West Virginia Civil War Timeline

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*The western Virginia area, breaking away from Virginia during the American Civil War (1861-1865), was admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. For continuity, West Virginia is used for the timeline.

1861 West Virginia Civil War Timeline

April 18-Amory at Harper's Ferry destroyed by Union forces

May 26-30-Occupation of Grafton by Union forces

June 3-Action at Philippi
June 15-Harper's Ferry
June 19-Skirmish at New Creek
June 23-Skirmish at Righter
June 26-Skirmish at Frankfort
June 26-Skirmish on Patterson's Creek
June 29-Skirmish at Bowman's Place
June 30-Buckhannon occupied by Union troops

July 2-Engagement at Falling Waters
July 3-Occupation of Martinsburg by Union forces
July 4-Skirmish at Harper's Ferry
July 6-7-Skirmishes at Middle Fork Bridge
July 7-Skirmish at Glenville
July 7-12-Skirmishes at Belington and Laurel Hill
July 10-Skirmish at Rich Mountain
July 11-Engagement at Rich Mountain
July 12-Occupation of Beverly by Union troops
July 13-Confederate General John Pegram surrenders his command to Union forces
July 13-Action at Carrick's Ford
July 15-Skirmish near Bunker Hill
July 16-Skirmish at Barboursville
July 17-Action at Scarey Creek
July 21-Skirmish at Charlestown

August 15-Skirmish near Grafton
August 20-Skirmish at Laurel Fork Creek
August 20-Skirmish at Hawk's Nest
August 23-Skirmish at Springfield
August 25-Skirmish near Piggot's Mill
August 26-27-Skirmishes at Wayne Court House
August 26-Action at Cross Lanes
August 26-Skirmish at Blue's House

September 1-Skirmish at Burlington
September 1-Skirmish at Blue Creek
September 1-Skirmish at Boone Court House
September 2-Skirmish at Worthington
September 2-Skirmish at Beller's Mill
September 2-Skirmish near Hawk's Nest
September 6-Skirmish at Rowell's Run
September 9-Skirmish at Shepherdstown
September 10-Engagement at Carnifix Ferry
September 12-Skirmish at Petersburg
September 12-Skirmish on Coal River
September 13-Action at Charleston
September 15-Skirmish at Pritchard's Mill
September 17-Skirmish near Harper's Ferry
September 23-Skirmish at Cassville
September 23-24-Affairs at Mechanicsburg Gap
September 24-Affair at Hanging Rock Pass
September 25-Action at Kanawha Gap

October 3-Engagement at Greenbrier River
October 11-Skirmish at Harper's Ferry
October 13-Skirmish at Cotton Hill
October 16-Skirmish at Bolivar Heights
October 19-21-Skirmishes on the New River
October 23-Skirmish at Gauley Bridge
October 26-Action at Romney
October 26-Skirmish at South Branch Bridge
October 26-Skirmish near Springfield
October 31-Skirmish at Greenbrier River

November 1-3-Skirmishes near Gauley Bridge
November 10-Affair at Guyandotte
November 10-11-Skirmishes at Blake's Farm
November 12-Skirmish on Laurel Creek
November 13-Skirmish near Romney
November 14-Skirmish at Fayetteville
November 14-Skirmishes near McCoy's Mill
November 30-Skirmish near Little Cacapon River

December 8-Skirmish at Romney
December 12-Skirmish at Greenbrier River
December 13-Engagement at Camp Alleghany
December 15-Affair in Roane County
December 28-Occupation of Beckley by Union forces
December 29-Confederates capture the town of Suttonville

1862 West Virginia Civil War Timeline

January 3-Skirmish at Huntersville
January 3-4-Skirmishes at Bath
January 4-Skirmish at Sir John's Run
January 4-Skirmish at Slane's Cross Roads
January 7-Skirmish at Hanging Rock Pass
January 8-Skirmish on Dry Fork of Cheat River
January 10-Union forces evacuate Romney

February 12-Skirmish at Moorefield
February 14-Affair at Bloomery Gap

March 3-Skirmish at Martinsburg
March 5-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
March 19-Skirmish at Elk Mountain
March 20-Skirmish at Philippi

April 3-Skirmish at Moorefield
April 18-Skirmish at Chapmanville 
April 23-Skirmish at Grass Lick
April 27-Skirmish at Garrett's Mill

May 1-Skirmish at Clark's Hollow
May 5-Skirmish at Princeton
May 6-Skirmish at Arnoldsburg
May 7-Skirmish at Wardensville
May 11-Skirmish near Princeton
May 12-Skirmish at Lewisburg
May 15-Skirmish at Ravenswood
May 16-17-Action at Princeton
May 23-Action at Lewisburg
May 26-Skirmish near Franklin
May 28-Skirmish at Charlestown
May 29-Skirmish near Wardensville
May 30-Skirmish at Lewisburg

June 4-Skirmish at Big Bend
June 7-Skirmish at Big Bend
June 8-Skirmish at Muddy Creek
June 10-Skirmish at the mouth of the West Fork
June 25-Skirmish at Mungo Flats
June 29-Affair at Moorefield

July 25-Affair at Summerville
July 27-Skirmish at Flat Top Mountain

August 3-Skirmish on the Greenbrier River
August 5-Skirmish at Wyoming Court House
August 6-Skirmish at Pack's Ferry
August 6-Skirmish at Beech Creek
August 13-Skirmishes at Blue Stone River
August 16-Skirmish at Wire Bridge
August 18-Skirmish at Huttonsville
August 23-Affair at Smithfield
August 23-Skirmish at Moorefield
August 30-Skirmish at Buckhannon
August 31-Confederates capture Weston

September 1-Skirmish at Glenville
September 2-Union forces surrender at Spencer Court House
September 3-Skirmish at Weston
September 3-Skirmish near Martinsburg
September 3-Skirmish at Ravenswood
September 4-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
September 7-Skirmish at Darkesville
September 10-Skirmish at Fayetteville
September 11-Skirmish at Armstrong's Creek
September 11-Skirmish near Cannelton
September 11-Skirmish at Cotton Hill
September 11-Skirmish at Gauley Ferry
September 11-Skirmish near Martinsburg
September 12-Evacuation of Martinsburg by Union Forces
September 12-Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge
September 12-15-Confederates lay siege to and capture Harper's Ferry
September 13-14-Action on Bolivar Heights
September 20-Action near Shepherdstown
September 20-Skirmish at Point Pleasant
September 28-Skirmish at Standing Stone Creek
September 30-Skirmish near Glenville

October 2-Affair at Blue's Gap
October 4-Union troops capture the Confederate camp at Blue's Gap
October 4-Union forces captured at Little Cacapon Bridge
October 4-Confederate forces capture Union forces at Paw Paw Tunnel
October 6-Skirmish at Big Birch
October 16-Skirmish near Kearneysville
October 17- Skirmish at Shepherdstown
October 20-Skirmish at Hedgesville
October 29-Skirmish near Petersburg
October 31-Skirmish near Falls of the Kanawha River

November 6-Skirmish at Martinsburg
November 9-Confederate forces capture Saint George
November 9-Skirmish on South Fork of the Potomac River
November 10-Skirmish at Charlestown
November 15-Skirmish on Guyandotte River
November 22-Skirmish on Halltown
November 26-Skirmish at Lewis' Mill

December 1-Skirmish at Darkesville
December 1-Skirmish at Romney
December 2-Skirmish at Charlestown
December 3-Skirmish at Moorefield

December 16-Skirmish at Wardensville
December 20-Skirmish near Halltown
December 22-Skirmish at Wardensville

1863 West Virginia Civil War Timeline

January 3-Skirmish at Moorefield
January 5-Skirmish near Moorefield
January 22-Skirmish in Pocahontas County

February 12-Skirmish near Charlestown
February 16-Affair near Romney

March 7-Skirmish at Green Spring Run
March 28-Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge
March 30-Skirmish at Point Pleasant

April 5-Skirmish at Mud River
April 6-Skirmish near Burlington
April 6-Skirmish at Purgitsville
April 7-Skirmish at Going's Ford
April 14-Skirmish near Centerville
April 18-Affair near Johnstown
April 21-May 21-Forces under Confederate William E. Jones raid West Virginia (AKA Jones raid)
April 22-Skirmish at Point Pleasant
April 24-Skirmish at Beverly
April 25-Skirmish at Greenland Gap
April 26-Affair at Cranberry Summit
April 26-Skirmish at Rowlesburg
April 27-Affair at Independence
April 27-Affair at Morgantown
April 27-28-Skirmishes at Buckhannon
April 29-Skirmish at Fairmont
April 30-Skirmish at Bridgeport
April 30-Skirmish near Simpson's Creek

May 2-Skirmish near Lewisburg
May 5-Skirmish at Franklin
May 5-Skirmish at Janelew
May 6-Skirmish at West Union
May 7-Affair at Cairo Station
May 7-Affair at Harrisville
May 9-Confederates destroy the oil works at Burning Springs (Oiltown)
May 10-12-Skirmishes near Franklin
May 12-Skirmish at Summerville
May 16-Skirmish at Elizabeth Court House
May 16-Skirmish at Charlestown
May 16-Skirmish at Ravenswood
May 18-20-Skirmishes at Fayetteville
May 23-Skirmish at West Creek

June 13-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
June 14-Skirmish at Martinsburg
June 14-Union forces evacuate Martinsburg
June 15-Union forces evacuate Harper's Ferry during the Gettysburg Campaign
June 26-Skirmish on Loup Creek

July 2-3-Engagement at Beverly
July 4-Skirmish at Fayetteville
July 4-Skirmish at Huttonsville
July 7-Skirmish at Harper's Ferry
July 14-Action at Failing Waters
July 14-Skirmish near Harper's Ferry
July 15-Skirmish at Halltown
July 15-Skirmish at Shepherdstown
July 16-Action at Shepherdstown
July 16-Skirmish at Shanghai 
July 17-Skirmish near North Mountain Station
July 18-19-Skirmishes at Hedgesville and Martinsburg
July 28-Skirmish at Fayetteville
July 31-Skirmish at Morris' Mills

August 4-Skirmish at Burlington
August 5-Skirmish at Cold Spring Gap
August 6-Skirmish at Cacapon Mountain
August 6-Skirmish at Moorefield
August 19-Skirmish at Franklin
August 19-Union destroys Confederate's saltpeter works near Franklin
August 21-Skirmish near Glenville
August 22-Skirmish at Huntersville
April 24-Skirmish in Gilmer County
August 26-Skirmish near Moorefield
August 26-Skirmish near Sutton
August 26-27-Engagement at Rocky Gap
August 27-Skirmish near Glenville
August 27-Skirmish at Ball's Mill

September 4-Skirmish at Moorefield
September 4-Skirmish at Petersburg Gap
September 6-Skirmish at Petersburg
September 7-Skirmish at Bath
September 8-Skirmish at Sutton
September 11-Affair at Moorefield
September 12-Skirmish in Roane County
September 14-Skirmish at Cheat Mountain Pass
September 15-Affair at Smithfield
September 16-Skirmish at Smithfield
September 16-Skirmish at Princeton
September 20-Affair on Shaver Mountain
September 21-Affair at Moorefield
September 8-Skirmish at Beech Fork
September 24-Skirmish at Greenbrier Bridge
September 25-Skirmish at Seneca Trace Crossing

October 1-Skirmish near Harper's Ferry
October 7-Skirmish at Charlestown
October 7-Skirmish at Summit Point
October 11-Skirmish at Salt Lick Bridge
October 13-Skirmish at Burlington
October 13-Skirmish at Bulltown
October 14-Skirmish at Salt Lick Bridge
October 15-Affair near Hedgesville
October 18-Attack on Charlestown 
October 26-Skirmish at Ravenswood
October 27-Skirmish on the Sandy River

November 4-Skirmish near Cackleytown
November 5-Skirmish at Mill Point
November 6-Engagement Droop Mountain
November 6-Skirmish at Little Sewell Mountain
November 7-Capture of Lewisburg by Union forces
November 7-Skirmish at Muddy Creek
November 8-Skirmish at Second Creek
November 8-Skirmish at Second Creek
November 10-Skirmish on Elk Mountain
November 16-Skirmish at Burlington

December 4-Skirmish at Meadow Bluff
December 6-Skirmish on the Cheat River
December 11-Skirmish at Marling's Bottom Bridge
December 11-Skirmish at Meadow Bluff
December 11-Skirmish at Big Sewell Mountain
December 12-Skirmish at Greenbrier River
December 12-Skirmish at Lewisburg
December 13-Affair at Hurricane Bridge
December 14-Skirmish on the Blue Sulphur Road

1864 West Virginia Civil War Timeline

January 1-Affair at Bunker Hill
January 8-Skirmish at Moorefield Junction
January 10-Skirmish at Petersburg
January 15-Skirmish near Petersburg
January 27-Skirmish near Wayne Court House

February 2-Skirmish at Patterson's Creek
February 3-Confederates capture the steamer Levi on the Kanawha River
February 4-Skirmish at Moorefield
February 15-Skirmish at Laurel Creek
February 20-Affair near Hurricane Bridge

March 3-Skirmish near Petersburg
March 10-Skirmish near Charlestown
March 10-Skirmish at Kabletown
March 28-Affair at Bloomery Gap

April 19-Affair at Marling's Bottom

May 8-Affair at Halltown
May 10-Skirmish at Lost River Gap
May 20-Skirmish at Greenbrier River
May 24-Skirmish near Lewisburg
May 24-Skirmish near Charlestown
May 29-Skirmish at Hamlin

June 6-Skirmish at Princeton
June 6-Skirmish near Moorefield
June 10-Skirmish at Kabletown
June 19-Affair near Petersburg
June 23-Skirmish at Sweet Sulphur Springs
June 26-Skirmish at Smithfield
June 26-Skirmish at Springfield
June 29-Skirmish at Charlestown
June 29-Skirmish at Duffield's Station
June 19-29-Union forces retreat to Meadow Bluff during the Lynchburg Campaign

July 2-Skirmish at Bolivar Heights
July 3-Skirmish at Leetown
July 3-Skirmish at Darkesville
July 3-Skirmish at North River Mills
July 3-Skirmish at Martinsburg
July 3-Skirmish at North Mountain 
July 4-Skirmish at South Branch Bridge
July 4-Skirmish at Frankford
July 4-Skirmish at Patterson's Creek Bridge
July 6-Skirmish at Big Cacapon Bridge
July 6-Skirmish at Sir John's Run 
July 18-Skirmish at Kabletown
July 19-Skirmish at Charlestown
July 19-Skirmish at Kabletown
July 19-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
July 19-Skirmish at Darkesville
July 24-Skirmish at Falling Waters
July 25-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
July 25-Skirmish at Martinsburg
July 26-Skirmish at Falling Waters
July 27-Skirmish at Back Creek Bridge
July 30-Skirmish near Shepherdstown

August 2-Skirmish at Green Spring Run
August 4-Action at New Creek
August 5-Skirmish at Huttonsville
August 7-Engagement near Moorefield
August 15-Skirmish near Charlestown
August 21-Skirmish at Middleway
August 21-Skirmish near Summit Point
August 21-Skirmish at Welch's Spring
August 22-Skirmish at Charlestown
August 23-Skirmish at Kearneysville
August 24-Skirmish at Halltown
August 24-Affair at Huttonsville
August 25-Skirmish at Halltown
August 25-Action near Kearneysville
August 25-Action near Shepherdstown
August 26-Skirmish near Charlestown
August 26-Skirmish at Halltown
August 27-Skirmish at Duffield's Station
August 27-Skirmish at Nutter's Hill
August 28-Skirmish at Leetown
August 28-Skirmish at Smithfield
August 29-Engagement at Smithfield Crossing
August 29-Skirmish at Charlestown
August 31-Skirmish at Martinsburg

September 2-Action at Bunker Hill
September 2-Skirmish at Darkesville
September 3-Action at Bunker Hill
September 10-Skirmish at Darkesville
September 13-Skirmish at Bunker Hill
September 18-Action near Martinsburg
September 30-Skirmish at Coalsmouth

October 11-Skirmish near Petersburg
October 14-Affair at Duffield's Station
October 26-Skirmish at Winfield
October 29-Action at Beverly

November 1-Affair at Green Spring Run
November 18-Skirmish at Kabletown
November 20-Skirmish at Kabletown
November 27-Skirmish at Moorefield
November 28-Skirmish at Moorefield
November 28-Skirmish at New Creek
November 28-Skirmish at Piedmont
November 29-Skirmish at Charlestown
November 30-Skirmish at Kabletown

1865 West Virginia Civil War Timeline

January 11-Confederate forces capture Union forces at Beverly

February 3-Affair near Harper's Ferry
February 5-Skirmish at Charlestown

March 13-Skirmish near Charlestown
March 22-Skirmish near Patterson's Creek Station
March 30-Affair near Patterson's Creek

April 6-Skirmish near Charlestown

Civil War Military Terms:

1. Action: Stresses the idea of active, frequently sharp, offensive and defensive operations.
2. Affair: A fight.
3. Campaign: A connected series of military operations forming a distinct stage in a war.
4. Capture: To seize by force or stratagem.
5. Demonstration: An exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack as to show readiness for war if necessary.
6. Descent: Incursion; sudden attack; onslaught.
7. Engagement: May be a general encounter, as between armies, or a minor encounter as between subdivisions or outposts.
8. Evacuation: Withdrawal of troops from a town, fortress, etc.
9. Expeditions: A journey for a specific purpose, as a military or exploring expedition: also, the body of persons making such an excursion.
10. Occupation: To hold possession of; to utilize an area or place for a purpose.
11. Operation: A military and/or naval action or mission including movement, supply attack, defense and all requisite maneuvers.
12. Raid: A foray. Originally an inroad or incursion of mounted men. A sudden or rapid attack by an armed force.
13. Reconnaissance: An examination of a territory to gain information of enemy troops, of the terrain, or of resources.
14. Scout: To reconnoiter.
15. Siege: The besetting of a fortified place by an army to compel surrender. A continued attempt to gain possession.
16. Skirmish: Encounter usually incidental to large movements. A slight fight.
17. Surrender: To give up possession of anything or any place upon a compulsion or demand; to yield to the power of another.

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Sources: National Park Service; Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

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