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Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
March 03, 1864


The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
Series 1 - Volume 33

p.229-230

MARCH 3, 1864.:Skirmish near Petersburg, W. Va
REPORTS.

Report of Col. Daniel D, Johnson, Fourteenth West Virginia infantry, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division; Department of West Virginia.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,
New Creek, W. Va., March 12, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: In obedience to an order of the colonel commanding division, dated February 28, 1864, I directed Captain Work, commanding detachment of the Ringgold Battalion Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, at Greenland Gap, to move with his entire availabla [sic] force on the 1st day of March into Petersburg, W. Va., there to remain as a guard for the supply train of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry. Captain Work arrived at Petersburg on the evening of the 1st instant, with 33 men, and was joined by Lieutenant Denny with 27 men on the evening of the 2d instant. On the 3d instant Captain Work sent Lieutenant Denny and 27 men to scout in the direction of Moorefield. They came in contact with a small force of the enemy about 8 miles from Petersburg and charged upon them, and drove them back a short distance, when the enemy was re- enforced and attacked Lieutenant Denny in overwhelming force, compelling him to retreat. Captain Work reports our loss in this skirmish, 7 men missing and 13 horses and equipments captured. The enemy's loss is 2 horses killed and 2 men severely wounded.

On the evening of the 3d instant Captain Work, deeming his position unsafe, fell back toward Greenland Gap, a distance of 5 miles, where he bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 4th instant he returned to Petersburg, and discovering the enemy close to the town he ordered the train to Greenland Gap, and ill the evening fell back again to his camp of the previous night. On the 5th instant the Fifteenth New York Cavalry returned through Petersburg, W. Va., and Captain Work returned to his camp at Greenland Gap.

Very respectfully,

D. D. JOHNSON,

Colonel.

Lieut. M. J. RUSSELL,

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.


Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: March 1864

West Virginia Archives and History