The Battle of Charleston
Charleston woke to cannon fire on September 13, 1862.
Confederate General William Loring led 10,000 troops against Union Colonel Joseph Lightburn’s outmatched 5,000 men.
These commanders shared an odd link – Lightburn had grown up with Stonewall Jackson back in Lewis County. By afternoon, Loring rode into town as Union forces torched buildings and fled across the Elk River.
What came next was even more dramatic: a three-day, 50-mile retreat with 700 wagons worth over $1 million, plus fleeing townspeople and freed slaves.
The West Virginia State Museum now displays actual cannonballs from this pivotal battle that briefly gave the Confederates control of Charleston.
Washington Left Charleston Wide Open
Union General Jacob Cox moved 5,000 troops east to protect Washington in August 1862, leaving Colonel Joseph Lightburn with just 5,000 men to guard the Kanawha Valley.
Confederate leaders spotted this weakness after grabbing Union supply records. The valley looked tempting with its valuable salt works that supplied much of the South’s needs.
Cox never thought his troop move would set up one of West Virginia’s biggest battles.
Cavalry Raid Showed Union Forces Cut in Half
Confederate General Albert Jenkins led a bold cavalry raid on August 22 to test Union defenses. His men rode 500 miles through enemy land, taking a supply depot at Buckhannon on August 30.
The raid showed Union forces had dropped from 10,000 to 5,000 troops. Jenkins pushed further, becoming the first Confederate officer to cross into Ohio on September 4.
His success gave Confederate commanders the confidence to attack.
Confederate Army Headed North for Salt
Major General William Loring left The Narrows near Pearisburg, Virginia with 5,000 Confederate troops on September 6.
He wanted to retake the Kanawha Valley and its salt deposits before joining Stonewall Jackson’s forces. Colonel Lightburn got reports of 10,000 enemy troops coming his way, though the actual number matched his own 5,000.
He placed Colonel Siber’s brigade at Fayetteville as his first defense line.
Union Troops Held Fayetteville For a Day
Loring’s forces hit Colonel Siber’s 1,200-man Union brigade at Fayetteville on September 10. Though outnumbered four-to-one, Siber’s men used strong forts to hold back the Confederate attack all day.
A Confederate move nearly trapped the Union soldiers by nightfall.
After midnight, Siber led his men in a fighting withdrawal north toward the Kanawha River, buying time for the main Union force.
Union Guns Kept Confederates Back During Retreat
On September 11, Union forces left Fayetteville as Confederates followed them down roads blocked with cut-down trees. Siber made a stand at Cotton Hill with his guns, stopping a Confederate attempt to circle around him.
Union cannons on high ground held off pursuit until noon. Colonel Gilbert’s brigade covered the crossing while supply wagons crossed the Kanawha River.
The retreat stayed orderly but kept moving.
Both Sides Rushed Toward Charleston
Loring pushed his men forward on both sides of the Kanawha River toward Charleston on September 12. Lightburn waited at Camp Piatt, 13 miles east of Charleston, thinking 8,000 Confederates were coming.
Union forces started their final pullback as Confederate scouts showed up on the horizon. Charleston folks got early warnings about the coming fight from Union soldiers passing through town.
Many packed up and got ready to leave.
Morning Cannon Fire Woke Charleston Folks
Early Saturday morning on September 13, Charleston people jumped from their beds as Confederate cannon shells whistled over their homes.
Confederate guns fired from high ground east of town near where the state capitol stands today. Union forces answered with a weak blast from a six-pound gun at the Ruffner estate barn.
The artillery fight lasted most of the morning with few injuries but lots of noise and smoke.
Fires Spread Through Downtown as Union Forces Ran
By 11:30 a.m. , Union troops pulled back from eastern spots to downtown Charleston.
Colonel Lightburn warned people to get out, telling the well-known Ruffner family to leave their homes right away.
Union soldiers set fire to key buildings: the Kanawha House Hotel, Bank of Virginia, Asbury Chapel, and Mercer Academy all burned. Thick smoke filled the air as warehouses and cavalry barns caught fire.
Loring Rode Into the Burning Town
At 3:00 p.m. , Confederate forces took the Union flag as General Loring rode proudly into Charleston. Union troops crossed the Elk River bridge and blew it up behind them to slow pursuit.
Cannon fire kept up across the Elk River until 5:00 p.m. with little harm to either side.
Lightburn camped at Sissonville that night, starting a 50-mile retreat to the Ohio River with Confederates close behind.
A Huge Convoy Fled Toward Ohio
Lightburn protected a massive 700-wagon supply train worth over $1 million during the pullout.
Townspeople and freed slaves joined what folks called “Lightburn’s Retreat,” filling roads and the river with boats loaded with stuff.
Union forces avoided the direct route to Point Pleasant to dodge a Confederate cavalry trap.
A three-day running battle kept up toward the Ohio River while Confederates built a floating bridge on September 14 to keep up the chase.
The Short-Lived Confederate Victory Ended in Weeks
Union troops reached safety across the Ohio River at Ravenswood on September 16.
Loring stopped his pursuit and settled in Charleston, counting captured supplies he valued at $1 million. Despite losing 310 men compared to Loring’s 97, Lightburn successfully saved most of his valuable supply train.
The Confederate celebration lasted just six weeks due to Loring’s arguments with his commanders. By November 1862, Jacob Cox returned with overwhelming force and permanently retook Charleston and the Kanawha Valley.
Visiting West Virginia State Museum, West Virginia
The West Virginia State Museum at the Culture Center on 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East offers free admission Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
You can explore 26 Discovery Rooms with artifacts and stories about the Battle of Charleston, plus 2 interactive Connections Rooms with touchscreens.
Follow the museum’s path through West Virginia’s complete history from prehistoric times to today. Take Exit 99 off I-77/64 to reach the State Capitol Complex.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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