United States Regiments & Batteries * West Virginia > 1st West Virginia Infantry


The 1st West Virginia Infantry Regiment lost 3 officers and 51 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 136 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

“First Loyal Virginia Infantry Regiment”

1861
 

Three Months Service

April Organizaed are Wheeling Virginia from companies from Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, and Marshall Counties, many of whom were of men from Ohio and Pennsylvania. It was commanded by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Kelly, Lieutenant Colonel Henry B. Hubbard, and Major Isaac H. Duval. Dr. Joseph Thoburn was appointed surgeon for the regiment.
May 10-23

The regiment was mustered into Federal service by Company over a two week period.

Organization of the Regiment
  • Company A at Wheeling, May 10, Captain Andrew A. Britt
  • Company B at Wheeling, May 11, Captain Edward W. Stephens
  • Company C, at Wheeling, May 15, Captain Isaac N. Fordyce
  • Company D, at Steubenville, May 15, Captain Mountford S. Stokeley
  • Company E, at Wheeling and in Ohio County, May 16, Captain George C. Trimble
  • Company F, at Wellsburg, May 17, Captain James F. Donnelley
  • Company G, at Wellsburg, May 18, Captain James I. Kuhn
  • Company H, in Marshall County, May 21, Captain Thomas C. Park
  • Company I, in Hancock County, May 21, Captain B. W. Chapman
  • Company K, in Marshall and Ohio County, May 23, Captain George W. Robinson
May 27

Moved by rail to near Mannington to take a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge which had been wrecked by Confederates.

At First the railroad refused to carry the regiment, as it had decided to remain neutral and refuse to carry men or munitions for either side.  Colonel Kelley replied, “This is war. Railroad companies cannot be their own masters. They are to serve the government that guarantees to them possession and protection for their property. You have a train of cars in the depot to-morrow morning at four o’clock or I will place you in prison and take possession of your railroad by military authority.” There was no further problem with the railroad.

May 29-30 Moved along the railroad to Grafton, which was captured from Confedrate militia.
June 3

Battle of Philippi

The first organized land battle of the Civil War. Colonel Benjamin Kelley led the main column of the two-pronged attack into town.

The Confederates were made up of badly outnumbered independent miltitia companies and were defeated, but Colonel Kelly was badly wounded.

June – July The regiment was on duty at Rowlesburg, Grafton, and Philippi.
 

The 1st West Virginia separated into three sections. 

  • Five companies served in General McClellan’s Rich Mountain Campaign
  • A detachment served with Colonel Tyler’s campaign against Confederate General Henry Wise.
  • The remainder of the regiment guarded the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
August 5 Colonel Benjamin Kelley was promoted to Brigadier General, backdated to May.
August 19 The regiment returned to Wheeling.
August 27 The 1st West Virginia Infantry mustered out at the end of their three months Federal service.
 

Three Years Service

August 30

Dr. Joseph Thoburn was appointed Colonel and began reorganizing the regiment for three years service. About 40% of the men were from West Virginia, 23% from Ohio, 18% from Pennsylvania, and 19% from other states or were foreign immigrants. Henry B. Hubbard was elected Lieutenant Colonel and Isaac Duval Major.

Organization of the Regiment
  • Company A, Captain Jacob Weddle
  • Company B, Captain James C. White
  • Company C, Captain William Milhouse
  • Company D, Captain James F. Donnelley
  • Company E, Captain William Morgan
  • Company F, Captain Edward W. Stephens
  • Company G, Captain Oscar F. Melvin
  • Company H, Captain James S. Bowers
  • Company I, Captain John B. Trimble
  • Company K, Captain Richard Radcliff
October 13 While the regiment was still organizing Companies A, B, D & E were moved from Wheeling to Little Kanawha, Wirt County to deal with a band of Confederate marauders known as the Moccasin Rangers. Captain William Milhouse of Company C was discharged for disability.
October 30 The 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment mustered in at Wheeling, Virginia for three years Federal service.
November 1 First Lieutenant William H. Orr was promoted to Captain of Company C.
November 2 Companies A, B, D & E moved to Romney.
November 9 The remaining 6 companies of the regiment left Wheeling for Romney, W. Va. Attached to Railroad District, West Virginia.
December First Lieutenant Charles A. Freeman was captured.
1862
January 6-7 Expedition to Blue’s Gap. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Landers’ Division, Army of the Potomac
January 7

Hanging Rock Pass, Blue’s Gap

January 10 Moved to Patterson Creek
January 27 Captain James Donnelly of Company C died of typhoid dever at Cumberland, Maryland.
February 5-13 Moved to Paw Paw Tunnel
February 7 First Lieutenant John S. McDonald was promoted to Captain of Company D.
March 1-15 Advance on Winchester. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Shields’ Division, Banks’ 5th Corps
March 18-21 Reconnaissance to Strasburg
March 22-23

First Battle of Winchester

March 24-April 4 Pursuit of Jackson
March 27 Edenburg
April 1 Occupation of Mt. Jackson
April 4 Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Department of the Shenandoah
April 17 New Market
May Attached to 4th Brigade, Shields’ Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock
May 5 Columbia Bridge
May 12-21 March to Falmouth, Va.
May 25-June 7 To Port Republic
May 31 Gaines’ Cross Roads, near Front Royal
June 1 White Plains
June 3 Front Royal
June 9

Battle of Port Republic

June 10-27 March to Cloud’s Mills, near Alexandria. Attached to 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
July Camp at Cloud’s Mills, near Alexandria
July 28 Move to the Rappahannock. Captain James M. Bowers of Company H resigned. First Lieutenant Thomas Reed was promoted to Captain of Company H.
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 16-September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 16 Captain William Morgan of Company E resigned.
August 20-23

Rappahannock Station

August 26 Sulphur Springs
August 28

Thoroughfare Gap

August 29

Groveton

August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

after the battle the regiment had no commissioned officer on duty, the regiment being commanded by Sergeant Major Johnson. 

September-October 11 In the Defenses of Washington. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Whipple’s Division, Military District of Washington, D. C.
September 9 Major Isaac H. Duval was transferred to the 9th Virginia Infanntry and promoted to Colonel.
October 3 Lieutenant Colonel Henry B. Hubbard was wounded.
October 11-13 Moved to Wheeling, Virginia to recruit.
November 1
  • Captain Edward W. Stephens of Company F was promoted to Major.
  • Captain John McDonald of Company D resigned.
  • Captain John B. Trimble of Company I resigned.
  • First Lieutenant William J. Robb was promoted to Captain of Company A.
  • First Lieutenant James McElroy was promoted to Captain of Company D.
  • First Lieutenant John Daugherty was promoted to Captain of Company I
  • Second Lieutenant John Craig was promoted to Captain of Company E.
November 27-28 Moved to Cumberland, Md.
December 4
  • Major Jacob Weddell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
  • Captain Edward W. Stephens of Company F was promoted to Major.
December 8 To Romney, then to North Mountain, and duty there attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Corps, Middle Department
1863
January 1 First Lieutenant James E. Morrow was promoted to Captain of Company F.
January 6 Captain James C. White of Company B resigned.
March 6 At Mechanicsville Gap attached to 4th Brigade 1st Division, 8th Corps
June 20 West Virginia was admitted to the Union and the regiment was redesignated the 1st West Virginia Infantry Regiment.
June 14-20 Moved to New Creek Station, thence to Cumberland, Md. Attached to Campbell’s Brigade, Scammon’s Division, Army of West Virginia
July 13 Moved to Hancock, thence to Williamsport
July 28 At Back Creek
August 3 To Winchester
August 15 To Romney and to Petersburg
August-January Operating against guerrillas and Imboden’s and McNeil’s forces
September 5 

Moorefield

A detachment consisting of Companies B, D, E, F & H at Moorefield were attacked by Imboden’s cavalry, with little loss.

September 11

Moorefield

Companies B, D, E, F & H were captured by McNeil’s cavalry in a pre-dawn attack on the camp, including:

  • Captains George White of Company B,  John Craig of Company E, and Edward Stephens of Company F
  • First Lieutenants Thomas H. McKee of Company B and Martin B. Helms of Company D 
  • Second Lieutenants James Billingsly of Company B, Chester B. Hall of Company D, John F. Baird of Company E, and James L. Steele of Company F
December Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, West Virginia
December 10-23 Guard train from Petersburg to McDowell
December 16 Descent on Salem
1864
January 10-12
Retreat from Petersburg to New Creek.

Captain William J. Robb of Company A was captured.

January 16 First Lieutenant George M. White was promoted to Captain of Company B.
January 27-February 7 Operations in Hampshire and Hardy Counties against Rosser
January 30 Retreated to New Creek before a superior force under General Early.
25 February Veterans on furlough to Wheeling.
April 1 Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, West Virginia at Webster, West Virginia,
April 18 Moved to Grafton
April 19-22 To Martinsburg
April 30-May 16

Sigel’s Expedition to New Market

May 14 Mt. Jackson
May 15

Battle of New Market

May 16-June 1 At Cedar Creek
June 1-6 Advance to Staunton
June 5

Piedmont, Mt. Crawford

June 6 Occupation of Staunton
June 10-July 1

Hunter’s Raid on Lynchburg

June 11 Lexington
June 17-18

Lynchburg

Captain John Daugherty of Company I was wounded and captured. He would be paroled and released in November but died of dairhea before he could return home.

June 18-29 Retreat to Gauley Bridge
July 5-17 Moved to the Shenandoah Valley
July 17-18

Snicker’s Ferry

Second Lieutenant J. W. Plattenberg of Company K was wounded.

July 23-24

Second Battle of Kernstown

August to November

Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

August 12 Cedar Creek
August 22-24 Charlestown
August 26 Halltown
September 3-4 Berryville
September 19

Battle of Opequan, Third Battle of Winchester

September 22

Fisher’s Hill

October 19

Battle of Cedar Creek

Colonel Joseph Thoburn was mortally wounded rallying the men. 

October 29 Ordered to Cumberland, Md. Non-Veterans continued to Wheeling to muster out of service, while Veterans consolidated into a battalion of four companies under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Weddle.
December 10 Veterans consolidated with the 4th West Virginia Infantry to form the 2nd West Virginia Veteran Infantry