*The western Virginia area, breaking away from Virginia during the American
Civil War (1861-1865), was admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. For continuity, West
Virginia is used for the timeline.
1861 West Virginia Civil War Timeline
April 18-Amory at Harper's Ferry destroyed by Union forces
May 26-30-Occupation of Grafton by Union forces
June 3-Action at Philippi June 15-Harper's Ferry June 19-Skirmish at
New Creek June 23-Skirmish at Righter June 26-Skirmish at Frankfort June 26-Skirmish on Patterson's Creek June
29-Skirmish at Bowman's Place June 30-Buckhannon occupied by Union troops
July 2-Engagement at Falling Waters July 3-Occupation of Martinsburg by
Union forces July 4-Skirmish at Harper's Ferry July 6-7-Skirmishes at Middle Fork Bridge July 7-Skirmish at Glenville July
7-12-Skirmishes at Belington and Laurel Hill July 10-Skirmish at Rich Mountain July 11-Engagement at Rich Mountain July
12-Occupation of Beverly by Union troops July 13-Confederate General John Pegram surrenders his command to Union forces July
13-Action at Carrick's Ford July 15-Skirmish near Bunker Hill July 16-Skirmish at Barboursville July 17-Action at
Scarey Creek July 21-Skirmish at Charlestown
August 15-Skirmish near Grafton August 20-Skirmish at Laurel Fork Creek August
20-Skirmish at Hawk's Nest August 23-Skirmish at Springfield August 25-Skirmish near Piggot's Mill August 26-27-Skirmishes
at Wayne Court House August 26-Action at Cross Lanes August 26-Skirmish at Blue's House
September 1-Skirmish at Burlington September 1-Skirmish at Blue Creek September
1-Skirmish at Boone Court House September 2-Skirmish at Worthington September 2-Skirmish at Beller's Mill September
2-Skirmish near Hawk's Nest September 6-Skirmish at Rowell's Run September 9-Skirmish at Shepherdstown September
10-Engagement at Carnifix Ferry September 12-Skirmish at Petersburg September 12-Skirmish on Coal River September
13-Action at Charleston September 15-Skirmish at Pritchard's Mill September 17-Skirmish near Harper's Ferry September
23-Skirmish at Cassville September 23-24-Affairs at Mechanicsburg Gap September 24-Affair at Hanging Rock Pass September
25-Action at Kanawha Gap
October 3-Engagement at Greenbrier River October 11-Skirmish at Harper's
Ferry October 13-Skirmish at Cotton Hill October 16-Skirmish at Bolivar Heights October 19-21-Skirmishes on the New
River October 23-Skirmish at Gauley Bridge October 26-Action at Romney October 26-Skirmish at South Branch Bridge October
26-Skirmish near Springfield October 31-Skirmish at Greenbrier River
November 1-3-Skirmishes near Gauley Bridge November 10-Affair at Guyandotte November
10-11-Skirmishes at Blake's Farm November 12-Skirmish on Laurel Creek November 13-Skirmish near Romney November 14-Skirmish
at Fayetteville November 14-Skirmishes near McCoy's Mill November 30-Skirmish near Little Cacapon River
December 8-Skirmish at Romney December 12-Skirmish at Greenbrier River December
13-Engagement at Camp Alleghany December 15-Affair in Roane County December 28-Occupation of Beckley by Union forces December
29-Confederates capture the town of Suttonville
1862 West Virginia Civil War Timeline
January 3-Skirmish at Huntersville January 3-4-Skirmishes at Bath January
4-Skirmish at Sir John's Run January 4-Skirmish at Slane's Cross Roads January 7-Skirmish at Hanging Rock Pass January
8-Skirmish on Dry Fork of Cheat River January 10-Union forces evacuate Romney
February 12-Skirmish at Moorefield February 14-Affair at Bloomery Gap
March 3-Skirmish at Martinsburg March 5-Skirmish at Bunker Hill March
19-Skirmish at Elk Mountain March 20-Skirmish at Philippi
April 3-Skirmish at Moorefield April 18-Skirmish at Chapmanville April
23-Skirmish at Grass Lick April 27-Skirmish at Garrett's Mill
May 1-Skirmish at Clark's Hollow May 5-Skirmish at Princeton May 6-Skirmish
at Arnoldsburg May 7-Skirmish at Wardensville May 11-Skirmish near Princeton May 12-Skirmish at Lewisburg May
15-Skirmish at Ravenswood May 16-17-Action at Princeton May 23-Action at Lewisburg May 26-Skirmish near Franklin May
28-Skirmish at Charlestown May 29-Skirmish near Wardensville May 30-Skirmish at Lewisburg
June 4-Skirmish at Big Bend June 7-Skirmish at Big Bend June 8-Skirmish
at Muddy Creek June 10-Skirmish at the mouth of the West Fork June 25-Skirmish at Mungo Flats June 29-Affair at Moorefield
July 25-Affair at Summerville July 27-Skirmish at Flat Top Mountain
August 3-Skirmish on the Greenbrier River August 5-Skirmish at Wyoming
Court House August 6-Skirmish at Pack's Ferry August 6-Skirmish at Beech Creek August 13-Skirmishes at Blue Stone
River August 16-Skirmish at Wire Bridge August 18-Skirmish at Huttonsville August 23-Affair at Smithfield August
23-Skirmish at Moorefield August 30-Skirmish at Buckhannon August 31-Confederates capture Weston
September 1-Skirmish at Glenville September 2-Union forces surrender at
Spencer Court House September 3-Skirmish at Weston September 3-Skirmish near Martinsburg September 3-Skirmish at
Ravenswood September 4-Skirmish at Bunker Hill September 7-Skirmish at Darkesville September 10-Skirmish at Fayetteville September
11-Skirmish at Armstrong's Creek September 11-Skirmish near Cannelton September 11-Skirmish at Cotton Hill September
11-Skirmish at Gauley Ferry September 11-Skirmish near Martinsburg September 12-Evacuation of Martinsburg by Union Forces September
12-Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge September 12-15-Confederates lay siege to and capture Harper's Ferry September 13-14-Action
on Bolivar Heights September 20-Action near Shepherdstown September 20-Skirmish at Point Pleasant September 28-Skirmish
at Standing Stone Creek September 30-Skirmish near Glenville
October 2-Affair at Blue's Gap October 4-Union troops capture the Confederate
camp at Blue's Gap October 4-Union forces captured at Little Cacapon Bridge October 4-Confederate forces capture Union
forces at Paw Paw Tunnel October 6-Skirmish at Big Birch October 16-Skirmish near Kearneysville October 17- Skirmish
at Shepherdstown October 20-Skirmish at Hedgesville October 29-Skirmish near Petersburg October 31-Skirmish near
Falls of the Kanawha River
November 6-Skirmish at Martinsburg November 9-Confederate forces capture
Saint George November 9-Skirmish on South Fork of the Potomac River November 10-Skirmish at Charlestown November
15-Skirmish on Guyandotte River November 22-Skirmish on Halltown November 26-Skirmish at Lewis' Mill
December 1-Skirmish at Darkesville December 1-Skirmish at Romney December
2-Skirmish at Charlestown December 3-Skirmish at Moorefield
December 16-Skirmish at Wardensville December 20-Skirmish near Halltown December
22-Skirmish at Wardensville
1863 West Virginia Civil War Timeline
January 3-Skirmish at Moorefield January 5-Skirmish near Moorefield January
22-Skirmish in Pocahontas County
February 12-Skirmish near Charlestown February 16-Affair near Romney
March 7-Skirmish at Green Spring Run March 28-Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge March
30-Skirmish at Point Pleasant
April 5-Skirmish at Mud River April 6-Skirmish near Burlington April
6-Skirmish at Purgitsville April 7-Skirmish at Going's Ford April 14-Skirmish near Centerville April 18-Affair near
Johnstown April 21-May 21-Forces under Confederate William E. Jones raid West Virginia (AKA Jones raid) April 22-Skirmish
at Point Pleasant April 24-Skirmish at Beverly April 25-Skirmish at Greenland Gap April 26-Affair at Cranberry Summit April
26-Skirmish at Rowlesburg April 27-Affair at Independence April 27-Affair at Morgantown April 27-28-Skirmishes at
Buckhannon April 29-Skirmish at Fairmont April 30-Skirmish at Bridgeport April 30-Skirmish near Simpson's Creek
May 2-Skirmish near Lewisburg May 5-Skirmish at Franklin May 5-Skirmish
at Janelew May 6-Skirmish at West Union May 7-Affair at Cairo Station May 7-Affair at Harrisville May 9-Confederates
destroy the oil works at Burning Springs (Oiltown) May 10-12-Skirmishes near Franklin May 12-Skirmish at Summerville May
16-Skirmish at Elizabeth Court House May 16-Skirmish at Charlestown May 16-Skirmish at Ravenswood May 18-20-Skirmishes
at Fayetteville May 23-Skirmish at West Creek
June 13-Skirmish at Bunker Hill June 14-Skirmish at Martinsburg June
14-Union forces evacuate Martinsburg June 15-Union forces evacuate Harper's Ferry during the Gettysburg Campaign June
26-Skirmish on Loup Creek
July 2-3-Engagement at Beverly July 4-Skirmish at Fayetteville July
4-Skirmish at Huttonsville July 7-Skirmish at Harper's Ferry July 14-Action at Failing Waters July 14-Skirmish near
Harper's Ferry July 15-Skirmish at Halltown July 15-Skirmish at Shepherdstown July 16-Action at Shepherdstown July
16-Skirmish at Shanghai July 17-Skirmish near North Mountain Station July 18-19-Skirmishes at Hedgesville and
Martinsburg July 28-Skirmish at Fayetteville July 31-Skirmish at Morris' Mills
August 4-Skirmish at Burlington August 5-Skirmish at Cold Spring Gap August
6-Skirmish at Cacapon Mountain August 6-Skirmish at Moorefield August 19-Skirmish at Franklin August 19-Union destroys
Confederate's saltpeter works near Franklin August 21-Skirmish near Glenville August 22-Skirmish at Huntersville April
24-Skirmish in Gilmer County August 26-Skirmish near Moorefield August 26-Skirmish near Sutton August 26-27-Engagement
at Rocky Gap August 27-Skirmish near Glenville August 27-Skirmish at Ball's Mill
September 4-Skirmish at Moorefield September 4-Skirmish at Petersburg Gap September
6-Skirmish at Petersburg September 7-Skirmish at Bath September 8-Skirmish at Sutton September 11-Affair at Moorefield September
12-Skirmish in Roane County September 14-Skirmish at Cheat Mountain Pass September 15-Affair at Smithfield September
16-Skirmish at Smithfield September 16-Skirmish at Princeton September 20-Affair on Shaver Mountain September 21-Affair
at Moorefield September 8-Skirmish at Beech Fork September 24-Skirmish at Greenbrier Bridge September 25-Skirmish
at Seneca Trace Crossing
October 1-Skirmish near Harper's Ferry October 7-Skirmish at Charlestown October
7-Skirmish at Summit Point October 11-Skirmish at Salt Lick Bridge October 13-Skirmish at Burlington October 13-Skirmish
at Bulltown October 14-Skirmish at Salt Lick Bridge October 15-Affair near Hedgesville October 18-Attack on Charlestown October
26-Skirmish at Ravenswood October 27-Skirmish on the Sandy River
November 4-Skirmish near Cackleytown November 5-Skirmish at Mill Point November
6-Engagement Droop Mountain November 6-Skirmish at Little Sewell Mountain November 7-Capture of Lewisburg by Union forces
November 7-Skirmish at Muddy Creek November 8-Skirmish at Second Creek November 8-Skirmish at Second Creek November
10-Skirmish on Elk Mountain November 16-Skirmish at Burlington
December 4-Skirmish at Meadow Bluff December 6-Skirmish on the Cheat River December
11-Skirmish at Marling's Bottom Bridge December 11-Skirmish at Meadow Bluff December 11-Skirmish at Big Sewell Mountain December
12-Skirmish at Greenbrier River December 12-Skirmish at Lewisburg December 13-Affair at Hurricane Bridge December
14-Skirmish on the Blue Sulphur Road
1864 West Virginia Civil War Timeline
January 1-Affair at Bunker Hill January 8-Skirmish at Moorefield Junction January
10-Skirmish at Petersburg January 15-Skirmish near Petersburg January 27-Skirmish near Wayne Court House
February 2-Skirmish at Patterson's Creek February 3-Confederates capture
the steamer Levi on the Kanawha River February 4-Skirmish at Moorefield February 15-Skirmish at Laurel Creek February
20-Affair near Hurricane Bridge
March 3-Skirmish near Petersburg March 10-Skirmish near Charlestown March
10-Skirmish at Kabletown March 28-Affair at Bloomery Gap
April 19-Affair at Marling's Bottom
May 8-Affair at Halltown May 10-Skirmish at Lost River Gap May 20-Skirmish
at Greenbrier River May 24-Skirmish near Lewisburg May 24-Skirmish near Charlestown May 29-Skirmish at Hamlin
June 6-Skirmish at Princeton June 6-Skirmish near Moorefield June 10-Skirmish
at Kabletown June 19-Affair near Petersburg June 23-Skirmish at Sweet Sulphur Springs June 26-Skirmish at Smithfield June
26-Skirmish at Springfield June 29-Skirmish at Charlestown June 29-Skirmish at Duffield's Station June 19-29-Union
forces retreat to Meadow Bluff during the Lynchburg Campaign
July 2-Skirmish at Bolivar Heights July 3-Skirmish at Leetown July 3-Skirmish
at Darkesville July 3-Skirmish at North River Mills July 3-Skirmish at Martinsburg July 3-Skirmish at North Mountain July
4-Skirmish at South Branch Bridge July 4-Skirmish at Frankford July 4-Skirmish at Patterson's Creek Bridge July 6-Skirmish
at Big Cacapon Bridge July 6-Skirmish at Sir John's Run July 18-Skirmish at Kabletown July 19-Skirmish at Charlestown July
19-Skirmish at Kabletown July 19-Skirmish at Bunker Hill July 19-Skirmish at Darkesville July 24-Skirmish at Falling
Waters July 25-Skirmish at Bunker Hill July 25-Skirmish at Martinsburg July 26-Skirmish at Falling Waters July
27-Skirmish at Back Creek Bridge July 30-Skirmish near Shepherdstown
August 2-Skirmish at Green Spring Run August 4-Action at New Creek August
5-Skirmish at Huttonsville August 7-Engagement near Moorefield August 15-Skirmish near Charlestown August 21-Skirmish
at Middleway August 21-Skirmish near Summit Point August 21-Skirmish at Welch's Spring August 22-Skirmish at Charlestown August
23-Skirmish at Kearneysville August 24-Skirmish at Halltown August 24-Affair at Huttonsville August 25-Skirmish at
Halltown August 25-Action near Kearneysville August 25-Action near Shepherdstown August 26-Skirmish near Charlestown August
26-Skirmish at Halltown August 27-Skirmish at Duffield's Station August 27-Skirmish at Nutter's Hill August 28-Skirmish
at Leetown August 28-Skirmish at Smithfield August 29-Engagement at Smithfield Crossing August 29-Skirmish at Charlestown August
31-Skirmish at Martinsburg
September 2-Action at Bunker Hill September 2-Skirmish at Darkesville September
3-Action at Bunker Hill September 10-Skirmish at Darkesville September 13-Skirmish at Bunker Hill September 18-Action
near Martinsburg September 30-Skirmish at Coalsmouth
October 11-Skirmish near Petersburg October 14-Affair at Duffield's Station October
26-Skirmish at Winfield October 29-Action at Beverly
November 1-Affair at Green Spring Run November 18-Skirmish at Kabletown November
20-Skirmish at Kabletown November 27-Skirmish at Moorefield November 28-Skirmish at Moorefield November 28-Skirmish
at New Creek November 28-Skirmish at Piedmont November 29-Skirmish at Charlestown November 30-Skirmish at Kabletown
1865 West Virginia Civil War Timeline
January 11-Confederate forces capture Union forces at Beverly
February 3-Affair near Harper's Ferry February 5-Skirmish at Charlestown
March 13-Skirmish near Charlestown March 22-Skirmish near Patterson's Creek
Station March 30-Affair near Patterson's Creek
April 6-Skirmish near Charlestown
Civil War Military Terms:
1. Action: Stresses the idea of active, frequently sharp, offensive and defensive
operations. 2. Affair: A fight. 3. Campaign: A connected series of military operations forming a distinct stage in a
war. 4. Capture: To seize by force or stratagem. 5. Demonstration: An exhibition of force, or a movement indicating
an attack as to show readiness for war if necessary. 6. Descent: Incursion; sudden attack; onslaught. 7. Engagement:
May be a general encounter, as between armies, or a minor encounter as between subdivisions or outposts. 8. Evacuation:
Withdrawal of troops from a town, fortress, etc. 9. Expeditions: A journey for a specific purpose, as a military or exploring
expedition: also, the body of persons making such an excursion. 10. Occupation: To hold possession of; to utilize an area
or place for a purpose. 11. Operation: A military and/or naval action or mission including movement, supply attack, defense
and all requisite maneuvers. 12. Raid: A foray. Originally an inroad or incursion of mounted men. A sudden or rapid attack
by an armed force. 13. Reconnaissance: An examination of a territory to gain information of enemy troops, of the terrain,
or of resources. 14. Scout: To reconnoiter. 15. Siege: The besetting of a fortified place by an army to compel surrender.
A continued attempt to gain possession. 16. Skirmish: Encounter usually incidental to large movements. A slight fight. 17.
Surrender: To give up possession of anything or any place upon a compulsion or demand; to yield to the power of another.
Advance to:
Sources: National Park Service; Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies.
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