On January 1, 1862, Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson led four brigades west from Winchester, Virginia, to secure Romney in the fertile South Branch Valley on the North Western Turnpike. He attacked and occupied Bath on January 4 and shelled Hancock, Maryland, then marched into Romney on January 14. Despite atrocious winter weather, Jackson's men destroyed telegraph lines and 100 miles of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad track. After Union Gen. Frederick W. Lander's forces evacuated Romney on January 10 as Jackson approached, leaving behind $60,000 worth of stores and fully stocked camps, Jackson made his headquarters in John Baker White's brick house on January 14. His men, who had suffered from extreme cold and heavy snow throughout the campaign, benefited from warm, dry clothing and rations left behind. While occupying the house, Jackson planned to pursue the Federal force and requested additional troops, including cavalry, hoping to capture Cumberland, Maryland, but when reinforcements did not come he instead planned to continue west and destroy the railroad bridge at New Creek Station, present-day Keyser. Low morale, especially in Gen. William W. Loring's brigades, led Jackson to abandon that plan, leave Loring's brigades in Romney, and march the Stonewall Brigade back to Winchester on January 23. Loring followed on January 31, the Federals reoccupied Romney on February 7, and after Loring began undermining Jackson's reputation with the War Department, Jackson received a telegram from Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin outside military channels directing him to order Loring out of Romney. Outraged by what he saw as a breach of protocol and interference, Jackson resigned but was eventually persuaded to remain in service.

Photo: Craig Doda

Photo: Don Morfe

Romney, West Virginia · USA