Battle of Greenbrier River
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Greenbrier River, also known as the Battle of Camp Bartow, took place on October 3, 1861 in Pocahontas County, Virginia
(now West Virginia
) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War
.
Area. The Confederates, under the command of General Henry R. Jackson
, had the advantage of knowing the land but their numbers were greatly reduced due to sickness. Jackson had reported that his army had been reduced to one-third strength.
Controlling the Union forces in Cheat Mountain and Tygart's Valley was General Joseph J. Reynolds
. Reynolds’ army's spirits had been heartened due to their success in repelling General William W. Loring
's troops. Reynolds believed that he would be able to defeat Jackson and clear the mountain for a quick route to Virginia. For two days it rained non-stop and due to the cold weather both troops lost men.
At 8 o’clock in the morning the Confederate soldiers guarding the camp left their posts and the Union soldiers entered the Confederate camp. Upon opening fire, the Confederate Army was having trouble working their weapons and while they were trying to fix them they were forced to move out into the open due to the Union armies significant firepower.
When Colonel John B.Baldwin, who was in charge of the 52nd Virginia Infantry
, heard the gunshots he immediately left camp with all of his men and went to help the Confederates. By the time they reached the battlefield they thought it was too late, but when the Union army saw more men coming they continued to fire and the battle continued for approximately five more hours. Reynolds ordered his troops to return to Cheat Mountain breaking off the battle.
; 25th Ohio Infantry
; and the 32nd Ohio Infantry
; the 7th Indiana Infantry, 9th Indiana Infantry, 13th Indiana Infantry
, 14th Indiana Infantry, 15th Indiana Infantry and the 17th Indiana Infantry; the Battery G, 4th U. S. Artillery, Captain Howe; Loomis' Michigan Battery; Battery "A" West Virginia Light Artillery, Captain Philip Daum; and with parts of Robinson's Ohio Cavalry; Greenfield's Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Brackens' Indiana Rangers. Reynolds had about 5,000 men of different arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery.
Jackson's army consisted of the 1st Georgia Infantry
and 12th Georgia Infantry, under command of Colonel Edward Johnson; the 23rd Virginia Infantry
, 44th Virginia Infantry
and a battalion of the 25th Virginia Infantry
, commanded by Colonel William B. Taliaferro; 3rd Arkansas Infantry
, 31st Virginia Infantry
, and Lieutenant Colonel Hansbrough's battalion, under command of Colonel Albert Rust; Anderson's and Shumaker's Batteries, and a part of the Churchville Cavalry under Captain Sterrett. And about nine miles away, Colonel John B. Baldwin was stationed with the 52nd Virginia.
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Background
In mid-September 1861 Confederate troops established Camp Bartow in the Cheat MountainCheat Mountain
Cheat Mountain is an exceptionally high and rugged ridge situated in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It is about long and more than five miles wide at its widest. Its highest point is at its southernmost end at Thorny Flat, which has an elevation of...
Area. The Confederates, under the command of General Henry R. Jackson
Henry R. Jackson
Henry Rootes Jackson was a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, had the advantage of knowing the land but their numbers were greatly reduced due to sickness. Jackson had reported that his army had been reduced to one-third strength.
Controlling the Union forces in Cheat Mountain and Tygart's Valley was General Joseph J. Reynolds
Joseph J. Reynolds
Joseph Jones Reynolds was an American engineer, educator, and military officer who fought in the American Civil War and the postbellum Indian Wars.-Early life and career:Reynolds was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky...
. Reynolds’ army's spirits had been heartened due to their success in repelling General William W. Loring
William W. Loring
William Wing Loring was a soldier from North Carolina who served in the armies of the United States, the Confederacy, and Egypt.-Early life:...
's troops. Reynolds believed that he would be able to defeat Jackson and clear the mountain for a quick route to Virginia. For two days it rained non-stop and due to the cold weather both troops lost men.
The Action
Reynolds troops began to move at midnight on October 2, 1861 and by daylight they entered Greenbrier, roughly four miles from the Confederate camp.At 8 o’clock in the morning the Confederate soldiers guarding the camp left their posts and the Union soldiers entered the Confederate camp. Upon opening fire, the Confederate Army was having trouble working their weapons and while they were trying to fix them they were forced to move out into the open due to the Union armies significant firepower.
When Colonel John B.Baldwin, who was in charge of the 52nd Virginia Infantry
52nd Virginia Infantry
The 52nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, heard the gunshots he immediately left camp with all of his men and went to help the Confederates. By the time they reached the battlefield they thought it was too late, but when the Union army saw more men coming they continued to fire and the battle continued for approximately five more hours. Reynolds ordered his troops to return to Cheat Mountain breaking off the battle.
Aftermath
After the battle was finished both sides realized the losses were not great. In an attempt to appear superior both the Union and the Confederates increased the enemies losses and both reported that they had lost around three-hundred men. When the results were calculated the Union had eight men killed and thirty-five men wounded. The Confederates had lost six men, had thirty-five wounded, and thirteen men missing. The result of the Battle of Greeenbrier River is inconclusive.Order of battle
Reynolds' army was composed of: the 24th Ohio Infantry24th Ohio Infantry
The 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 24th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Jackson and Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on June 17, 1861 under the command of Colonel Jacob Ammen...
; 25th Ohio Infantry
25th Ohio Infantry
The 25th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 25th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on June 28, 1861 under the command of Colonel James A. Jones...
; and the 32nd Ohio Infantry
32nd Ohio Infantry
The 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 32nd Ohio Infantry was organized at Mansfield, Ohio August 20-September 7, 1861 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford...
; the 7th Indiana Infantry, 9th Indiana Infantry, 13th Indiana Infantry
13th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 13th Indiana Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during theAmerican Civil War.- Service :The 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was originally accepted for state service for one year and was organized at Indianapolis for the U. S. service by volunteers from the...
, 14th Indiana Infantry, 15th Indiana Infantry and the 17th Indiana Infantry; the Battery G, 4th U. S. Artillery, Captain Howe; Loomis' Michigan Battery; Battery "A" West Virginia Light Artillery, Captain Philip Daum; and with parts of Robinson's Ohio Cavalry; Greenfield's Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Brackens' Indiana Rangers. Reynolds had about 5,000 men of different arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery.
Jackson's army consisted of the 1st Georgia Infantry
1st Georgia Infantry
The 1st Georgia Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-History:The regiment was first organized May 1, 1862, with men recruited from Fulton and other counties. The companies first named were twelve months' troops , a majority re-enlisting for...
and 12th Georgia Infantry, under command of Colonel Edward Johnson; the 23rd Virginia Infantry
23rd Virginia Infantry
The 23rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, 44th Virginia Infantry
44th Virginia Infantry
The 44th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
and a battalion of the 25th Virginia Infantry
25th Virginia Infantry
The 25th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of the Northwest and Army of Northern Virginia...
, commanded by Colonel William B. Taliaferro; 3rd Arkansas Infantry
3rd Arkansas Infantry
3rd Arkansas, or 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment was a Confederate Army regiment during the American Civil War, and the most celebrated unit from that state. Formed and initially commanded by Colonel Albert Rust, and later falling under the command of Colonel Van H...
, 31st Virginia Infantry
31st Virginia Infantry
The 31st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, and Lieutenant Colonel Hansbrough's battalion, under command of Colonel Albert Rust; Anderson's and Shumaker's Batteries, and a part of the Churchville Cavalry under Captain Sterrett. And about nine miles away, Colonel John B. Baldwin was stationed with the 52nd Virginia.
See also
- Bartow, West VirginiaBartow, West VirginiaBartow is an unincorporated census-designated place in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 111.Bartow is situated along U.S. Route 250 and West Virginia Route 92 and on the East Fork Greenbrier River about east of Durbin. It has a post office with ZIP...
- Camp Bartow Historic DistrictCamp Bartow Historic DistrictCamp Bartow Historic District, also known as "Traveller's Repose" and site of the Battle of Greenbrier River, is a national historic district located at Bartow, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The district encompasses 10 contributing buildings and 9 contributing sites. The house known as...