West Virginia Civil War History
Battle of Rich Mountain
The Battle of Rich Mountain took
place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, West Virginia (then
Virginia) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during
the Civil War.
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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 11, Brig. Gen. William S.
Rosecrans led a reinforced brigade by a mountain path to seize the
Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in Pegram’s rear. A sharp two-hour
fight ensued in which the Confederates were split in two. Half escaped
to Beverly, but Pegram and the others (including the "Sydney
Boys", a regiment formed from the students of Hampden-Sydney
College)surrendered on July 13. 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. 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.
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