Jones–Imboden Raid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Jones-Imboden Raid |
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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 | |||||||
| Robert C. Schenck Benjamin S. Roberts |
William E. Jones John D. Imboden |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 45,000 (Total Middle Military Department) | 7,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Livestock driven off 1,000 head of cattle 1,200 horses Resources destroyed 16 rail bridges 150,000 barrels of oil Human casualties 700 prisoners 30 killed |
unknown | ||||||
The Jones–Imboden Raid was a military operation by the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. It took place in what is now West Virginia during April and May 1863. This raid was led by two Confederate generals, William E. Jones and John D. Imboden.
Their main goals were to stop traffic on the important Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They also wanted to show Confederate power in the region. This was important because people there were trying to create a new state, West Virginia. Voters had already approved a new constitution, and the state was just waiting for approval from the U.S. Congress and President.
From a military point of view, the raid was somewhat successful. The Confederates damaged several railroad bridges and an oil field. They also captured valuable supplies and gained new soldiers. However, the raid failed politically. It did not stop the movement for statehood. West Virginia officially became the 35th state in the Union in June 1863.
Contents
Why the Raid Happened
The idea for this raid first came from John Hanson McNeill. He was a leader of McNeill's Rangers, a Confederate group. He wanted to destroy a key bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. This railroad was very important for the Union to move supplies through western Virginia.
McNeill's idea grew into a bigger plan with two main parts.
- General Jones would attack the B&O Railroad between Grafton (West) Virginia and Oakland, Maryland.
- General Imboden would attack Union army posts in towns like Beverly, Philippi, and Buckhannon.
The raiders hoped to get supplies, damage the B&O Railroad, and find new soldiers. They also wanted to weaken the Unionist government in Wheeling. Wheeling was an important industrial city because of the B&O Railroad. It was also a major port on the Ohio River.
Jones's Attack on Rowlesburg
General W. E. Jones, sometimes called "Grumble" because of his temper, led about 3,500 men. He left Rockingham County on April 21, 1863, and moved into (West) Virginia. His main targets were two bridges in Preston County near Rowlesburg.
On April 25, 1863, Jones's troops faced a small Union force at Greenland Gap. This delayed them for four hours. The Confederates then continued west. The next morning, April 26, Jones sent some of his men to destroy a B&O bridge in Oakland, Maryland. Meanwhile, Jones's main force aimed for the two most important bridges: one over the Cheat River and another over Tray Run. Destroying the Cheat River Bridge was seen as very important by Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
The Union forces in Rowlesburg had about 250 men. On the morning of April 26, Jones's cavalry reached the Cheat River. Jones sent a small group of fewer than 100 men to attack the Cheat River railroad bridge. This group tried to surprise the Union defenders.
As the Confederates charged, Union soldiers and townspeople quickly took up defensive spots. They waited until the Confederates were close, then fired with great force. The Confederates were forced to retreat. Their attack on the Cheat River bridge completely failed.
Jones also sent another group of his men to attack Rowlesburg from a different direction. This group faced strong resistance from Union soldiers and local citizens. The fighting lasted for hours. General Jones was very angry that his troops could not break through. He finally accepted defeat and pulled his men back. The narrow paths and steep hillsides made it hard for his cavalry to fight effectively.
Rowlesburg was a key target for the Confederates, but it remained untouched. The "Lincoln's Lifeline" (the B&O Railroad) was safe. While the Oakland raid did destroy some bridges, the most important Cheat River bridge was still standing.
Imboden's Movements
General John Imboden led about 1,825 men, which grew to 3,365 with reinforcements. He moved west from Shenandoah Mountain on April 20, 1863. He marched through heavy rain and snow toward Beverly. There, he defeated Union defenders and captured much-needed supplies.
Imboden then moved toward Buckhannon. Union General Benjamin S. Roberts decided to pull his forces out of Buckhannon and Philippi to strengthen Clarksburg. Imboden learned of this and quickly moved his forces into Buckhannon. His men were able to save some supplies that the Union forces had tried to burn. They also collected cattle and horses.
Union General Henry Wager Halleck in Washington was very frustrated. He felt his officers were not doing enough to stop the raid.
On April 29, Imboden decided to march to Philippi. On the way, he met General Jones and some of his troops. Jones had already burned nine railroad bridges and captured two trains. He also took an artillery piece, 1,200 to 1,500 horses, and 1,000 head of cattle.
Later Actions and Aftermath
On May 3, the two generals moved their combined forces to Weston. Two days later, they had a parade through the town. General Imboden used this chance to send his parents, who lived in Weston, to safety behind Confederate lines.
The generals thought about attacking Clarksburg. However, they decided they did not have enough men. Some troops had been sent east with the captured cattle. Others were sick or injured in Beverly and Buckhannon. So, they decided to split their forces again. Jones's troops would raid northwest, and Imboden's forces would move south with the captured supplies and wounded soldiers.
Jones captured West Union and Cairo. He burned five more bridges and damaged a railroad tunnel. In Burning Springs, his troops destroyed the oil field and equipment. They also burned 150,000 barrels of oil. Then, Jones moved south to meet Imboden.
Imboden faced bad weather on his march south. He captured a supply train with 28 wagons and 170 mules at Summersville. He also gathered more livestock. He met Jones there on May 14. After that, they went their separate ways again. Imboden moved south to Lewisburg. He reached the Shenandoah Valley in the last week of May.
General Jones led his men through Greenbrier County. They rested at White Sulphur Springs on May 17. They then moved on to Bath County.
In the end, Jones estimated that about 30 Union soldiers were killed and 700 were taken prisoner. The Confederates gained about 400 new recruits. They also captured one artillery piece, 1,000 head of cattle, and 1,200 horses. Sixteen bridges were destroyed, along with an oil field and many boats and railroad cars.
However, the raiders failed to destroy a suspension bridge over the Monongahela River. Important politicians of the Unionist government in Virginia also escaped. For example, Senator Waitman T. Willey quickly crossed the Ohio River. The raiders could only burn the library of Governor Francis Pierpont in Fairmont.
Many of the Confederate soldiers in this raid were from western Virginia. Just a few weeks after their raid, their homes became part of the new state of West Virginia. It officially became the 35th state in the Union on June 20, 1863. Even though the Confederate government never recognized West Virginia as a state, the Confederacy was never able to seriously challenge the Union's control over it again.
