Near Belington in Barbour County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Civil War on the Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
1. Civil War on the Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike Marker
On the left of the marker is a portrait of Ambrose Bierce, Private with the 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment, During the Battles at Belington, also post Civil War author & editor.
"A few dozen of us who had been swapping shots with the enemy's skirmishers, grew tired of the result less battle and by a common impulse - and I think without orders or officers, ran forward into the woods and attacked the Confederate works. We did well enough considering the hopeless folly of the movement, but we came out of the woods faster than we went in a good deal. Our camp is now a racetrack."
Ambrose Bierce 1904.
This toll road, surveyed in 1848 and completed two years later, followed an ancient Indian trail through the mountains. Confederate Camp Laurel Hill was constructed to block this important road in 1861. The paved roadway closely follows the original route.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.
Location. 39° 0.797′ N, 79° 55.452′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is near Belington, West Virginia, in Barbour County. It is on Laurel Mountain Road (County Route 15), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Belington WV 26250, 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 Northern 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 location: Battle of Laurel Hill (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Laurel Hill (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cannons
this page online
Photographed by Bradley Owen, March 29, 2024
2. Civil War on the Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike Marker
Marker has weathered and is significantly unreadable.
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
3. Civil War on the Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
4. Old Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike
The old turnpike, now County Route 15, weaves its way up the mountain.
Photographed by Kelsey Robinson, May 22, 2026
5. Civil War on the Beverly & Fairmont Turnpike Marker
The sign had become weathered through the years so I took time to clean it up.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,751 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 30, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on August 15, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 25, 2026, by Kelsey Robinson of Belington, West Virginia.
