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STATEHOODThe Reorganized Government was only a
temporary expedient, a means to provide government until a new state could be realized. I. CREATION OF THE REORGANIZED
GOVERNMENT A. CLOSING DAYS OF SECOND WHEELING CONVENTION, (August 1861) 1. During the closing days of the Second Wheeling Convention in August, a committee was charged with drawing up an ordinance for a separate state containing 39 counties (one was added later in negotiations). The proposal called for the question to be put before the voters, and if they approved, delegates chosen at the same time would assemble at Wheeling for a constitutional convention. 2. On October 24, 1861, after most of northwestern Virginia lay behind Federal lines, the residents of the 39 counties voted on the dismemberment of Virginia. 3. Less than 37% of the 50 thousand eligible
voters cast ballots in 41 counties. Of these 18,408 favored a new state, 781
opposed. B. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (Nov. 26, 1861-Feb. 1862) 1. 61 delegates were chosen, 56 served. John Hall of Mason County was chosen President. 2. Questions: a) Name for the New State: "New Virginia" had used, some preferred Kanawha, Allegheny, Western Virginia, but "West Virginia" was chosen. b) Boundary: determining the proper boundary was more difficult. The boundary committee reported 32 more counties than the 39 named in the original ordinance. c) The report caused opposition because those counties contained strong secessionist elements and strong social and economic ties with Virginia. Demographic considerations were also deemed important. The original 39 counties had only 7,932 blacks, including 6,894 slaves. The additional 32 counties would add 48,634 more blacks, of which 42,303 were slaves. d) Opposition based on this issue rose from the fear that the high slave population would kill chances for statehood in Congress. Economic issues were the most important in determining the boundary. ---For example, inclusion of Allegheny County
would have increased the new state's debt to Virginia by $4 million, because of the money
spent on the Covington & Ohio railroad, so inclusion of this county was rejected. On
the other hand, the eastern panhandle was constructed so that all of the track of the B
& O railroad would be in the new state. C. THE NEW CONSTITUTION REFLECTED THE LONG-TIME CONCERNS OF WESTERN VIRGINIANS: 1. Representation in both houses of the legislature was based on white population. 2. Universal white male suffrage over 21. 3. A free school system and the funding for was ordered as soon as the legislature could establish it. 4. The issue of slavery loomed ominously in 1861, and there was fear that the radical abolitionists (especially Methodist ministers) would agitate over the issue and cause dissension. a) The compromise resulted from a bill introduced by Gordon Battelle, a Methodist minister, which called for gradual abolition of slavery and a moratorium on slaves and free blacks. b) In February 1862, Archibald Campbell,
editor of the Wheeling Intelligencer, reflected the hardening position on abolition, when
he wrote that the slavery issue might defeat West Virginia in Congress. D. THE NEXT STEP IN STATEHOOD PROCESS WAS TO SATISFY US CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, including Virginia's approval for dismemberment. 1. On February 18, 1862, the Convention approved the new state constitution by a unanimous vote. 2. The people approved the Constitution 18,862 to 514, but it must be noted that the war had contributed to this result by upsetting normal voting pattern. 3. The state-makers then turned to the Reorganized Government for approval which it gave on May 13, 1862, naming 48 counties, and Jefferson, Berkeley, and Frederick when the constitution was approved. In a compromise, 9 of the original additional 32 counties were approved. Jefferson and Berkeley counties were approved, but Frederick was rejected. 4. The formal petition for approval of Congress was presented to the U.S. Senate by Waitman T. Willey on May 29, 1862. a) In the Senate, the writing of the bill for admission was turned over to John S. Carlile of Clarksburg, a member of the Committee on Territories. b) Carlile's bill flabbergasted West Virginians because he rewrote a whole new arrangement: -- added another 15 counties to the 48 included in the Constitution, 12 of which the Constitutional Convention had already rejected. -- Carlile's motivation stemmed from the fact
that although anti-secessionist and pro-dismemberment, he was pro-slavery. 5. On the floor, Willey offered an amendment
to ignore the new counties, and shift focus to abolition, proposing that West Virginia
become a state as soon the Constitutional Convention reconvened to ratify an emancipation
clause. Carlile was thus exposed and undermined for the pro-slavery man he was, and Willey
seized the initiative. 6. The Willey
Amendment (Document): provided that all slaves under
21 on July 4, 1863 would be set free upon reaching that age, it passed. E. LINCOLN WAS LAST FEDERAL OFFICIAL TO APPROVE STATEHOOD. 1. He was chagrined by passage of the new state bill and asked his cabinet for advice: 6 of them split evenly 3 yes--3 no. a) Those Opposed to Statehood [Attn. Gen. Edward Bates]: - Reorganized Govt. only provisional and no power - Claimed that there were procedural flaws b) Those in Favor disagreed [Sec. of Treas. Salmon Chase]: - Reorganized Govt. Was legal government and had the power to act. - Moreover, good politics to encourage men in
west to break away from Confederacy. c) Lincoln agonized over the bill but finally signed it at 11:59pm, on Dec. 31, 1862. d) Lincoln signed it on condition that: - a WV constitutional convention convene and add an immediate emancipation clause to the constitution. e) On Feb. 17, 1863, a constitutional convention met and approved the Willey Amendment, and accepted the new constitution on Feb. 18, 1863 by a vote of 52-0. f) On May 6-7, 1863, the Constitutional Union Party met in Parkersburg and chose candidates for state offices:
-In the same election, Jefferson and Berkeley Counties joined WV against protests of Confederate sympathizers.
THE CIVIL WAR: 1861-1865 As the secession crisis in Virginia
approached its climax in May 1861, Northwestern Unionists anxiously looked to the state of
Ohio for "deliverance from tyranny." They were not disappointed. Recruiting( a,
b,
c)
in western Virginia became very competitive by both the Confederates and Union. I. THE INTERVENTION OF OHIO IN
NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA (1861) A. Military: 1. On May 26, 1861, only 3 days after
Virginia seceded from the Union, General
George McClelland (Commander of the Ohio Department)
launched an
invasion to preserve western Virginia for the Union. 2. Companies of (west) Virginia volunteers
proceeded along the B&O toward a Confederate camp. An Ohio company at Bellaire moved
across the river to help. 3. Farther South, Ohio regiments occupied Parkersburg.
B. Political: 1. Ohio Valley Republicans supported statemakers in Washington, Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. 2. The governor of Ohio, William Dennison must be given credit for making the immediate occupation of northwestern Virginia possible: a) When secession was approved in Virginia he launched a vigorous program to protect the state (Ohio) from invasion. b) In his view the first line of defense was not the Ohio River, but the mountain passes through the Alleghenies into western Virginia. c) Dennison was one of the most ardent anti-secession governors, which resulted in: i. Ohio Legislature conferred "war powers" on him ii. Great influence on Lincoln and the War Department (Secretary Stanton) iii. Purchased the arms and had the
Department of Ohio (and Indiana, Illinois) placed under McClellan (d) In this context, the Ohio governor was prepared for war, and to act immediately, which he did.
3. The governor of Ohio also made contact with West Virginia statehood leaders, and set his military posture according to their needs. Example: The governor wanted Ohio troops to
occupy western Virginia and then assault Richmond, because that would insure the success
of the statehood leaders. II. MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS IN WEST
VIRGINIA A. 1861: 1. The Battle of Philippi (July 3, 1861). Referred to as "the first land battle of the Civil War" and as "the Philippi races." a) Federal troops under General Benjamin Kelly were reportedly converging on Grafton, so Confederate troops under Colonel George A. Porterfield moved to Philippi. b) When the Federal forces attacked the Philippi position, the Confederates ran in confusion-- hence the "Philippi races." c) Federal troops took a few prisoners, including Confederate Colonel William J. Willey, half brother of Waitman T. Willey.
2. The Battle of Rich Mountain ( a, b, c) (July 10, 1861) a) General McClelland decided to attack the main body of Confederates in their base at Beverly. b) Actually, Confederates were entrenched on
two adjacent summits overlooking the Tygart River Valley: Laurel Hill commanded by General
Robert S. Garnett, and Rich Mountain under Colonel John Pegram. c) Surprising Garnett, McClellan chose to attack Rich Mountain instead of the main force on Laurel Hill. With the help of a boy named David Hart, Federal troops under General Rosecrans came up the backside of the mountain and Pegram surrendered. d) General Garnett and his troops retreated toward the eastern gap in the mountains in Tucker County. There while trying to cross Corrick's Ford on the Cheat River near present day Parsons, Garnett was mortally wounded crossing the Cheat River in Tucker County, but his troops escaped into Virginia. e) McClelland's rapid succession of victories brought him national attention. i. Within three weeks after his arrival he had all but cleared the Monongahela Valley of Confederates. ii. He informed Gov. Pierpont of his
intentions to clear the Kanawha valley of Confederates, but two days later was called to
Washington to take command of the Army of the Potomac. 3. General William S. Rosecrans replaced McClellan head of the Ohio Department, and he proceeded with the plan to clear the Kanawha of Confederates, Henry A. Wise (former Governor now a General), the "Wise Legion," and Col. C.Q. Tompkins' "Kanawha Riflemen," centered in Charleston. a) In July General Jacob Cox crossed over the Ohio up the Kanawha with 1,200 men. About 15 miles from Charleston at the mouth of the Scary Creek, he was temporarily halted by 800 Confederates, but reinforced Cox pushed on and captured Charleston. b) Two former Virginia governors now polititcal generals, Henry A. Wise vs. General John B. Floyd were ordered to operate together in defense of the Valley with Floyd the superior officer. c) Wise joined Floyd on Big Sewell Mountain. d) Floyd planned to cut the routes of communication between Rosecrans and Cox by crossing Gauley River at Carnifex Ferry, about 30 miles above Gauley Bridge. e) Floyd crossed the Gauley and dug in near Carnifex Ferry. Rosecrans attempted to overcome the Confederates at the BATTLE OF Carnifex Ferry (Sept. 10). Rosecrans failed but Floyd retreated after dark, and pulled back along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike to near Lewisburg. f)The Battle of Carnifex Ferry is notable because of the participation of two young men, Rutherford B. Hayes (Document) and William McKinley. Both were from Ohio and became President of the U.S. 4. Since Garnett's death in July, Robert E. Lee had been in the western counties trying to shore up defenses, and to lay a plan for striking the B&O, and to retain Confederate control of the mountains. a) His efforts encountered insuperable obstacles: 1. Bad weather-- it rained continuously in August-Sept; in August ice froze on Valley Mt.; measles ravaged Lee's men. 2. The Wise-Floyd feud reached into the ranks and made cooperation difficult. Wise was called back to Richmond which helped somewhat. They tried to push Federals out of Hawks Nest area, but failed, and Lee ordered withdrawl to Lewisburg. 3. While reorganizing defenses in the west, Lee was made General. General W. W. Loring, who was Lee's commander during the Mexican War resented the preference shown to Lee, and so he gave half-hearted cooperation. b) Soon after, Loring was sent to Winchester, and Wise to the Confederate Army in the Far West.
B. 1862 1. Most military activity was of the raiding and "bushwacking" variety. 2. The most important military operation took place in the Kanawha Valley. 3. Lee planned a full scale attack on the northwestern section in 1862, and when they learned of the plan, Federal troops were pulled from the Kanawha to support Wheeling. a) With Cox gone, the Kanawha was left vulnerable. b) Confederates were in desperate need of salt, and still hoped that the Kanawha might be recovered. c) General Albert Gallatin Jenkins (of Cabell County) led 550 cavalry on a daring raid: d) Marched up the Kanawha to the Ohio River and crossed over into Ohio at Ravenswood, and returned with supplies, prisoners, arms, and money taken from federal paymaster at Ripley. e) Meanwhile, General Loring occupied Charleston, and "for many days thereafter there was a constant train of wagons hauling salt away."
C. 1863 1. Federal strategy concerning West Virginia: a) Federal policy focused on controlling the mountain parameter of West Virginia. (b) Goal was to push the Confederates out of
the Greenbrier Valley. 2. Confederate stategy concerning West Virginia: a)Push Federals out of the mountains and retake the strategic passes. b) Disrupt the B&O Railroad. c) Regain areas thought to be Confederate in sympathy. 3. Jones-Imboden Raid, April 1863. (William E. Jones & John D. Imboden) a) Purposes of the Raid: i. To destroy all bridges and trestling of the B&O railroad from Oakland, Maryland to Grafton, West Virginia. ii. To defeat and capture Union forces at Beverly, Philippi, and Buckhannon. iii. To overthrow the reorganized state government at Wheeling. iv. To recruit men for the Confederate service. v. To collect supplies, especially horses,
cattle, and grain. b) The Confederates hoped to control northern West Virginia, or at least for long enough to destroy the B&O. c) Two commands joined forces: General John
D. Imboden and General William
E. Jones. d) Jones, who had been wintering near Romney,
would proceed to Rowlesburg and destroy the B&O bridge over the Cheat River, and then
join with Imboden. e) Imboden was to capture Beverly, Philippi, and Grafton. He found Clarksburg and Grafton heavily reinforced by Federals so he occupied Buckhannon and waited for Jones. Meanwhile troops scoured the countryside for supplies, livestock, and recruits.
f) Imboden's phase of the operation was not so eventful, Jones encountered lots of action and created many difficulties. i. After a long and costly battle, he failed to capture the Cheat River bridge, so he moved on toward Kingwood and blew up another Railroad bridge. ii. Jones split his forces with Harmon, they proceded to the Kingwood Pike, (part of forces under Harmon) to Morgantown, to Bridgeport moving south to meet with Imboden at Buckhannon. g) At first the two generals planned to attack Clarksburg, but found it too heavily fortified. So they decided that Jones would continue to raid, and Imboden would take control of the confiscated supplies and begin moving toward Virginia, crossing over to Staunton. i. Jones and Harmon then moved to Cairo and Burning Springs where they set fire 150,000 gallons of oils, and destroyed machinery. ii. Then they joined at Summersville and both
armies retreated across the mountains. h) Although the Raid had not achieved its purpose, it was successful from a military point of view. i. They captured almost 700 Federal soldiers and their weapons. ii. They destroyed two trains, 16 railroad bridges, a tunnel, a large amount of oil field equipment, and 150,000 barrels of oil. iii. Procured at least 1,000 head of cattle, 200 horses. iv. A few Confederate recruits. 4. Effect of the Raid in the North was immediate. While Jones - Imboden were wreching havoc, Union General Benjamin Roberts and 6,000 Federal troops sat quietly in Clarksburg. Asked to explain why, he said the roads were too bad -- although they had not deterred the Confederates. a) General Roberts was immediately replaced by General William W. Averell, a much more aggressive commander. b) With the turn of the tide at Gettysburg in the summer of 1863, Federals in WV became more aggressive. c) Plan was to attack the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. d) Averell made a major switch from infantry to cavalry. e) Averell announced his intention to fortify the mountain passes which overlooked the Appalachian Valley. f) With Beverly as his base of operations, Averell set about to control the Greenbrier Valley. Result was a number of skirmishes and a significant battle at Droop Mountain, Pocahontas County.
5. Battle of Droop Mountain (November 6, 1863) a) In one the most important, and hotly contested, minor battles of the war, Federal troops under William W. Averell met Confederate troops under General Echols in Pocahontas County. b) When the Confederates withdrew, they lost
their hold in the state. 6. Some WV towns were strategic enough that they were controlled by both Union and Confederate armies, some changing hands many times:
III. CONCLUSION: A. Summary Observations about Military Engagements: 1. Much of the Confederate's inability to hold western Virginia can be blamed on the personal conflicts between two generals, and former Virginia governors, Henry A. Wise and John B. Floyd. 2. Although the Confederates tried to retake the passes at Laurel, Cheat, and Rich mountains, after several battles they were driven out. 3. There were nearly 500 battles and
skirmishes in West Virginia; there was action in every county except in the five counties
along the Ohio River north of Wood County. B. West Virginians in Military Service: 1. Out of a total population of 377,000 in 1860: a) 32,000 served in the Federal army including 14 Generals such as Benjamin Kelly (Wheeling) b) 8-10,000 served in the Confederate army including 7 Generals, among them Albert Gallatin Jenkins (Cabell), and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson ( a, b) (Clarksburg) c) 2,300 Home Guards 2. "Unsung" Participants: a) Irregulars: McNeil's Rangers. - organized under John and then son Jesse McNeil and recruited from Hardy, Hampshire counties - "Bushwackers" and guerilla campaigns. Most famous exploit was the capture of General Crook and General Kelly from their hotel rooms in Cumberland and sent to Richmond as prisoners of war. b) Spies: 3. Laura Jackson Arnold - sister of Stonewall Jackson - Married Johnathan Arnold, ardent Beverly secessionist - unwavering friend of the Union - adopted as "mother" of 32nd Ohio Infantry/other regiments
C. STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA has not been fully appreciated. 1. Northwestern Virginia was a buffer zone (Ohio Valley, B&O, Shenandoah). 2. Loss of the territory was also blow, especially because of the natural resources, such as Salt. 3. Retarded the Confederacy's ability to hold Kentucky. 4. The successful Federal invasion bolstered the authority of the "Restored Government", which insured the success of the statehood movement. 5. B&O railroad survived and was known as "Mr. Lincoln's Lifeline." |
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