was west virginia a confederate state

Like India as a British colony, our people are seen as second-class citizens, if that. It is also thornier to recall for the longer-to-grade essay exam. 2 Va. State Rangers (Braxton), Capt. Benjamin W. Haymond's Co., Co. No. Capt. Va. Its still hard to convince others who grew up pledging allegiance to another flag every morning. It remained loyal to the Union, however, the people of West Virginia were split. Supply difficulties dictated that Averells men would only be able to carry 35 rounds of ammunition each. In 1864 he was promoted to brig-general, but left the service due to ill-health soon after. [8], The Confederate brigade of Floyd attacked a Union regiment under Colonel Erastus Tyler at Kessler's Cross Lanes and routed it, temporarily securing the eastern Kanawha Valley for the Confederates. Western Virginia was an important source of minerals the Confederates needed for the production of arms and ammunition. On June 20, 1863, West Virginia seceded from Virginia to align with the Union during the Civil War. . Get your fix of JSTOR Dailys best stories in your inbox each Thursday. Confederate bonds were also issued. [12][13] George W. Summers, who resigned from the convention at the end of the first session in May, addressed the militia in Charleston on June 8, 1861, and urged that they unite as one "to defend old Virginia until every invader is driven from her soil."[14]. On June 20, 1863 the U.S. government created a new state from 50 western counties of Virginia to be named "West Virginia". Vote for it, get paid and go home. In industrial resources the Confederacy was far inferior to the United States. Any resistance to the national power structure is quickly overcome. Often mail would be carried informally through Union lines by women, who were less subject to search and inspection. Sixteen Confederate general officers were either born in or living in the state at the time of the war. The Creation of West Virginia - Encyclopedia Virginia By the beginning of the Civil War the Confederacy had just begun the issuance of a national currency. As Union infantry commander Robert H. Milroy wrote, We have now over 40,000 men in the service of the U.S. in Western Va. [but] our large armies are useless here. The adoption of the new constitution uniting Virginia with the Confederate States of America was approved only by the delegates to the Secession Convention. Virginia and the Confederate Constitution John E. Love's Co., Co. E (Kanawha), 5th VSL, Capt. (This explains why the first battle of the War took place at Philippi West Virginia.). Democracy was somewhat crushed, of course. [15] Following West Virginian statehood, the Restored Government re-located to Alexandria where it remained for the duration of the war. 7, Va. State Rangers (Wood), Capt. So the deed had to be done hastily. In January 1861 the first secession flag in West Virginia flew above the courthouse in Philippi, Barbour County. Many of the notes issued by Virginia during the war contained a portrait of Jonathan M. Bennett, the state auditor, and a native of Lewis County. I (Logan), 1st VSL, Capt. In 1863 Dr. Thomas B. Camden, of Weston, Lewis County, sold his horse for $140 in Confederate currency prior to being imprisoned at Camp Chase with his wife and children. On January 31, 1864, Jubal Early's men shelled the fort before discovering that it had been evacuated. The map shows the voting districts of Virginia, with the shaded section showing the area that became West Virginia. [53], Sometimes civilians were forced to relocate behind Confederate lines. As of June 20, 1863 the federal government declared West Virginia a new state. The Union forces retreated and the Confederates won a small but important victory. West Virginians were granted the same parole conditions as soldiers from the 11 Confederate states, while soldiers from Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland were excluded and had to seek paroles from the War Office.[62]. Appoint a governor, Francis Pierpont, and of course an ad hoc legislature. The legislature did, however, replace the Unionist constitution with the Virginia constitution that still governs the state. Mathias Harrison's Co., Co. H (Cabell, Logan, Wayne), 2nd VSL, Capt. Mason Mathews of Greenbrier County was a state senator during the war. And both sides fought at famed battles such as Antietam and Gettysburg. [9], Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans took three brigades from Clarksburg and attacked Floyd's brigade at Carnifex Ferry. Somehow the people cant all be fooled. In June 1861, when Virginia decided to secede from the Union, most of the votes against secession came from what was the Western and Northwestern parts of Western Virginia. Propose one bill, devoted to the question of secession of the northwestern counties. An exchange program was initiated between the two governments, though it eventually ended several years later. Gov. The remaining forces in western Virginia were organized into the Army of the Northwest until it was incorporated into the Valley District of the Army of Northern Virginia. Only a few were wounded on each side. In the end, Claudius was forced to drink his own poison. It rejected the Confederacy then, but the state hasn't taken down any Confederate statues in 2020. After the admittance of West Virginia as a state in 1863, those Union units from western Virginia changed their designation to "West Virginia", while the Confederate units remained "Virginia". Moorefield, West Virginia: Confederate Bastion in the Union State 9 Va. State Rangers (Mercer, Summers, Wyoming), Capt. By March 1861 they had formed the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as president. In April 1861 a Virginia state convention voted to secede and join the Confederacy. Va. List of Confederate states by date of admission to the Confederacy [7] Some delegates, such as George Berlin of Upshur County, became refugees and settled in the Shenandoah Valley and other areas of Virginia beyond Union lines. A secession flag also flew above the courthouse in neighboring Tucker County, and another was raised in Guyandotte, Cabell County, which was termed a "secession hole" by Union newspapers in Wheeling, and was later burned by Union troops. "[57] The ease with which the Jones-Imboden Raid was conducted in 1863 frustrated Maj. Gen. Halleck. Following a day-long fight in which they ran out of ammunition, Averells men were forced to withdraw. In the Sound of Music, Captain von Trapp was similarly forced to flee the Nazis. [54], The extent of control exercised by Union and Confederate forces is hard to determine. And it has gained sway in the national discourse, if not outside the US. Altogether 24 of the 50 counties in the new state voted in favor of secession. [17] Putnam County, for example, was reported to have voted 944 to 202 against the secession ordinance, but when recruitment began it gave half of its soldiers to the Confederacy. Also represented Buchanan and Tazewell Counties, Virginia. In legal limbo, West Virginia did not democratically or legally secede. In Congress he worked on the committee controlling army pay and clothing, and supported Lee's efforts to gain more authority in directing the war. Pierpont arrested 8 citizens of Barbour to be held as hostages, one of whom died in prison. Was West Virginia Confederate or Union? JSTOR, the JSTOR logo, and ITHAKA are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. To attain their degree of independence we would have to do likewise. West Virginia voters hold state elections and elect Arthur I. Boreman of Wood County as the first governor of the state of West Virginia. 6731 Whittier Avenue, Suite C-100 McLean, VA 22101, Stay up to date with all of our latest news, Phillips, David L., Rebecca L. Hill, eds., This page was last edited on 15 March 2023, at 00:19. [35] In areas where the Union army had gained control many merchants were reluctant to accept the money, as during Loring's occupation of Charleston. The counties from which they were mainly originated are in parentheses at the end of each name. At the time of Abraham Lincolns inauguration in March 1861, seven states had already seceded, and there was much talk of others leaving the Union as well. As his new kingdom grew more and more rotten (like him), he had to pour a lot of poison into a lot of ears (his media) to hide his crimes. Virginians were allowed to vote outside of their original resident counties but had to vote at the county courthouse and not at local polling stations. Kelley dispatched Averell to repel the invaders. He went on to specify the circumstances of the West Virginia civilian prisoners: "I have the official records of a number of prisoners sent here by him, seven of which state that the prisoner is charged with 'doing nothing'Many others have been sent here under equally slight charges whose cases I will soon submit to you, at least copies of their official records as transmitted by him to Camp Chase, for I believe it cannot be your desire that this camp should be filled to overflowing with political prisoners (made by half depopulating a section of country where inhabitants are often compelled to expressions of apparent sympathy) arrested on frivolous charges, to be supported by the General Government and endure a long confinement. [12], Union Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy attacked Camp Allegheny, where Colonel Edward Johnson's main Confederate force in western Virginia was located. In 1860 the mountainous counties of northwestern Virginia cared little about slavery. The combined effect would give our people a sense of civic responsibility and pride. In Progressive-Era New York, a now-forgotten trend of public bathhouses was introduced in order to cleanse the unwashed masses. Gray Building 500 South Bronough Street Tallahasse, FL 32399-0250 Telephone: 850-245-6600 In 1885 Florida began granting pensions to Confederate veterans. [text_ad use_post=455]. He later became a U.S. senator for West Virginia in 1874. In antebellum America, the voyages and adventures of Sinbad and Aladdin in the. The following table shows voting results, some only partial, for the Confederate congressional elections on May 28, 1863. [42] On June 13, 1863, President Lincoln issued a pardon for the two men, who were exchanged for two Union prisoners held in Richmond. Various companies of the 186th Regiment of Calhoun County became guerilla units or companies of Partisan Rangers in 1862 under the enactment of the Partisan Ranger Act. See how many Confederate memorials still exist in West Virginia The US Constitution was created to favor special interests and is binding and sovereign, making the rich richer and the poor poorer, the rich using its power to hog up the resources, forever. One county sent one representative, some guy who elected himself, etc. But the whole thing worked like a charm, at least in the Union media. McLellan left West Virginia and Gen. Rosecrans took command, and found that numerous claims for the destruction of private property were presented to him almost daily. James E. Smith's Co., formerly 141st Regt. They operated as such from 1861 to 1862, and were later recruited into the Virginia State Line in the latter half of 1862, and then into the regular Confederate Army in March 1863. Despite the free hand granted him by his ultra-liberal Lieber military code (which encouraged war crimes in the name of victory), Lincoln worried about how the crowd would view the constitutionality and logic of carving a new state from Virginia. From that moment on the statehood movement was on and on June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state in the Union. Hanse McNeill led a company of Rangers out of Hardy County which operated in the lower Shenandoah Valley, though they also participated in operations around the Gettysburg campaign. Va. The Wheelingites were horrified: They would be overwhelmed by the Confederate counties. Gen. Henry Heth, who had recently been placed in command of the area, was charged with enforcing the law, though it lasted for only a short time. On October 25, 1861, the auditor of Virginia, Jonathan M. Bennett, wrote to Judah P. Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of War, to urge him to make efforts to have the prisoners released or exchanged. 2. [23] The militia in the southern and Valley counties mostly responded to the governor's call. The following Generals were either born in, raised in, or living in With the movement of Union troops into West Virginia on May 26 the conditional Unionists threw their support to Virginia. [4] While the Union army held much of the territory of the new state, large sections remained in the hands of guerrillas and bushwhackers. West Virginia became the 35th state on June 20, 1863 and Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864. But how, in the midst of the war, did this even happen? In 1861 the 50 counties contained a population of 355,544 whites, 2,782 freemen, 18,371 slaves, 79,515 voters and 67,721 men of military age (16-40 years old). Geo. Many residents served the Confederate cause, a majority of them joining the Virginia forces mobilized by Gov. We actual citizens have never enjoyed true political control of our state. West Virginia was officially admitted as a U.S. state on June 20, 1863. Confederate Pension Records | National Archives Now we are forced to pay federal taxes to support special interests that are not ours and the lobbies for industries that dont support us. Wise in the Kanawha Valley. The Confederates appointed several commanders to organize troops in western Virginia: Colonel George A. Porterfield in northwestern Virginia, and Brigadier Generals John B. Floyd and Henry A. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Timely Abbeville Institute articles and news delivered directly to your inbox. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thats what finally cleared passage of bills in the U.S. Congress. "[20][21], County courts in Jackson, Fayette, Hampshire, Monroe, Gilmer, Pocahontas, and Raleigh levied funds to arm militia for the defense of Virginia. West Virginia volunteers contributed notably or significantly to thirteen infantry regiments, three infantry battalions, one mounted infantry battalion, a sharpshooter battalion, twelve artillery batteries, fifteen cavalry regiments, six cavalry battalions, and a company of partisan rangers, while some served in Kentucky Confederate regiments. Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts to relocate further south while others, such as Dr. Thomas B. Camden, were sent to Camp Chase prison with their families. Capt. [64], Records for the Confederate elections are sparse, only nine counties of West Virginia have a recorded civilian vote for the May 28, 1863 election; Logan 200, Greenbrier 318, Hampshire 32, Hardy 132, Mercer 213, Monroe 421, Pocahontas 213, Raleigh 108 and Pendleton 171. By 1862, through some questionable electoral processes, the "Restored Government of Virginia" had written up a new Constitution and applied for statehood. General Lee (today called a traitor in the national media) had to resign his commission in the US Army so as not to help subject his native Virginia to the rule of Northern bankers. An unfair tax structure that benefited the slave-owning eastern counties, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of the states roads and railroads were constructed in the east, contributed to the desire for the creation of a separate state. 2, From the following article "General Orders No. Controlling the regions would help prevent an assault against Washington from arising up its ridges, and it would help protect the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a vital part of the Norths line of communication with the western theater of operations. Western Virginias differences with the eastern portion of the state were many, starting with the familiar refrain of taxation without representation. Richard B. Foley's Co., Flat Top Copperheads, also known as Foley's Independent Co. of Infantry, formerly Co. F, 151st Regt. Later, as a brigadier-general, he would be placed in command of a brigade which included many West Virginia volunteers. These units, with the exception of the Kentucky units, are designated "Virginia", as were the Union regiments from western Virginia. [18] A similar situation occurred in the counties of Cabell, Kanawha and Wayne. America's Civil War, January 1998. McComas Co., Co. "Granny Lee's Inauspicious Debut." Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. These seven states are presented in the order in which each ratified the permanent Constitution, thus joining the permanent government. [51], Some guerrilla forces, ostensibly supporting the Confederacy, nevertheless resorted to brigandry and victimized civilians regardless of allegiances. The ruler must never allow honest historians to be interviewed on the national news. Over half the land belongs to large corporations whose lobbies control the government. One of the functions of the Confederate government was intervention with the U.S. government for prisoner exchange. In the wake of Virginia's secession, a convention of delegates from western Virginia met in Wheeling in 1861 for the purpose of forming the "State of Kanawha," which incorporated 39 counties.. Their attempt to restore their counties to Virginia (the peoples will) was thwarted by Lincolns stacked US Supreme Court. It had a larger white population than the eastern section, but much less power in the legislature in the capital, Richmond. Following an artillery bombardment, Reynolds withdrew back to Cheat Mountain. A quarter of our people are dependent on opioids, thanks to Big Pharma, and on the US government and its enabling welfare system. Join historians and history buffs alike with our Unlimited Digital Access pass to every military history article ever published (over 3,000 articles) in Sovereigns military history magazines. Confederate government of West Virginia - Wikipedia He continued in his role as a Virginia senator after the creation of West Virginia in 1863, but in 1864 he was arrested for treason on the direct order of President Lincoln. After the Jones-Imboden raid in May 1863 families were evicted from their homes in Weston by Brig. Confederate post offices in West Virginia basically followed the line of secessionist counties, running from Harpers Ferry in the eastern panhandle to southwest Virginia.
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