Romney, West Virginia in The American Civil War - 1864

1864

• On January 5, Fitzhugh Lee passed through Romney, which Maj. Harry Gilmor and Captain McNeill had occupied a few days before; following their departure, Capt. Henry A. Meyers occupied Romney on January 8. Later in the month it was yet again recaptured by Confederates.

• On February 3, a detachment of Thomas L. Rosser's unit (part of Jubal A. Early's command) entered Romney. In a complicated set of circumstances, Romney was occupied once or twice daily between February 1 and 3 inclusive. A detachment of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery was among the units involved.

• Sometime after the middle of March, Union cavalry moved through Romney.

• On May 10, Col. Jacob Higgins, commanding about 500 Federal cavalry, was surprised by detachments of Imboden's cavalry; he tried to rally his men "on the plains of Romney" but was pushed out of town. On May 11 Imboden departed.

• About two weeks later, the Ringgold Cavalry again passed through town on a scouting mission.

• About the middle of June, the Ringgolds passed through again.

• On June 26, part of the Union 6th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment scouted Romney.

• On July 3, the 6th West Virginia Cavalry returned to Romney.

• On July 4, Confederates rang the Hampshire County Courthouse bell in Romney to announce the approach of Federal scouts. During most of the month of July, McNeill and Harness were in the vicinity of Romney.

• On July 10, Confederates again briefly occupied Romney.

• On July 14, McNeill was again in Romney.

• On July 20, the Federal 6th West Virginia Cavalry again was in town.

• On August 3, Confederate general John McCausland, returning from his raid on Chambersburg, occupied Romney for two days.

• On August 6, Confederate scouts stationed at Romney warned McCausland of an impending attack upon his forces by General Averell who came through Romney that day. Averell successfully attacked McCausland at Moorefield and took approximately 420 prisoners.

• August 9, the 6th West Virginia Cavalry came through Romney; they did again on August 14 and August 17.

• On August 28 McNeill was said to yet again be in Romney.

• On November 6, Union scouts passed through town.

• On November 26, members of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry camped in Romney.

• On December 25 scouts from 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry passed through town.