Battle for the Bridge
Posted by: garmin_geek
N 39° 28.939 W 080° 08.345
17S E 574040 N 4370655
Detachments from several Union units stationed in Fairmont attempted to prevent Confederate raiders from crossing the suspension bridge over the Monongahela River but were ultimately overcome.
Waymark Code: WM8G9Y
Location: West Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 03/29/2010
Views: 10
Here, at the site of the Palatine foundry, a battle for the possession of the suspension bridge took place on April 28, 1863. Confederate forces under Gen. william E. Jones attacked Fairmont to distroy the B&O Railroad bridge upstream at present-day 12th Street. The suspension bridge (1852-1908) spanned the Monongahela River between Fairmont and Palatine.
Jones divided his force, sending the main column up the Beverly and Fairmont Turnpike on his side of the river to the railroad bridge, while the 12th Virginia Cavalry and the 35th Virginia Battalion fought their way across the suspension bridge here. The Union defenders at the Palatine foundry included the Fairmont and Mannington Home Guards and detachments from the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry and the 6th West Virginia Infantry opposed them. John Coffman, Jr., of Harrison County, was amoung the Federals killed, and Perry Watton of Palatine was wounded.
After capturing the foundry, the Confederates rode upstream to the railroad bridge. A trainload of Union reinforcements arrived from Grafton but was driven off. The bridge was distroyed but was repaired a few weeks later. Jones paroled 260 Federal prisoners before leaving to attack Bridgeport.
Type of site: Transportation Route or Facility
Address: Merchant Street Fairmont, WV USA 26554
Admission Charged: No Charge
Website: [Web Link]
Phone Number: Not listed
Driving Directions: Not listed
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