Overview
The Kanawha Valley Campaign took place in Western Virginia from September 6–16, 1862. The region held strategic value because mountain gaps connected the East with the Midwest, and the valley contained important salt works. Union victories in 1861 had secured control of Western Virginia, but Union officials weakened the area’s defenses on August 11, 1862, when they transferred General Jacob D. Cox and about 5,000 soldiers to Eastern Virginia.
After General Albert Jenkins confirmed that the Union garrison had fallen from 10,000 to 5,000 soldiers, General William Wing Loring saw an opportunity to restore Confederate control. Loring led about 5,000 troops northwest from Narrows, Virginia, on September 6. His forces drove Union soldiers from Fayetteville on September 10 and fought several smaller engagements over the next two days.
On September 13, Confederate troops captured Charleston after an artillery engagement. Colonel Joseph A.J. Lightburn withdrew north while protecting a 700-wagon supply train. Loring pursued the Union column until it crossed the Ohio River at Ravenswood on September 16.
The campaign ended in a Confederate victory. Confederate forces suffered 97 casualties, while Union forces suffered 310. However, Confederate control lasted only briefly. Officials removed Loring from command on October 15, and Union forces regained the valley by November.
Essential Facts
- Date: September 6–16, 1862.
- Location: Western Virginia, in present-day West Virginia.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Joseph A.J. Lightburn.
- CSA Commanders: William Wing Loring.
- Who Won: The Confederate States won the Kanawha Valley Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, July–December, 1862.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: 310, including 25 killed, 95 wounded, and 190 missing or captured.
- Forces Engaged: Department of the Ohio.
- Troop Strength: About 5,000 soldiers.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: 97, including eight killed and 89 wounded.
- Forces Engaged: Department of Southwestern Virginia.
- Troop Strength: About 5,000 soldiers.
Significance
The Kanawha Valley Campaign is important to American History because it temporarily reversed Union control of Western Virginia during the Civil War. General William Wing Loring took advantage of reduced Union defenses and drove Federal forces from Fayetteville and Charleston before forcing them across the Ohio River. The campaign also allowed Confederate troops to capture large amounts of equipment, wagons, and horses. However, the victory did not produce lasting Confederate control. Disputes involving Loring weakened Confederate leadership, and officials removed him from command on October 15, 1862. General Jacob D. Cox later returned with a stronger Union force, which regained control of the Kanawha Valley and Western Virginia by November.
History
During the summer of 1861, Union and Confederate forces struggled for control of Western Virginia. The area was of considerable importance because gaps in the Appalachian Mountains connected the East to the Midwest. The Virginia Militia acted quickly, disrupting traffic on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and taking control of turnpikes through the mountains. Federal officials countered by sending 20,000 troops into the area under the command of Major General George B. McClellan. McClellan’s forces pressed the Confederate troops in the area throughout the summer and fall. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Rich Mountain (July 11, 1861), Federal troops marched into Charleston two weeks later on July 25. Subsequent Union successes at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry (September 10, 1861), and the Battle of Cheat Mountain (September 12–15, 1861) cemented Federal control of the Kanawha River Valley and Western Virginia.
Kanawha Valley in Peril
On August 11, 1862, Union officials transferred Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox and roughly 5,000 soldiers from his Kanawha Division to Eastern Virginia as part of the troop buildup for the Northern Virginia Campaign (July 19–September 1, 1862). Cox’s departure left the Kanawha Valley dangerously under-defended.
Confederates Advance
Prompted by rumors of Cox’s departure, on August 22, 1862, Confederate Major General William Wing Loring, commanding the Department of Southwestern Virginia, ordered Brigadier General Albert Jenkins to lead a cavalry raid into the Kanawha Valley, south of Charleston. Upon his return, Jenkins confirmed reports that the Union had recently cut the garrison protecting the valley in half, from 10,000 to 5,000 soldiers, commanded by Colonel Joseph A. J. Lightburn.
Sensing an opportunity to restore Confederate control of the valley and vitally important salt works in the area, Loring led about 5,000 Confederate soldiers northwest from Narrows, Virginia, on September 6, 1862, toward the Kanawha River. Four days and roughly seventy-five miles later, Loring’s troops engaged the Federals and drove them away from Fayetteville, Virginia, on September 10. Throughout the next two days (September 11–12, 1862), the two sides engaged in several skirmishes as the Confederates continued to drive the Federals north.
Charleston Falls
On September 13, Loring’s campaign reached its zenith as his soldiers recaptured Charleston, following a spirited artillery engagement. As Loring’s soldiers marched into Charleston that afternoon, Lightburn’s men and supply train were retreating northward, intent on getting across the Ohio River.
The next day, Loring reported to Confederate Secretary of War George Randolph that “besides inflicting a great loss in men, we have captured immense amounts of wagons and horses, inventories of which we are now taking, and which will doubtless amount to at least $1,000,000.” After pausing in Charleston long enough to enable his supply train to catch up with his soldiers, Loring continued in hot pursuit of the retreating Federals.
Union Retreat
Accompanied by liberated slaves and townspeople, Lightburn’s soldiers traveled fifty miles northward for the next three days, struggling to protect a 700-wagon supply train, while skirmishing with the Confederates to their rear. On September 16, 1862, they crossed the Ohio River at Ravenswood, Virginia (now West Virginia), and Loring called off the chase.
Aftermath
Loring’s hugely successful campaign, which drove the Federals out of Western Virginia, cost him only 97 casualties (eight killed and 89 wounded). Lightburn suffered 310 casualties (25 killed, 95 wounded, and 190 missing/captured), but officials credited him with saving a huge supply train valued at over one million dollars.
Loring’s triumph was short-lived. While occupying Charleston, he became embroiled in disagreements with Virginia state officials. He also vacillated between maintaining control of the Kanawha Valley and complying with a request from Robert E. Lee for support as the Army of Northern Virginia retreated from Maryland following the Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862). As a result, on October 15, 1862, Confederate officials relieved Loring from his command.
Loring’s replacement, General John Echols, could not halt the reoccupation of the valley by an overwhelming Federal force led by Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox, who had returned to the area. By November, the Union regained control of the Kanawha Valley and Western Virginia.
Timeline
- 1861, July 11 — Union forces won the Battle of Rich Mountain.
- 1861, July 25 — Union troops marched into Charleston.
- 1861, September 10 — Union forces won the Battle of Carnifex Ferry.
- 1861, September 12–15 — Union forces won the Battle of Cheat Mountain.
- 1862, August 11 — Union officials transferred Jacob D. Cox and about 5,000 soldiers from the Kanawha Division to Eastern Virginia.
- 1862, August 22 — William Wing Loring ordered Albert Jenkins to conduct a cavalry raid into the Kanawha Valley.
- 1862, September 6 — Loring led about 5,000 Confederate soldiers northwest from Narrows, Virginia.
- 1862, September 10 — Confederate troops drove Union forces from Fayetteville.
- 1862, September 11–12 — Union and Confederate troops fought several small engagements as the Federal column withdrew north.
- 1862, September 13 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Charleston.
- 1862, September 14 — Loring reported the capture of wagons, horses, and other Union property.
- 1862, September 16 — A.J. Lightburn’s troops crossed the Ohio River at Ravenswood, and Loring ended the pursuit.
- 1862, September 17 — The Battle of Antietam took place as part of the events affecting Loring’s command decisions.
- 1862, October 15 — Confederate officials removed Loring from command.
- 1862, November — Union forces regained control of the Kanawha Valley and western Virginia.
AP US History
Definition
Kanawha Valley Campaign (1862) — The Kanawha Valley Campaign was a Confederate offensive in western Virginia from September 6–16, 1862. General William Wing Loring advanced with about 5,000 soldiers after Union officials reduced their forces in the region. Confederate troops drove Union soldiers from Fayetteville, recaptured Charleston, and pursued Colonel Joseph A.J. Lightburn’s command to the Ohio River. The victory briefly restored Confederate control, but Union forces retook the valley by November.
Alignment
The Kanawha Valley Campaign is part of the following AP US History sections:
