Take The Focus To Charlestown

The Battle of Charlestown fought October 18^th 1863 was a part of the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.

General Robert E Lee sent Confederate Brigadier General John D Imboden’s cavalry on a raid into the Shenandoah Valley to attack the Union garrison at Charlestown, West Virginia.  Lee was hoping this would move some of the Union forces in his front.  Imboden got to Berryville on October 17^th 1863 where the Cavalry skirmished with a company of the Union 1^st New York Cavalry, driving them into Charlestown.  The Union Commander Colonel Benjamin L Simpson was inexperienced having been in service only 17 days, believed that Charlestown was not the target, and so choose not to move his small force to Harpers Ferry.

Imboden advanced at dawn on October 18^th 1863 driving the Union pickets in along the south of Charlestown.  The Union 9^th Maryland made a stand in the Jefferson County Courthouse, and left one company from the Loudoun Rangers Cavalry and the 6^th Michigan Cavalry to “take care of themselves”.  Imboden offered to negotiate a surrender with Simpson, but the Union General refused.  The Union Cavalry tried to fight their way out of Charlestown and head for Harpers Ferry, but northeast of town they ran into the Confederate 18^th Virginia Cavalry and the 62^nd Virginia Mounted.  The Union troopers found a weak spot in the Confederate right, cutting their way out.  The Cavalry lost 2 men killed, and 17 made prisoners.

Imboden still in Charlestown had his artillery brought up, and demanded the Union surrender a second time.  When Simpson turned him down again Imboden had the town shelled.  Under fire Simpson abandoned the courthouse and moved his men to a field near where the cavalry had fought.  Imboden had men in the woods facing the field, they fired and deadly volley into the Union soldiers.  Simpson finally surrendered.

The remains of the 6^th Michigan and Loudoun Rangers were joined by the 17^th Indiana Battery and Cole’s Maryland Cavalry from Harpers Ferry, arrived to reinforce the garrison, but were about 15 minutes to late.  There was a fierce fight throughout the afternoon, but they were not able to drive Imboden off.  Around 5 pm the 34^th Massachusetts Infantry arrived at the fight having marched 18 miles from Barrysville.  They attacked Imboden, who choose withdraw under the cover of darkness with his prisoners and supplies stolen from Charlestown.

They Leapt The Lines

Fort Connor

A part of Union Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer’s Michigan Brigade, the 6^th Michigan Cavalry was mustered out of service November 24^th 1865.

The 6^th Michigan Cavalry was organized in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and mustered into Union service October 13^th 1862 with 1,229 men.  The 6^th was part of the famed Michigan Brigade, and saw it first actions at Hanover, Hunterstown and Gettysburg under the command of Union Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer.  The 6^th made a notable charge against the retreating Confederates at Falling Waters, Maryland July 14^th 1863, where they leapt their horse over the Confederate lines.

Once the Civil War ended the 6^th was ordered to duty in west to fight Indians.  They received a new commander, Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor.  They spent the summer constructing Fort Connor, a supply depot that was used during the Powder River Expedition.  The 6^th mustered out of service November 24^th 1865.  They lost 135 officers and enlisted who were killed in action or died of their wounds.  They also saw 251 men die from diseases.

For more information take a look at this web site  6th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry