Guyandotte, WV.

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November 10, 1861 - Affair at Guyandotte, WV.

Here is a place that had a bunch written about it...

http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh54-2.html

In the first week of November, Confederate General John B. Floyd ordered a cavalry force to "proceed in the direction of the Ohio River, and to strike the enemy a blow. . . ."16 The raid was led by Colonel John Clarkson, whose force numbered about seven hundred horsemen from the Fifth and Eighth Virginia Cavalry regiments, the latter led by Colonel Albert Jenkins. Clarkson's cavalry departed from Camp Dickerson in Fayette County on November 4 and struggled through the rugged mountain wilderness, reaching the outskirts of Barboursville at sunset on November 10. The Confederate cavalry charged into town at full speed, capturing several Union sympathizers before crossing the Mud River and moving toward Guyandotte.17

It is uncertain when Guyandotte was chosen as the target of the Confederate raid. In fact, Ceredo may have been the original destination. Seven companies of the Ceredo-based Fifth Virginia had been ordered to the Kanawha Valley, leaving only a small Union force to guard the town. Somewhere along the march, however, the decision to attack Guyandotte was made and the fate of the Federal recruits was sealed. It is quite possible that a few of the town's citizens who had sons serving under Colonel Albert Jenkins had gotten word to their boys that a Union regiment was forming in the town. This may have infuriated the proud Border Rangers and sparked cries for action. The Border Rangers, now Company E of the Eighth Virginia, were certainly elated at the thought of returning to Guyandotte. Corporal James D. Sedinger, a native of the town, recalled, "the boys were all happy then. We were going home for the first time since the spring."18

As Clarkson's column approached Guyandotte, orders were issued for the assault. The Border Rangers were to seize the suspension bridge which spanned the Guyandotte River, preventing escape to the west, while a detachment led by Major Henry Fitzhugh moved to the east end of Guyandotte to complete the encirclement. The remaining Confederate cavalry penetrated the center of town to attack and annihilate the small Union force.19

Guyandotte was deceptively peaceful on Sunday night, November 10, 1861. Some of the recruits were returning home from worship services while others were visiting with friends or simply relaxing, unaware of the dramatic events about to unfold. The silence was shattered as the Confederates raced into town unopposed. A Union picket guarding a small bridge just outside the town had seen their approach, but he was so stunned by the sudden appearance of the enemy that he failed to fire a warning shot. The Border Rangers, headed by Captain James Corns, met another picket as they stormed the suspension bridge. Standing firmly in harm's way, the Union soldier shot and killed one of the Border Rangers before being hit by return fire. Sedinger noted, "why he did not throw down and surrender was always a mystery to us. He was a small red headed man -- would weigh about one hundred and forty pounds." The Confederate company dismounted on the west side of the bridge as the remainder of Clarkson's force began its attack.20


Need to read the link to learn what happen next....

Here is a summary...

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On November 10, 1861, a Confederate cavalry force of more than 700 attacked a Union recruit camp for the Ninth (West) Virginia Infantry regiment at Guyandotte in Cabell County. Led by Col. John Clarkson, the Confederates quickly overcame the brief but spirited resistance of the federal recruits, who numbered slightly more than 100 men. The night was a joyful one for many of Guyandotte’s citizens, a majority of whom had been outspoken advocates of secession. Ninety-eight Union recruits and civilians from the town were captured and on the following day forced to begin a harrowing march to imprisonment in Richmond.

On the morning of November 11, as the Confederates were withdrawing from Guyandotte, a detachment of the Fifth (West) Virginia arrived from Ceredo on the steamer S.S. Boston. Accompanied by a number of Home Guards from Ohio, the Union troops burned a large portion of the town in response to accusations that the townspeople had aided the Confederates in planning and carrying out their attack. Probably a more important factor in the decision to burn the town, however, was Guyandotte’s reputation as a hotbed of secession. Northern newspapers expressed outrage over the actions of the town’s citizens and rejoiced at Guyandotte’s destruction. Shortly after the raid, the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer wrote that due to the town’s outspoken advocation of secession, Guyandotte ‘‘ought to have been burned two or three years ago.’’
 
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