Fighting and Flames

Fighting and Flames. Suttonville Burns. The scenic Elk River now flows peacefully before you, but in 1861, the conflict raged here. That year, Col. Erastus B. Tyler's 7th Ohio constructed earthworks near this location to protect an important suspension bridge. About 100 men of Capt. Weston Rowands' 1st Virginia Cavalry (U.S.) later garrisoned the fort., On Wednesday December 29 at 10 A.M., approximately 80 Confederate partisans known as the Moccasin Rangers attacked the Federal fort. Rowand and his second in command, 1st Lt. Charles D. Lawson, were away, so 2nd Lt. Andrew Dawson organized the Federal defense. , Capts. John L. Springs and George Downs, who later served as an officer in the 19th Virginia Cavalry, (C.S.), led the Confederates. The Federal's ammunition ran low and they withdrew toward Weston at 4 P.M. , Spriggs pursued them to within three miles of Bulltown. he returned to Suttonville and found much of the town engulfed in flames. Who started the fire is uncertain, but the blaze consumed most of the town, including the courthouse. The Rangers burned Federal stores they could not take with them, then rode south to Webster County., The next day, December 30, Union Col. Henry Anisansel led detachments of 1st Virginia Cavalry and 3rd Virginia Infantry (U.S.) from Weston to attack the Moccasin Rangers in Webster County. Union Col. George Crook joined the pursuit the next day from Summersville with six companies of the 26th Ohio Infantry. The Federals killed several partisans and burned buildings., Union forces reoccupied reeking, charred Suttonville. A number of residents later accompanied the troops to safety in Weston, as their life's work had literally gone up in smoke.