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Heavy with History

As we mark the 150th anniversary, remnants of the Civil War remain in every region of West Virginia. Honor the sesquicentennial by touring some of the state’s treasured Civil War sites.

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"We come here to carry out and execute, and it may be, to institute a government for ourselves. We are determined to live under a State Government in the United States of America and under the Constitution of the United States. It requires stout hearts to execute this purpose; it requires men of courage, of unfaltering determination; and I believe, in the gentlemen who compose this Convention, we have the stout hearts and the men who are determined in this purpose."
- Arthur Boreman, First Session of the Second Wheeling Convention, June 12, 1861

The West Virginia Division of Tourism recently unveiled a series of videos on the state’s Civil War heritage. During the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, as people from all over the country travel to our many historic sites, these videos provide even more information. “The videos are key avenues to share what West Virginia has to offer and why it is so important to our nation at large,” says Betty Carver, West Virginia Tourism commissioner. 

The videos were filmed in high definition and produced by Moon and Stars Production of Clarksburg under the direction of Lemeul B. Muniz. Tourism worked with Muniz and historians from each region of the state to capture on-camera interviews and present-day footage of attractions and sites in each of the state’s regions.

Videos vary in length from three to nine minutes. View them online at wvtourism.com/civilwar. There, you can also find downloadable Civil War trail maps and brochures for upcoming re-enactments and events.

Visit wvtourism.com/civilwar for more information.

Rich Mountain Battlefield & Beverly Historic District

This early Union victory set the stage for West Virginia’s statehood. “This was a small battlefield with huge repercussions,” says Hunter Lesser, Elkins resident and author of Rebels at the Gate: Lee and McClellan on the Front Line of a Nation Divided.

The July 1861 battle for control of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike took place five miles west of Beverly. The Rich Mountain Battlefield site has more than 400 protected acres, including the battle site at the top of Rich Mountain, the Confederate Camp Garnett, and a section of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Visit to see veterans’ rock carvings and the original earthworks at Camp Garnett.

Rich Mountain Battlefield features interpretive signs, walking tours, and a picnic area. The Beverly Heritage Center on Main Street in Beverly also has more information, with an exhibit and research facilities. Group and guided tours are available by appointment, and the battlefield is open year-round. The visitors center is open daily in season and weekdays throughout winter. While in town, enjoy the walking tour, Randolph County Museum, and Lemuel Chenoweth House.

Rich Mountain Battlefield & Beverly Historic District, 4 Court Street, Beverly, WV 26253; 304.637.7424

 

General McClellan’s Headquarters

Birthplace of the founder of Mother’s Day, what is now known as the Anna Jarvis House was used as a field headquarters by Union commanders in the summer of 1861. Situated on the Wheeling-Staunton Pike, providing access to the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, this home was a strategic supply depot throughout the war.

General McClellan’s Headquarters, Route 2, Box 352, Grafton, WV 26354; 304.265.5549

 

Laurel Hill Civil War Battleground

The site of the longest battle in the Tygart Valley Campaign is in Barbour County. Here, Union forces ousted the Confederate army and protected important turnpikes, securing safe passage to Wheeling for the founding fathers to plan for West Virginia statehood. On July 11, 1861, within earshot of Laurel Hill, Union General McClellan’s troops won a decisive battle at Rich Mountain. General Garnett found his army cut off at Laurel Hill. Visit the battlefield—open year-round—or take a stroll on the walking trails marked with interpretive signs.

Laurel Hill Civil War Battleground, Belington CVB, Belington, WV 26250; 304.823.3327

 

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park

At the battle of Carnifex Ferry on September 10, 1861, confederates failed to regain control of the Kanawha Valley. As a result, West Virginia’s statehood proceeded without serious threat. The state park sits on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon, minutes from Summersville Lake. As an official Civil War Discovery Trail site, visitors can also picnic, reserve one of four shelters, take a walk on the trails, enjoy three views overlooking the Gauley River, or entertain themselves at the softball field, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and the Patterson House Museum.

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, 1194 Carnifex Ferry Road, Summersville, WV 26651; 304.872.0825; carnifexferry@wvdnr.gov

 

Cheat Summit Fort

Take a step back in time and see the earthworks that remain at this Civil War site. General George B. McClellan ordered this fort to be built in 1861 to secure the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Confederacy failed to take the fort in September 1861. In the October battle of Greenbrier River, troops from Cheat Summit Fort attacked Camp Bartow. Neither side could claim victory, and the Union troops returned to Cheat Summit Fort while the Confederates withdrew to Camp Allegheny. In December, soldiers from Cheat Summit Fort attacked Camp Allegheny, but were driven back. The site is also significant for what is thought to be the earliest use of telegraph technology in the Civil War.

Cheat Summit Fort, Monongahela National Forest, 200 Sycamore Street, Elkins, WV 26241; 304.636.1800

 

Dr. Robert B. McNutt House

Located in Princeton, the Dr. Robert B. McNutt House is the only house left standing after the town was burned in the Civil War. The McNutt House was used as headquarters during the war for Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes and Sgt. William McKinley (both U.S. Presidents). It was also used as a hospital in May 1862.

Dr. Robert B. McNutt House, 1522 North Walker Street, Princeton, WV 24740; 304.487.1502; pmccc@frontiernet.net

 

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