In
1861 Guyandotte was a town of divided sympathies, but
Confederate sympathies were dominant. However, in
October of that year, a Union recruit camp was set up in
the town under Colonel Kellian Whaley. When word of this
camp spread, the Border Rangers, a local Confederate
force led by Colonel Albert Jenkins, were infuriated.
Approximately 150 Union troops were stationed in
Guyandotte, but they were untrained. Sickness was
rampant throughout the camp, and nearly 40 of the
recruits were on leave, or had to be hospitalized.
Colonel Zeigler would lend Whaley 35 Cavalry men, but
their commanding officer refused to let them patrol
outside the town, leaving it open to an attack.
The
first week of November, Confederate General John Floyd
ordered a Cavalry force to ”proceed in the direction of
the Ohio River." About 700 horsemen from Fayette County
descended upon Guyandotte, while the Border Rangers
would seize the suspension bridge, and a detachment led
by Major Henry Fitzhugh moved to the east end of town to
complete the circle.
The
night of Sunday, November 10th, 1861 was quiet, as some
of the recruits were returning home from worship
services or visiting friends. They were unaware of what
was about to unfold. That night Confederate forces
raced into town unopposed. When the first shots rang
out, the untrained Union soldiers dashed into the
streets, curious as to the cause of the commotion. By
the time they realized they were under attack, it was
too late.
Many
of the Union recruits tried to flee; some tried to cross
the suspension bridge, but were cut down by the Border
Rangers. Others attempted to swim across the river. A
small resistance force bravely fought back, but a fierce
charge by the Petersburg Rangers ended the battle.
That
night, at least three Confederates were killed, and ten
others wounded. Ten Union recruits were killed, and ten
others wounded. Many of the wounded would later die.
The rest of the night was spent by the Confederate
troops rounding up terrified Union recruits, many of
whom were still attempting to flee or hide, as well as
citizens known to have had Union sympathies. They were
taken prisoner, held overnight at the Keenan home, and
marched two by two to Richmond the following day.
On
November 11, 1861, as the Confederate troops withdrew
from Guyandotte with their prisoners, the steamboat SS
Boston carrying approximately 200 Union soldiers pulled
in from Ceredo after hearing of the attack. They
marched into Guyandotte where they found a number of
dead and wounded comrades.
The
Union troops and remaining sympathizers were
outraged. Colonel Zeigler figured the town's strong
Confederate sympathies were to blame. In retaliation,
he ordered the entire town burned. The business
district was completely destroyed, as were many private
homes and churches.
Source - The Tragic Fate of
Guyandotte, by Joe Geiger Jr.
