Charleston in Kanawha County, West Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Baptism By Fire
Cox launched a three-pronged drive up the Kanawha River Valley on July 11 to envelop Wise. Two wings marched overland while the third came upriver on four steamboats. Soon the Federal forces began to converge on Wise’s position, and on July 17, they fought at Scary Creek, fifteen miles downriver from here. During a Union charge, the untested Confederates panicked and began falling back. Capt. George Patton tried to rally them, but his frightened mount bolted to the rear and the men fled faster. Capt. Albert G. Jenkins assumed command. His horse also bolted, and the retreat gathered speed. It stopped, however, when Wayne County’s Sandy Rangers, called the Blood Tubs for their red shirts, joined the line, singing “Bullets and Steel.” and
"I saw, I think, the first puff of powder smoke and a bullet hit the stump on which I sat. A large beech tree was opportunely near me and I immediately sought the protection of its trunk. As the puffs of smoke increased, the beach tree seemed to wonderfully decrease in size. But for personal reasons, I stuck to it. Captain Albert G. Jenkins came up ... and called for someone to go and get his horse. He did not like King Richard, promised a kingdom for his horse, but I was thinking of the kingdom to come, and a chance to dodge it. So I left the beech tree, and ran ... over the hill and mounted the horse."
-Sgt. Levi Welch, 22nd Virginia Infantry
Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 38° 21.84′ N, 81° 39.75′ W. Marker is in Charleston, West Virginia, in Kanawha County. Marker is at the intersection of Kanawha Boulevard (U.S. 60) and Florida Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Kanawha Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1279 Kanawha Boulevard, Charleston WV 25312, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. War At The Front Door (approx. 0.7 miles away); Battle of Charleston (approx. 0.8 miles away); Military Occupation (approx. 1˝ miles away); Presidential Presence (approx. 1˝ miles away); State Capitol (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Charleston (approx. 1.9 miles away); Indian Mound (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Block (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
Categories. • War, US Civil •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 3, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Md 21234. This page has been viewed 424 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Md 21234. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.