old map with troop positions
Averell was repelled by Patton

The following army units were involved in the Battle of White Sulphur Springs on August 26 and 27, 1863, in the American Civil War. Although the battle took place near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, it has also been called the Battle of Rocky Gap, the Battle of Dry Creek, the Battle of Howard's Creek, and the Battle of the Lawbooks. A Confederate Army force led by Colonel George S. Patton Sr. successfully repelled a Union Army brigade led by Brigadier General William W. Averell.

The Union Army units, and their commanders, are listed first. The Confederate Army units, and their commanders, follow. Most of the men on both sides were from West Virginia and Virginia units, and some of the Confederates were from Greenbrier County, where the battle took place.

Abbreviations used

Military rank

Other

Middle Military District, VIII Corps

Fourth Separate Brigade

BG William W. Averell[Note 1]

Cpt Paul von Köenig, Aide-de-camp, detached from 68th New York Infantry Regiment (k)[2]
Lt William H. Rumsey, Aide-de-camp[3]
Lt John R. Meigs, Engineer Officer[4]
Group Regiments and Others
Mounted Infantry
Cavalry


Additional Information

  • Company A of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry was also known as the Kelley Lancers.[9]
  • Company C of 16th Illinois Cavalry was also known as the Chicago Dragoons.[6]
Artillery


Additional Information

  • Battery G was also known as "Ewing's Battery".[10]

Approximately 1,300 men in brigade at the battle.[1]

Other Union forces not at White Sulphur Springs

This portion of Averell's 4th Separate Brigade remained near Huntersville after the town was captured by Averell.

Group Regiments and Others
Infantry


Artillery


Additional Information

  • Battery B was also known as "Keeper's Battery".[10]
  • Averell lists Battery B (Keeper's Battery) as having four casualties during his excursion.[2]

Union images

Principal Union commanders


Confederate Department of Western Virginia

Col George S. Patton Sr., acting commander in absence of BG John Echols

Maj W. B. Myers, assistant adjutant-general[11]
Cpt R. L. Poor, engineer corps[11]
Lt Noyes Rand, acting assistant adjutant-general[12]
Lt E. C. Gordon, ordnance officer[12]
Lt James F. Patton, acting brigade inspector[12]
Lt Henry C. Caldwell, volunteer aide[12]
Echols' 1st Brigade Regiments and Others

Col George S. Patton Sr.
(22nd Virginia Infantry)[13]


Additional Information

  • The 22nd Virginia Infantry was originally known as the 1st Kanawha Regiment, which evolved from the Kanawha Riflemen.[16]
  • The 22nd Virginia Infantry's Company K was detached to the Narrows of New River, leaving about 500 men in the regiment at the battle.[15]
  • About half of the 22nd Virginia Infantry fought on the extreme left with Derrick's Battalion.[15]
  • The 23rd Virginia Infantry Battalion was also known as the 1st Battalion and as Derrick's Battalion.[17]
  • The 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion was also known as Edgar's Battalion.[18]
  • Company I from the 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion was detached for guard duty at Dublin, Virginia, and did not participate in the battle.[19]
  • Over 100 men from the 45th Virginia Infantry were under the command of Ltc Edwin H. Harman on a hill at the extreme Confederate right.[20]
  • Major William McLaughlin was present for the battle and commanded artillery.[21]
  • Chapman's battery consisted of two 3-inch rifled guns, one 12-pounder howitzer, and one 24-pounder howitzer.[22]
  • This force, including a detachment of the 37th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, totaled to about 1,900 men.[12]
Additional forces Regiments and Others

Col James M. Corns
(8th Virginia Cavalry)
Maj Thomas P. Bowen (3 co. on battlefield)


Additional Information

  • Corns, with five companies of the 8th Virginia Cavalry plus a portion of the 37th Virginia Cavalry, pursued Averell before the battle. He arrived at the battlefield on the evening of August 26, and most of his force was held in reserve. On the next day, he pursued Averell when Averell began his retreat.[23]
  • The 37th Virginia Cavalry Battalion was also known as Dunn's Battalion.

Approximately 2,300 men at the battle.[1]

Additional Confederate forces not in the battle

Jackson's Brigade was not directly involved in the Battle of White Sulphur Springs. The brigade was involved in the pursuit of Averell when Averell was moving south. A week prior to the Battle of White Sulphur Springs, Averell captured Jackson's Camp Northwest near Huntersville, West Virginia, and Jackson fled the area. Averell destroyed the camp's commissary, blacksmith shops, and equipment, while keeping items such as canteens, stretchers, and hospital supplies.[24] After the Battle of White Sulphur Springs, Jackson's pursuit of Averell was described as "halfhearted and not well managed".[25]

Regiments and Others

Col William L. "Mudwall" Jackson
19th Virginia Cavalry
Jackson's Brigade[26][27]
Lt George W. Siple (commanded detachment)[30]
Ltc Dudley Evans (commanded detachment)[29]
Cpt Elihu Hutton (commanded detachment)[29]
  • Kessler's Battalion: Maj Joseph R. Kessler (19th Virginia Cavalry)[31][29]
    • Four independent cavalry companies


Additional Information

  • Kessler's Battalion, with the addition of two more companies, became the 46th Battalion Virginia Cavalry in early 1864.[28]
  • Unidentified forces from BG John D. Imboden' brigade skirmished with Averell's brigade while moving toward White Sulphur Springs, and mounted infantry from Imboden's Brigade was involved in the pursuit after the battle.[32]
  • Unidentified forces from Col Milton J. Ferguson's cavalry brigade were involved in the pursuit but did not engage.[32]

Confederate images

Principal Confederate commanders

Notes

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Appendix A of Wittenberg's book is the major source herein. Other sources are footnoted.[1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Wittenberg 2011, Appendix A
  2. 1 2 Scott 1890, p. 41
  3. ↑ Wittenberg 2011, p. 45
  4. ↑ Wittenberg 2011, p. 39
  5. ↑ Reader 1890, p. 200
  6. 1 2 Wittenberg 2011, p. 33
  7. ↑ "3rd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  8. ↑ "1st Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  9. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 32
  10. 1 2 Scott 1890, pp. 505–506
  11. 1 2 Scott 1890, p. 56
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Scott 1890, p. 55
  13. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 42
  14. 1 2 Scott 1890, p. 54
  15. 1 2 3 Scott 1890, p. 58
  16. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 39
  17. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 43
  18. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 44
  19. ↑ Wittenberg 2011, p. 60
  20. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 62
  21. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 64
  22. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 65
  23. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 57
  24. ↑ Wittenberg 2011, p. 47
  25. ↑ Wittenberg 2011, p. 118
  26. ↑ Lowry 1996, p. 47
  27. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 46
  28. 1 2 Lowry 1996, p. 49
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Scott 1890, p. 48
  30. ↑ Scott 1890, p. 49
  31. 1 2 Lowry 1996, p. 50
  32. 1 2 Wittenberg 2011, p. 122

References

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