588:
550:
39:
572:
465:, totaling approximately 4000 troops, beset Confederates under General Garnett at Laurel Mountain starting July 7. After less than a week of skirmishing Morris’ force came to a standoff against Garnett’s Confederate force on Laurel Hill. Occasional sniper and artillery fire plagued both sides amidst inclement weather. Stiff resistance convinced Morris he faced the main Confederate force. On July 11, Garnett learned of the Union flanking maneuver at Rich Mountain and decided to withdraw from Laurel Mountain. The 44th Virginia Infantry was ordered to hold the Beverly Road by engaging Federals to give the appearance of an attack. With Gen. William Rosecrans’ Union brigade approaching from the South, Garnett abandoned the Beverly Road and withdrew toward Corrick’s Ford on the Cheat River, where he was killed.
600:
609:
618:
145:
474:
named David Hart entered Gen. William
Rosecrans’ Union camp and said he knew a way around to the rear of the Confederate lines, for which he was offered one hundred dollars in gold. McClellan agreed to let Hart lead Rosecrans’ brigade of 1,900 men through the woods. The route took roughly 10 hours through wet, rough terrain which forced Rosecrans to leave his artillery behind. During this time, Col. Pegram was able to learn from a captured sergeant of the Union flanking movement. Pegram incorrectly assumed the attack was coming from the north and positioned a lone 16-pound artillery piece with most of his command in defense. Captain
651:
128:
549:
478:, Garnett’s chief of artillery, assumed command of this force around David Hart’s family farm. At 2:30pm Rosecrans’ force appeared at the pass on Rich Mountain and attacked. Confederates quickly redeployed their artillery piece and twice repulsed Union skirmishers from behind crude breastworks. Assuming they had defeated the enemy, Pegram’s men began cheering. The cheering was enough to also convince McClellan that Rosecrans had been defeated. However, most of the Union soldiers were well concealed behind trees and logs. Rosecrans counterattacked and
675:
639:
627:
446:
663:
563:
176:
989:
587:
38:
473:
Union forces under the direct command of
General McClellan greatly outnumbered Pegram’s Confederates on Rich Mountain. Nevertheless, the Confederates held a strong position and inexperienced soldiers in his own command convinced McClellan to precede any action with an artillery duel. A local boy
490:. Pegram and the others (including the "Sydney Boys", a regiment formed from the students of Hampden-Sydney College) attempted to make their way north to link up with Garnett. Pegram’s force was too exhausted to make it and 555 men surrendered on July 12.
1070:
1075:
510:. After the victory at Rich Mountain and failure of Morris to pursue the confederate troops at Laurel Mountain fast enough to catch them before crossing Shavers' fork, McClellan severely criticized Morris in his report to Washington.
571:
235:
506:, and Rosecrans assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia. The Union victory at Rich Mountain was met with great celebration in the north, and was instrumental in propelling McClellan to command of the
555:
Battle at Laurel
Mountain (several kilometers away from Rich Mountain) fought concurrently. Confederates on Laurel Mountain retreated in great disorder after hearing of the defeat of Confederate forces on Rich
1060:
1050:
1080:
925:
The Dark Days of the Civil War, 1861 to 1865, The West
Virginia Campaign of 1861, The Antietam and Harper's Ferry Campaign of 1862, The East Tennessee Campaign of 1863, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864
975:
1085:
228:
221:
1055:
674:
482:
the
Confederates in his front, wounding De Lagnel. McClellan shelled the Rebel position, but did not make the expected assault. Half the Confederates escaped to
608:
650:
1010:
599:
617:
1065:
535:
450:
578:
954:
662:
638:
1045:
365:
279:
840:
969:
939:
993:
799:
73:
626:
502:
on July 13, Garnett was killed; he was the first general officer to be killed in the war. On July 22, McClellan was ordered to
498:
Hearing of Pegram's defeat, Garnett abandoned Laurel
Mountain in great disorder. The Federals pursued, and, during fighting at
399:
323:
62:
487:
435:
424:
407:
372:
342:
149:
144:
526:) and its partners, including the foundation, have acquired and preserved 57 acres (0.23 km) of the battlefield.
269:
907:
523:
376:
349:
299:
136:
1090:
1040:
361:
259:
245:
518:
The battlefield and Camp
Garnett today are owned and protected by the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation. The
1014:
829:
809:
756:
304:
289:
284:
108:
445:
593:
Sketch of the Site of the
Operations of the 10th, 11th, & 12th, July 1861, at Rich Mountain near Beverly.
391:
483:
368:
294:
274:
170:
507:
475:
357:
345:
161:
562:
331:
30:
965:
950:
935:
499:
403:
395:
380:
165:
1018:
1024:
503:
462:
383:
175:
519:
870:
1034:
830:
Essential Civil War
Curriculum: The Battle of Rich Mountain by Charles P. Poland, Jr.
810:
Essential Civil War
Curriculum: The Battle of Rich Mountain by Charles P. Poland, Jr.
757:
Essential Civil War Curriculum: The Battle of Rich Mountain by Charles P. Poland, Jr.
327:
132:
127:
66:
905:
213:
894:
999:
726:
704:
88:
75:
1071:
Conflict sites on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia
988:
353:
387:
1076:
National Register of Historic Places in Randolph County, West Virginia
330:) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the
444:
976:
CWSAC Report Update and Resurvey: Individual Battlefield Profiles
479:
217:
1004:
449:
Map of Rich Mountain Battlefield core and study areas by the
896:
Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation. Accessed May 25, 2018.
947:
Orlando M. Poe: Civil War General and Great Lakes Engineer
406:
led a reinforced brigade by a mountain path to seize the
1061:
Randolph County, West Virginia in the American Civil War
1051:
Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
871:"Jul. 14 Report of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan (3rd)"
841:
Union notches a victory at the Battle of Rich Mountain
680:
Looking westward (downhill) from Rich Mountain summit
1081:
Historic districts in Randolph County, West Virginia
579:
Frank Leslie's scenes and portraits of the Civil War
1086:Battles of the American Civil War in West Virginia
1019:brief account of the battle written by L. Johnson
208:550 including General Pegram surrendered next day
727:"Concise History of the Battle of Rich Mountain"
964:. Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Company, 1971.
949:. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2009.
23:
934:. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
229:
8:
910:"Saved Land" webpage. Accessed May 25, 2018.
796:The Dark Days of the Civil War, 1861 to 1865
1011:West Virginia & Regional History Center
236:
222:
214:
20:
1056:Union victories of the American Civil War
851:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.92
820:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.90
785:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.89
776:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.89
767:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.92
747:First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run p.89
1021:and includes drawings of the Union camp
691:
545:
536:West Virginia in the American Civil War
451:American Battlefield Protection Program
356:in June 1861. On June 27, he moved his
729:. Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation
699:
697:
695:
7:
1005:Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation
1000:National Park Service Battle Summary
668:Looking at summit of Rich Mountain
656:Historical Marker on Rich Mountain
14:
987:
798:, F.A. Wagenfuehr, 1904, pg. 74
673:
661:
649:
637:
625:
616:
607:
598:
586:
570:
561:
548:
322:took place on July 11, 1861, in
174:
143:
126:
37:
16:Battle of the American Civil War
1027:Dallas B. Shaffer, October 1966
932:The Civil War Battlefield Guide
280:Kessler's Cross Lanes
1066:1861 in the American Civil War
247:Operations in western Virginia
1:
408:Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike
644:Marker on site of Hart House
402:. On July 10–11, Brig. Gen.
962:The Battle of Rich Mountain
436:Confederate order of battle
375:, reaching the vicinity of
1109:
908:American Battlefield Trust
524:American Battlefield Trust
433:
422:
1046:Western Virginia campaign
930:Kennedy, Frances H., ed.
324:Randolph County, Virginia
255:
195:
182:
155:
119:
63:Randolph County, Virginia
45:
36:
28:
1015:West Virginia University
927:, F.A. Wagenfuehr, 1904.
1025:Rich Mountain Revisited
994:Battle of Rich Mountain
707:. National Park Service
394:to confront Brig. Gen.
320:Battle of Rich Mountain
24:Battle of Rich Mountain
453:
379:on July 9. Meanwhile,
156:Commanders and leaders
448:
434:Further information:
425:Union order of battle
423:Further information:
300:Greenbrier River
196:Casualties and losses
89:38.86611°N 79.93389°W
996:at Wikimedia Commons
923:Fout, Frederick W.,
794:Fout, Frederick W.,
166:William S. Rosecrans
522:(a division of the
508:Army of the Potomac
476:Julius A. De Lagnel
461:Union forces under
348:assumed command of
346:George B. McClellan
305:Camp Allegheny
290:Cheat Mountain
285:Carnifex Ferry
270:Corrick's Ford
162:George B. McClellan
94:38.86611; -79.93389
85: /
454:
410:in Pegram's rear.
352:forces in western
332:American Civil War
265:Rich Mountain
31:American Civil War
992:Media related to
955:978-1-60635-040-9
404:William Rosecrans
396:Robert S. Garnett
313:
312:
212:
211:
150:CSA (Confederacy)
115:
114:
1098:
1091:July 1861 events
1041:1861 in Virginia
991:
911:
903:
897:
892:
886:
885:
883:
882:
867:
861:
858:
852:
849:
843:
838:
832:
827:
821:
818:
812:
807:
801:
792:
786:
783:
777:
774:
768:
765:
759:
754:
748:
745:
739:
738:
736:
734:
723:
717:
716:
714:
712:
705:"Battle Summary"
701:
677:
665:
653:
641:
629:
620:
611:
602:
590:
574:
565:
552:
486:and on over the
463:Thomas A. Morris
384:Thomas A. Morris
250:
248:
238:
231:
224:
215:
178:
148:
147:
131:
130:
100:
99:
97:
96:
95:
90:
86:
83:
82:
81:
78:
47:
46:
41:
21:
1108:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1031:
1030:
984:
920:
915:
914:
904:
900:
893:
889:
880:
878:
869:
868:
864:
859:
855:
850:
846:
839:
835:
828:
824:
819:
815:
808:
804:
793:
789:
784:
780:
775:
771:
766:
762:
755:
751:
746:
742:
732:
730:
725:
724:
720:
710:
708:
703:
702:
693:
688:
681:
678:
669:
666:
657:
654:
645:
642:
633:
630:
621:
612:
603:
594:
591:
582:
575:
566:
557:
553:
544:
532:
520:Civil War Trust
516:
496:
471:
459:
457:Laurel Mountain
443:
438:
432:
427:
421:
416:
414:Opposing forces
340:
316:
315:
314:
309:
251:
246:
244:
242:
206:
164:
142:
125:
93:
91:
87:
84:
79:
76:
74:
72:
71:
70:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1106:
1105:
1102:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1033:
1032:
1029:
1028:
1022:
1007:
1002:
997:
983:
982:External links
980:
979:
978:
973:
958:
945:Taylor, Paul.
943:
928:
919:
916:
913:
912:
898:
887:
862:
860:Kennedy, p. 8.
853:
844:
833:
822:
813:
802:
787:
778:
769:
760:
749:
740:
718:
690:
689:
687:
684:
683:
682:
679:
672:
670:
667:
660:
658:
655:
648:
646:
643:
636:
634:
631:
624:
622:
615:
613:
606:
604:
597:
595:
592:
585:
583:
576:
569:
567:
560:
558:
554:
547:
543:
540:
539:
538:
531:
528:
515:
512:
500:Corrick's Ford
495:
492:
470:
467:
458:
455:
442:
439:
431:
428:
420:
417:
415:
412:
398:'s command at
364:south against
339:
336:
311:
310:
308:
307:
302:
297:
292:
287:
282:
277:
272:
267:
262:
256:
253:
252:
243:
241:
240:
233:
226:
218:
210:
209:
202:
198:
197:
193:
192:
189:
185:
184:
180:
179:
168:
158:
157:
153:
152:
140:
122:
121:
117:
116:
113:
112:
106:
102:
101:
61:
59:
55:
54:
51:
43:
42:
34:
33:
26:
25:
19:
18:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1104:
1103:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1026:
1023:
1020:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
995:
990:
986:
985:
981:
977:
974:
971:
970:0-87012-094-8
967:
963:
959:
956:
952:
948:
944:
941:
940:0-395-74012-6
937:
933:
929:
926:
922:
921:
917:
909:
906:
902:
899:
895:
891:
888:
876:
875:Spirit of '61
872:
866:
863:
857:
854:
848:
845:
842:
837:
834:
831:
826:
823:
817:
814:
811:
806:
803:
800:
797:
791:
788:
782:
779:
773:
770:
764:
761:
758:
753:
750:
744:
741:
728:
722:
719:
706:
700:
698:
696:
692:
685:
676:
671:
664:
659:
652:
647:
640:
635:
628:
623:
619:
614:
610:
605:
601:
596:
589:
584:
581:
580:
573:
568:
564:
559:
551:
546:
541:
537:
534:
533:
529:
527:
525:
521:
513:
511:
509:
505:
501:
493:
491:
489:
488:Shawnee Trail
485:
481:
477:
469:Rich Mountain
468:
466:
464:
456:
452:
447:
440:
437:
429:
426:
418:
413:
411:
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
390:marched from
389:
385:
382:
378:
377:Rich Mountain
374:
370:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
344:
337:
335:
333:
329:
328:West Virginia
325:
321:
306:
303:
301:
298:
296:
293:
291:
288:
286:
283:
281:
278:
276:
273:
271:
268:
266:
263:
261:
258:
257:
254:
249:
239:
234:
232:
227:
225:
220:
219:
216:
207:
203:
200:
199:
194:
190:
187:
186:
181:
177:
172:
169:
167:
163:
160:
159:
154:
151:
146:
141:
138:
134:
133:United States
129:
124:
123:
118:
110:
107:
104:
103:
98:
68:
67:West Virginia
64:
60:
57:
56:
53:July 11, 1861
52:
49:
48:
44:
40:
35:
32:
27:
22:
961:
960:Zinn, Jack.
946:
931:
924:
901:
890:
879:. Retrieved
877:. 2021-02-21
874:
865:
856:
847:
836:
825:
816:
805:
795:
790:
781:
772:
763:
752:
743:
731:. Retrieved
721:
709:. Retrieved
632:Camp Garnett
577:
517:
514:Preservation
497:
472:
460:
373:Confederates
341:
319:
317:
264:
204:
120:Belligerents
29:Part of the
430:Confederate
400:Laurel Hill
369:John Pegram
295:Kanawha Gap
275:Scary Creek
171:John Pegram
92: /
1035:Categories
918:References
881:2023-02-07
504:Washington
381:Brig. Gen.
362:Clarksburg
338:Background
80:79°56′02″W
77:38°51′58″N
1017:houses a
556:Mountain.
494:Aftermath
386:'s Union
358:divisions
343:Maj. Gen.
530:See also
392:Philippi
366:Lt. Col.
354:Virginia
260:Philippi
183:Strength
58:Location
733:11 July
711:11 July
542:Gallery
484:Beverly
388:brigade
111:victory
968:
953:
938:
480:routed
441:Battle
173:
105:Result
686:Notes
419:Union
360:from
350:Union
326:(now
191:1,300
188:7,000
137:Union
109:Union
65:(now
1009:The
966:ISBN
951:ISBN
936:ISBN
735:2016
713:2016
318:The
205:300
50:Date
1013:at
371:'s
1037::
873:.
694:^
334:.
201:46
972:.
957:.
942:.
884:.
737:.
715:.
237:e
230:t
223:v
139:)
135:(
69:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.