165 YEARS AGO: While William S. Rosecrans’s Federals operate against Confederates near Carnifex Ferry, another Confederate force to the north targets Federals stationed on Cheat Mountain.
Category: West Virginia
The Carnifex Ferry Engagement
165 YEARS AGO: William S. Rosecrans’s Federals clash with John B. Floyd’s Confederates as Rosecrans tries to strengthen his foothold in western Virginia.
Vacillating and Harassing Orders
165 YEARS AGO: In western Virginia, Confederate Generals John B. Floyd and Henry A. Wise bicker over where their troops should be positioned, which hinders their chances to hold the region against approaching Federals.
The New State of Kanawha
165 YEARS AGO: At the Second Wheeling Convention, representatives of Virginia’s northwestern counties approve seceding from the state and forming the new state of Kanawha, despite constitutional violations regarding state formation.
Almost Open Opposition in Western Virginia
165 YEARS AGO: Generals John B. Floyd and Henry A. Wise, both former Virginia governors, struggle to unite their divided forces against a Federal advance. Despite pressure from Robert E. Lee, Wise resists joining Floyd, resulting in ongoing disputes and operational delays.
Dimming Confederate Hopes in the Kanawha District
165 YEARS AGO: Robert E. Lee seeks to unify Confederate forces in western Virginia, but internal divisions and rivalries among commanders hinder cooperation. Various independent commands operate without collaboration, resulting in ineffective resistance against Federal forces in the Kanawha Valley.