Battle of Cheat Mountain

Battle of Cheat Mountain
(Battle of Cheat Summit Fort)

Earthworks at Fort Milroy

Date	September 12–15, 1861
Location	Pocahontas and Randolph Counties, Virginia (now West Virginia) 38°37′17″N 79°52′50″W / 38.62139°N 79.88056°W / 38.62139; -79.88056Coordinates: 38°37′17″N 79°52′50″W / 38.62139°N 79.88056°W / 38.62139; -79.88056
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

Joseph J. Reynolds
Nathan Kimball

Robert E. Lee
Samuel Read Anderson
Albert Rust

Strength

3,000

5,000

Casualties and losses

∼ 90
(exact amount unknown)

The Battle of Cheat Mountain, also known as the Battle of Cheat Summit Fort, took place from September 12 to 15, 1861, in Pocahontas County and Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) as part of the Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of the Civil War in which Robert E. Lee led troops into combat. During the battle, Lee attempted to surround the Union garrison atop Cheat Mountain, but the attack was never launched, due to false information from prisoners and poor communications among the various Confederate commands.

Starting in May 1861, Union forces commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan advanced from Ohio into the western region of Virginia, both to protect Ohio and Pennsylvania from invasion from Confederate troops and to help the pro-Union government of Virginia located in Wheeling. Following his victory at Rich Mountain, McClellan was transferred to command the Army of the Potomac, leaving Brig. Gen. William Rosecrans in command of western Virginia. Rosecrans concentrated his forces to protect the major transportation lines in the region. Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds was left in command of the Cheat Mountain district, defending the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike with four regiments totaling 1,800 men. One regiment, the 14th Indiana commanded by Col. Nathan Kimball, defended Fort Milroy on Cheat Mountain, while the remaining three were at Camp Elkwater near the Tygart Valley River, where Reynolds established his headquarters.

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