Battle of Camp Allegheny

Battle of Camp Allegheny
(Battle of Allegheny Mountain)

Date	December 13, 1861 (1861-12-13)
Location	Pocahontas County, Virginia (now West Virginia) 38°28′26″N 79°43′28″W / 38.47389°N 79.72444°W / 38.47389; -79.72444 (Camp Allegheny)Coordinates: 38°28′26″N 79°43′28″W / 38.47389°N 79.72444°W / 38.47389; -79.72444 (Camp Allegheny)
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

Robert Milroy

Edward Johnson

Strength

Brigades

Casualties and losses

137

146


Camp Allegheny
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Show map of West Virginia Show map of the US
Location	County Route 3, just east of County Route 5 at Top of Allegheny, near Bartow, West Virginia
Area	105 acres
Built	1861
NRHP Reference #	90001446
Added to NRHP	September 28, 1990

The Battle of Camp Allegheny, also known as the Battle of Allegheny Mountain, took place on December 13, 1861, in Pocahontas County, Virginia (now West Virginia) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.

In December, Confederate forces under Col. Edward Johnson occupied the summit of Allegheny Mountain to defend the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike. A Union force under Brig. Gen. Robert H. Milroy attacked Johnson at sunrise on December 13.

In a piercing winter wind, fighting continued for much of the sunny morning as each side maneuvered on the hillside fields and woods to gain the advantage. On the right flank, Milroy had posted a strong force in a mountain clearing, among the fallen timber, stumps and brush, which proved to be too difficult for the Confederate infantry to drive off. A Confederate artillery battery unlimbered and unleashed a "storm of round shot and canister among them, knocking their timber defences about their heads, and making their nest too hot to hold them..." Finally, Milroy's troops were repulsed, and he retreated to his camps at Green Spring Run near Cheat Mountain. Johnson's losses were high: 25 men were killed and 97 were wounded in the engagement, plus 23 went missing.

According to one Confederate soldier in the 52nd Virginia Infantry:

I had a splendid position in this battle and could see the whole fight without having to take any part in it, and I remember how I thought Colonel Johnson must be the most wonderful hero in the world, as I saw him at one point, where his men were hard pressed, snatch a musket in one hand and, swinging a big club in the other, he led his line right up among the enemy, driving them headlong down the mountain, killing and wounding many with the bayonet and capturing a large number of prisoners...

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