romney, West Virginia, During the Civil War by Richard A. Sauers

Romney in the Civil War Blue and Gray Magazine Volume XXII No. 6

Report of Colonel Samuel H. Dunning, Fifth Ohio Infantry, of skirmish at Hanging Rock Pass. W. Va. From the War of the Rebellion Serial 5, Page 404, Chapter XIV