Fighting in the Kanawha Valley
| date | August 26, 1861 |
|---|---|
| place | Nicholas County , West Virginia, USA |
| output | Confederate victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
Erastus B. Tyler
|
|
| Troop strength | |
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
| losses | |
|
245
|
40
|
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| date | September 10, 1861 |
|---|---|
| place | Nicholas County, West Virginia, USA |
| output | Union victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
John B. Floyd
|
|
| Troop strength | |
|
6,000
|
2,000
|
| losses | |
|
total 250
|
|
In 1861 in the Kanawha Valley in northwestern Virginia , Northern and Southern forces met twice during operations in western Virginia; in action at Kessler's Cross Lanes on August 26 and at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry on September 10.
prehistory
On July 28, 1861, General Robert E. Lee had assumed command of the Confederate forces in northwestern Virginia. He was subordinate to the Army of the Northwest and the Army of the Kanawha , each consisting of two brigades . The Army of the Kanawha’s two brigades were led by former Virginia Governors , Brigadier General Henry A. Wise and Brigadier General John B. Floyd, who was also in command. Even as politicians, both had constantly opposing opinions and therefore refused to work together as soldiers.
Skirmish at Kessler's Cross Lanes
The key area in this part of western Virginia was the confluence of the Gauley and New Rivers to Kanawha with the bridge of the James - Kanawha Turnpike over it. This area at Gauley Bridge , West Virginia was given up when Brigadier General Wise avoided Charleston , the later capital of West Virginia, after the defeat at Rich Mountain on July 11th, to White Sulfur Springs , West Virginia - about 100 km away.
In order to prevent a referendum planned for October 24th to separate western Virginia from the rest of Virginia , the Army of the Kanawha marched again on August 7th into the Gauley Bridge area, where Wise agreed in principle to support Floyd's actions . Wise attacked Gauley Bridge on August 24th to cover Floyd's back. On August 26, at 5:00 a.m., he attacked the soldiers of the 7th Ohio Infantry Regiment under Colonel Erastus B. Tyler who were having breakfast at Kessler's Cross Lanes . The Northerners, taken by surprise, fled, and their leaders only managed to collect them between Gauley Bridge and Charleston. Floyd then moved into fortified positions at Carnifex Ferry .
Battle of Carnifex Ferry
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Rosecrans had been named in command of the Ohio Defense Area after Major General McClellan's call to Washington , DC . After the defeat at Kessler's Cross Lanes , he led three additional brigades south to provide support.
On the morning of September 10, Brigadier General Floyd ordered Brigadier General Wise to reinforce him with two regiments , which he set out after careful consideration so that one arrived in time. In the afternoon Brigadier General Rosecrans attacked the southerners' positions at Carnifex Ferry . After several hours of fighting, the battle ended at nightfall.
Because of the superiority of the Northmen, Brigadier General Floyd moved to Meadow Bluff, West Virginia, in Greenbrier County at midnight , blaming Brigadier General Wise for the defeat while in positions at Sewill Mountain, Fayette County - 12 miles northwest of Floyd.
The Union had regained control of the Kanawha Valley and the counties located here joined the "Restored Government of Virginia" founded in Wheeling.
literature
- United States. War Dept .: The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies , Govt. Print. Off., Washington 1880-1901
- James M. McPherson (Editor): The Atlas of the Civil War . Philadelphia 2005, ISBN 0-7624-2356-0