The Barboursville Civil War Days Weekend commemorates two small battles that occurred in the Barboursville, West Virginia. The original battles took place on July 13, 1861 and Sep. 8, 1862.
In July 1861, a Union regiment, the Second Kentucky Infantry (US) was ordered to Guyandotte as a result of the Border Rangers' seizure of a steamboat near Greenbottom. Shortly after the arrival of Union troops on July 11, several of Guyandotte's citizens took the oath of allegiance and Union flags were prominently displayed. A uniformed Home Guard unit rowed across the river accompanied by an elderly female color-bearer, Mrs. Caroline White. White, a Union supporter from Guyandotte who had fled to Ohio, presented a flag to one of the Union companies and gave them her blessing, to which the soldiers replied with "vociferous cheers." 600 Confederate Cavalry, including a party of Jenkins' Border Rangers(Company E, 8th Virginia Cavalry) led by Capt. James Ferguson, the Sandy Rangers led by Capt. James Corn, and a local Militia made up of men from Cabell, Wayne, and Lincoln counties, under the leadership of Colonel J. J. Mansfield, merged under the command of Capt. Ferguson to defend Barboursville. The Confederates for the most part were raw recruits with muzzle loading rifles, shotguns, blunderbuses.
On July 14, 1861 the Union troops of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry commanded by Colonel William Woodruff advanced into Barboursville. Coming from all directions the trained Union Forces continued despite being fired upon, to scamper up the hill. Francis B. Gunter's account of the Battle states that the federals "fixed bayonets to their guns and began a wild charge up the hill. Since bayonets were a new commodity to the surprised Confederates, they thought the federals were shooting knives at them." The over confident Confederates soon dispersed. Fortification Hill belonged to the Union and the Courthouse was used as a hospital.
After dispersing local militia in a brief fight at Barboursville on July 13, however, the Second Kentucky moved into the Kanawha Valley and civil chaos in the county resumed unchecked.
This event takes place at the Barboursville City Park, and is hosted by Jenkins' Brigade. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/BarboursvilleCivilWarDays
