Battle of Rich Mountain

Philippi Races - Rich Mountain - Kessler's Cross Lanes - Carnifex Ferry - Cheat Mountain - Greenbrier River - Camp Allegheny

The Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861 held during the Civil War in the mountains of western Virginia and ended with a victory for the Union forces.

Major General McClellan, commander of the Military District Ohio had to fulfill two tasks - to ensure the loyalty of the western counties of Virginia and maintain the operation of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.

After fleeing from Philippi, the Confederate defended two passes through the Laurel Hill in the north and Rich Mountain along the Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike to the south.

McClellan had the ball on the Rich Mountain approached to within three miles. Opposite him was Lt. Col. John Pegram at Camp Garnett, who had parked his 1300 soldiers and 310 cannons four man and a cannon on top of the pass to meet an attack from the rear. McClellan pushed despite its superiority addition, the attack on the Camp Garnett and was persuaded by Brigadier General Rosecrans to a flank attack on the pass.

In the early morning of July 11 to Rosecrans began with 2,000 troops on the march. While the Yankees surprised the small Southern troops on the pass, nevertheless succeeded this, Rosecrans stop for two hours and then dodge. In the following night, Pegram gave the Camp Garnett to a fight. At the same time avoided the Confederate troops on the Laurel Hill under Brigadier General Robert S. Garnett, without being seriously harassed, also made in order not to be bypassed.

On the morning of July 12, 1861 Rosecrans entered the Camp Garnett from behind and told General McClellan for the withdrawal of Confederate forces. The Northerners succeeded on July 13, caught a large number of Southerners in Corricks Ford to take and carry off their supply column. Here Brigadier General Garnett was the first general of the Civil War. Thus, the fighting in the western mountains of Virginia were initially completed.

McClellan reported this victory as a great success to Washington and thus established his reputation as a victorious general. But already here showed his great strengths and weaknesses:

• Superior organizational skills
• Strategic planner
• Tendency for over-estimation of the opponent
• Hypervigilance.

Two years after the Battle of Rich Mountain West Virginia was the 35th state of the United States of America.