Battle of Charlestown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Charlestown |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Benjamin L. Simpson | John D. Imboden | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,125 | 1,900 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 452 (22 killed, 50 wounded, 382 captured) | 61 (40 killed and wounded, 21 captured) | ||||||
The Battle of Charlestown was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on October 18, 1863, in Charles Town, West Virginia. This battle was part of larger military actions known as the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.
In this battle, Confederate cavalry led by John D. Imboden fought against Union forces. The Union troops were commanded by Benjamin L. Simpson. The Confederates won this battle.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Confederate Plans in the Valley
During the Civil War, the main Confederate and Union armies were fighting in central Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee wanted to distract the Union forces. So, he sent cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Imboden to the Shenandoah Valley. Imboden's job was to attack the Union base at Charles Town, West Virginia. Lee hoped this attack would make the Union move some of their troops away from the main fighting.
Union Forces at Charles Town
By October 17, Imboden's soldiers reached Berryville. There, they had a small fight with some Union cavalry. The Union cavalry was pushed back to Charles Town. The Union commander at Charles Town was Colonel Benjamin Simpson. He was new to his job, having joined the service only 17 days earlier. Simpson was told that the Confederates were nearby. He was advised to move his troops to Harpers Ferry, which was much better defended. However, Simpson thought Charles Town was not the main target of the Confederate attack. He decided to stay and defend the town.
The Battle Begins
Early Morning Attack
The battle started at dawn on October 18. Confederate soldiers under Imboden pushed back the Union guards south of Charles Town. Colonel Simpson's troops, about 375 men from the 9th Maryland Infantry, took positions inside the Jefferson County Courthouse. This courthouse was famous because John Brown was tried and executed there. Simpson told his cavalry, which included parts of the Loudoun Rangers and 6th Michigan Cavalry, to "take care of themselves."
Confederate Demands and Union Cavalry's Escape
When Imboden entered Charles Town, he sent a message asking Simpson to surrender. Simpson refused. The Union cavalry saw that their situation was hopeless. They decided to fight their way out of town and try to reach the Union base at Harpers Ferry.
On the northeast side of town, the Union cavalry met Confederate troops. These were the 18th Virginia Cavalry and 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry. The Confederates fired a volley, hitting several Union riders and their horses. The remaining Union cavalry rode around their fallen comrades. By chance, they rode into a weak spot in the Confederate lines. The Union cavalry fought their way through, but they suffered heavy losses. Many were captured, some were killed or wounded, and almost all their horses were shot.
Fighting at the Courthouse
Meanwhile, back in Charles Town, Imboden brought up his cannons. He again demanded that Simpson surrender his troops. Simpson refused a second time. Imboden then began to fire his cannons at the town. Under the heavy artillery fire, Simpson had to leave the courthouse. He marched his men to a field northwest of town, near where the cavalry fight had happened. Imboden gathered his forces in a nearby woods and fired a deadly volley at Simpson's men. After several minutes, with only a few shots fired back, Simpson finally surrendered his remaining 365 soldiers.
Union Reinforcements Arrive
The sound of the cannons was heard in nearby Harpers Ferry. Union commanders quickly sent reinforcements to help the besieged Charles Town garrison. About 300 men, including the 17th Indiana battery, Cole's Maryland Cavalry, and the rest of the Loudoun Rangers and 6th Michigan, were sent. Within 15 minutes, these reinforcements met Imboden's forces. A fierce firefight lasted for the rest of the afternoon. However, these reinforcements were not strong enough to drive off Imboden and free the captured Union soldiers.
As the sun began to set, more Union troops arrived. These were 400 soldiers from the 34th Massachusetts Infantry. They had marched 18 miles from their camp at Berryville after hearing the cannon fire. The Massachusetts soldiers attacked Imboden's forces. Under the cover of darkness, Imboden decided to pull back. He left the area, taking his prisoners and anything valuable he had taken from the town.
What Happened After
Confederate Success and Union Losses
General Imboden successfully attacked and defeated the Union forces at Charles Town. This battle showed how weak the Union forces were in the Shenandoah Valley. The Confederates had only light losses. While Imboden's raid was a success, it did not greatly change the overall outcome of the fall military campaigns. These campaigns ended shortly after, as both armies settled into winter camps.
For the Union, despite their considerable losses, they managed to save Charles Town from being completely destroyed. They also turned back Imboden's raid. If the raid had been allowed to continue, it might have had a bigger impact on the main fighting in central Virginia.
