Eastern shore for Garrett and Allegheny-the two Western counties of Maryland. This was, however, abandoned. A brief description of the present boundaries is as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Oak creek, where the western boundary line of Pennsylvania crosses the Ohio; thence with the meanderings of that river and including the islands therein, to Virginia Point at the mouth of Big Sandy river; thence with that stream to the mouth of Knox creek, a corner of the States of Kentucky and Virginia; thence with a line of and including the counties of McDowell and Mercer to the top of East River mountain; thence with said ridge and with Peter's mountain to the Allegheny mountains; thence with the top of the same to Haystack Knob, a corner of Virginia and West Virginia; thence with the southern line of and including Pendleton county to the top of Shenandoah mountains; thence with the same and Branch mountain to a corner of Hardy and Rockingham counties; thence with the line of and including the counties of Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson to a point on the Maryland and Virginia line where the Potomac river intersects the Blue Ridge; thence with the meanderings of the Potomac to the confluence of Savage river and the North Branch of the Potomac; thence with the meanderings of the latter to the head spring thereof at the "Fairfax Stone;" thence due north with the western boundary line of Maryland to a point on the Pennsylvania line, a corner of the States of Maryland, and West Virginia; thence west with the southern boundary line of Pennsylvania to the southwest corner of that State, and thence with the western boundary of that State to the place of beginning. The

territory thus embraced includes an area of 24,645 square miles. This extent of territory is equal to twenty times that of Rhode Island; ten times that of Delaware; five times that of Connecticut; three times that of Massachusetts, and more than twice that of Maryland. It is about equal to the aggregate area of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and Vermont. At the time the State was admitted there were forty-eight counties. The addition of Berkeley and Jefferson increased the number to fifty. Four new counties-Mineral, Grant, Lincoln and Summers have been formed, making the present number fifty-four. Each will be noticed in the Second Part of

this work.

Within this area is great diversity of surface. The entire section may be described as mountainous or hilly. In the eastern and southern portions the elevations, in many places, exceed 4000 feet above the sea. From these heights there is a general slope toward the northwest. At its lowest altitudes, along the Ohio, its elevation is but from 600 to 800 feet above the sea. The stream erosion, as the waters seek the outlet afforded by the Ohio, has cut the plateau on this side into a network of crooked ridges with deep gorges or narrow valleys, which diminish, however, as they approach the northwestern boundary, until in the immediate proximity of the Ohio they are rounded and softened in outline, and the valleys become broad and are exceedingly fertile.

The northeastern quarter of the State is drained by the Potomac, which thrusts its long branches far back into the plateau. In all the water-courses of the State the descents are rapid, affording enormous enormous water

powers, which even now are but slightly utilized. Over the greater part of this magnificent domain the virgin forests still wave, furnishing immense opportunities for producing timber of the most valuable kinds. Vast beds of coal underlie some 16,000 square miles of the State, affording another natural source of wealth.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MILITARY OPERATIONS WITHIN THE STATE.

First Federal Troops in Western Virginia—First Virginia Federal Infantry—First Engagement within the Limits of the State-Battle of Falling Waters-Engagement at Rich Mountain-Confederates defeated at Carrick's Ford and Death of General Garnett-Engagement at Barboursville-General Wise in the Great Kanawha Valley-Engagement at Scarey Creek-Surprise at Kennedy's Hill and Death of Major Hall-Skirmish at Pore's Hill-Battle of Carnifex Ferry-Surprise at High Log Run-Firing upon the Town of Elizabeth-Engagement at Traveler's Repose or "Camp Barteau"- Battle of Camp Allegheny-Burning of Guyandotte-Running Fight near Barboursville -Battle of Lewisburg-Surrender at Spencer-General Miles' Surrender at Harper's Ferry-Lightburn's Retreat from the Kanawha Valley-Capture of General Scammon and Staff-Burning of the Steamer "B. C. Levi "-Engagement at Hurricane Bridge-Attack on Steamer "Victress "-Action at Point Pleasant-Skirmish at Tuckwiler's Hill-General Jones burns the Oil at Burning Springs-Battle of Dry Creek or White Sulphur Springs-Skirmish at Sugar Tree Creek-The Dublin Raid and Battle of Cloyd Mountain-Battle of Droop Mountain-Ambuscade at Curry's Farm-Skirmish at Raccoon Creek-Engagement at Winfield and Death of Colonel Thurman-Official Statement of the Number of Men from West Virginia in the National Service -Estimate of the Number from the State that entered the Confederate Service.

OWING to the geographical position and the distracted and divided condition of the people, some of the stern realities of war were witnessed in West Virginia. Here was presented a condition of affairs only existing in the border States. It was that of thousands of brave and determined men hastening to the recruiting officers and enlisting in the ranks of the respective armies under the flag-emblem of the cause they be-t lieved to be just. Thousands entered the Federal army and did valiant service on almost every battlefield of the war, while hundreds of others hastened over the Blue Ridge and in the ranks of the "Stone

wall Brigade" or other organizations added lustre to the annals of the Confederate arms. Much that occurred within the limits of the State belongs to general history, and for that reason only that of local interest is here presented.

The first Federal troops organized within the State was a regiment enlisted for three months, which collected on Wheeling Island and, under the command of Colonel B. F. Kelly, was mustered into service as the First Virginia Federal Infantry, May 15, 1861, by Major Oaks, of the United States Army. On the 25th of the same month it was joined by the first Federal troops that crossed the Ohio river. It was an Ohio regiment commanded by Colonel Lander. About the same time a Confederate force was collecting near Grafton under Colonel Porterfield. The troops from Wheeling proceeded by way of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, but the Confederates fell back to Philippi in Barbour county. The Federals followed and on the 3d day of June reached that position, where an engagement took place in which the Confederates were forced to retreat. The loss was slight on both sides. Colonel Kelly was severely wounded in the breast, but recovered and afterward rose to the rank of brigadier-general. This was the first engagement of the civil war west of the Allegheny mountains.

During the month of June, 1861, General Johnston concentrated a Confederate force numbering fifteen thousand men at Harper's Ferry. General Robert Patterson lay on the Maryland side of the Potomac with an equal, if not superior, force, and on the 30th of the month moved with the seeming intention of attacking Johnston; but the latter held his position, and