The state of West Virginia was a child of the factors which led to the Civil War. Shortly after Virginia's secession from the Union, Western Virginia adopted the Reorganization Ordinance of June l9, l861. By the time of its split with Virginia, West Virginia had already become a battle ground. The first land battle of the Civil War was fought in West Virginia. None of the battles here had the excessive casualties which characterized engagements in Virginia and Tennessee. The campaigns conducted here attempted to disrupt enemy communications and supplies rather than destroy armies. This led to a series of actions which emphasized movement and fortification. As a result, many towns in West Virginia changed hands dozens of times.

Campaigning in the hilly, heavily wooded terrain of West Virginia was a difficult proposition. The poverty of the land combined with the difficulty in maintaining supply lines necessarily kept opposing armies small. Troops suffered from the harsh climatic conditions as well as disease. As with most campaigns of the 19 th century, far more soldiers were lost to disease than fell in battle.

Veterans would recall the physical hardships endured in the mountain campaigns as the worst of the war. The following quote by Walter Taylor, aide-de-camp to R.E. Lee, typifies the West Virginia mountain campaigns.

"In subsequent campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia the troops were subject to great privations and to many severe trials-in hunger often their nakedness scarcely concealed; strength at times almost exhausted-but never did I experience the same heart-sinking emotions as when contemplating the wan faces and emaciated forms of those hungry, sickly, shivering men of the Army of Valley Mountain.

The 1861-1863 campaigns emphasized the control of a few turnpikes and railroad. Forts, battlefields, and encampments included in this tour relate to control of these vital transportation and communication arteries.

The campaigns in West Virginia built the reputations of many individuals who would later become leading figures in the war. Robert E. Lee would become the head of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. George B. McClellan would command the Union Army of the Potomac as a result of his victory at Rich Mountain. W.S. Rosecrans would eventually command the Union Army of the Cumberland. Two future presidents of the United States (W. McKinley and R. Hayes) participated in the West Virginia campaigns.

As the focus of the war moved to other areas the major concentrations of troops in West Virginia departed. However, minor engagements and guerrilla activity continued. The terrain is uniquely favorable to this kind of warfare. Confederate guerrillas, called "partisans" or "bushwhackers" depending upon one's point of view, conducted and effective campaign of harassment throughout the area. Union troops were kept off balance responding to raids of these groups who were often joined on larger raids by regular Confederate forces.

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