Civil War History

WASHBURN, W.Va. — From Otter Slide Creek to Hell-for-Certain Branch, many streams in West Virginia boast interesting placenames, but the name of this scenic brook in Ritchie County is remarkable. Locals call it “shiver-dee-freeze” or something similar, though its origin is undeniably French and hard for the typical English speaker to pronounce — Chevaux de … Read more

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — John James Davis was shocked to learn that the Virginia Convention had endorsed secession on April 17, 1861. A Clarksburg lawyer, he was devoted to the Union and believed the decision was wrong. A few days later, he sent off a letter to his fiancée, Anna Kennedy, who lived in Baltimore with … Read more

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — The Nina Paden and its skipper wheeled beyond the call of duty in ferrying the Ohio River at Parkersburg, West Virginia. Of all the tales of the Ohio, theirs may rank among the most fearless. The following narrative was provided by the late Jim Wallen, a reporter for the Huntington Herald-Dispatch. It … Read more

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Of the many historic landmarks in charming Lewisburg, West Virginia, perhaps none is more remarkable than a cross-shaped Confederate grave on a hill above the city’s downtown historic district. According to a prominent West Virginia historian, it may be among the most remarkable burial grounds in the nation. In a shady park … Read more

HURRICANE, W.Va. — Early research on a Civil War engagement in West Virginia at Hurricane Bridge underestimated the number of soldiers involved. This led historians to mislabel the “battle” as a “skirmish,” according to historian Philip Hatfield, Ph.D. “A skirmish implies this small, sort of insignificant affair, but there were many more troops involved,” says … Read more

WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. — Perhaps no county in West Virginia is as isolated as Webster County. Entirely mountainous, no expressway or U.S. highway ventures into it, and many densely forested sections haven’t been explored in years except by enterprising hunters and foresters. Only three percent of its 356,000 acres are in farmland—a remarkably small amount—and … Read more