WEST VIRGINIA

In 1861 when Virginia decided to leave the Union and join its fellow Southern states, 50 counties in the Western part of the state said no. Instead, these 50 counties, strong in Union sympathy, chose to leave Virginia and side with the North. On June 30, 1863, the state of West Virginia was created from those counties that seceded from Virginia.

In all, West Virginia provided 17 regiments of infantry, 7 of cavalry, and 8 batteries of light artillery for the Union. No major battles were fought in West Virginia, although it was the base for numerous operations into Virginia, and there was fighting in 1861 to see if the Confederacy could compel the Mountaineers to allegiance.

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