News/Features | West Virginia in the Civil War

News and Features

New regimental history of 7th West Virginia Infantry

Now Available!The Seventh West Virginia Infantry: An Embattled Union Regiment from the Civil War’s Most Divided Stateby David W. Mellott and Dr. Mark A. Snell

New book on Belle Boyd

A new book on Confederate spy Belle Boyd has recently been released. Belle Boyd: The Rebel Spy is the first serious non-fiction account of her life in 34 years. Belle Boyd was from Martinsburg, Virginia (West Virginia) and considered the most notorious and...

Jefferson County bridge to be named for highest ranking African-American Civil War officer

From The Journal, April 20, 2017 Building Bridges: African-American Civil War major’s name lives on CHARLES TOWN — Martin Robison Delany was a physician, journalist, abolitionist major in the Union Army and newspaper publisher. He was also an African-American, and...

West Virginia Land Trust preserves site of Greenbrier River Civil War battle, camp

Help Save 4 Battlefields in West Virginia and Virginia

The Civil War Trust now has the opportunity to save 243 acres at four battlefields in Virginia and West Virginia. We are saving a vital tract at the heart of the Cedar Creek battlefield in Virginia, as well as additional acres at another Virginia battlefield, New...

More Land at Shepherdstown Battlefield Forever Protected

An 11-acre parcel of the Shepherdstown Battlefield was purchased through negotiations by the Civil War Trust assisted by Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission. Read the entire story via the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission... ...

Mike Smith, Droop Mountain Battlefield Superintendent, honored at retirement

After 34 years of faithful service to the state of West Virginia, Droop Mountain Battlefield Superintendent Mike Smith has retired. Smith was also responsible for nearby Beartown State Park. To honor his many contributions to preserving and interpreting the Droop...

WVSU students learn to dig history in Fort Scammon archaeology project

Six West Virginia State University students, working with two history professors and an archaeologist, have spent the past two weeks on a hilltop overlooking downtown Charleston. They’re digging into the task of learning more about one of West Virginia’s...

French honored by Hagerstown Civil War Round Table

The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table presented Steven C. French with its 2016 Henry Kyd Douglas Award. French, a former middle-school teacher, is the author of “Imboden’s Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign” (2008), which was recognized with three prestigious awards;...

West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader

West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader West Virginia University Libraries Kevin Barksdale (Marshall University) and Ken Fones-Wolf (West Virginia University) assembled this collection of essays, mostly from the journal they edit, West...

A Message from our Friends at the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Assocation

We need your help. We have been advised that in order for Senator Manchin to sponsor legislation to expand the boundaries of the Antietam National Park to include the site of the Battle of Shepherdstown, his office needs to hear from many WV residents. If you reside...

James L. Broomall named director of George Tyler Moore Center

Shepherd University has named Dr. James L. Broomall as director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War. Click here to read the entire press release as well as listen to an interview with Dr. Broomall... More information on the George Tyler...

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Philip

The City of Hurricane now has a display about the March 28, 1863 Battle at Hurricane Bridge at City Hall. Several relics we recovered from the battlefield, camp and hospital sites a...

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Awesome ✊

West Virginia in the Civil War

3 days ago

Now available from the West Virginia Book Company.

The Jessie Scouts
A Civil War Historical Novel by David L. Phillips

They were normally called "Sheridan's Scouts" by the Union soldiers serving in the Shenandoah Valley during the summer of 1864, but they were also known as "Jessie Scouts" by the Confederates opposing Sheridan's army. While the original Jessie Scouts were formed in St. Louis in 1861 -- and named for Jessie Fremont -- these men came east with General John C. Fremont when he was transferred to command in western Virginia in early 1862. But regardless of the name they were called, these volunteer soldiers served Sheridan well by collecting military intelligence regarding General Jubal A. Early's opposing Confederates. The danger these scouts faced was increased by the fact that they often wore a Confederate uniform while scouting.
This is the story of the young scouts during the turbulent last year of the American Civil War and it is centered on the relationship with their principal agent, Rebecca Wright, a young Quaker schoolteacher living in Winchester, Virginia. Recruited indirectly by Thomas Laws, an elderly slave and produce farmer who served as Sheridan's courier into the Confederate town, Rebecca Wright sent key information to Sheridan that helped him plan the attack that captured Winchester while removing a potential threat to Washington, D.C., during the crucial 1864 presidential election period.

The scouts in this book were all real, as was Rebecca Wright, and the stories of their hazardous operations were derived from actual accounts of their activities that were recorded in a series of letters written to his parents by scout Arch Rowand. These courageous scouts continued to serve long after the victory at Appomattox and the account of their final and disastrous scouting into Mexico in late 1866 is based on actual records. ... See MoreSee Less

The Jessie Scouts

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The Jessie Scouts

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We began our morning here! It’s not hard to imagine companies of men charging through the bridge. Follow #civilwartrails. Stand in their footsteps and create some history of your own. ... See MoreSee Less

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Few things are better than a history hike - especially after 568 miles of sitting! 📯 On top of Goff Hill a series of earthworks were built in 1861 and thus began the ‘Siege of Spencer.’ The view itself was well worth the detour and a set of local signs help narrate the well blazed trail. After digesting some history pop into the The Front Porch in downtown Spencer for a tasty sandwich and a lemonade. 🥤 Follow #civilwartrails and create some history of your own. ... See MoreSee Less

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Thanks for sharing!

West Virginia in the Civil War shared a post.

6 days ago

We began the day with our friends in Ripley, WV. After a quick coat of paint and some hardware repair we headed over to check on the directional signs at the Casto Hole. 🔩 Raids, raiders, clandestine operations and caves. What more could a historian ask for? #openairmuseum ... See MoreSee Less

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West Virginia in the Civil War shared a post.

6 days ago

This afternoon, we noticed these two gentlemen repairing the Civil War signs in front of the station. We found out that they were with Civil War Trails, a non-profit organization, that takes care of 1,600 of these markers. We owe these gentlemen a great deal of gratitude for helping preserve the history of our area. Pictured is Christopher Brown and Drew Gruber, as they place a new sign next to the sign they replaced. ... See MoreSee Less

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Thanks for sharing! We hope to see you at the October meeting for WV partners.

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West Virginia Independence Hall

OV Civil War Roundtable to Host Symposium Saturday August 17th at 10:30 am. WHEELING, WV — The Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable will hold its annual Civil Wa...

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