Napier in Braxton County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Battle of Bulltown
"Come and take us"
On October 13, Confederate Col. William L. “Mudwall” Jackson attacked the fortifications at 4:30 A.M. with about 700 men of the 19th and 20 Virginia Cavalry and two guns of Capt. Warren S. Lurty’s battery. Mattingly’s pickets fired from the first fortification in front of you and then retreated to the main position and fired another volley that stalled Jackson’s attack. Jackson demanded that the Federals surrender, but Mattingly refused: “I told them to come and take us.” After Mattingly was wounded in the thigh late in the morning, Capt. James L. Simpson, Co. C, 11th West Virginia, took command. He rebuffed another surrender demand, telling Jackson “I’ll fight you till hell freezes over and if need be retreat on the ice.” The fighting continued until 4:30 P.M., when Jackson retreated, having run low on ammunition.
The Federals had two men wounded---one of them Mattingly, who survived---and none killed. Jackson lost perhaps seven killed and several wounded. Many of the men on the opposing sides knew each other, having served in the county militia together before the war.
Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1863.
Location. 38° 47.58′ N, 80° 33.696′ W. Marker is in Napier, West Virginia, in Braxton County. Marker is on Millstone Run Road (County Route 19/12). Marker is located in the Bulltown Historic District. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Napier WV 26631, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bulltown / Bulltown Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); Food Cellar (within shouting distance of this marker); Spring House (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal-and-Wood House (within shouting distance of this marker); Cunningham Farmstead (within shouting distance of this marker); Cunningham House (within shouting distance of this marker); McCauley Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); Skirmish at Salt Lick Bridge (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Napier.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,215 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.