Battle in the American Civil War
The Battle of Lewisburg occurred in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now part of West Virginia), on May 23, 1862, during the American Civil War. A Union brigade commanded by Colonel George Crook soundly defeated a larger Confederate force commanded by Brigadier General Henry Heth. Panicked Confederate forces escaped by crossing and burning a bridge across the Greenbrier River.
Prior to the battle, George Crook's Union force occupied Lewisburg, where almost all of the residents were Confederate sympathizers. A larger Confederate force led by Heth attacked early in the morning, believing it would have an easy victory. Crook sent two companies forward as skirmishers to meet Heth's attackers, and those two companies engaged and retreated. Believing the entire Union force was retreating, Heth sent his whole force forward, including his artillery. Crook had placed infantry regiments on both sides of town, and soon the outflanked Confederates were fleeing.
Heth lost at least four pieces of artillery in the battle, and more pieces were lost near the Greenbrier River Bridge. Many of his men discarded their weapons and provisions in the retreat while they were pursued by cavalry and infantry. The unexpected victory by Crook resulted in a promotion to brigadier general. Heth and a battalion of new recruits were blamed for the loss.
Background.
The Commonwealth of Virginia ratified an Ordinance of Secession that declared secession from the United States on May 23, 1861, and later joined other southern states in the Confederate States of America. Many people in the western portion of Virginia preferred to remain loyal to the United States, and they declared their own statehood on October 24, 1861—officially becoming the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. In the southern half of western Virginia, many of the people from the mountains were pro-Union, while the majority in the large valleys were pro-Confederate. Bushwhackers and partisan rangers practiced guerrilla warfare tactics to gain control of the region.
Within this area of mixed loyalties, Lewisburg has been the Greenbrier County seat since 1778. The town supported the Confederacy, and bushwhackers used it as a base of operations in Greenbrier and adjacent counties. The town is located in a small valley, with ridges on its east and west sides. It had a population of about 700 in 1862, and had a strategic location because of the intersection of two turnpikes. Washington Street, which was the Lewisburg portion of the James River and Kanawha Turnpike (today's U.S. Route 60), ran roughly east–west. Eastward, the road led to the Shenandoah Valley and the Virginia Central Railroad at Covington, Virginia. To the west, the road led to the Kanawha River Valley and Charleston. The Huntersville Turnpike (present day U.S. Route 219) ran roughly north–south. Three counties to the south of Lewisburg was the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. This railroad and the Virginia Central Railroad were important to the Confederacy for transporting soldiers and supplies.
Opposing forces.
Union army.
The Union's Mountain Department, created in March 1862, covered western Virginia, portions of Tennessee, and portions of eastern Kentucky. It was commanded by Major General John C. Frémont. Within the Mountain Department, Brigadier General Jacob Dolson Cox commanded the Kanawha Division that was responsible for the western Virginia territory relevant to the Battle of Lewisburg. The division had three brigades, and the brigade involved in this battle was the Third Provisional Brigade, which was commanded by Colonel George Crook. Crook was a professional soldier who graduated from the United States Military Academy (a.k.a. West Point) in 1852. His brigade consisted of three infantry regiments. The brigade was headquartered at Meadow Bluff in Greenbrier County, located about northwest of Lewisburg in what one soldier called a "natural position for defense". Crook reported that 1,200 infantry were engaged in the battle. Other sources use a higher number, including 1,400 cited in a newspaper several weeks later. Listed below are the two infantry regiments and cavalry battalion at Lewisburg. The 47th Ohio Infantry Regiment was part of Crook's Brigade, but was at Meadow Bluff during the battle.
Confederate army.
In May 1862, the Confederate Army in western Virginia was part of the Department of Southwest Virginia, and it was commanded by Major General William W. Loring. The department's headquarters was located in southwestern Virginia at the Dublin railroad depot on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Among those reporting to Loring was Brigadier General Henry Heth, a graduate of West Point and veteran of United States Army posts in the western region of the country. Heth called his command the Army of New River. His force for the battle had two experienced infantry regiments, a small portion of cavalry, a battalion of dismounted cavalry, and an inexperienced infantry battalion. Including his artillerists, his command totaled to about 2,300 men.
Positioning prior to battle.
Frémont's plan for the Mountain Department was to attack the Confederates in Knoxville, Tennessee. A first step was to send Cox's Kanawha Division south to disable the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, which was a major link between Confederate armies in Virginia and Tennessee. Once the railroad was disabled, Cox would move west to join Frémont's other divisions in the Knoxville attack. The plan began at the beginning of May, with Cox and two of his brigades moving to Flat Top Mountain. While at Flat Top Mountain, Cox was notified that the raid on Knoxville was cancelled because of maneuvers in the Shenandoah Valley by Confederate Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Cox decided to continue with the attack on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
Cox moves south.
From Flat Top Mountain, Cox gained control of Princeton in Mercer County. Cox planned to attack further south with his First and Second brigades, and hoped to reach the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at the Dublin Depot near New Bern. His 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment occupied Pearisburg in Giles County, Virginia, beginning May 6. Confederate Brigadier General Heth, with a larger force, arrived on May 10—causing the 23rd Ohio to withdraw back toward Princeton after skirmishing.
On May 15, Confederate forces began skirmishing again with Cox's brigades near the mouth of Wolf Creek in the southern part of Mercer County. After an ambush closer to Princeton caused a Union detachment to have over 90 casualties, fighting ended. Cox became concerned about Confederate forces approaching from multiple directions, so he withdrew back to Flat Top Mountain. The fighting in Mercer County became known as the Battle of Princeton Courthouse and is considered a Confederate victory.
Crook moves east.
On May 11, Crook sent detachments of infantry (47th Ohio) and cavalry to capture Lewisburg and drive out the small Confederate force (two companies) stationed in town. This force approached Lewisburg on May 12 from two roads, and drove all the Confederate troops out of town. Afterwards, the cavalry portion of the detachment departed for their original camp, while the infantry occupied the town during the day and camped on a ridge outside the town at night. On May 15, the infantry detachment was joined by Crook with most of his brigade, including the cavalry.
Crook's brigade (excluding the 47th Ohio) moved east to White Sulphur Springs on the next day. Further east at the Jackson River Depot on the Virginia Central Railroad, he planned to capture supplies belonging to Confederate Brigadier General Heth. While moving toward the railroad, Crook learned that the notorious Confederate guerrillas known as the Moccasin Rangers were nearby, and decided to capture them if possible. Although the western termination of the railroad was at the Jackson River Depot east of Covington, Virginia, some railroad infrastructure was partially completed further west. Crook's advance guard of 12 cavalrymen led by Captain Powell surprised some of the Moccasin Rangers near Callaghan's Station west of Jackson River, and captured about 30 of them. The official report described the guerrillas as the "Mountain Rangers" and described fewer men captured.
Crook's brigade arrived at the Jackson River Depot on May 17, and learned that Confederate troops had fled the area with Heth's supplies. A search of the depot's telegraph office resulted in the discovery that Stonewall Jackson was sending troops to Covington, and two local militias were also expected. Crook also received an order by courier to return to Lewisburg to reinforce Major General Cox. As a precaution to delay any Confederate troops arriving by rail, a railroad bridge about east of the depot was burned, and Crook's return trip began on the next morning. Crook arrived in Lewisburg on the evening of May 19.
Heth moves toward Lewisburg.
After what he called the "rout of Cox's army" (Pearisburg or Princeton), Heth moved his force toward Lewisburg. On May 21, he was at Salt Sulphur Springs, which was from Lewisburg. He knew he outnumbered the Union troops at Lewisburg, and was confident that he could achieve a successful surprise attack. However, Crook already knew Heth was at Salt Sulphur Springs. A company of cavalry sent on a scout to Monroe County discovered Heth and reported back to Crook, causing Crook to notify Cox and begin preparations.
In case he had to move quickly, Crook had all supplies loaded into wagons. He sent Lieutenant Colonel Elliot and his detachment west on the turnpike, where they would unite with the remainder of the 47th Ohio Infantry about north of Blue Sulphur Springs at Meadow Bluff. Pickets were placed on all roads leading to Lewisburg, including near the Greenbrier River Bridge on the James River and Kanawha Turnpike. Lewisburg was about west of the bridge, and the Union camp was another mile (1.6km) west of town.
Leaving Salt Sulphur Springs at 5:00am on May 22, Heth moved through the town of Union. He arrived that evening at a point about from the Greenbrier River Bridge, where his men made camp. Pickets were stationed between the camp and bridge, and campfires were not allowed. The long covered bridge was located at present-day Caldwell, West Virginia.
Battle May 23.
At 4:00am on May 23, Heth's men continued their movement to Lewisburg. Union pickets at the Greenbrier River Bridge were driven away, captured, or killed by a mounted portion of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. Two artillery pieces were left on a hill near the bridge as part of a rear guard, and the main portion of Heth's force continued to Lewisburg led by a small number of mounted cavalry. They approached Lewisburg from the east, and drove back a second group of pickets. Heth deployed his men on Lewisburg's eastern ridge with Edgar's Battalion on the left, the 45th Virginia Infantry in the middle, and the 22nd Virginia Infantry on the right. Cook's battalion of dismounted 8th Virginia Cavalry was held in reserve. The main force arrived on the eastern ridge shortly after daylight.
The Union camp, located on the ridge west of town, sounded Reveille at 4:15am. As the men assembled for roll call, the sounds of small arms fire could be heard in the east. Minutes later, Crook received a report from two Union cavalry men that the Union pickets had been attacked, and he promptly ordered a small force to investigate. Captain Lysander W. Tulleys led CompanyD from the 44th Ohio Infantry, and CompanyG from the 36th Ohio Infantry followed. CompanyG was led by Captain Jewett Palmer. The two companies moved into town on the turnpike (Washington Street), and were taunted by some locals predicting a Confederate takeover of the town. Despite knowing Heth was in the adjacent county two days earlier, and locals predicting an attack, some soldiers believe Crook thought the commotion was caused by bushwhackers instead of Heth. The two companies advanced in the morning fog, and while in town approached what they believed was a group of Union pickets retreating from the bridge. Instead, they received a volley of enemy musket fire.
Heth believed he had surprised Crook and was facing Crook's smallest regiment. He also thought that the remaining portion of Crook's force was in the hills on the west side of town as part of a retreat. However, the only Union force in the hills other than supply wagons was the battalion of the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry, which was held in reserve. After receiving the surprise volley, the two Union companies began a slow fall back, and Heth began using his artillery on the Union camp. As Heth observed the two Union companies retreating, he ordered his infantry and artillery forward despite the protests of his artillery commanders. The departure