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The Battle of Laurel Mountain, also known as the battle of Bellington, or the battle of Bealington, was fought beginning July 7, 1861 on the western side of Laurel Mountain, near Bellington in Northewestern Virginia, on the Beverly-Fairmont pike (a north-south road leading across Laurel Mountain to Beverly in the Virginia valley, and then southwards to Huttonsville) during the starting months of ground warfare in the American Civil war. It was part of a unionist offensive to eject Rebel forces out of Northwestern Virginia. Union troops of the department of the Ohio, under command of George B. McClellan (who commanded the Ohio state militia before, appointed by governor Dennison Jr. before being given command of the entire department of the Ohio), entered Northwestern Virginia in May 28 of 1861, 5 days after Virginia ratified its decision to secede from the United States (and about 3 weeks after it had joined the confederacy, and Richmond became the capital of the Confederate States of America).

Virginian state militia had been stationed in NW. Virginia since mid-April under command of general George A. Porterfield, who had set to recruiting troops from the largely dissident and pro-unionist population of the region. After the confederacy ratified its secession by popular vote on May 24th, Porterfield set to destroying bridges, railroads, telegraph lines and other property in NW. Virginia, in anticipation of an imminent invasion by Unionist troops. Porterfield's small force (about 1,300 men, half of which were without firearms, and no cannonry) retreated in face of the unionist offensive that started in May 28. Porterfield's troops were decisively routed while camped at Philippi, but most of his army straggled out of the town due to the failure of the unionist plan to envelop his force. Porterfield was subsequently relieved by the overall commander in chief of the military of Virginia, Robert E. Lee, and was replaced by Robert S. Garnett, Lee's favourite adjutant. Lee ordered Garnett with fresh troops into NW. Virginia to defend the strategic mountain valley and Tygart Valley, some of the primary invasion route threats to Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Garnett based his forces in Laurel Mountain, guarding the northern Philippi-Beverly turnpike, which leads into Leadsville (Elkins). A smaller portion of his force he dispatched to take up defensive positions on Rich Mountain along the strategic Buckhannon-Beverly turnpike. After McClellan routed the confederates from Philippi, he split his large force. One, under command of Brig. Gen Thomas A. Morris beset the rebels under command of Garnett at Laurel Mountain, while McClellan took command of a larger force against the smaller force of confederates at Rich Mountain.

Morris was harangued by McClellan incessantly to act cautiously and beware of superior enemy forces. McClellan himself likewise advanced cautiously and hesitantly towards Rich Mountain, believing the force there to be at least equal to his own. Morris and his troops arrived to Laurel Mountain on July 7 and began offensive operations.

Battle

Offensive operations against Laurel Mountain began on July 7, After less than a week of skirmishing Morris’ force came to a standoff against Garnett’s Confederate force on Laurel Hill. Occasional sniper and artillery fire plagued both sides amidst inclement weather. Stiff resistance convinced Morris he faced the main Confederate force. On July 11, Garnett learned of the rout of confederates at Rich Mountain, and ordered a retreat across Laurel Mountain. The 44th Virginia Infantry was ordered to hold the Beverly Road by engaging Federals to give the appearance of an attack. With Gen. William Rosecrans’ Union brigade approaching from the South (he had been ordered north by McClellan to chase the retreating confederate army under Garnett). The confederate troops under Garnett retreated in great disorder, and Morris captured XXXX.

Aftermath

Confederate troops retreated in great disorder across Laurel Mountain to the Tygart valley, and then over cheat mountain. Garnett's column was sharply pursued by Morris' troops all the way to Cheat Mountain, where Garnett himself was killed during a rearguard action with union troops in Corrick's Ford on the cheat river. Large numbers of equipment and wagons were abandoned by the troops subsequently, and a large number of confederate troops deserted as well. McClellan intensely criticized Morris in his report to the war department, claiming that he was too laggardly in his pursuit of the retreating confederates.

The defeat of confederate troops at Laurel Mountain and Rich Mountain ejected most confederate military presence in NW. Virginia, and put the northwestern areas of Virginia firmly in unionist control. The reorganized government was formed as a consequence of the wheeling convention. McClellan bombastically declared that rebel presence had been annihilated in NW. Virginia, although there was still a disorganized confederate military presence along the Kanawha river under command of secessionist hardliner Henry Wise and former secretary of war John Floyd. The victories at Laurel Mountain and Rich Mountain were greatly celebrated in the North and a short war against a largely incompetent foe was being confirmed, although this optimism was shattered less than two weeks later when the Union army of Virginia was completely routed by confederate troops under command of P.G.T Beauregard, reinforced by Johnston, at Manassas Junction in July 22. The defeat there marred the achievements in NW. Virginia, and instead of continuing offensive operations into Shenandoah McClellan ordered his troops into defensive positions at Gauley bridge, Cheat Mountain, Allegheny Mountain among others. McClellan's meteoric reputation at the time due to the victories at Philippi and Rich Mountain made him appear as the only competent commander in federal military service, and he was quickly summoned to Washington by Lincoln after the defeat at Manassas to reorganize the routed army of Northeastern Virginia. McClellan placed William S. Rosecrans as his succeeding commander of the department of the Ohio and departed for Washington.