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Description of Charleston Confederate Raid An Outstanding First-hand Description of the Confederate

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Description of Charleston Confederate Raid An Outstanding First-hand Description of the Confederate
<B>An Outstanding First-hand Description of the Confederate Raid on Charleston, West Virginia, 1862.</B></I><BR><BR> <B>(Confederate Raid on Charleston, 1862) Autograph Letter Signed by Confederate officer </B></I> "<I>C. E. Thorburn - Col. & Inspcr Genl - Army Western Va.</B></I>", eight pages, 8" x 9.5", Charleston, [West] Virginia, September 15, 1862 describing the Confederate raid on Charleston, the capital of present-day West Virginia. Thorburn, a member of General William W. Loring's staff, describes the foray into Union-held Western Virginia in September, 1862. He narrates (quoted in very small part here) the events in excellent detail from the outset of the mission to their brief occupation of Charleston: "<I>The difficulty of obtaining transportation delayed the advance of the Army of Western Va under Major Genl. Loring till the 6th of Sept... in Rawleigh... Our Cavy drove in the pickets capturing a few prisoners from whom we learned that the enemy would not make a stand till they had fallen back to Fayett[e] C[ourt]. H[ouse]. Raleigh C. H. was fortified & the brick houses loopholes but we entered the village without firing a shot...we had advanced to within 6 miles of Fayett C. H. when we learned from the Country people the Enemy were in strong force & well fortified.... Genl. Williams drove the enemy skirmishers from the woods & into the fortifications, slowly they taking advantage of each piece of favorable ground till he had advanced within 800 yds of the lower work when they opened on him with their artill[e]ry. Genl. Loring than [sic] ordered his artill[e]ry to take position on a slight eminence to the left about 500 yards & opened upon them From this point there was no cover for the men but our sharp Shooters picked off the gunmen & riflemen whenever they shewed [sic] theirselves [sic] finding that there were four fortifications the lower being commanded by the next higher... I went into their lines after night and found out that It could be [captured by storm]... Whilst making preparations to move to that point the Enemy evacuated his works & fled... The gallant men of our army pushed on & found the enemy in position the side of the Kanawa River Otey's Battery was moved to the front & soon discharged (with the aid of our skirmishers who occupied the hill sides) the Yankeys from their 'Stong [sic] hold') Genl Loring ordered our advance, our men answered with a cheer and the Yankees fled again after firing an immense quantity of stores. they attempted to burn their fery [sic] boats but a party of our men led by Dr Watkins of Charleston Ky / surgeon of the 22d Va. Rgt swam the river under the enemy's fire & saved them. In half an hour the ferry was established & we were advancing down both sides of the Kanawa River. Our list of prisoners was swelling every hour and our army can be more than clad & substituted from the stores saved...</B></I>" Torburn continues to describe the vast quantity of captured stores and narrate the approach to Charleston: "<I>This brings us to the 13th At about 11 AM. Genl. Williams opened on the enemy who had now crossed to their side of he River... our Cavy drove in their rear guard till they opened on them... A running fight was kept up for some time till we came in sight of Charleston, Genl. Loring now learned that Genl. Lightburn (Yankee) had ordered the Women & Children out of town stating that if compelled to leave, that he would burn the town. He Loring ordered Col McCauslin... to push our skirmishers... rapidly up... so quickly did our men push them that they (The Yankees) fired only two store houses and a few buildings... and destroying the bridge over Elk River... the battle now became an artill[e]ry duel & the Sharp Shooters of both sides on </B></I> From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.