Bridgeport in Harrison County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Bridgeport
A Target of the Raid
— Jones-Imboden Raid —
During the Jones-Imboden Raid of April 1863, Confederate Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones moved toward Clarksburg from the north after attacking Fairmount while Gen John D. Imboden approached the town from the east. When Jones approached Clarksburg, he found that the Union forces had erected strong fortifications around the town. After determining that the garrison was too strong to attack, Jones’s cavalrymen raided the surrounding area, seizing a large number of horses and cattle that were sent back to the Shenandoah Valley. On April 30, a detachment of the 1st Maryland Cavalry Battalion (CSA) under Capt. Frank A. Bond, who was later wounded and captured during the retreat from Gettysburg, attacked Bridgeport. Lt Timothy Blaine, Co. E, 3rd West Virginia Cavalry (US), with 85 cavalrymen and 20 civilians from Clarksburg attacked Jones’s men at the West Fork River Ford seven miles north of here. The Confederates drove through to Bridgeport and captured 47 Federal soldiers with their arms and a few horses, then burned a railroad bridge and tore up track. A boxcar full of government carpenters’ tools was also burned, and a locomotive was run off the tracks and into Simpson Creek where the Federals had burned the bridge to deny its use to the Confederates. The Union soldiers were paroled and Jones’s Confederate raiders moved on to Philippi.
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 April 1861.
Location. 39° 17.04′ N, 80° 15.522′ W. Marker is in Bridgeport, West Virginia, in Harrison County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Water Avenue and Virginia Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bridgeport WV 26330, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John Powers' Fort (approx. 0.2 miles away); Benedum Civic Center (approx. ¼ mile away); Bridgeport Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Baptist Meeting House (approx. one mile away); Old Baptist Cemetery (approx. one mile away); Simpson Creek Covered Bridge (approx. 2 miles away); Combat Wounded (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Combat Wounded (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bridgeport.
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 1,450 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 24, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on September 1, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on September 10, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.