Battle of Rich Mountain

Sketch of the site of the operations of the 10th, 11th, and 12th, July 1861, at Rich Mountain

Date	July 11, 1861
Location	Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) 38°51′58″N 79°56′02″W / 38.86611°N 79.93389°W / 38.86611; -79.93389Coordinates: 38°51′58″N 79°56′02″W / 38.86611°N 79.93389°W / 38.86611; -79.93389
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

George B. McClellan
William S. Rosecrans

Robert S. Garnett
John Pegram

Strength

7,000

1,300

Casualties and losses

300

The Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.

Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan assumed command of Union forces in western Virginia in June 1861. On June 27, he moved his divisions from Clarksburg south against Lt. Col. John Pegram's Confederates, reaching the vicinity of Rich Mountain on July 9. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris's Union brigade marched from Philippi to confront Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett's command at Laurel Hill. On July 10–11, Brig. Gen. William Rosecrans led a reinforced brigade by a mountain path to seize the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in Pegram's rear.

A sharp two-hour fight ensued in which the Confederates were split in two. Half escaped to Beverly and on over the Shawnee Trail, but Pegram and the others (including the "Sydney Boys", a regiment formed from the students of Hampden-Sydney College) surrendered on July 13.

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