Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 26 In West Virginia History
1. In 1863, the Battle of Droop Mountain took place in Pocahontas County during the American Civil War. Union forces under General William W. Averell defeated Confederate forces led by General John Echols. This battle is considered a turning point in the war in West Virginia, as the Confederate Army...
5 Fun Facts About October 25 In West Virginia History
1. On October 25, 1906, the West Virginia University Mountaineers played their first-ever football game against the University of Pittsburgh. Despite losing 0-24, this marked the beginning of a fierce rivalry that continues to this day. 2. In 1934, the Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Buckhannon, West Virginia, was founded on...
5 Fun Facts About October 24 In West Virginia History
1. On October 24, 1861, Confederate troops under General William Loring were forced to retreat from their positions on Cheat Mountain, marking a significant Union victory in the early days of the American Civil War. The battle was fought near present-day Elkins, West Virginia. 2. West Virginia University was founded...
5 Fun Facts About October 23 In West Virginia History
1. In 1844, the first train arrived in Wheeling, West Virginia, making it the first city in the state to have railroad access. This played a significant role in the city's growth as a thriving industrial center. 2. On October 23, 1928, the first bridge across the Ohio River in...
5 Fun Facts About October 22 In West Virginia History
1. On October 22, 1862, Confederate General John B. Floyd was forced to abandon the Kanawha Valley, which marked a major turning point in the Civil War in West Virginia. 2. In 1923, the West Virginia State Police was officially established on October 22, becoming the fourth state police agency...
5 Fun Facts About October 21 In West Virginia History
1. In 1861, the Battle of Ball's Bluff took place near Leesburg, Virginia. Although not in West Virginia at the time, the battle had important consequences for the newly formed state. West Virginia was still part of Virginia when the battle occurred, and it helped spur the Union army's push...
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In West Virginia History
1. In 1887, the town of Bramwell was incorporated in West Virginia. This small community in Mercer County was once home to over a dozen millionaires during the coal boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s. 2. On October 20, 1962, the West Virginia University Mountaineers football team played...
5 Fun Facts About October 19 In West Virginia History
1. In 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early led his troops in the Battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley, which is partly located in present-day West Virginia. Although Early initially was successful, Union General Philip Sheridan rallied his troops and ultimately won the battle. 2. In 1911, the first...
5 Fun Facts About October 18 In West Virginia History
1. In 1859, abolitionist John Brown and his followers raided the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, hoping to incite a slave rebellion. The raid failed and Brown was captured, tried, and executed, but his actions helped fuel tensions that eventually led to the Civil War. 2. In 2020, West Virginia...
5 Fun Facts About October 17 In West Virginia History
1. On October 17, 1861, Union General William Rosecrans led his troops to victory over Confederate forces in the Battle of Dranesville. While the battle was relatively small, it marked an important early victory for the Union in the Civil War and helped secure control of northern Virginia. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In West Virginia History
1. On October 16, 1856, the town of Harpers Ferry in West Virginia became a focal point of the national debate over slavery when abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory in an attempt to start a slave revolt. The raid ultimately failed, but it heightened tensions...
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In West Virginia History
1. Birth of Augusta Jane Evans: On October 15, 1835, Augusta Jane Evans, a beloved southern novelist, was born in Columbus, Georgia. She is best known for her book "St. Elmo," which was incredibly popular when it was released in 1866. 2. West Virginia Statehood: On October 15, 1861, West...