Battle of Droop Mountain

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Droop Mountain
partof=the American Civil War


caption=
date=November 6, 1863
place=Droop Mountain, southeastern West Virginia
result=Union victory
combatant1=United States of America (Union)
combatant2=Confederate States of America
commander1=W.W. Averell
commander2=John Echols
strength1= est. 5,000
strength2= est. 1,200
casualties1= 119 killed, wounded, missing
casualties2= 275 killed wounded, missing

The Battle of Droop Mountain was a battle in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, that occurred November 6, 1863, during the American Civil War. Confederate forces engaged, but failed to prevent Union forces under Brigadier General W.W. Averell from a rendezvous with other Federal troops in a joint raid on Confederate railways. Droop Mountain was one of the largest engagements in West Virginia during the war. As a result of the Union victory, Confederate resistance in the state essentially collapsed.

Background

Assigned command of one of two brigades involved in the planned raid on the railroads, Averell moved toward southwestern Virginia with the purpose of disputing movement on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. The second column, under Brigadier General Alfred Duffié, destroyed enemy military property en route, while Averell probed for Confederate defenders.

Battle

On November 5, 1863, Averell attacked Confederates at Mill Point in Pocahontas County, driving the Southerners from their position back to the summit of Droop Mountain, where they were reinforced by a force under Brig. Gen. John Echols consisting of Patten's Brigade and one regiment from Albert G. Jenkins's command. The Confederate position was a relatively strong one, reinforced by breastworks commanding the road.

The following day, Averell elected to attack. Throughout the morning, Echols' smaller Confederate force held the high ground and blocked the highway with artillery. However, in the early afternoon, Averell turned Echols' left with his infantry, and then sent dismounted cavalry in a frontal assault on the main Confederate lines. After a brief yet violent battle, many Confederates fled, throwing away their arms and scattering for safety. Averell's cavalry pursued until dark, capturing several prisoners and a large quantity of arms, ammunition, and war materiel. Echols rallied much of his force, but was forced to retreat into Virginia.

Aftermath

Averell's victorious force rejoined Duffié's brigade at Lewisburg on November 7. The reunited Union columns, burdened with prisoners and captured livestock, were in no condition to continue their raid, but they had effectively ended Confederate resistance in West Virginia.

The battlefield site is preserved and administered by West Virginia as a state park.

References

*Linedecker, Clifford L., ed. "Civil War, A-Z: The Complete Handbook of America's Bloodiest Conflict". New York: Ballentine Books, 2002. ISBN 0345458087
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/wv012.htm National Park Service battle description]

External links

* [http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/november/droop-mountain-battle.htm "Harper's Weekly", November 21, 1863]
* [http://members.dslextreme.com/users/dhj001/AARDroopMountain.html 10th West Virginia official report]
* [http://www.stateparks.com/droop_mountain_battlefield.html Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park]