The Battle of Carnifex Ferry was fought near the town of Summersville in Nicholas County, (West) Virginia on 10 September 1861. After several skirmishes in the area, Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans led Union troops down from Clarksburg to meet Brigadier General John B. Floyd at Carnifex Ferry, where the Confederates entrenched themselves. The battle lasted for several hours, stopping when night fell. Although the Confederates had suffered minimal casualties, orders from General Lee and the strength of the Union artillery caused Floyd to retreat back across the Gauley River. The battle is considered a Union victory and was arguably contributed to the eventual withdrawal of Confederate forces from the territory that would become the state of West Virginia.
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material, A&M 2169, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Records relating to the history of southeastern West Virginia. Most of the items in the collection relate to Greenbrier and/or Monroe County. Includes antebellum, Civil War, and postbellum materials.
Antebellum material (1833-1850; 7 items) includes a land suit, an estate report and schedule, other financial documents, and personal letter.
Civil War material (1861-1863; 4 items) includes four letters authored by Confederate soldiers. Two of these letters concern the battle of Carnifex Ferry. The letter of 16 September 1861 was authored by Hiram A. Sharitz, Camp Sewell, Fayette County, Virginia to his cousin Susan V. Yonce, Wytheville, Virginia. The letter of 21 September 1861 was authored by D. McA. Sharitz, Camp Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County to his cousin. Topics covered in the letters include the sizes of Confederate and Federal forces; description of the battle; respective casualties suffered by each army; and the skillful and successful Confederate retreat. The second letter also mentions Brigadier General John B. Floyd and General Lee.
The letter of 18 August 1862 was authored by J. A. Yonce, encamped near Grey Sulphur Springs, Monroe County to his sister Fannie A. Yonce, Wytheville, Virginia. Yonce writes about family members and friends; review of troops at Camp Narrows; new commanding officer; conditions in camp; and potential movement of troops into the Kanawha Valley. Letter of 24 July 1863 was authored by J. W. Morehead from Camp Stuart, Greenbrier County to a "Turpin". Morehead writes of his experience during the war and his longing for civilian life; opinion of the war and its effect on civilization; prediction of outcome of conflict in Confederate favor.
Postbellum material (1886-1933; 9 items) includes receipts from three druggists, two personal letters, two programs for local events (High School graduation and Knights of Columbus events), and an unidentified photograph.
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