Battle of Bulltown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Bulltown |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States of America |
 Confederate States of America |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| William Mattingly | William Lowther Jackson | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| est. 400 | est. 800 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| a few minor wounds (including Mattingly) | 8 killed, same number wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Bulltown was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened near Bulltown in Braxton County, West Virginia on October 13, 1863. This battle was a key moment in the war in West Virginia.
Contents
Why the Battle of Bulltown Happened
In the fall of 1863, a Confederate leader named William Lowther Jackson led about 800 soldiers. He was a cousin of the famous General "Stonewall" Jackson. Their mission was to attack a small fort at Bulltown. This fort was very important because it overlooked a crossing of the Little Kanawha River.
The Confederates wanted to cut off communication lines for the Union forces. These lines connected the Greenbrier and Kanawha Valleys. If they could control Bulltown, they could stop messages and supplies from moving.
The Union side had about 400 soldiers defending the fort. Their commander was Captain William Mattingly. The "fort" was not a strong stone castle. Instead, it was made of log barricades and shallow trenches. You can still see parts of these defenses today.
The Battle Begins: A Surprise Attack?
Jackson's Confederate troops tried to approach Bulltown secretly. They split their forces into two groups. Their plan was to attack the Union position from two different directions at the same time.
The Confederates began their attack at 4:30 AM on October 13. They quickly captured the Union guards who were watching for enemies. However, they failed to surprise the main Union group inside the fort. The Union soldiers were ready to fight.
Fighting for Twelve Hours
The Confederates moved forward against the fort. A long fight then began, lasting almost twelve hours. The battle continued until about 4:30 PM that afternoon.
During the battle, Jackson sent a message twice to Captain Mattingly. He demanded that the Union soldiers surrender. But Captain Mattingly famously replied, "I will fight until Hell freezes over and then fight on the ice." This showed his strong determination not to give up.
Eventually, Jackson and his Confederate soldiers decided to retreat. They headed back towards the Greenbrier Valley.
Who Won and What Were the Losses?
Even though the battle lasted a long time, there were not many injuries or deaths. The Union side had no soldiers killed. Captain Mattingly was wounded in his leg, and a few other Union soldiers had minor injuries.
The Confederate side lost eight soldiers who were killed. The same number of Confederate soldiers were wounded.
One civilian, Moses Cunningham, owned the farm where most of the fighting happened. He was wounded when he ran out of his house during the battle.
What Happened After the Battle of Bulltown
The Battle of Bulltown was the last major attack by the Confederates in West Virginia. The Union victory meant that the Confederate goals were stopped. They failed to disrupt the Union's communication lines. This battle helped the Union keep control of important areas in West Virginia.
