Pocahontas County took a pro Confederate position

 The extent to which die citizens of Pocahontas County were interested in the issues that led to the tragedy of civil war is tinresearched at this time. Slavcholding was not extensive hut the 252 slaves did make tip 6% of die county's I860 population. ('Ihcre were also 20 free blacks in the county.) The attitudes rd the Pocahontas citizens were probably similar to those in neighboring Greenbrier County where attachment Lo southern political views was tempered by a strong belief in die union, hi the critical election of i860 Pocahontas County voters gave their support io John Bid! running on the Constitutional Union Party ticket. Although the election of Mr. Lincoln was die signal for some states to proceed with secession from the union. Virginia waivered and sought a peaceful end to die crisis.

A public meeting at the Pocahontas County Court House on January 1, 1861* was marked by disagreement but ended with resolutions supporting the union and urging conferences between the stales to find a compromise.

Regardless of dicir reelings prior to April 1861, die majority of the people or Pocahontas County took a pro Confederate position once die die was cast, lire vote on die referendum on secession in die county on May 23 was 360 in favor and 13 agiimst. Even before the vote the County Court authorized fluids to support die men who were volunteering for service to Virginia and their families. On May 18 I he "Pocahontas Rescuers," 49 men and five office s* were mustered in at Huntersville and left to join Confederate forces near Philippi, (This group later becan ' fnm ui Company J, 25lh Virginia Infantry.) Joining them en route was a cavalry company from die Hillsboro area. Later in May a company was organized in die Green Bank District, the "Mountain Rifles 1 ' or "Pocahontas Riflemen/ 'I bis company bec 

During the war Pocahontas County generally was not an objective of the various plans developed by die generals on bodi sides. However, being located in die mountainous buffer zone between areas under the control of opposing forces, the county did see die movement of troops whose destinations were elsewhere. During one of these compaigns. die county hceame the site of die biggest Civil W;lt battle in West Virginia, at Droop Mountain,