Battle of Rowlesburg

Battle of Rowlesburg. The River Road. , (Preface) On April 20, 1863, Confederate Gens. William E. "Grumble" Jones and John D. Imboden began a raid from Virginia through present-day West Virginia on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Taking separate routes, they later reported that they marched 1,100 miles, fought several engagements, captured 700 Federals, seized about 1,200 horses and 4,000 cattle, and burned 4 turnpike bridges, more than 20 railroad bridges, 2 trains, and 150,000 barrels of oil. Most bridges were soon repaired. Confederate losses were slight. By May 26, both commands had returned to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley., On April 26, 1863, as Confederate Gen. William E. Jones's cavalrymen approached Rowlesburg from Grant County, Union Maj. John Showalter's small garrison had to defend two routes into town. Jones had divided his troops and was attacking the road where you stand now, as well as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Cheat River bridge. Were either to succeed, the rail line to the Ohio River would be cut., Just ahead on the River Road (present-day State Route 72), Jones sent 300 of his men to break through the perimeter defenses. By 2 P.M., they were less than a mile from town, just beyond a point known as The Cliffs, where Showalter's men had thrown up a barricade of logs. As the Confederate cavalry approached, the Union rifle men fired, and Jones's men fell back. The Confederates dismounted and attacked with carbines, but again came under heavy fire and retreated. They were unable to outflank the Federals, now reinforced by citizens from town., The fighting here raged "at intervals from 3 P.M. until dark." Jones personally commanded the last assault, but after seeing that his troops stalemated, he ordered them to hold their position until dusk then pull back to the turnpike. From here, Jones moved on to Morgantown and then to Fairmont., (captions) , Gen. William E. Jones Courtesy West Virginia State Archives , Cheat River Valley, Harper's Weekly, April 1857