Cheat Mountain, WV
[Camp on Cheat Mountain - Courtesy of the History
of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry]
Date(s):
September 12-15 1861
Campaign(s):
Operations in Western Virginia
(June-December 1861)
Battles in
Campaign:
Situation:
Commanders:
-
Union:
Brig.
Gen. Joseph Reynolds
-
Confederate:
Gen.
Robert E. Lee and Col. Albert Rust
Principal Forces:
Brigades
Description:
-
Gen. Robert E. Lee
directed his first offensive of the war against Brig.
Gen. Joseph Reynolds’ entrenchments on the summit of Cheat Mountain
and in the Tygart Valley.
-
The Confederate attacks were uncoordinated,
however, and the Federal defense was so stubborn that
Col. Albert Rust (leading the attacks) was convinced that he
confronted an overwhelming force. He actually faced only about 300 determined
Federals.
-
Lee
called off the attack and, after maneuvering in the vicinity, withdrew to Valley
Head on September 17.
-
In October, Lee
renewed operations against Laurel Mountain with the troops of
Floyd and
Loring, but the operation was called off because of poor
communication and lack of supplies.
-
Lee was
recalled to Richmond on October 30th after achieving little in western Virginia.
Slide Presentation:
None
Classification2:
B
Casualties3:
-
Union:
80
-
Confederate:
90
Results:
 Union
Victory
Battlefield Websites:
Recommended
Resources:
1 National Park
Service summary.
2
Classification:
-
A
- having a decisive influence on a
campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
-
B -
having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
-
C -
having observable influence on the
outcome of a campaign
-
D
-
having a limited influence on the
outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important
local objectives
3 Casualties are
someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
Revised
01/02/2009 |
