Cloyd’s Mountain Battle of Cloyd's Mountain
Other Names: None Battlefield at Cloyd's
Mountain Virginia
Location: Pulaski County
Campaigns: Crook-Averell Raid on the Virginia & Tennessee
Railroad (May 1864); Virginia Saltworks Campaign (May-December 1864)
Date(s): May 9, 1864
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. George Crook [US]; Brig. Gen.
Albert Jenkins [CS]
Forces Engaged: Divisions (approx. 10,000)
Estimated Casualties: 1,500 total
Description: On May 9, Crook’s three brigades (6,100 men)
on a raid into southwestern Virginia encountered a patchwork Confederate force under Brig. Gen. Albert Jenkins at Cloyd’s
Mountain. Fighting was furious and hand-to-hand. Casualties were heavy for the size of the forces engaged: Union 10%, Confederate
23%. Jenkins was mortally wounded. Crook afterwards joined forces with Averell, who had burned the New River Bridge, and the
united column withdrew to Meadow Bluff after destroying several important railroad bridges. Two future U.S. presidents also fought in the battle: Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley.
Result(s): Union victory
Source: National Park Service
