Hurricane in Putnam County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Hurricane Baptist Church / Hurricane Bridge Skirmish
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021
1. Hurricane Baptist Church side of marker
Hurricane Baptist Church. Hurricane Baptist Church was founded May 26, 1860, near the old Hurricane Bridge. F. H. Reynolds was first clerk and James Mitchell the first moderator. This log meeting-house was burned in 1863 by soldiers of the Civil War. Its congregation was scattered but reassembled in 1871. April 2, 1877, it received a deed from C.P. Huntington. president of the Central Land Company, for the site of the present Baptist structure.
Hurricane Bridge Skirmish. Federal troops of the 13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel W. R. Brown, encamped here, were engaged in a five-hour skirmish with a Confederate force commanded by General Albert G. Jenkins, March 28, 1863. Defeated, the Confederates withdrew and continued their march towards their objective, Point Pleasant, where it was rumored that a vast quantity of Federal stores was deposited.
Erected 1981 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1863.
Location. 38° 24.887′ N, 82° 1.088′ W. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. West Virginia Pollinators (approx. 2.6 miles away); Union Baptist Church (approx. 5.4 miles away); Lincoln County / Putnam County (approx. 5˝ miles away); Mud River Covered Bridge (approx. 6.3 miles away); Harshbarger Corner (approx. 6.4 miles away); Putnam County / Kanawha County (approx. 8.7 miles away); Fort Tackett (approx. 8.9 miles away); Battle of Scary (approx. 9 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is hidden from view of vehicles traveling on U.S. 60 in both directions by the “Welcome to Hurricane” signs in a raised planting bed.
Also see . . . The Battle of Hurricane Bridge, March 28, 1863. 2019 book by Philip Hatfield, PhD, on Amazon.com. With “Look Inside” before you buy feature.
The Battle at Hurricane Bridge is an often overlooked Civil War action occurring at the small and otherwise quiet western(Submitted on July 29, 2021.)Virginia village. For five hours behind the limited protection of an unfinished earthen fort, the green Union troops of the 13th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry under the command of Captain James Johnson, fought to hold off the hardened Confederate veterans of the 8th and 16th Virginia Cavalry commanded by Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins.Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 20212. Hurricane Bridge Skirmish side of marker
Ultimately, the March 28, 1863, battle at Hurricane Bridge directly contributed to the Union army maintaining control of the James River & Kanawha Turnpike, a key supply line, and enabled Federal control of the Kanawha Valley for the remainder of the war
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021
3. Hurricane Baptist Church / Hurricane Bridge Skirmish Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 293 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on December 20, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 29, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
