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Re: Assault on Allegheny - July 2009
Highly intrigued by the prospect of attending the Assault on Allegheny! event in July of the upcoming year, I was inspired to piece together some information, which I found to be interesting, with regard to the battle at Camp Allegheny. What follows are the fruits of the past few hours of my life. I hope you find it interesting as well...
Excepts from the Official Records, Series 1, Volume 5
Return of Casualties
Federal Casualties
Ninth Indiana: 8 killed, 13 wounded
Thirteenth Indiana: 2 killed, 23 wounded, 4 missing
Twenty-Fifth Ohio: 6 killed, 54 wounded, 6 missing
Thirty-Second Ohio: 2 killed, 10 missing
Second West Virginia: 2 killed, 7 wounded
Total: 20 killed, 107 wounded, 10 missing
In his report of the engagement, Colonel Edward Johnson, Twelfth Georgia Infantry reports that “the citizens who reside upon the roads along which [the Federals] retreated” reported “large numbers of dead and wounded” being “carried from the field” requiring “[t]en or twelve ambulances…” He further reports the capture of “3 prisoners and about 100 stand of arms, which the enemy had thrown away in his flight.”
Confederate Casualties
Brigade Staff: 2 killed
Twelfth Georgia: 6 killed, 37 wounded, 4 missing
Twenty-Fifth Virginia: 2 killed, 11 wounded, 5 missing
Thirty-First Virginia: 6 killed, 31 killed
Fifty-Second Virginia: 2 wounded, 6 missing
Hansbrough's Battalion: 4 killed, 11 wounded, 13 missing
Lee's Battery: 1 killed
Miller's Battery: 1 killed, 4 wounded
Total: 20 killed, 98 wounded, 28 missing
Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy, US Army, commanding the District of Cheat Mountain notes in his “Record of Events” that “[t]he number of prisoners captured by [the Federal] forces was 26.” This is countered, however, by Colonel Johnson’s assertion that by the date of his report, December 15, 1861, “[m]any of the [Confederate] missing have returned since the day of the battle.”
Other interesting tidbits from the various reports regarding the action at Camp Allegheny:
“December 13, 1861 …This morning our pickets were driven in about 4 a.m. I made preparations to meet the enemy. They appeared in force -- not less than 5,000 men; attacked my right and left. On the right there are no defensive works. On the hill to the left we have hastily thrown up a trench. I have only about 1200 effective men. Four hundred of my men met the enemy on the right flank, and after a severe contest defeated them. On the left, the enemy attacked our intrenchments (sic), but failed to carry them. …[A]fter a contest lasting from 7 a.m. until near 2 p.m., [they were] repulsed with great loss.” -- Colonel Edward Johnson
“December 15, 1861 …From a sergeant captured I learn that Generals Reynolds and Milroy commanded, and that the expedition was based upon information furnished them by five deserters from Hansborough’s battalion, who left here about a week since. Troops were drawn from Beverly, Huttonsville, and Cheat Mountain. All that they could collect were brought up. The right was guided to our position by a traitor from Northwestern Virginia named Shipman, who is quite familiar with this country. The left was guided by a noted guide and traitor, who lived within 3 miles of this place, named Slater. We had timely warning of their approach, but could not ascertain their numbers before they made the attack. Our works had been suspended in consequence of recent orders. None had been erected before we got here.
The enemy were totally routed. I hear from citizens on the line of retreat that they carried numbers of dead and wounded by the houses, and acknowledged that they had been badly whipped. They were heard to accuse their officers of deceiving them, insisting that our numbers were largely superior to their own. They were much demoralized, and I hope they received a good lesson.” –Colonel Edward Johnson
It is the action of the 13th of December, 1861 that causes President Davis to assent “readily and cheerfully” to Secretary of War Benjamin’s suggestion of December 23, 1861 that Johnson “be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general…”
Lieutenant Colonel Z.T. Connor, Twelfth Georgia, gives us in his report of December 17, 1861, a look at the intensity of the fight noting that at “…about sunrise the firing commenced and was continued without intermission for over two hours, the enemy from their greatly superior force disputing most obstinately every inch of ground.”
And a view into the rough terrain is given to us by Major A.G. Reger, Twenty-Fifth Virginia, who, in his report notes that “…the enemy were approaching in force on the Greenriver(sic) road… and after.. some time we were ordered to proceed down the Greenbrier road which was done in good order in double-quick time. When some 200 yards’ down the road we were ordered up the hill by the right flank through a thick blockade. The hill being very steep and difficult to ascend, the men became very much scattered.”
On December 14, 1861, Anson Stager, Superintendent of the Military Telegraph Department reports to the War Department that “General Milroy, with 700 men, met General Johnson, of Georgia, with 2,000, at Alleghany(sic) Camp, West Virginia, yesterday, and after 3 hours’ hard fighting defeated Johnson, with loss 200 killed, including many officers, and 30 prisoners. Johnson burned his camp and retreated to Staunton. Federal loss about 30.” In reality, Johnson writes in his December 15 report that he is “strengthening [the] works” in preparation for further Federal maneuvers against Camp Allegheny.
Excited for July, I remain, &c.,
Originally posted by Stonewall_Greyfox
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Excepts from the Official Records, Series 1, Volume 5
Return of Casualties
Federal Casualties
Ninth Indiana: 8 killed, 13 wounded
Thirteenth Indiana: 2 killed, 23 wounded, 4 missing
Twenty-Fifth Ohio: 6 killed, 54 wounded, 6 missing
Thirty-Second Ohio: 2 killed, 10 missing
Second West Virginia: 2 killed, 7 wounded
Total: 20 killed, 107 wounded, 10 missing
In his report of the engagement, Colonel Edward Johnson, Twelfth Georgia Infantry reports that “the citizens who reside upon the roads along which [the Federals] retreated” reported “large numbers of dead and wounded” being “carried from the field” requiring “[t]en or twelve ambulances…” He further reports the capture of “3 prisoners and about 100 stand of arms, which the enemy had thrown away in his flight.”
Confederate Casualties
Brigade Staff: 2 killed
Twelfth Georgia: 6 killed, 37 wounded, 4 missing
Twenty-Fifth Virginia: 2 killed, 11 wounded, 5 missing
Thirty-First Virginia: 6 killed, 31 killed
Fifty-Second Virginia: 2 wounded, 6 missing
Hansbrough's Battalion: 4 killed, 11 wounded, 13 missing
Lee's Battery: 1 killed
Miller's Battery: 1 killed, 4 wounded
Total: 20 killed, 98 wounded, 28 missing
Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy, US Army, commanding the District of Cheat Mountain notes in his “Record of Events” that “[t]he number of prisoners captured by [the Federal] forces was 26.” This is countered, however, by Colonel Johnson’s assertion that by the date of his report, December 15, 1861, “[m]any of the [Confederate] missing have returned since the day of the battle.”
Other interesting tidbits from the various reports regarding the action at Camp Allegheny:
“December 13, 1861 …This morning our pickets were driven in about 4 a.m. I made preparations to meet the enemy. They appeared in force -- not less than 5,000 men; attacked my right and left. On the right there are no defensive works. On the hill to the left we have hastily thrown up a trench. I have only about 1200 effective men. Four hundred of my men met the enemy on the right flank, and after a severe contest defeated them. On the left, the enemy attacked our intrenchments (sic), but failed to carry them. …[A]fter a contest lasting from 7 a.m. until near 2 p.m., [they were] repulsed with great loss.” -- Colonel Edward Johnson
“December 15, 1861 …From a sergeant captured I learn that Generals Reynolds and Milroy commanded, and that the expedition was based upon information furnished them by five deserters from Hansborough’s battalion, who left here about a week since. Troops were drawn from Beverly, Huttonsville, and Cheat Mountain. All that they could collect were brought up. The right was guided to our position by a traitor from Northwestern Virginia named Shipman, who is quite familiar with this country. The left was guided by a noted guide and traitor, who lived within 3 miles of this place, named Slater. We had timely warning of their approach, but could not ascertain their numbers before they made the attack. Our works had been suspended in consequence of recent orders. None had been erected before we got here.
The enemy were totally routed. I hear from citizens on the line of retreat that they carried numbers of dead and wounded by the houses, and acknowledged that they had been badly whipped. They were heard to accuse their officers of deceiving them, insisting that our numbers were largely superior to their own. They were much demoralized, and I hope they received a good lesson.” –Colonel Edward Johnson
It is the action of the 13th of December, 1861 that causes President Davis to assent “readily and cheerfully” to Secretary of War Benjamin’s suggestion of December 23, 1861 that Johnson “be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general…”
Lieutenant Colonel Z.T. Connor, Twelfth Georgia, gives us in his report of December 17, 1861, a look at the intensity of the fight noting that at “…about sunrise the firing commenced and was continued without intermission for over two hours, the enemy from their greatly superior force disputing most obstinately every inch of ground.”
And a view into the rough terrain is given to us by Major A.G. Reger, Twenty-Fifth Virginia, who, in his report notes that “…the enemy were approaching in force on the Greenriver(sic) road… and after.. some time we were ordered to proceed down the Greenbrier road which was done in good order in double-quick time. When some 200 yards’ down the road we were ordered up the hill by the right flank through a thick blockade. The hill being very steep and difficult to ascend, the men became very much scattered.”
On December 14, 1861, Anson Stager, Superintendent of the Military Telegraph Department reports to the War Department that “General Milroy, with 700 men, met General Johnson, of Georgia, with 2,000, at Alleghany(sic) Camp, West Virginia, yesterday, and after 3 hours’ hard fighting defeated Johnson, with loss 200 killed, including many officers, and 30 prisoners. Johnson burned his camp and retreated to Staunton. Federal loss about 30.” In reality, Johnson writes in his December 15 report that he is “strengthening [the] works” in preparation for further Federal maneuvers against Camp Allegheny.
Excited for July, I remain, &c.,
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