Petersburg in Grant County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

The Last Days of Fort Mulligan

Photographed By Shane Oliver, August 1, 2020

1. The Last Days of Fort Mulligan Marker

Inscription.

The Last Days of Fort Mulligan. . , In December of 1863, Colonel James Mulligan returned to New Creek and Colonel Joseph Thoburn took command of the 1,785 Union soldiers at Petersburg. Confederate Major General Fitzhugh Lee’s forces began to move on Petersburg on January 3rd, with intentions of capturing Colonel Thoburn’s forces and destroying the fortification. Unable to move their artillery and supply wagons forward due to poor road conditions, Confederate forces fell back towards General Early in the Shenandoah Valley on January 7th, failing to take the garrison. On January 30th, Confederate forces attacked and captured 80 Union supply wagons en route for Petersburg. Colonel Thoburn, knowing that his supplies were exhausted and learning of the impending attack, evacuated the Fort after midnight. At daylight on January 31, 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early and his combined forces of 4,700 opened fire. He shelled the Fort for some time before he discovered that the works were unoccupied. , Before you is the largest bombproof at the Fort. Its original interior dimensions are unknown, but its present exterior dimensions are 200 feet by 55 feet. Note the unique, overlapping entrance at the end. The walls are greatly diminished near the middle, which could indicate damage inflicted by General Early who stated that one of the larger bombproofs had an estimated 13,000 rounds of rifle ammunition within it. ,

From the Diary of Joshua Winters, January 2–19, 1864. “Sat 2. i am on pickit gard today on the North Fork rode. it is vary winday and cold. Sun 3. the fort train was attacted and capterd at the jungtion 12 mils from hear ... Tues 5. Clear and cold. i am on duty a cutten timber for the fort today. tonight at 7 oclock we got orders to pack up and be reddy to move at 2 in the morning the order was countermanded. a grate deal of Commesarys stors are destroid. Wed 6. Clear today. the excitement is all over ... Fri 8. i am on pickit gard on the Sinikey rode. vary cold today and tonight. ... Wed 13. Plesant day. we got orders to knight if the long roll beat to fall in with our blankets on. ... Fri 15. Plesant day. i am on gard at the fort. the rebs made thair apearnce in the gap. one reb killd. the 23 went out this eaving, got back this morning. the train com up today, larg gard with it. Sat 16. plesant day. the train left for New Crick this morning. the 14 went with it as fur as Williamsport.... Mon 18. Clouday. i am on fatigue today. Tues 19. our Co went on scout through the gap today. the wind is vary heigh tonight. it blode severl houses down. Cold.”

. This historical marker is in Petersburg in Grant County West Virginia

In December of 1863, Colonel James Mulligan returned to New Creek and Colonel Joseph Thoburn took command of the 1,785 Union soldiers at Petersburg. Confederate Major General Fitzhugh Lee’s forces began to move on Petersburg on January 3rd, with intentions of capturing Colonel Thoburn’s forces and destroying the fortification. Unable to move their artillery and supply wagons forward due to poor road conditions, Confederate forces fell back towards General Early in the Shenandoah Valley on January 7th, failing to take the garrison. On January 30th, Confederate forces attacked and captured 80 Union supply wagons en route for Petersburg. Colonel Thoburn, knowing that his supplies were exhausted and learning of the impending attack, evacuated the Fort after midnight. At daylight on January 31, 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early and his combined forces of 4,700 opened fire. He shelled the Fort for some time before he discovered that the works were unoccupied.

Before you is the largest bombproof at the Fort. Its original interior dimensions are unknown, but its present exterior dimensions are 200 feet by 55 feet. Note

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the unique, overlapping entrance at the end. The walls are greatly diminished near the middle, which could indicate damage inflicted by General Early who stated that one of the larger bombproofs had an estimated 13,000 rounds of rifle ammunition within it.

From the Diary of Joshua Winters, January 2–19, 1864. “Sat 2. i am on pickit gard today on the North Fork rode. it is vary winday and cold. Sun 3. the fort train was attacted and capterd at the jungtion 12 mils from hear ... Tues 5. Clear and cold. i am on duty a cutten timber for the fort today. tonight at 7 oclock we got orders to pack up and be reddy to move at 2 in the morning the order was countermanded. a grate deal of Commesarys stors are destroid. Wed 6. Clear today. the excitement is all over ... Fri 8. i am on pickit gard on the Sinikey rode. vary cold today and tonight. ... Wed 13. Plesant day. we got orders to knight if the long roll beat to fall in with our blankets on. ... Fri 15. Plesant day. i am on gard at the fort. the rebs made thair apearnce in the gap. one reb killd. the 23 went out this eaving, got back this morning. the train com up today, larg gard with it. Sat 16. plesant day. the train left for New Crick this morning. the 14 went with it as fur as Williamsport.... Mon 18. Clouday. i am on fatigue today. Tues 19. our Co went on scout through the gap today.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 15, 2008

2. The Last Days of Fort Mulligan Marker
the wind is vary heigh tonight. it blode severl houses down. Cold.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1847.

Location. 39° 0.067′ N, 79° 8.367′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, West Virginia, in Grant County. Marker can be reached from from the Grant Memorial Hospital Parking Lot south of Houghlin Lane (West Virginia Route 55). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg WV 26847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Protecting Supplies (within shouting distance of this marker); The Irish Brigade & the McNeill Rangers / The Civil War Comes to Hardy County (within shouting distance of this marker); Parrott Rifle (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Fort Mulligan Civil War Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Cannons (within shouting distance of this marker); Defending the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); A Strategic Location (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Impregnable Fortress (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

More about this marker. There is a portrait of Private Joshua Winters, Company G, First (W) VA Volunteer Infantry (1843–1900) on the

The Last Days of Fort Mulligan Marker is in the Distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 15, 2008

3. The Last Days of Fort Mulligan Marker is in the Distance

lower right.

Photographed By Craig Swain, October 11, 2009

4. Bombproof

Looking across the bombproof from the interior end.

Fort Mulligan Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Geri Moser, May 6, 2009

5. Fort Mulligan Entrance

Photographed By Geri Moser, May 5, 2009

6. Bomb Proof

Cannon at Fort Mulligan image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Geri Moser, May 5, 2009

7. Cannon at Fort Mulligan

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,916 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 17, 2020, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on December 18, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on October 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 6, 2009, by Geri Moser of Petersburg, West Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.