Near Belington in Barbour County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Forced Flight
Confederates Abandon Laurel Hill
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
1. Forced Flight Marker
By July 10, 1861, Federal cannons bombarded the interior of Camp Laurel Hill. Confederates may have sought shelter among the boulders nearby. On July 11, General Garnett learned of defeat at Rich Mountain. Fearful of being trapped, Garnett ordered a midnight retreat. Tents were left standing and campfires burning to deceive the Federals. The Confederate army and its large wagon train slipped away.
On July 13th, Federals caught up to the fleeing Confederates at Corricks Ford, twenty-five miles northeast. The Confederate wagons were lost at that river crossing, and General Garnett was killed - the first Civil War general to fall. Demoralized Confederate soldiers fled south to Highland County, Virginia. "Western" Virginia was now in Union hands.
"They shot cannon balls, case shot and canister at us for near ten hours... A few having the mud and dirt thrown over them by the explosion of shells."
James E. Hall, 31st Virginia Infantry C.S.A.
"We received orders to make immediate preparation for the retreat - to destroy all extra baggage; to throw into the wells we had dug the surplus commissary stores, and
this page online
Col. William B. Taliaferro, 23rd Virginia Infantry C.S.A.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1935.
Location. 39° 0.371′ N, 79° 54.73′ W. Marker is near Belington, West Virginia, in Barbour County. Marker can be reached from Laurel Mountain Road (County Route 15), on the right when traveling east. Located in Laurel Hill Camp beside the Mill Creek Reservoir. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 628 Battlefield Dr, Belington WV 26250, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Confederate Cemetery (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cannons (approx. 0.2 miles away); Laurel Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Laurel Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Camp Laurel Hill (approx. ¼ mile away); In Honor of these whose Sacrifices Created this Hallowed Ground (approx. ¼ mile away); Laurel Hill Battlefield Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belington.
More about this marker. On the marker are sketches depicting the Confederate retreat and the death of General Garnett. A map of the Confederate retreat is on the upper right.
Also see . . . Battle of Laurel Hill. (Submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
2. Map of the Confederate Retreat
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
3. Forced Flight Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
4. Boulders in the Area
Mentioned on the marker, Confederates may have taken shelter here during the bombardment.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,040 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on August 21, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
