troops at the . of Battle the at troops

courtesy of the State Museum State Virginia West the of courtesy

Union troops. Union

Gen. John McCausland (left) and his Confederate Confederate his and (left) McCausland John Gen.

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J.C. Alder drawing of the state seal done in 1911, 1911, in done seal state the of drawing Alder J.C.

Cemetery after being occupied by by occupied being after Cemetery

Gen. Wm. W. Averell (right) soundly defeated defeated soundly (right) Averell W. Wm. Gen.

Hardy County Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors & Convention County Hardy

West Virginia attains statehood June 20, 1863 20, June statehood attains Virginia West

the original church at Maple Hill Hill Maple at church original the

www.cometohampshire.com

Courtesy of the Lewis G. Alt Collection Alt G. Lewis the of Courtesy

Congregation members abandoned abandoned members Congregation

Hampshire County Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors & Convention County Hampshire

surrounding area beginning as early as August 1861. 1861. August as early as beginning area surrounding

Petersburg Presbyterian Church. Church. Presbyterian Petersburg

www.grantcountywva.com Fort Mulligan - Federal or Confederate troops occupied this hill and its its and hill this occupied troops Confederate or Federal - Mulligan Fort

Grant County Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors & Convention County Grant

Local Information Local

bridge over the Potomac to attack Confederate forces. Confederate attack to Potomac the over bridge

Engagement at Romney. The 11th Indiana Zouaves crossing the the crossing Zouaves Indiana 11th The Romney. at Engagement

South Branch Valley Branch South

throughout the the throughout

the Army Union the

Rangers on raids of of raids on Rangers

McNeill led his his led McNeill was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces. Confederate and Union both by occupied was

Capt. John Hansen Hansen John Capt. The Hampshire County Courthouse Courthouse County Hampshire The

1864

1863

1862

1861

Union troops. Union secession near Scherr near was later burned. later was there. defeat part of the Union. the of part Bloomery Gap Gap Bloomery ’s men. Early’s Jubal B&O Railroad. B&O war the during Cumberland, Md. Cumberland,

Romney to the detriment of of detriment the to vote on on vote Engagement commissary, which which commissary, after Wardensville a state and remain remain and state a Confederates at at Confederates demolished by Gen. Gen. by demolished help protect the the protect help armies both by and also capture capture also and Run

Romney near near Moorefield, Moorefield, near gather to to gather Gap Gap adjacent church as a a as church adjacent through Virginia to become become to Virginia capture capture is subsequently subsequently is Petersburg to to Petersburg used but soldiers forces out of Romney Romney of out forces begins Johnson

at Engagement on Cemetery Hill Hill Cemetery on Romney Romney Greenland Greenland Cemetery and use use and Cemetery march troops secedes from from secedes attack and and attack Fort Mulligan, which which Mulligan, Fort Mulligan near near Mulligan Union by built plans to pursue federal federal pursue to plans of Moorefield Moorefield of at

Engagement Engagement Wire Bridge Bridge Wire Fighting erupts erupts Fighting Citizens of of Citizens APRIL protect Maple Hill Hill Maple protect Union 20,000 West Virginia Virginia West Federal troops troops Federal Union troops leave leave troops Union construct Fort Fort construct is Romney, near Jackson Stonewall Battle Battle Engagement

JUNE OCTOBER SEPTEMBER MAY Union troops troops Union MAY JUNE 20 JUNE FEBRUARY JANUARY Union Troops Troops Union Ridge Mill Fort JANUARY AUGUST JUNE

Wardensville

officers at when they controlled Moorefield. controlled they when at officers

South Branch of the Potomac the of Branch South Courtesy of Justin A. Wilcox A. Justin of Courtesy WV & Regional History Collection History Regional & WV Harper’s Weekly, Oct. 31, 1863 31, Oct. Weekly, Harper’s

led his troops through through troops his led

Samuel A. McMechen, who entertained Confederate Confederate entertained who McMechen, A. Samuel Fort Mulligan, overlooking the the overlooking Mulligan, Fort Fort Mill Ridge Civil War trenches War Civil Ridge Mill Fort especially for McNeill’s Rangers McNeill’s for especially Confederate attack on Union wagon train. train. wagon Union on attack Confederate

Gen. John C. Freemont C. John Gen.

McMechan House - Home of Confederate sympathizer sympathizer Confederate of Home - House McMechan Mill Island - served as a hospital, hospital, a as served - Island Mill

stabled their horses inside. horses their stabled from Romney from

at Greenland Gap Greenland at

burned the pews for firewood and also also and firewood for pews the burned Confederate Officer Officer Confederate

defeated Union troops troops Union defeated

hospital for both sides. Union forces forces Union sides. both for hospital Capt. George W. Stump W. George Capt.

Gen. Wm. T. “Grumble” Jones Jones “Grumble” T. Wm. Gen. Moorefield Presbyterian Church - used as a a as used - Church Presbyterian Moorefield

Fort Mill Ridge Fort Mulligan Battle of Moorefield Commanding the Northwest Turnpike Jumping off point for raids Running for the Hills In the March of 1863, a brigade under the The valley of the South Branch of the saw an Midmorning, August 7, 1864 ... command of Colonel Jacob M. Campbell of incredible amount of troop activity and action. Its story is hauntingly Confederate soldiers are running for the 54th Pennsylvania, fortified a low similar to that of the famed , albeit on a smaller scale. the hills. ridge on the west side of the South Indeed, if the Shenandoah was the granary of the Confederacy, then Confederate Gen. John Branch of the Potomac River about a this bountiful region may well have been known as its stockyard, for it McCausland’s brigade was mile west of Romney. The brigade managed to supply stock to Confederate forces in Virginia at least as bivouacked close to Moorefield on the consisted of the 54th Pennsylvania late as November 1864. South Branch of the Potomac River, Infantry and 1st West Virginia The Valley was a middle ground, situated beteen the all important while he was sleeping in Samuel A. Infantry, along with Battery E, 1st Middle Shenandoah Valley and the Upper Potomac region with its vital McMechen’s house in Moorefield, two miles away. His brigade and that of West Virginia Artillery and the coal resources and the B&O Railroad infrastructure centered around Cumberland, Md. The railroad itself cuts across the lower South Branch Gen. Bradley T. Johnson had taken part Ringgold, Washington, and Lafayette Valley and its adjacent drainages. In addition to offering agricultural in Gen. Jubal A. Early’s raid on (all Pennsylvania) Cavalry. Campbell’s products to the South, it offered a mostly sympathetic populace and Washington, D.C. They had burned command blocked Confederate attempts innumerable remote avenues of approach for a mobile force bent on the Chambersburg, Pa., after trying unsuccessfully to extort money from the to control the South Branch, thus destruction of the railroad. town fathers in retaliation for Federal “depredations” in the Shenandoah shielding the B&O Railroad and the Federal or Confederate troops occupied this hill and its surrounding Valley, which had likewise been in retaliation for Confederate Northwest Turnpike. The place Campbell Col. Jacob M. Campbell area beginning at least as early as August 1861, and were on the ground “atrocities.” Union Gen. Wm. W. Averell, whose command was in selected commanded the turnpike as it for at least part of every year of the war. Federal forces time and again pursuit, surprised them at Old Fields by attacking with “Jesse Scouts” passed into Mechanicsburg Gap and southern approaches to Romney. tried to use this strategic point as a choke hold against raids on the B& (Federal soldiers in Confederate uniforms). Johnson’s men forded the The location also provided some protection from the ever-present threat O to the north, and as a “jumping-off” point for their own raids further river and attemped to form a defense with McCausland’s brigade, but of surprise Confederate raids. With a camp along Mill Creek, south. they were outflanked and outgunned. The 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Campbell’s men were safe under the guns on the ridge. The Fort as it charged three times across the river and made the Confederates run for Campbell’s men erected a near textbook fortification. The 3-inch exists today, was the hills. In the Meadows, the McNeill family took shelter in their cellar Rifles of Captain Alexander Moore’s Battery E easily commanded the constructed August- from the bullets. turnpike and the gap to the west of the fort. December 1863, by Averell captured four cannons, more than 400 men with their Operationally speaking, the highlights of the garrison’s limited troops under the weapons, and about the same activities included brushes with Captain John H. McNeill’s Confederate command of Colonel number of horses, which were raiders. However when elements of the Army of Northern Virginia James A. Mulligan, as difficult to replace as the entered the Shenandoah Valley in June 1863, exposing Campbell’s fort from Chicago, Illinois. soliders. Early claimed that and with the defeat of Federal forces at Winchester and Martinsburg, Infantry, cavalry and “this affair had a very Campbell fell back to the west. This opened the South Branch for artillery from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois carried damaging effect upon my General John Imboden’s command, who occupied Romney then later out the backbreaking labor. cavalry for the rest of the Cumberland, Maryland in support of the Confederate invasion of The rugged earthworks bear silent witness to the sacrifices of the campaign” in terms of both Pennsylvania. thousands of Americans who marched, dug, fought, froze and died here morale and horses. That Courtesy of Craig Swain during the war. The tide of war ebbed and waned across the South campaign ended with the loss February 14, 2010 during the war, but when troops were in the South Branch, they were of the Shenandoah Valley, the , Old Fields “breadbasket of the Confederacy.” markerhunter.wordpress.com always “at the front.” near the battle site Courtesy of the Grant County Press Grant County Press 2012 Front cover photo courtesy of Albert Mach Fine Art HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HARDY COUNTY GRANT COUNTY FORT MILL RIDGE SHEETZ GUN FACTORY BATTLE OF MOOREFIELD (START) MATHIAS HOMESTEAD FORT MULLIGAN 2 miles west of Romney on US 50 2514 Old Jersey Mountain Road, Gore, West Virginia Trails sign located at 5196 US Route 220 Trails sign located at 195 Howards Lick Road Trails sign located at 203 Virginia Avenue Interpreted trail winds through this well- Gunsmith Jacob Sheetz found himself with more Old Fields, West Virginia Mathias, West Virginia Petersburg, West Virginia preserved fort commanding the Northwestern business than he could handle when, in 1861, he was Union troopers, under Gen. William W. Averell, After John T. Mathias enlisted in the Confederate Interpreted trail leading to the preserved remains of the fort is accessible from the Grant Memorial Hospital Turnpike (now US 50). busily converting old f lintlock rif les found in storage in surprised, attacked and routed Confederate cavalry army, his family faced tough times during the war. parking lot south of Route 55, Petersburg the courthouse to the more modern percussion type. under Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and camped in Both Confederate and Union troops period-ically Confederates earlier used this position to Constructed by Union troops in 1863 on a site Moorefield Aug. 7, 1864. defend the approaches to Romney. Union This is the site of his shop and near the Confederate swept through taking produce and livestock. formerly occupied by both sides, this strong point soldiers built the existing fort in 1863. camps that were set up to be near Sheetz and his protected Unionists in the South Branch Valley production. WOODLAWN and served as a supply depot and jumping-off ENGAGEMENT AT ROMNEY Trails sign located at 8079 State Route 259 points for Federal activities protecting the B&O Trails sign west of Romney on south side of Main BLOOMERY GAP Lost River, West Virginia Railroad. The fort was evacuated on Jan 31, 1864 Street (US 50), just west of the bridge. Trails sign on Route 127, just west of the Virginia border The house, still standing, was the home of James W. because of an impending attack by Confederate Learning that Confederates were occupying Romney Confederates occupying the gap in early 1862 threatened Wood, who grew up there and was 15 years old Gen. Jubal Early. Early’s men “demolished the in June 1861, Union troops under Lew Wallace the B&O Railroad and Union operations near the when the war began. He joined the Confederate works” and, although military activity continued in Nat’l Register of Historic Places (later of Monocacy fame) marched toward town. As Potomac River. In mid-February a Federal force under army in January 1864 and fought at the the area, the fort was never reoccupied. General Frederick Lander attacked Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold they approached the covered bridge over the South MAPLE HILL CEMETERY the Confederate position, Harbor. He also served with Jubal HAMPSHIRE COUNTY Branch of the Potomac River, they came under fire Trails sign located at 301 N. Main Street Capon Springs, Capon Springs from Sycamore Dale (across the river and upstream) scattering the troops and Early’s Valley army. After the war, he Petersburg, West Virginia Old District Parsonage, Romney and a couple of pieces of artillery. Wallace dislodged capturing 67. The served three terms in the West Union commanders ordered the protection of this Fort Van Meter , Romney the Confederates, who fled. Wallace searched the Confederates soon Virginia House of Delegates. cemetery while the brick church was used as a Hampshire County Courthouse , Romney town for weapons before returning to his base in reoccupi-ed the commissary. The local congregation had stopped MOOREFIELD Kuykendall Polygonal Barn , Romney Maryland. gap. meeting at the church after Union occupation in PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Literary Hall , Romney 1862. It was later burned and its bricks were used Sign located at 109 S. Main Street for f looring in winter cabins and at Fort Mulligan. Capt. David Pugh House , Hooks Mills ROMNEY IN THE CIVIL WAR Moorefield, West Virginia Scanlon Farm (Log House) , Three Churches Trails sign at 340 E. Main Street Romney, West Virginia The leader of this church, Rev. GREENLAND GAP ENGAGEMENT Sloan-Parker House , Junction Trails sign located in Scherr, West Virginia Sycamore Dale , Romney Romney’s strategic location along the William Wilson, and his congregation were strong Confederate sympathizers. A small Union detachment occupied the gap April turnpike connecting Winchester, Va. with the 25, 1863, defending it at the approach of Ohio River and its proximity to the B&O Wilson left town in 1862 to become a Confederate Gen. William Jones, who was en route Railroad led to numerous troop chaplain in the Confederate army. During to Rowlesburg to burn the B&O Railroad bridge movements, battles and skirmishes the war, both sides used the church as a there. Jones’s overwhelming numbers eventually during the war. The town allegedly hospital. Union soldiers stabled their horses forced the surrender of the Union force but the changed hands 60 times. Caught in the inside and burned pews as firewood. delay perhaps saved the Rowlesburg bridge. middle of Northern and Southern MCMECHEN HOUSE WAR IN GRANT COUNTY: ENGAGEMENT Washington Bottom Farm (above) , Springfield sentiments, most of the citizens backed Trails sign 121 N. Main Street AT JOHNSON RUN Wilson-Wodrow-Mytinger House , Romney the Confederacy. Moorefield, West Virginia Trails sign located at 199 S. Main Street Petersburg, West Virginia GRANT COUNTY WIRE BRIDGE ENGAGEMENT This circ. 1853 house served as headquarters for Union Home Guard members clashed with a Trails sign located at the south base both sides as Moorefield changed hands several Fairfax Stone Site (monument) detachment of Confederate Capt. John McNeill’s North of William at corner of Grant, Preston of the Route 28 Bridge times during the war. Confederate Gen. John Rangers near Johnson Run June 19, 1864. The and Tucker counties. On Oct. 24, 1861, the Union high McCausland, was asleep in the house after the Home Guard, returning with supplies from the Gormania Presbyterian Church, Gormania command ordered Gen. Benjamin famous 1864 “Burning of Chambersburg” action B&O Railroad, successfully defended its wagon Grant County Courthouse (old), Petersburg Kelley to strengthen his position on the when his troops were attacked 4 miles north of his train and withdrew. Hermitage Motor Inn (above) B&O Railroad by taking the strategic location. Union Gen. John C. Fremont used this (Cunningham; Taylor Hotel), Petersburg position at Romney. Part of Kelley’s BATTLE home as his headquarters in May 1862. HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKERS OF The Manor, Petersburg force tried to cross the river here but GREENLAND GAP Scene of MOOREFIELD CEMETERY HILL - ran into stiff Confederate resistance skirmish in 1863 between General Jones’ (RUNNING FOR Sign located at 192 Olivet Drive and a partially destroyed bridge. This cavalry and Federal troops from New THE HILLS) Moorefield, West Virginia group returned to Maryland. Kelley’s C r e e k . WV 93, at junction with Co. Trails sign located at other force occupied Romney until Jan. Fighting erupted among the tombstones Sept. 10, Route 1 (Greenland Rd.), just north of 149 Hyde Street 10, 1862, when they also withdrew over 1863, when Union troops camped there were junction with WV 42, Scherr. Moorefield, West Virginia this bridge to Maryland. surprised by a variety of Confederate troopers. The MCNEILL’S RAID - Here in 1865, Johnson’s troops were pushed back Union position was soon overrun. The McNeill’s Rangers under Lt. Jesse C. McNeill, started a STONEWALL JACKSON to this area where more Confederates Confederates captured 160 soldiers plus wagons, raid on Cumberland, where they captured Union generals Rohrbaugh Cabin (Allegheny Cabin) HEADQUARTERS under Gen. John McCausland were horses, guns and ammunition. Kelley and Crook. The Rangers, organized by Capt. John Monongahela National Forest, Petersburg Trails sign at 272 Main Street camped. The two Southern units tried to Hanson McNeill, performed many daring deeds. Noah Snyder Farm (Snyder House), Lahmansville Romney, West Virginia form a defensive line but they were outgunned MILL ISLAND US Route 220/WV Route28, Moorefield Jackson made his headquarters here in and f lanked by the Union troopers. The Confed- Sign located at 710 Mill Island Road BLOOMERY GAP SKIRMISH/BLOOMERY IRON HARDY COUNTY Rommney at the home of John B. White CAPTAIN STUMP erates were forced to run for the hills. During the Moorefield, West Virginia FURNACE - Feb. 14, 1862, Brigadier General Federick Judge J.W.F. Allen House (Ingleside), Moorefield on Jan. 14, 1862. He planned here to pursue the Trails sign on County Route 8 just off Main Street battle the Southern cavalry lost four cannon, 400 This mansion was built about 1840 for Felix W. Lander, commanding the 5th and 8th Ohio, 14th Buena Vista Farms , Old Fields Federal force that had just abandoned the town and southwest of Romney, West Virginia men and hundreds of hard-to-replace horses. Seymour and his wife. During the war, the home Indiana Infantry, and 400 men of the 1st West Virginia Henry Funkhouser Farm & Log House , Baker perhaps capture Cumberland, Md. Low morale, bad Hickory Grove was the home of Capt. George W. Stump, was used as a Confederate hospital (especially for Cavalry, attacked a Confederate brigade of the 31st, 51st, 67th and 89th Virginia Militia under Colonel J. weather and other factors prevented Jackson from known as “Stump’s Battery” because he was always WARDENSVILLE sick and wounded McNeill’s Rangers). The Sencendiver. The Confederates were routed and fled carrying out his plans. heavily armed. He rode with the Confederate McNeill’s Trails sign located at 301 E. Main Street prosperous 1,500-acre farm suffered the loss of Partisan Rangers and Gen. John Imboden during the Wardensville, West Virginia crops and livestock to both sides during the war. toward Winchester. WV 127, 1.5 miles east of junction with WV 29. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COURTHOUSE war, finally meeting his end when he ran afoul of Union This busy crossroads town saw lots of action during BLUES GAP BATTLE - Confederate troops under troopers in February 1865. the war. Union Gen. John C. Fremont’s 20,000 FREMONT’S CAMP Trails sign at West Main and North High streets Captain George F. Sheets, were defeated by Colonel S.H. soldiers marched through in late May 1862 on their Sign located at 8790 State Road 55 Romney, West Virginia Dunning’s 5th Ohio Infantry here, Jan. 87, 1862. On May 23, 1861, citizens of Romney gathered at way back to the Valley after their defeat at the hands Moorefield, West Virginia Stump Family Farm (above) , Moorefield SOUTH BRANCH INNS North River Bridge and a number of buildings were the courthouse to vote on the question of Virginia’s of Stonewall Jackson there. Other units large and Union Gen. John C. Fremont and his 20,000-man Garrett VanMeter House , Old Fields MOOREFIELD & ROMNEY burned by the Federals. secession. 1,188 voted for and 788 voted against. small found an easy route to Winchester and points army arrived and camped at this location May 28, Westfall Place , Moorefield U.S. 50, 14 miles east of Romney. south. Southern guerrillas found friends in Ward- 1862. Fremont had been defeated by Confederate Lost River General Store , Lost River Although West Virginia became a state during the “STONEWALL” JACKSON/ROMNEY IN 1861-65 ensville but they were warned that harboring the Gen. Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of McDowell Hickory Hill , Moorefield war, most residents continued to side with the CIVIL WAR Jackson arrived here Jan. 13, 1862, after capturing Bath partisans might result in the destruction of the earlier in the month. President P.W. Inskeep House , Moorefield Confederacy. The building suffered rough treatment TRAILS (Berkeley Springs). His Valley Campaign followed. Sitting town. then urged Fremont to return to the Valley to help Moorefield (Downtown) Historic District during the war after being occupied by one side, MARKERS astride the natural invastion route from the Shenandoah Old Stone Tavern, Maslin-Gamble House then the other. defeat Jackson. Rain and road conditions slowed the Valley to the Potomac and B&O Railroad, Romney was Old Hardy County Courthouse Federals as they broke camp two days later to return scourged by both armies. No great battles were fought here, Oakland Hall , Moorefield to the Valley. but during the war the town changed hands 56 times. The Meadows , Moorefield U.S. 50, courthouse square, Romney.