Battle of Droop Mountain

Other Names: None

Location: Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Campaign: Averell's Raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad (November 1863)

Date: November 6, 1863

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. William W. Averell [US]; Brig. Gen. John Echols [CS]

Forces Engaged: ~3,855 [US]; ~1,700 [CS]

Casualties and losses: 526 total

Result(s): Union victory

Brief Description:

In early November, Brig. Gens. W.W. Averell and Alfred Napoleon Alexander Duffie embarked on a raid into southwestern Virginia to disrupt the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. While Duffie's column destroyed military property en route, Averell encountered and defeated a Confederate brigade under Brig. Gen. John Echols at Droop Mountain. The Union columns reunited at Lewisburg the next day but were in no condition to continue their raid. After this battle, Confederate resistance in West Virginia collapsed. By November 15, Jones believed the affair at Droop Mountain was not as big of a loss as he originally thought. On December 11, he reported that Confederate troops had reoccupied their positions held prior to the battle, and the enemy had suffered heavier losses than those inflicted.