The Burning of Suttonville

The Burning of Suttonville (HM13V3)

Location: Sutton, WV 26601 Braxton County
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Country: United States of America
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N 38° 39.984', W 80° 42.918'

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Inscription

Partisan Attack

In 1861, Col. Erastus B. Tyler's 7th Ohio Infantry constructed earthworks near Suttonville to protect the suspension bridge across the Elk River. Later in the year, Capt. Weston Rowand's Co. K, 1st Virginia Cavalry (US), about a hundred men, occupied the fort.

At 10 A.M. on Wednesday, December 29, approximately eighty Confederate partisans known locally as the Moccasin Rangers attacked the Federals. Rowand and his second-in-command, 1st Lt. Charles D. Lawson were absent at the time, so 2nd Lt. Andrew Dawson directed the defense.

Capts. John L. Spriggs and George Down, who later commanded companies of the 19th Virginia Cavalry (CS), led the Confederate attack. The engagement lasted until 4 P.M., when the Federals, low on ammunition and believing they were about to be overrun, withdrew toward Weston. Spriggs pursued them to within three miles of Bulltown and, on returning here, found Suttonville ablaze. Who stated the fire is uncertain, but the blaze consumed most of the town including the courthouse. The Confederates marched south to Webster County after burning the Federal stores that they could not carry off.

On December 30, Union Col. Henry Anisansel led detachments of the 1st Virginia Cavalry and 3rd Virginia Infantry from Weston and attacked the partisans in Webster County. Union Col. George Crook joined the pursuit the next day from Summersville with six companies of the 26th Ohio Infantry. The Federals killed several partisans and burned buildings. When Union forces reoccupied Suttonville, several residents accompanied the troops to safety in Weston since their sustenance had been destroyed. The county records, earlier removed to Felix Sutton's house for safekeeping, were also taken to Weston.
Details
HM NumberHM13V3
Series This marker is part of the West Virginia Civil War Trails series
Tags
Placed ByWest Virginia Civil War Trails
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Friday, September 5th, 2014 at 2:38am PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17S E 524768 N 4279796
Decimal Degrees38.66640000, -80.71530000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 38° 39.984', W 80° 42.918'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds38° 39' 59.04" N, 80° 42' 55.08" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)304
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 96-165 County Route 19/40, Sutton WV 26601, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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