The region that lay west of the Shenandoah Valley and north of the Kanawha River held nearly a quarter of Virginias nonslave population when the war began in 1861. 560. Boreman asked Gen. David Hunter to exert his forces in the southwestern counties- "The counties between the Great Kanawha and Big Sandy Rivers, in the southern part of the State, have been infested with large bodies of guerrillas from the beginning of the rebellion"[58], After the capture of Union General Scammon and his men an Ohio newspaper was prompted to write on Feb, 18, 1864-, "With the commanding General of the Department and his Quarter Master, in Libby prison, captured by rebels within 35 miles of Gallipolis- a government steamer burned at the same time, it might seem to an unpracticed eye, that the State of West Virginia was not so intensely loyal as some persons wish it to be considered. Called by the press and the soldiers "Granny Lee" and "Evacuating Lee", he was transferred to South Carolina to supervise construction of coastal fortifications. [10] Although the charges were not pursued his reputation among Unionists was ruined and he eventually closed his Morgantown newspaper, The Virginia Evening Star, the following January and ended his political career. Is West Virginia Constitutional? - Pieces of History United States currency was still being used, and eventually Confederate paper currency was in production, but there was no coinage, although attempts had been made for its production. One hundred and one West Virginians received these special pardons.[27]. Its only thanks to another once-wealthy Confederate state, Mississippi, that we are not first in poverty, lack of education and health care. John Elam Mitchell's Co., formerly 165th Regt. Sandy beaches and luxury hotels seem to define this Caribbean nation, but its the music and architecture that truly speak to its complicated history. Lincoln signed the statehood bill on the last day of 1862. 3, No. It remained loyal to the Union, however, the people of West Virginia were split. The Virginia Debt Controversy - Encyclopedia Virginia 25th Virginia Infantry 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion 27th Virginia Infantry 29th Virginia Infantry The office in Harpers Ferry closed in June 1861 when Confederate forces left the town and it never reopened. 160; pgs. Confederate post offices in West Virginia basically followed the line of secessionist counties, running from Harpers Ferry in the eastern panhandle to southwest Virginia. Consequently he felt entirely justified by the laws of war in going back to his native county in 1863 to William D. Thurmond's Co., Thurmond's Rangers (Fayette), Capt. [9] In October 1861 Marshall M. Dent was indicted for treason by a grand jury in Wheeling. Results of the May 23, 1861 vote on Virginia's secession ordinance has been estimated at 19,121 to 20,031 in favor of secession and 33,565 to 34,677 against secession. Search the compiled military service records. West Virginia - When the state of Virginia seceded from the Union, West Virginia broke away and formed its own state. West Virginia voters hold state elections and elect Arthur I. Boreman of Wood County as the first governor of the state of West Virginia. The following Generals were either born in, raised in, or living in On June 20, 1863 the U.S. government created a new state from 50 western counties of Virginia to be named "West Virginia". It is also thornier to recall for the longer-to-grade essay exam. And we are blamed for a system we did not create. [52], On Nov. 27, 1862, Brig. An unfair tax structure that benefited the slave-owning eastern counties, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of the states roads and railroads were constructed in the east, contributed to the desire for the creation of a separate state. Get your fix of JSTOR Dailys best stories in your inbox each Thursday. Gen. Robert H. Milroy ordered fines to be levied against civilians to compensate for rebel raids and horse stealing, with threats of fire and execution. He returned to his home, but on June 11, 1865 both he and Allen Caperton were arrested and taken to Charleston. On April 26, 1861, former governor Joseph Johnson chaired such a meeting in Clarksburg. Robert Johnston, congressman from the 15th District, the counties of north-central West Virginia, was supportive of a strong central government and supported Jefferson Davis' authority in reorganizing the army, and believed the suspension of habeas corpus by Davis was justifiable. 3 Va. State Rangers (Clay, Nicholas, Webster), Capt. Stuart. Restored to the Union. Well also send you an eBook by 20 Abbeville Institute scholars as a free gift. [19] One factor hindering Unionism was "state pride" and resistance to outside interference in Virginia's affairs. James S.A. Crawford's Co., The Night Hawks (Wood, Jackson & Wirt), Capt. Daniel Elkins Co, Co. B (Boone), 1st VSL. Confederate currency was mostly used in the eastern and southern counties, somewhat less in the central counties. Since Judge Thompson was exchanged by the Federal government this prompted several U.S. judge-advocates to question the legality of the arrest. western Virginia as a part of Virginia which had seceded from the United States and become a part of the Confederate States. Samuel Price, as president of the senate, was issued a pass by Gen. Weitzel to return to Richmond for the new session. The counties from which they were mainly originated are in parentheses at the end of each name. [55] The counties around the B&O railroad west of Tucker County were occupied by the Union, as well as most of the counties along the Ohio border. Any resistance to the national power structure is quickly overcome. 8 Things You May Not Know About West Virginia | HISTORY Dempsey's Co., Co. E (Logan), 1st VSL, Capt. [22] When the 141st militia of Jackson County was mustered at the courthouse and was told by their colonel that he was recruiting for the Union two-thirds of the men refused the call. [12], Union Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy attacked Camp Allegheny, where Colonel Edward Johnson's main Confederate force in western Virginia was located. Mason Mathews of Greenbrier County was a state senator during the war. John Letcher wrote to President Lincoln and reminded him that the men held military commissions from the Virginia government. What do sorcerers, bishops, and garden gnomes all have in common? (This is another chapter, one I know nothing about at this point.). History of West Virginia By year Prehistory (before 17th c.) Protohistory U.S. Civil War Since 1900 Topics: African-Americans - Environment - Politics v t e Union states in the American Civil War California Connecticut Delaware Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York Ohio In 1863 the future governor of the new state, Arthur I. Boreman, said- "After you get a short distance below the Panhandleit is not safe for a loyal man to go into the interior out of sight of the Ohio River. Virginians were allowed to vote outside of their original resident counties but had to vote at the county courthouse and not at local polling stations. On May 14, the "stars and bars" was raised above the courthouse in Logan County. The Thirty-Fifth Star: The Civil War in West Virginia The western portion of Virginia seceded from the Confederate state and named itself West Virginia, the Mountain State, forsaking the rebellion of the Confederacy for membership in the Union. Described as a "palmetto" flag, it was captured in the Battle of Philippi on June 3, 1861. Pointy hats that share a common story deeply enmeshed in European antisemitism. Its obvious that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are interested in helping. Lynchburg residents credited the actions of Brig. [63] Results for Virginia's Confederate congressional elections from Nov. 6, 1861, have not been located, the only returns found are full returns for District 3, and partial returns for District 8. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. A list of West Virginia civilians imprisoned at Camp Chase in March 1862 named five men as rebel mail carriers from Randolph, Pendleton, Hampshire, and Tucker counties. Benjamin W. Haymond's Co., Co. No. Led by Jefferson Davis and existing . [33] It was often used by Confederate officers to pay for goods taken during raids through Union-held territory. John McCausland of Mason County became notorious in the north for his actions in Chambersburg, Pa., which resulted in the burning of the town in 1864. Help us keep publishing stories that provide scholarly context to the news. One county sent one representative, some guy who elected himself, etc. Rebellious Richmond, having taken itself out of the constitutional framework of new state formation, wouldnt have a say in the secession of its western counties. We actual citizens have never enjoyed true political control of our state. . John L. Sprigg's Co., Braxton Co. Rangers, Co. No. [47] On Jan. 1, 1862 he led companies of the 36th Ohio to eradicate guerrillas. In the wake of Virginia's secession, a convention of delegates from western Virginia met in Wheeling in 1861 for the purpose of forming the "State of Kanawha," which incorporated 39 counties.. The Union army would occupy the western region of Virginia for the rest of the war, despite several raids by the Confederates into the area. West Virginia in the Civil War FamilySearch Va. A secession flag also flew above the courthouse in neighboring Tucker County, and another was raised in Guyandotte, Cabell County, which was termed a "secession hole" by Union newspapers in Wheeling, and was later burned by Union troops. The birth of the state of West Virginia occurred in meeting halls and conventions, not on the battlefields of the American Civil War. The South wanted no part of this takeover, especially as a helpless minority. Privacy Policy Contact Us Other notable military figures were Christopher Q. Tompkins and George S. Patton of Charleston, who were instrumental in the organizing of volunteers in the Kanawha Valley in the summer of 1861. Many post offices closed or opened depending upon which side held the territory. To both the USA and the CSA, however, these counties were strategic. 195-208, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington, DC, 1898, Series II, Vol. The situation was dire. Voting by soldiers was done within the regimental organization. McComas Co., Co. This was an unpleasant but necessary part of the warfare. West Virginia is the only state born out of the Civil War, and its allegiances were severely divided by the conflict. Va. [10], During the summer, the Union army concentrated their forces to protect the main highways through western Virginia. The Union forces retreated and the Confederates won a small but important victory. [45] Although Brig. During Brig. [35] In areas where the Union army had gained control many merchants were reluctant to accept the money, as during Loring's occupation of Charleston. The adoption of the new constitution uniting Virginia with the Confederate States of America was approved only by the delegates to the Secession Convention. On December 31, 1862, President Lincoln approved an enabling act admitting West Virginia into the Union. The combined effect would give our people a sense of civic responsibility and pride. Our database is searchable by subject and updated continuously. It was admitted as the 35th state on June 20, 1863. William Franklin Pierson's Co. (Braxton), Capt. Some 50,000 West Virginians are believed to have participated in the American Civil War, including 32,000 for then Union and 18,000 for the Confederacy. Preserving history. The Union army remained in West Virginia until 1869, and dealt with civil unrest through 1868.[5]. Senator. 4, Va. State Rangers (Marion, Harrison, Taylor), Capt. The map shows the voting districts of Virginia, with the shaded section showing the area that became West Virginia. Militia (Calhoun), Capt. On July 13, 1861, two U.S. senators and three new congressmen took their seats in Congress, all from the state of Virginia. Zimring writes that the crucial battle for statehood took place not in Virginia but in the halls of Congress and the White House.Statehood supporters told President Lincoln and Congress that slavery in the state would be ended via gradual emancipation (written into the states constitution). Little people. Controlling the regions would help prevent an assault against Washington from arising up its ridges, and it would help protect the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a vital part of the Norths line of communication with the western theater of operations. We are berated for our accents and behavior. The region that lay west of the Shenandoah Valley and north of the Kanawha River held nearly a quarter of Virginia's nonslave population when the war began in 1861. Due to his victories in western Virginia, McClellan's reputation quickly grew in the North, where the newspapers called him the "Young Napoleon." Geo. An exchange program was initiated between the two governments, though it eventually ended several years later. In 1862 an investigation of conditions in Camp Chase, conducted for Col. William Hoffman, Commissary-General of Prisoners, by Capt. Our future depends on a correct understanding of our history. Background [ edit] George B. McClellan, Union commander in western Virginia from May to June 1861 In April 1861 a Virginia state convention voted to secede and join the Confederacy. 6731 Whittier Avenue, Suite C-100 McLean, VA 22101, Stay up to date with all of our latest news, As his new kingdom grew more and more rotten (like him), he had to pour a lot of poison into a lot of ears (his media) to hide his crimes. 5, Va. State Rangers, formed from the 199th Regt. W.A. On October 25, 1861, the auditor of Virginia, Jonathan M. Bennett, wrote to Judah P. Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of War, to urge him to make efforts to have the prisoners released or exchanged. It also contained several roads and turnpikes which would grant the Union access to Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Shenandoah Valley, while the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the northern part of the area connected the eastern Union states to the Midwest.[1]. The West Virginia Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2021 seeks to prevent city councils, county commissions, boards of education, universities and any other public entity from removing. ITHAKA. They have done this by making themselves the sovereign power. Va. Their serfs meanwhile wave Confederate flags in protest. . This arrangement would last until 1863 when western Virginia was admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia. Class 1. It suits the moral lesson that, as usual, the good Northerners defeat the evil Southerners, pitilessly relegated to the ash-heap of history, just like TV and the movies (more media). John W. "Big John" Amick's Co., Amick's Rangers (Nicholas), Capt. General William Averells Fourth Separate Brigade became the First Separate Brigade, but was commonly known as Averells Brigade. The newly created Department of West Virginia, which contained some 23,000 men, was commanded by General Benjamin F. Kelley. Is Virginia A Confederate State? - CLJ 23-51. The Creation of West Virginia - Encyclopedia Virginia West Virginia, constituent state of the United States of America. George Downs' Co., Co. No. The Constitution that he had sworn to uphold requires the consent of the mother state, now located in a foreign country kept beyond his reach by hostile armies. June 20, 1863. Join historians and history buffs alike with our Unlimited Digital Access pass to every military history article ever published (over 3,000 articles) in Sovereigns military history magazines. Admitted to the union as the 35th state in 1863, it is a relatively small state. Altogether 20-22,000 West Virginians were in Confederate service.[25]. Nearly half of our black men are in prison. "[59], At the end of the war over 5,000 Confederate soldiers were paroled at Charleston, and many West Virginians received paroles at Appomattox with the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. West Virginia volunteers contributed notably or significantly to thirteen infantry regiments, three infantry battalions, one mounted infantry battalion, a sharpshooter battalion, twelve artillery batteries, fifteen cavalry regiments, six cavalry battalions, and a company of partisan rangers, while some served in Kentucky Confederate regiments. Lorenzo D. Chambers' Co., Co. A (Logan), 5th VSL, Capt. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message. On Jan. 4, 1863, the Wheeling-elected sheriff of Barbour County was arrested by Imboden's troops and was sent to Richmond as a prisoner. In 1861 he had requested assignment to western Virginia, which he described as "bleeding at every pore", but was refused and remained stationed in the Shenandoah Valley. [32] In central West Virginia the continuous guerrilla war disrupted both Union and Confederate postal service. Western Virginias differences with the eastern portion of the state were many, starting with the familiar refrain of taxation without representation. Twenty-two counties did not vote. [8], The Confederate brigade of Floyd attacked a Union regiment under Colonel Erastus Tyler at Kessler's Cross Lanes and routed it, temporarily securing the eastern Kanawha Valley for the Confederates. He warned Jefferson Davis of the bitter feud between generals John Floyd and Henry Wise, which was hampering the defense of western Virginia. The most senior general was Stonewall Jackson of Clarksburg, who achieved the rank of Lt.-General before his death in 1863. As the political situation evolved in western Virginia, the military situation began to take shape as well. Union support eroded in some border counties when Union troops invaded western Virginia on May 26, 1861, just days after the vote on the secession ordinance. The westerners were divided even following admission of the new state of West Virginia into the United States in 1863. Va. Sampson Elza's Co., Dixie Boys (Randolph & Pendleton), Capt.
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