On November 26, 1862, 20 members of Company G, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, led by Maj. William H. Powell and Lt. Jeremiah Davidson, surprised and routed 500 Confederate soldiers of the 14th Virginia Cavalry at the base of Cold Knob. Union forces captured more than 100 of the enemy without suffering any loss of their own. In 1890, Powell received the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.