Ravenswood in Jackson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Ravenswood
Springboard for Invasion
— Jenkin's Raid —
(Preface): Confederate Gen. Albert G. Jenkins led 550 cavalrymen on a 500-mile raid from Salt Sulphur Springs, Aug. 22-Sept. 12, 1862, attacking Federal forces and destroying military stores. He captured and paroled 300 Union soldiers, killed or wounded 1,000 others, destroyed about 5,000 small arms, and seized funds from a U.S. paymaster. At Ravenswood, he forded the Ohio River and raised the Confederate flag in Ohio on Sept. 4. He captured Racine, recrossed the river, and ended the raid at Red House on the Kanawha River.
As Confederate Gen. Albert G. Jenkins and his cavalrymen approached Ravenswood on September 4, 1862, the outnumbered garrison fled across the Ohio River. Jenkins rested his command here most of the day. Henrietta Fitzhugh Barr, an ardent Confederate supporter, and her mother provided Jenkins and some of his men with food. “About an hour before sunset,” Jenkins later wrote, “I crossed the Ohio [River] … into the State of Ohio, losing one man by being drowned. …
The command was formed on the crest of a gentle eminence and the banners of the Southern Confederacy floated proudly over the soil of our invaders.” Jenkins and his men marched several miles into Ohio, captured some of the Union soldiers who had evacuated Ravenswood, briefly occupied Racine, and crossed the river into present-day West Virginia.
Henrietta Barr soon found her household the object of Federal interest when the Union army reoccupied Ravenswood. One evening she heard a noise downstairs and on going down “found six armed men insulting mother in the grossest manner, insisting with many oaths that she should cook for as many of them as she had done for Jenkins.” As Barr’s cook, Winny, fed
As our flag was unfurled in the splendors of an evening sun cheers upon cheers arose from the men and their enthusiasm was excited to the highest pitch." — Gen. Albert G. Jenkins
the soldiers, six more arrived. After all of them left, while Barr and her mother discussed “the various insults which had been heaped upon us, 12 men came and commanded us to have supper ready for them in an hour … [and were] compelled to submit although it is a hard trial to our patience.”
Erected by West Virginia Division of Tourism.
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 September 1771.
Location. 38° 56.583′ N, 81° 45.516′ W. Marker is in Ravenswood, West Virginia, in Jackson County. Marker is on West Virginia Route 68, ¼ mile north of U.S. 33, on the right when traveling south. The marker stands in front of a museum and alongside a parking lot for the Washington Western Land Park, between WV Route 68 and the Ohio River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ravenswood WV 26164, 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. Ravenswood / Ohio River Ford (here, next to this marker); Daniel Frost (a few steps from this marker); Hillside Plow (within shouting distance of this marker); Russell Eugene Harmon Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington (approx. 0.4 miles away); Washington’s Land (approx. 1.3 miles away); Battle of Buffington Island (approx. 3.1 miles away); Major Daniel McCook (approx. 3.7 miles away in Ohio). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ravenswood.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Albert Jenkins. Wikipedia entry:
(Submitted on January 10, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,920 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 10, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.