Carnifex Ferry, WV

Date: September 10, 1861

Campaign: Operations in Western Virginia [June-December 1861]

Battles in Campaign:

• Philippi, WV - June 3, 1861 D¹

• Rich Mountain, WV - July 11, 1861 B       

• Kessler's Cross Lanes, WV - August 26, 1861 D¹

• Carnifex Ferry, WV - September 10, 1861 B

• Cheat Mountain, WV - September 12-15 1861 B

• Greenbrier River, WV - October 3, 1861 D¹

• Camp Alleghany, WV - December 13, 1861 C¹

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans

• Confederate: Brig. Gen. John Floyd

Principal Forces:

• Union: Brigades

• Confederate: Brigades

Description:

• Learning of Col. Erastus Tyler’s rout at Kessler’s Cross Lanes, Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans moved three brigades south from Clarksburg to support him.

• On the afternoon of September 10, he advanced against Brig. Gen. John Floyd’s camps at Carnifex Ferry.

• Darkness halted several hours’ fighting.

• The strength of the Union artillery convinced Floyd to retreat during the night.

• Floyd blamed his defeat on his co-commander Brig. Gen. Henry Wise, contributing to further dissension in the Confederate ranks.

Photo Gallery:²

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park	The Battle of Carnifex Ferry	Henry Patterson House	Henry Patterson House
Camp Gauley	A Soldier's Recollection
Old Ferry Road	Old Ferry Road		Description of Battle of Carnifex Ferry
Description of Battle of Carnifex Ferry			Artillery Thunder
	Journey's End	Granville Blevins Grave Site	"Follow me my men, charge!"
	Friendly Fire

 

Classification³: B

Casualties⁴: 250 total

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park

• Battle of Carnifex Ferry - Historyofwar.org

Recommended Resources:

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¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 02/26/2009