Background
Starting in May 1861, Union forces commanded by Major General George McClellan advanced from Ohio into the western region of Virginia, both to protect Ohio and Pennsylvania from invasion from Confederate troops and to help the pro-Union government of Virginia located in Wheeling. Following his victory at Rich Mountain, McClellan was transferred to command the Army of the Potomac, leaving William Rosecrans in command of western Virginia. Rosecrans concentrated his forces to protect the major transportation lines in the region. Brigadier General Joseph J. Reynolds was left in command of the Cheat Mountain district, defending the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike with four regiments totaling 1,800 men. One regiment, the 14th Indiana commanded by Colonel Nathan Kimball, defended Fort Milroy on Cheat Mountain, while the remaining three were at Camp Elkwater near the Tygart Valley River, where Reynolds established his headquarters.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee was sent to western Virginia by President Jefferson Davis to coordinate the various Confederate forces in the region and regain lost Confederate territory. He arrived at the camps of the Army of the Northwest, commanded by Brigadier General William W. Loring, near the end of July; although he didn't replace Loring, Lee did issue orders through him. After personally scouting the area around the Union positions, Lee devised a strategy which included a two-pronged simultaneous attack against Kimball's position on the summit of Cheat Mountain and against Reynolds' camp. The plan used Loring's Army of the Northwest, which was divided into six brigades for the battle. Brigadier General Henry R. Jackson's brigade would create a diversion in front of Fort Milroy while Colonel Albert Rust's brigade would make the main assault on the fort and Brigadier General Samuel Anderson's brigade would capture the turnpike west of the fort; Brigadier General Daniel Donelson and Colonel Jesse S. Burke would seize the paths behind Camp Elkwater, with Colonel William Gilham's brigade in reserve. Loring was given command of Burke's and Gilham's brigades during the battle.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Cheat Mountain
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