Battle of Rich Mountain
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.
Background
Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia in June 1861. On June 27, he moved his divisions from Clarksburg south against Lt. Col. John Pegram's Confederates, reaching the vicinity of Rich Mountain on July 9. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris's Union brigade marched from Philippi to confront Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett's command at Laurel Hill. On July 10–11, Brig. Gen. William Rosecrans led a reinforced brigade by a mountain path to seize the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in Pegram's rear.
Battle
A sharp two-hour fight ensued in which the Confederates were split in two. Half escaped to Beverly and on over the Shawnee Trail, but Pegram and the others (including the "Sydney Boys", a regiment formed from the students of Hampden-Sydney College) surrendered on July 13.
Aftermath
Hearing of Pegram's defeat, Garnett abandoned Laurel Hill. The Federals pursued, and, during fighting at Corrick's Ford on July 13, Garnett was killed; he was the first general officer to be killed in the war.[1] On July 22, McClellan was ordered to Washington, and Rosecrans assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia. The Union victory at Rich Mountain was instrumental in propelling McClellan to command of the Army of the Potomac.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Kennedy, p. 8.
References
- National Park Service battle description
- Kennedy, Frances H., ed. The Civil War Battlefield Guide. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. ISBN 0-395-74012-6.
- Taylor, Paul. Orlando M. Poe: Civil War General and Great Lakes Engineer. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1-60635-040-9.
- Zinn, Jack. The Battle of Rich Mountain. Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Company, 1971. ISBN 0-87012-094-8.
- CWSAC Report Update and Resurvey: Individual Battlefield Profiles
http://www.richmountain.org/reen11/PR/150%20history%20kc1.pdf http://www.richmountain.org/history/battleofRM.html
External links
- 1861 in Virginia
- Western Virginia Campaign
- Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
- Union victories of the American Civil War
- Randolph County, West Virginia in the American Civil War
- Conflicts in 1861
- Conflict sites on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places in Randolph County, West Virginia
- Historic districts in Randolph County, West Virginia
- Battles of the American Civil War in West Virginia