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Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
August 1863


August 1
A Union soldier confined in the Atheneum was shot and killed by a guard in the prison.

A festival in honor of Carlin's Battery was held in Wheeling.

August 2
Members of the West Virginia state legislature participated in the pursuit of Morgan's Raiders.

August 3
George W. Summers of Kanawha County made a speech at the Ohio County Courthouse in Wheeling.

Governor Francis Pierpont was arrested in Bridgeport, Ohio.

August 4
Waitman Willey and Peter Van Winkle were elected United States senators.

Lieutenant John R. Meigs, son of Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs, who was appointed chief engineer on the staff of General Benjamin Kelley, arrived at the McLure House in Wheeling.

August 5
Six wounded Confederate soldiers, members of Morgan's command, were moved to the hospital.

Soldiers arrested leaders of a mob that attacked a security officer at a theater performance at Washington Hall in Wheeling.

Union troops under Gen. William Averell left Winchester and marched to Wardensville, capturing several Confederates in Imboden's command on the way.

August 6
Union troops under Gen. Averell skirmished with Confederates at Moorefield.

August 7

August 8
A Union soldier was observed carrying an African-American baby from Hampshire County while marching through Wheeling with his unit.

August 9

August 10
The Provost Guard in Wheeling launched an attack on lice and bed bugs at the Atheneum.

August 11
Crothers Battery was mustered into service.

August 12
Thomas Hornbrook, surveyor of the Port of Wheeling, left for Cincinnati to meet with officials of the Treasury Department.

A number of prisoners, including a woman, were sent from the Atheneum to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio.

August 13
Women from the vicinity of Webster in Taylor County presented a flag to Company C of the 4th West Virginia Cavalry.

August 14

August 15
A public dinner and pole raising was held in Bethany, Brooke County.

August 16
Thirty Confederate prisoners were confined in the Atheneum, including a female spy.

August 17
Three women, dressed in men's clothing, arrested three secessionists in Wetzel County.

August 18
A large Union meeting was held in Wellsburg, with addresses delivered by Auditor Samuel Crane and Treasurer Campbell Tarr.

August 19
Union troops under General William W. Averill began a raid into Pendleton, Highland, Pocahontas, Bath, Alleghany and Greenbrier counties.

August 20
Union troops under General Averell captured a few guerillas along the South Branch en route to Monterey.

August 21
General William W. Averell pushed into Pocahontas County.

A skirmish was fought near Glenville.

Colonel James H. Dayton of the 4th West Virginia Infantry, who had been at the siege of Vicksburg, brought to the office of the Wheeling Intelligencer a copy of the last newspaper printed in the city before its capture.

Marshall County Home Guards arrested six men suspected of encouraging resistance to the draft.

August 22
Union voters of Monongalia County met at the courthouse in Morgantown.

Unconditional Union men of the 4th Ward of Wheeling met at the Rough and Ready Hose House to settle business of the New State Club.

Union troops under Gen. William Averell A skirmished with Confederates in Pocahontas County.

August 23
Confederate guerrillas under Captain Bill Smith launched a raid into Wayne County.

August 24

August 25

August 26
General William W. Averell's troops met Confederate forces under Gen. Samuel Jones near White Sulphur Springs.

A skirmish was fought near Sutton.

August 27
A Federal wagon train was captured by Confederate guerrillas about six miles from Philippi.

Skirmishes were fought near Sutton and Glenville.

August 28

August 29
Officers in the Pay Department in the district of West Virginia met to make arrangements to attend the funeral of Major Isaac M. Pumphrey.

Union men of the 4th Ward of Wheeling met and passed a resolution calling for a convention in Moundsville to select a congressman for the district.

August 30
Twenty-three Confederate prisoners captured in Pocahontas and Gilmer counties were imprisoned at the Atheneum in Wheeling.

Union Generals Edward O. C. Ord and Alfred N. Duffie passed through Wheeling.

August 31
Sixty Confederate prisoners, most from western Virginia, were shipped from the Atheneum in Wheeling to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio.


Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood

West Virginia Archives and History