Bulltown in Braxton County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
West Virginia’s “Bushwackers”
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 2, 2026
1. West Virginia’s “Bushwackers” Marker
Although this specie[s] of combatant, Union or Confederate, was in most cases only a determined local partisan obsessed with opinions of patriotic self-sufficiency, he was sometimes the social scum of the community… [The bushwacker] made no distinction between military foe and civilian enemy…[and] was detested by both the citizenry and the military. (Festus Summers, The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the Civil War)
The predominantly mountainous and thickly wooded terrain of western Virginia lent itself more to skirmishes and guerrilla actions than to large-scale, open engagements. “Bushwacking,” or the guerrilla sneak attack, was therefore common in this region throughout the Civil War.
Most of western Virginia’s bushwackers claimed to serve the cause of the Confederacy, and were organized in three main ways—as Home Guards, Partisan Rangers, and independent units. Home Guards defended only their own county and perhaps a neighboring county if they thought that developments there substantially threatened their own well-being. These units were usually poorly organized, poorly trained, and poorly armed. The Confederacy,
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The most common guerrilla organizations in Braxton County, however, were the independent units. These forces were not as well organized as the Partisan Rangers, nor did they cooperate as closely with the Confederate Army. Organized as small bands or family clans, these guerrilla units fought when and where they chose and disbanded at will. Sympathetic neighbors fed and sheltered them, and passed on information that might be useful to them. Often, however, the bushwackers simply took what they needed or wanted.
Like western Virginia as a whole, Braxton County included both Confederate and Union sympathizers, and many families were split as the result of differing allegiances among kinfolk. Guerrilla activity constantly aggravated these differences and terrorized the civilian population in general.
Supporters of the Union opposed the Confederate bushwackers by appealing to the regular army and by organizing anti-guerrilla or “snake hunter” units. In February 1864, following
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 2, 2026
2. West Virginia’s “Bushwackers” Marker
On the right side of the building.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1864.
Location. 38° 47.582′ N, 80° 33.715′ W. Marker is in Bulltown, West Virginia, in Braxton County. It is at the intersection of Bulltown Campground Road and Millstone Run Road, on the right when traveling west on Bulltown Campground Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Bulltown Campground Rd, Napier WV 26631, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Early Industry (here, next to this marker); Family Life in Bulltown (here, next to this marker); West Virginia’s Early Transportation (a few steps from this marker); Battle of Bulltown (within shouting distance of this marker); Bulltown / Bulltown Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic West Virginia State Marker (within shouting distance of this marker); Spring House (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal-and-Wood House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bulltown.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 24, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
