page_title: 2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment
section_title: Averell and the Virginia raid
hierarchical_section_title: 2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment / Kanawha Valley / Averell and the Virginia raid
caption_attribution_description: English: William Woods Averell (1832–1900) was a United States Army officer and a cavalry general in the American Civil War. After the war he was a diplomat and became wealthy by inventing American asphalt pavement.
context_page_description: The 2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized in Parkersburg, Virginia during September 1861. Most of the original members of this regiment were from southeastern Ohio, and planners thought that this regiment would become the 4th Ohio Cavalry. Their application was rejected by the governor of Ohio, so the unit became the 2nd Regiment of Loyal Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. The "Loyal Virginia" part of the name was replaced with "West Virginia" after the state of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union in 1863. Today, the National Park Service lists them as 2nd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry under a heading of Union West Virginia Volunteers.
  The regiment's first full–fledged war experience happened in early January 1862 in northeastern Kentucky, where they assisted the command of Colonel James A. Garfield. For the next two years, most of the regiment's fighting was in the mountainous backwoods of what later became the southern portion of West Virginia, especially the Kanawha River Valley.
context_section_description: During April 1864, the regiment became part of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia. General Crook returned to West Virginia to command the Army's infantry. General Averell became commander of the cavalry. On April 30, Crook and Averell departed Charleston for Virginia, using different routes, as part of a plan to attack the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The salt mine and lead mine located along the railroad were also targets.
  As the cavalry got closer to the salt mine, Averell discovered that the mine was defended by a large force of infantry and cavalry. He decided to abandon the planned attack on the salt mine, and proceeded toward Wytheville, intending to join with Crook's infantry.
  Entering the northern part of Wythe County, Virginia, on May 10, Averell's cavalry fought the Battle of Cove Mountain. In this battle, Confederate forces under the command of General William "Grumble" Jones, assisted by John Hunt Morgan's Raiders, prevented the Union cavalry from moving through Cove Gap. General Averell's forehead was grazed by a bullet, and he temporarily removed himself from command. General Duffié seemed to disappear, so the 2nd West Virginia's Colonel Powell directed all cavalry.  The fighting ended at dusk, and the Confederates held the gap. The 2nd West Virginia Cavalry was nearly surrounded at least three times, but was able to prevent the division from suffering a disaster. The Union force survived this small battle because of the "heroics of the Ohioans of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry".  Union losses were 114 casualties, including four killed from the 2nd West Virginia. Confederate losses are unknown.
  Since they were unable to pass through the gap in the mountains, the Union force moved over the mountains using a different (and more difficult) route with a local slave as their guide. Eventually they were able to destroy 26 bridges and portions of railroad track near Dublin, Virginia. Rainy weather caused the nearby New River to rise, and  several men drowned while crossing—including a corporal from the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry. The rising river prevented pursuing Confederate soldiers from crossing.
  Averell's cavalry joined Crook's infantry on May 15, and they struggled to return to their Charleston base. Ammunition was in short supply because some had been ruined by the rain and river. Rations were exhausted, clothing was soaked, and swollen feet became a problem. Counting only men from the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, 188 men were bare footed after having to cut off their boots. About 30 miles (48.3 km) of their return trip was made dismounted as the force took small obscure trails through the mountains. The division arrived at a base in Greenbrier County on May 18, having escaped pursuing Confederate forces led by General John McCausland and General William "Mudwall" Jackson (a cousin of Stonewall Jackson).
caption: General William W. Averell
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