Battle of Droop Mountain

Battle of Droop Mountain
	Part of the American Civil War
	; Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Date	November 6, 1863
Location	Pocahontas County, West Virginia38°06′36″N 80°16′20″W / 38.11000°N 80.27222°W
Result	Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
William W. Averell	John Echols; William L. Jackson
Units involved
; 10WV Inf Regmt.; 28OH Inf Regmt.; 2WV Mtd. Inf Regmt.; 3WV Mtd. Inf Regmt.; 8WV Mtd. Inf Regmt.; 14PA Cavalry Regmt.; Gibson's Cavalry Bat.; Battery B 1WV Artillery; Battery G 1WV Artillery; 68NY Inf Det. S.Corp;	; 19VA Cavalry Regmt.; less 300-400 men 20VA Cavalry Regmt.; Kessler's Cavalry Bat.; 14VA Cavalry (6 co.); 22VA Inf (550 men); 26VA Inf Battalion; Battery - Chapman; Battery - Jackson; Battery - Lurty;
Strength
~ 3,855	~ 1,700
Casualties and losses
140 (45 killed, 93 wounded, 2 captured)	276 (33 killed, 121 wounded, 122 missing)

The Battle of Droop Mountain occurred in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, on November 6, 1863, during the American Civil War. A Union brigade commanded by Brigadier General William W. Averell defeated a smaller Confederate force commanded by Brigadier General John Echols and Colonel William L. "Mudwall" Jackson. Confederate forces were driven from their breastworks on Droop Mountain, losing weapons and equipment. They escaped southward through Lewisburg, West Virginia; hours before a second Union force commanded by Brigadier General Alfred N. Duffié occupied the town.

The Battle of Droop Mountain was one of the largest engagements in West Virginia during the war. Although Averell had a sound victory at Droop Mountain, he did not achieve his objectives of eliminating the Confederate army in Lewisburg and damaging the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The pro-Confederate community of Lewisburg was captured, but the Confederate army escaped and returned weeks later. No serious attempt was made to attack the railroad. After the expedition, Averell moved north to near the West Virginia–Maryland border, and Duffié moved back toward Charleston.

Some historians claim the battle ended organized Confederate resistance in West Virginia. Post battle, most of the region's fighting shifted east to the Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia's eastern panhandle region. Other historians believe that the battle was a tactical victory for Echols and Jackson, since Averell did not eliminate the Confederate army in Lewisburg; and more importantly, did not disturb the railroad.