Near Bartow in Pocahontas County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

REPLACED

CHECK OTHERS NEARBY

Camp Allegheny

1861-1862

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 8, 2012

1. Camp Allegheny Marker

Inscription.

Camp Allegheny. , In late November 1861, Confederate forces at Camp Bartow moved southeast to this strong position on Allegheny Mountain overlooking the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Colonel Edward Johnson, 12th Georgia Infantry, took command of the garrison with orders to guard this mountain pass for the winter., Battle of Allegheny Mountain , At daybreak on December 13, 1861, forces under Union General Robert H. Milroy attacked the Confederate flank of Colonel Johnson along the ridge to your right. A simultaneous attack on the left flank failed to materialize when Colonel Gideon Moody’s Union force arrived late. This delay enabled Johnson to fight off both advances in turn. Milroy and Moody retired from the battle, having lost an opportunity to open the turnpike to the Shenandoah Valley.,

“I saw [Col. Johnson] at one point, where his men were hard pressed, snatch a musket in one hand and, swinging a big club in the other, he led his line right up among the enemy, driving them headlong down the mountain…” -John Robson, 52nd Virginia Infantry, Colonel Johnson earned a general’s star and the nickname “Allegheny” for his actions in the battle.

, The Harsh Landscape of Winter ,

“We are still living in our tents, but we make them tolerably comfortable by constructing rude fireplaces to them. At night we do not fare so well.” -James E. Hall, 31st Virginia Infantry

, At 4,400 feet, the wind-swept summit of Allegheny Mountain is the highest elevation of any Civil War fortification in the east. Throughout the winter of 1861-62, more soldiers died from exposure and disease than were killed during the battle., (captions) , Col. Edward Johnson (C.S.A.) , Col. Gideon Moody (U.S.A.) , Gen. Robert Milroy (U.S.A.) , Frozen Camp, Artifacts, structures and archaeological resources at Camp Allegheny are protected by federal laws such as the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended., Please stay within the publicly owned portion of the site. Entry into private lands will require landowner consent. As you visit and enjoy Camp Allegheny, please be certain to leave it as you found it. If you observe artifacts, please leave them in place and report them to U.S. Forest Service personnel. Should you observe anyone digging, using a metal detector or collecting at this location, please inform the Forest Supervisor at (304) 636-1800 or the District Ranger at (304) 456-3335.

In late November 1861, Confederate forces at Camp Bartow moved southeast to this strong position on Allegheny Mountain overlooking the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Colonel Edward Johnson, 12th Georgia Infantry, took command of the garrison with orders to guard this mountain pass for the winter.

Battle of Allegheny Mountain
At daybreak on December 13, 1861, forces under Union General Robert H. Milroy attacked the Confederate flank of Colonel Johnson along the ridge to your right. A simultaneous attack on the left flank failed to materialize when Colonel Gideon Moody’s Union force arrived late. This delay enabled Johnson to fight off both advances in turn. Milroy and Moody retired from the battle, having lost an opportunity to open the turnpike to the Shenandoah Valley.

“I saw [Col. Johnson] at one point, where his men were hard pressed, snatch a musket in one hand and, swinging a big club in the other, he led his line right up among the enemy, driving them headlong down the mountain…” -John Robson, 52nd Virginia Infantry

Colonel Johnson earned a general’s star and the nickname “Allegheny” for his actions in the battle.

The Harsh Landscape of Winter

“We are still living in our tents, but we make them tolerably comfortable
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
by constructing rude fireplaces to them. At night we do not fare so well.” -James E. Hall, 31st Virginia Infantry

At 4,400 feet, the wind-swept summit of Allegheny Mountain is the highest elevation of any Civil War fortification in the east. Throughout the winter of 1861-62, more soldiers died from exposure and disease than were killed during the battle.

(captions)
Col. Edward Johnson (C.S.A.)
Col. Gideon Moody (U.S.A.)
Gen. Robert Milroy (U.S.A.)
Frozen Camp

Artifacts, structures and archaeological resources at Camp Allegheny are protected by federal laws such as the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended.

Please stay within the publicly owned portion of the site. Entry into private lands will require landowner consent. As you visit and enjoy Camp Allegheny, please be certain to leave it as you found it. If you observe artifacts, please leave them in place and report them to U.S. Forest Service personnel. Should you observe anyone digging, using a metal detector or collecting at this location, please inform the Forest Supervisor at (304) 636-1800 or the District Ranger at (304) 456-3335.

Erected by Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles

Battle of Allegheny Mountain image. Click for full size.

2. Battle of Allegheny Mountain

• War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1861.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 28.421′ N, 79° 43.347′ W. Marker was near Bartow, West Virginia, in Pocahontas County. It could be reached from Old Pike Road (County Route 3) 2 miles west of U.S. 250, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Arbovale WV 24915, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Battle for the High Ground (here, next to this marker); The Great Raid (approx. 1.3 miles away); Highland County / West Virginia (approx. 1.3 miles away in Virginia); The First Campaign (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Camp Allegheny (approx. 1.3 miles away); West Virginia / Virginia (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Camp Allegheny (approx. 1.6 miles away in Virginia); Spirited Artillery Duel (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bartow.

Other markers no longer nearby. Camp Allegheny 1861-1862 (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); War In West Virginia (was approx. 1.3 miles

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 8, 2012

3. Camp Allegheny Marker

away but has been confirmed missing); Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Camp Allegheny 1861-1862" and New Replacement Marker titled "Battle for the High Ground".

Also see . . . Camp Allegheny (Allegheny Mountain). American Battlefield Trust (Submitted on November 14, 2021.)

Looking across the battlefield in front of the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 14, 2017

4. Looking across the battlefield in front of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,086 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on January 29, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.