Skip
Navigation

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
July 1863


July 1
The House of Delegates and the State Senate selected John F. McDermot as the public printer.

Union troops encountered rebel gangs in Preston County.

Two officers of the Eighth West Virginia Infantry held in exchange for Duskey and Varner were paroled in Richmond.

July 2
Confederate troops attacked a Union detachment at Beverly.

Twenty-five Confederate prisoners arrived in Wheeling and were committed to the Atheneum.

The House of Delegates passed a bill for the defense of the state.

The State Senate passed a resolution authorizing the clerk of the Senate to issue certificates of attendance and mileage to the members and officers of the Senate.

Six hundred Upshur County militia organized in Buckhannon in preparation for the draft.

July 3
Confederate troops under William L. Jackson continued the attack at Beverly.

July 4
Independence Day was celebrated in the new state of West Virginia.

Confederate troops falling back from Beverly skirmished with Union troops at Huttonsville.

July 5

July 6
The Boreman Rangers were mustered into United States service.

July 7
In the House of Delegates, a petition was presented from the Putnam County sheriff for restitution of money captured by rebels.

The State Senate passed a resolution that the Committee on Courts of Justice and General Laws inquire into the expediency of making the crime of horse stealing punishable by death or some other severe penalty.

July 8
The House of Delegates requested several issues by taken up by the appropriate committees.

The State Senate likewise requested several issues by taken up by the appropriate committees.

July 9
The Supreme Court of Appeals of the State of West Virginia met at the Ohio County Courthouse.

The House of Delegates resolved to take up the election of U.S. Senators on July 20.

The State Senate considered a bill relating to exemptions from military duty.

Confederate squads were spotted near Harpers Ferry.

July 10
The House of Delegates passed a bill to regulate criminal proceedings against African Americans.

The State Senate considered a bill to provide commissioners of immigration.

There was a flag of truce to Harpers Ferry involving the transport of a child.

July 11
The U.S. Paymaster stopping in Wheeling was robbed of 900 dollars.

The House of Delegates passed a bill defining the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

State Senate

Knapp's Battery from Pittsburgh passed through Wheeling.

July 12

July 13
The House of Delegates passed a bill regarding deputy sheriffs, recorders and clerks.

The State Senate took action on several bills.

A regiment of Pennsylvania militia, who had refused to leave to state for West Virginia, boarded the train but some left the cars at various points en route.

Several Union companies marched from Camp Piatt up Lens Creek and Coal River on an expedition from Fayetteville to Wytheville.

July 14
Union and Confederate troops skirmished near Harpers Ferry.

The House of Delegates ordered the committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the forfeiture of the estates of persons supporting the Confederacy.

The State Senate adopted a resolution calling for a joint committee to investigate the Lunatic Asylum (Weston).

An advance of the Union expedition to Wytheville was fired on by Confederates while attempting to cross Piney Creek east of Raleigh.

July 15
The House of Delegates passed a bill defining the powers and duties of townships.

The State Senate took action on several bills.

On the retreat from Gettysburg, Gen. Lee's army camped at Bunker Hill.

July 16
Union and Confederate troops fought near Kearneysville, with Union troops driven back to near Shepherdstown.

The House of Delegates requested the judiciary committee inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the collection of debts due loyal citizens.

The State Senate passed a House bill to prevent the encouragement of invasions and insurrections.

Union troops passed through Oceana en route to Abb's Valley.

July 17
House of Delegates

State Senate

A former member of the Shriver Greys, a Confederate company, was arrested in Wheeling and charged with treason.

July 18
J. C. Gillilan, member from Greenbrier, appeared before the House of Delegates and was qualified.

A dozen members of Carlin's Battery returned to Wheeling after being imprisoned in Richmond.

The Ringgold Cavalry clashed with Confederates at North Mountain.

State Senate

Union troops skirmished with Hampton's brigade near Martinsburg.

July 19
Union troops skirmished with Hampton's brigade near Martinsburg.

Gov. Boreman received a report that some of John Morgan's men were crossing the Ohio River at Belleville in Wood County.

July 20
House of Delegates

Rev. J. L. Simpson of Preston County led ninety recruits into Wheeling for service in the Union army.

Noted bushwhacker George Duskey was brought to Wheeling and confined in the Atheneum.

State Senate

July 21
House of Delegates

State Senate

Captain W. C. Thorpe, who commanded the post at Wheeling, swore out a warrant against the jailor for abuse of a female prisoner.

July 22
House of Delegates

State Senate

The Union expedition returning from Wytheville passed through Raleigh.

July 23
House of Delegates

State Senate

Colonel Duval, commanding at Fayetteville, sent supplies to Union troops at Raleigh.

July 24
The Boothsville Home Guards captured a number of horse thieves near Boothsville in Marion County.

House of Delegates

The Ohio County Militia and the state legislature were called out in response to a Confederate raid led by General John Morgan.

State Senate

July 25
Union cavalry occupied Martinsburg.

House of Delegates met and quickly adjourned, it appearing a number of delegates had volunteered for the defense of the Capitol against the invasion of the rebel John Morgan.

The legislature for the Restored Government of Virginia and local militia embarked on a naval expedition aimed at captured Confederate General John Morgan.

The State Senate met and quickly adjourned, it appearing a number of senators had volunteered for the defense of the Capitol against the invasion of the rebel John Morgan.

Union troops returned to Camp Piatt after their expedition to Wytheville.

July 26
Hancock County militia participated in the pursuit of confederate General John Morgan through Ohio.

July 27
The House of Delegates began discussion on admitting Berkeley County.

Two prisoners escaped from the Atheneum.

The State Senate passed, with amendments, a House bill providing for trials of offences committed in counties in which the administration of justice was interrupted by war.

July 28
The House of Delegates spent time dealing with financial issues.

Eight wounded members of Morgan's Raiders were brought to Wheeling and confined in the Atheneum.

A dozen Confederate deserters took the oath of allegiance in Wheeling.

Women from South Wheeling presented a flag to Sweeney's Cavalry.

The State Senate passed a bill for issuing grants for land.

July 29
The House of Delegates did not agree to Senate amendments of a bill for the division into townships of the several counties in the State.

State Senate

July 30
The House of Delegates adopted amendments to a bill on re-organizing the militia.

The State Senate appointed members to a conference committee on the bill for the division into townships of the several counties in the State.

July 31
In the House of Delegates, a memorial was presented from the collector of the Revenue for Wayne county stating he was robbed of money belonging to the State and seeking restitution.

Squads of militia swept through Wheeling, searching for absentees.

The State Senate passed a bill for the division into townships of the several counties in the State with amendments proposed by the conference committee.

Undated Events, July 1863


Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood

West Virginia Archives and History