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Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
July 1861


July 1
Governor Francis Pierpont called into extra session the General Assembly of the Reorganized Government of Virginia to convene in Wheeling.

July 2
In the legislature, Daniel Frost of Jackson County was elected Speaker of the House, and newly elected Lieutenant Governor Daniel Polsley presided over the Senate for the newly formed Restored Government of Virginia.

Union troops under General Robert Patterson and Confederate troops under Colonel Thomas J. Jackson fought a minor skirmish at Falling Waters in Berkeley County.

July 3
Following the withdrawal of Confederate troops under Colonel Thomas J. Jackson from Darkesville, Berkeley County, Union troops under General Robert Patterson captured the town of Martinsburg.

July 4
John Carlile, William G. Brown, and Kellian V. Whaley took their seats in the House of Representatives as Unionist representatives from the state of Virginia.

Independence Day was marked with celebrations throughout western Virginia.

A skirmish erupted at Harpers Ferry.

July 5
The General Assembly of the Reorganized Government of Virginia considered the election of senators to represent the state in Congress.

July 6
A detachment of the 3rd Ohio Infantry attacked Confederate pickets at Middle Fork Bridge and were repulsed. Three Union regiments, along with cavalry and artillery, soon arrived and took possession of the bridge.

Confederate forces neared Martinsburg.

July 7
Confederate troops attacked a Union detachment of the 17th Ohio Infantry at Glenville.

Union and Confederate troops skirmished at Laurel Hill.

July 8
Confederate soldier George P. Morgan of Marion County wrote in his journal: "Early in the morning the enemy made his appearance near our fortified camp (near Laurel Hill) and were promptly repulsed by the 1st Georgeia Regiment with the loss of one wounded on our side and several killed on theirs. The day was principally occupied in skirmishes, in which nearly all our forces were engaged, but with the loss of only one man our our side."

July 9
The Reorganized Government of Virginia elected the following officials: Secretary of the Commonwealth L. A. Hagans of Preston County; Auditor of Public Accounts Samuel Crane of Randolph County; Treasurer Campbell Tarr of Brooke County; and United State Senators John S. Carlile and Waitman T. Willey.

Several Union regiments arrived in Martinsburg, and a correspondent was arrested.

July 10
The General Assembly of the Reorganized Government of Virginia debated at length resolutions offered by H. W. Crothers of Brooke County on instructions to congressional representatives.

July 11
On July 11, 1861, Union troops under Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans defeated a Confederate force at the Battle of Rich Mountain. John N. Hughes of Beverly, who represented Randolph and Tucker counties at the Virginia State Convention in the spring, and who was carrying a message for the Confederates, was killed by Confederate troops who mistook him for a Unionist.

July 12
Confederate Colonel John Pegram surrendered his command at Laurel Hill following his defeat at the Battle of Rich Mountain, Randolph County. Union troops occupied Beverly.

The 11th Indiana and the 2nd Massachusetts regiments arrived in Martinsburg.

July 13
Confederate forces retreating from western Virginia were overtaken and attacked by Union forces at the battle of Corrick's Ford in Tucker County. Confederate General Robert Garnett was killed during the engagement.

In Cabell County, a Union force dislodged local militia at the Battle of Barboursville.

In Washington, John Carlile and Waitman Willey were formally seated by the United States Senate.

July 14
A detachment of Confederate cavalry clashed with Federal troops at New Creek Station in Hampshire County.

July 15
Union troops commanded by General Robert Patterson skirmished with a body of Confederate cavalry at Bunker Hill, forcing their withdrawal.

One of the largest meetings ever held in Parkersburg took place, with those in attendance passing resolutions supporting the actions of the Wheeling Convention.

July 16
General George B. McClellan closed his western Virginia campaign against the Confederates by delivering a congratulatory address to his troops at Beverly, Randolph County.

Confederate Col. Clarkson led a scouting party up a hill near the mouth of the Pocatalico against Union soldiers.

July 17
Union troops clashed with a Confederate force at the Battle of Scary Creek. After several hours of fighting, the Federals withdrew.

Union troops occupied Charles Town.

July 18
The Kelley Lancers, which would become Company A of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry, were mustered into military service in Morgantown.

July 19

July 20
The Confederate Army of the Northwest was placed under the command of Brigadier General William W. Loring, who was ordered to prevent Union forces from crossing the Alleghenies.

July 21
Rumors that a large guerrilla force was to attack New Martinsville prompted hundreds of volunteers from Ohio to march to the defense of the town.

July 22
A Union reconnoitering party proceeded to the mouth of the Coal River, where they captured Confederate Major George S. Patton, who had been severely injured at the Battle of Scary Creek. Retreating Confederates burned the bridge over the Coal River.

Confederate soldiers of Floyd's brigade occupied Peterstown in Monroe County.

July 23
The House of Delegates for the Reorganized Government of Virginia debated a bill calling for the formation of a new state in western Virginia.

July 24
General George B. McClellan, who had been called to Washington by President Abraham Lincoln following the success of his campaign in western Virginia and the Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run, stopped in Wheeling, where he was serenaded in front of the McLure House.

July 25
Union General William S. Rosecrans received command of the Department of Ohio, including a large portion of West Virginia.

July 26
The extra session of the General Assembly of the Reorganized Government of Virginia ended.

A public meeting was held at the Court House in Morgantown in the evening.

July 27
A Union meeting was held at Bethel School House by the citizens of Marion County.

July 28
General William S. Rosecrans issued a General Order designed to prevent the plundering of western Virginia citizens along train routes.

July 29
Union troops under Jacob D. Cox arrived at Gauley Bridge, Fayette County. He was delayed in his pursuit of the Confederates, however, because General Henry A. Wise had destroyed the bridge across the Gauley River at Gauley Bridge.

July 30

July 31
Confederate General Henry Wise halted the retreat of his troops five miles west of Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, following the Battle of Scary Creek, Putnam County. General John B. Floyd assumed command of his own and Wise's combined forces.

Undated Events, July 1861


Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood

West Virginia Archives and History