rich mountain battlefield civil war site

Most people are not aware that the earliest battles in the American Civil War took place in what is now central West Virginia in the summer of 1861. The first land battle of the war took place in Phillippi, WV. The same forces met again on Rich Mountain which is situated on a high portion of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Whichever army controlled the mountain, controlled the flow of goods, ammunition and soldiers moving across the Appalachian Mountains from the Ohio River north or from the southern interior of Virginia. The Union won the decisive battle. The soldiers engaged in combat two more times, on Laurel Mountain outside of present day Belington and at Corrick's Ford outside of Parsons. These four battles more or less placed the central section of present day West Virginia in control of the Union Army for the duration of the war and helped create the new state of West Virginia in 1863.All four battle sites are available for visitors. The town of Phillippi commemorates its first land battle with the annual Blue and Gray Reunion the first weekend in June. For three days the town is filled with 19th century re-enactors, both soldiers and civilians, re-enacting the battle and skirmishes along with a variety of 19th century living history scenarios including a period church service and dance. Saturday afternoon offers the annual Blue and Gray Choir concert performing a variety of 19th century music. The town takes great pride in its 19th century two lane covered bridge built by Lemuel Chenoweth which is still used by vehicular traffic. Rich Mountain Battlefield has been preserved with interpretive signs located in strategic places on the battlefield. Every odd-numbered year Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation re-enacts the battle and has living history in the military camps of both armies. A visitor center, which interprets the battle, is located within the Beverly Heritage Center in the town of Beverly, a quaint community founded in 1790 that served as the county seat of Randolph County. The town's historic district has interpretive signs in front of most of his older homes and buildings. A walking map can be secured in the Beverly Heritage Center where there are informative exhibits about the area. The Battle of Laurel Mountain and Corrick's Ford have interpretive markers. Organizers at these two sites are developing events to mark the two battles.

This battlefield does not have all the monuments like the better known sites run by the National Park Service. This battlefield has been preserved almost unchanged condition since the battle. There are signs describing the various aspects of the barrle. Be sure to visit Camp Garnett a mile and a half from the battlefield to see the Civil War earthworks. To reach the site you need to drive up the mountain for several miles on a dirt road so it might not be best to go if it has been raining.