Shepherdstown, Philipi, Harpers Ferry… these are many of the places most associated with battles during the War Between the States. But there’s another significant campaign that was waged in West Virginia – and the location, and its outcome, may surprise you.

It may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that our beloved Capital City was not only the site of this significant skirmish between Union and Confederate soldiers, but it was also under siege by Confederate troops for a full six weeks after the Battle of Charleston in 1862.
Flickr/ Richie Diesterheft
According to records, a mere 1,500 people lived in Charleston in 1860. Some historians believe the Confederate troops that arrived in Charleston in the autumn of 1862 numbered upward of 5,000 men.
The battle lasted less than a day before the Union troops retreated across the Kanawha River leaving the town open for the Confederate forces to take over.
Flickr/OzinOH
But The South's reign over the soon-to-be capital city of West Virginia was short-lived. By the end of October, the Confederate soldiers withdrew from their stronghold after just hearing about 12,000 Union soldiers that were enroute to take back the town.

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Many historic towns and cities in West Virginia have reminders of — and monuments commemorating — Civil War battles.
Waymarking.com/Sneakin Deacon
In Charleston, the grounds of the State House are home to the West Virginia Civil War Memorial. The memorial contains four plaques; one of them reads: In Memory of the thirty-two thousand soldiers, sailors and marines, contributed by West Virginia to the service of the Union during the Civil War. 1861 - 1865.
Do you remember learning this fascinating piece of Civil War history in school?
Flickr/David Grant

Keep reading about West Virginia’s involvement in the Civil War in this previous article about a battle that nearly destroyed an entire town.

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