Fort Fuller, also called Fort Kelley, stood atop the ridge overlooking the Potomac River Valley and the New Creek Valley as part of the Federal defense of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland and West Virginia. In August 1862, the 23rd Illinois Infantry began building the fort, naming it for Illinois Adjutant General Allen C. Fuller, and it was later renamed for Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley. Supported by batteries on Queens Point and New Creek Mountain, it had earthen walls, ditches, and five cannons, while Federal regiments camped nearby for most of the war to protect the railroad. On August 4, 1864, Confederate Gen. John McCausland attacked as he retreated south after burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but the assault failed when a detachment of the 11th West Virginia Infantry arrived to reinforce the Federals; the garrison lost only eight men, and the Confederates fled to Moorefield. On November 26, Union Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley ordered Col. George R. Latham, commanding there, to send out a patrol, and two days later Confederate Gen. Thomas L. Rosser's cavalrymen, disguised in Union uniforms, rode into New Creek and were mistaken for the returning detachment. Rosser's troopers then destroyed buildings and supplies, captured the fort, and fled after also taking the Federal camp and New Creek Station on the railroad.