Following the Union victory at Rich Mountain in August 1861, Union forces divided their troops between two strategic locations. One was at Gauley Bridge, near the site of previous battles. The other was at the eastern summit of Cheat Mountain. Approximately 10,000 Union troops were stationed at Cheat Mountain, including 3,000 men directly on the summit under the command of General Joseph R. Reynolds.
The Confederate Plan
Confederate Generals Lee and Longstreet coordinated an assault on Cheat Mountain. Their force of approximately 11,000 troops would be divided into two groups. The larger group would move through Tiger Valley to engage Union troops at Elk Water. The smaller group, led by Brigadier General Samuel R. Anderson, would attack the Union position on the western slope of Cheat Mountain.
The Confederate Attack
Colonel Albert Rust, under Anderson's command, was tasked with leading the initial assault up the eastern side of Cheat Mountain. Despite challenging weather and a grueling march, Rust's men managed to reach the Turnpike undetected on September 12th. However, their surprise was short-lived. Rust's forces stumbled upon a Union wagon train and were subsequently engaged by Colonel Nathan Kimball's 14th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Believing himself to be trapped, Rust retreated to his camp without fully engaging Kimball's forces.
The Confederate Retreat
News of Rust's failure prompted General Lee to call off his planned attack. After three days of minor skirmishes with the main Union force, Lee withdrew his troops to Valley Mountain and returned to Richmond. The Union victory at Cheat Mountain marked a significant setback for the Confederacy, and General Floyd, who had commanded Confederate forces in previous battles, was transferred to Fort Donelson, Tennessee.
The Aftermath
The Battle of Cheat Mountain was notable for the fact that Union casualties were lower than Confederate losses, with an estimated 71 Union troops and 100 Confederate soldiers killed. The battle also marked a turning point in the Union's strategy in Western Virginia.
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