Battle Hill - Buckhannon WV
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 38° 59.070 W 080° 13.404
17S E 567262 N 4315343
When the defenders marched to Battle Hill (present-day Water Tank Hill, in front of you) to entrench on August 30, they were surprised to find the Confederates already there. The Federals quickly threw up breastworks of rails, logs, and straw stacks nearby
Waymark Code: WM13E2J
Location: West Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 11/20/2020
Views: 0
TEXT from West Virginia Civil War Trails historical marker: Jenkins in Buckhannon-The Raiders Strike— Jenkins's Raid — (Preface): Confederate Gen. Albert G. Jenkins led 550 cavalrymen on a 500-mile raid from Salt Sulphur Springs, Aug. 22-Sept. 12, 1862, attacking Federal forces and destroying military stores. He captured and paroled 300 Union soldiers, killed or wounded 1,000 others, destroyed about 5,000 small arms, and seized funds from a U.S. paymaster. At Ravenswood, he forded the Ohio River and raised the Confederate flag in Ohio on Sept. 4. He captured Racine, recrossed the river, and ended the raid at Red House on the Kanawha River.
Confederate Gen. Albert G. Jenkins and his cavalry halted a few miles east of Buckhannon on the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike on August 30, 1862. He knew that an immense quantity of Union supplies and several thousand small arms were stockpiled there. “After a few hours for rest and food, “Jenkins reported, “we proceeded down French Creek toward the town of Buckhannon. The population along this creek is among the most disloyal in all western Virginia.”
The day before, the Federal garrison in Buckhannon had learned of Jenkins’s approach. Units were called quickly
into service, including Co. E, 10th West Virginia Infantry; the Upshur Battery and Battery E, West Virginia Light Artillery; and the Home Militia. The Home Militia was not regularly equipped---the members brought their personal shotguns, muskets and rifles.
When the defenders marched to Battle Hill (present-day Water Tank Hill, in front of you) to entrench on August 30, they were surprised to find the Confederates already there. The Federals quickly threw up breastworks of rails, logs, and straw stacks nearby, including across the junction of Marion and Kanawha Street below the hill and near this triangle park. Jenkins attacked. The defenders fought until the Confederate fire got too hot for them and beat a hasty retreat and scattered in every direction.
Jenkins’s men gathered all of the arms and supplies they could carry away, burned the rest, and then headed for Weston. They also took all of the surgical instruments and left only a handsaw to treat wounded Federals.
Other West Virginia Civil War Trails markers pertaining to fighting in Buchannon are attached: Destruction at the Courthouse-The Raiders Strike; The Bassel House-The Columns Unite; McClellan's Buckhannon Camp-Prelude to Rich Mountain.
Name of Battle:
Battle at Battle Hill (present day Water Tank Hill)
Name of War: U.S. Civil War
Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 08/30/1862
Entrance Fee: Not Listed
Parking: Not Listed
Date of Battle (End): Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.
In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.