The Columns Unite

— Jones-Imboden Raid —

On April 20, 1863, Confederate Gens. William E. "Grumble" Jones and John D. Imboden began a raid from Virginia through present-day West Virginia against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Taking separate routes, they later reported that they marched 1,100 miles, fought several engagements, captured 100 Federals, seized about 1,200 horses and 4,000 cattle, and burned 4 turnpike bridges, more than 20 railroad bridges, 2 trains, and 150,000 barrels of oil. Most bridges were soon repaired. Confederate losses were slight. By May 26, both commands had returned to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

On April 29, 1863, after occupying Beverly for four days, Confederate Gen. John D. Imboden and his cavalry rode west on the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike to Buckhannon. They waited near here until May 2, when Gen. William E. Jones arrived with his command. After conferring, the raiders prepared to ride on to Weston. The 6th Virginia Cavalry, which was at Beverly to guard the rear of Imboden's column, was sent orders to ride west and join the main column in Weston. Jones was surprised to find that the Confederates' seventy-wagon supply train had caught up with Imboden's cavalry here, given the wet and muddy conditions in the mountains.

If you had been on the front porch of this house on May 2, 1863, you would have seen the long columns of cavalrymen and supply wagons pass by en route to Weston. Once there, the raiders rested, rounded up stragglers, and awaited the 6th Virginia Cavalry's arrival. On May 6, Jones and Imboden separated their columns, with Jones heading west toward Parkersburg while Imboden rode south to Sutton.

(Sidebar): Benjamin Bassel, Sr., constructed this house about 1849. According to local tradition, Bassel, a Confederate soldier, slipped home through the Union lines to see his sick wife. He hid in the attic, but eventually Union troops discovered him. After he was arrested, a neighbor contrived to have Bassel's wife and children also confined in Weston so that he could confiscate the property. Col. George R. Latham, 5th West Virginia Cavalry commander and editor of the Grafton Western Virginia newspaper encountered the group en route to Weston. When he inquired as to why a woman and children were being led away under guard and was told that they were to be confined, Latham was outraged. He ordered the soldiers to dismount, put the family on their horses, and return them to their home. The Upshur County Development Authority owns and occupies the building, which has been extensively altered and then restored by later owners.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Buckhannon, WV  |  Upshur County  |  26201  |  West Virginia  |  United States of America

The History Center
Buckhannon / Frontier Days
Destruction at the Courthouse
McClellan's Buckhannon Camp
Jenkins in Buckhannon
Population Center
Lorentz
Gen. Lightburn
Hacker's Creek/Jane Lew
First M.P. Church

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.