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A significant portion of the sources details events and participants of the Civil War, particularly battles fought in Pocahontas County.
The Pocahontas Rescuers: This infantry company was organized in 1860 when war threatened between the states
. They were mustered on Saturday, May 18, 1861, and marched to defend the sacred soil of Virginia from invasion by Federal forces in the northwest. They met the invaders at Philippi but were unsuccessful in repelling them. General William Skeen was the lieutenant of the company and also served as clerk of both county and circuit courts. He was the purchasing agent for the county court, paying bills for the "little army". On May 18, 1861, the company marched from Huntersville about 10 a.m., with a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen present. They halted at night in front of William Gibson's and were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, John Hannah, John B. Hannah, and I. M. Hogsett. This company was engaged in numerous battles, including Philippi, McDowell, Winchester, Cross Keys, Fort Republic, the Seven Days Battles around Richmond, Slaughter Mountain, Second Manassas, Bristow Station, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Second Winchester, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and Wilderness. Of the company members from Pocahontas, which was reduced to 17 men by the latter part of the war, eleven lived through the war and six died in prison. When captured, they were first taken to Point Lookout, Maryland, and then to Elmira, New York. A roster of the Pocahontas Rescuers is included, listing officers and privates. By-laws for the company included regulations for court martials to try offenses and non-attendance at musters
.
Battle of Droop Mountain: Fought on November 6, 1863, this battle involved Union forces commanded by Brigadier General William W. Averell and Confederate forces under the command of Brigadier General John Echols and Colonels William L. Jackson
. It is described as the "biggest battle ever fought in Pocahontas". The battle began about 10 o'clock a.m. and lasted about one hour, according to one account, although another suggests it ended later. Union forces were composed of nine units, including the 10th West Virginia Infantry and the 28th Ohio Infantry. The principal fighting involved approximately 1175 Union soldiers. Confederate forces consisted of twelve units, including regiments, battalions, and independent companies. The 22nd Virginia Infantry was reported at 550 strong, the 23rd Virginia Battalion at 350 strong, Captain Marshall's cavalry at 125 dismounted cavalry, Captain Derring's battalion at 300, and Major Kessler's battalion and other units composed a "very elegant fighting force". General Averell's report indicates his command on November 1 consisted of the 28th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 10th West Virginia Infantry, 2nd West Virginia Mounted Infantry, 3rd West Virginia Mounted Infantry, 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Gibson's Battalion and Batteries B & G, and First West Virginia Light Artillery. On the morning of November 6, the infantry and one corps of cavalry were sent to attack the enemy's left and rear. The attack was conducted by Colonel Moor with 1,175 strong. The 2nd, 3rd, and 8th (dismounted) moved in line obliquely to the right and joined Moor's left. Colonel Moor says when he arrived in front of the enemy at 1:45 p.m., he formed a line and ordered Colonel Harris to move up. Colonel Scott of the 2nd West Virginia Mounted Infantry reported dismounting his command at about 12 o'clock to fight on foot. He moved to take a position between the third and eighth regiments, finding the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, and 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry already in position. He went into action with 200 men, with nine killed, fourteen wounded, two mortally wounded, one of whom has since died, seven severely, and five slightly. Colonel John Oley of the 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry was ordered to clear the place with his column. Confederate reports indicate General Echols placed his forces on the crest of the mountain under the command of Major W. McLaughlin and Colonel Jackson. Colonel Jackson placed two pieces of his battery under Captain Lirty. Colonel G. S. Patton was placed in command of the First Brigade, consisting of the 22nd Virginia Infantry and the 23rd Virginia Battalion. Colonel Patton later detached companies of the 22nd Virginia Infantry under Captain John K. Thompson. Colonel Patton commanded Echols's Brigade. The 22nd Virginia Infantry went into action with 550 strong, losing 113 killed, wounded, and missing. The 23rd Virginia Battalion was 350 strong, losing 61 killed, wounded, and missing. Three companies of the 22nd under Captain Thompson were 125 strong, losing nine killed, thirty wounded, and twelve missing. Major Wm. Blessing of the 23rd Virginia Battalion reported being ordered to march with six companies to support Captain Marshall, who was forced back on the left. They were reinforced by three companies of the 22nd Virginia Infantry and one dismounted company of the 14th Virginia Cavalry. Colonel Thompson of the 19th Virginia Cavalry sent 100 cavalry under command of Captain Marshall. Colonel W. Wiley of the 20th Virginia Cavalry was attacked at 2 p.m. by the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry. Colonel Milton J. Ferguson of the 16th Virginia Cavalry reported to General Echols on November 5th and arrived at Camp Jackson on the morning of the 6th, where one squadron of the 14th Regiment was ordered to take position on the old road to Locust Creek. Six companies were placed on the extreme left under Lieutenant Colonel Gibson and two companies in the center. John D. Baxter, orderly sergeant of Company F, 10th West Virginia Infantry, was the first to cross the rail fence at the "bloody angle" and was mortally wounded
.
Incidents reported during the battle include Milton Butcher, Jackson's courier, delivering the last order, "Fall back to pike, west of artillery"
. His horse was killed and captured, but he made his escape. Major Kester of the 46th Battalion stopped his advance when ordered to fall back, but was told by Kester to stand firm. Colonel Moor's report notes Kester "just in the nick of time," turned the tide of battle. The Confederate line was reinforced by four companies of the 22nd Virginia Infantry and one company of the 14th Virginia Cavalry. Company F of the 10th West Virginia Infantry was in an exposed position and suffered many wounded and some members fell back. Their Captain was in prison, and the First Lieutenant was on staff duty, leaving the company with one commanding officer, Lieutenant Henry Bender. John D. Baxter was the orderly sergeant in advance of the company. When the chairman of the Droop Mountain Commission requested Baxter to get back and help the company, Baxter ran up and kicked rails off the fence, and both he and the chairman jumped over. Baxter received a mortal wound. W. F. Morrison, W. M. Barnett, and John A. Blagg were next to cross the fence. Blagg was badly wounded, and Barnett had a leg shot off. Morrison escaped unharmed. Major Bailey of the 22nd Virginia was mortally wounded while trying to rally his men. Another pathetic scene involved a squad of soldiers detailing to gather the dead and wounded after the battle. Andrew J. Short of Company F, 10th West Virginia Infantry, was working at night and discovered a dead soldier; upon removing the body, he found it was his brother John
.
Colonel Harris of the 10th West Virginia Infantry is described as a brave and fearless fighter
. Hamilton Riggs, a member of the 10th West Virginia Infantry, provides an account of Colonel Harris leading his regiment into position for the final charge at Droop Mountain. Harris dismounted and led his horse. A bullet from Confederate lines passed through his long red beard, cutting off a wisp, which he stripped off and dropped. He told Adjutant John Warnicke to take his horse back, saying, "John, take my horse back to the rear; I'm afraid he'll get shot," and continued the charge on foot. Dr. T. M. Harris was a physician of note who served as a Colonel of the 10th Virginia (Federal) Regiment and commanded a division in the campaign from Richmond to Appomattox
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A list of killed and wounded in the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry includes James Pickens, James Swecker, Samuel Watson, Benj. Moore, Isaac Burkhammer, Franklin Fisher, John Queen, Mortimer Stalnaker, John B. Dodd, Wm. Barnett, John Blagg, Newton Squires, E. B. Wheeler, Jacob Riffle, Silas M. Morrison, Addison Wilson, George G. Gillispie, Milton Rollyson, John Rollyson, Coleman Wyant, M. A. Jeffries, Nimrod Weiss, and James M. Randle
. Killed were B. Curry, G. L. Shaw, Chas. Bryson, M. Shreve, John D. Baxter, Coleman Channell, David Sanders, and Wesley Pullens. Five killed and twenty-one wounded were from the 28th Ohio

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