Found Death As He Would Have Wished

Union cavalry Major Seymour Beach Conger was killed in action August 7^th 1864 during a battle near Moorefield, West Virginia.

Seymour Beach Conger was born September 25^th 1825 in Plymouth, Richland, Ohio the son of Reverend Enoch and Esther (West) Conger.  He lived near Lexington, Ohio and worked as a farmer.

When the Civil War started Conger recruited for what would become Company A of the 3^rd West Virginia Cavalry.  He was made their Captain November 22^nd 1862.  Companies A and C, which he led, was a part of Union General John Buford’s Division of Cavalry, and served at Brandy Station and Gettysburg in Colonel Thomas C Devin’s brigade.  In November 1863 the 3^rd along with Conger were moved to the Department of West Virginia in Wheeling.   He was promoted to Major.  Conger was killed in action during the cavalry fight known as the Battle of Moorefield near Moorefield, West Virginia August 7^th 1864.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

After Conger’s death Union General William Woods Averell said of him, “our exultations is mingled a profound grief at the loss of Major Conger, 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, who found death as he had always wished, in the front of battle, with heart and hand intent upon the doing of his duty.  Brave, steadfast and modest, when he fell this command lost one of its best soldiers, and his regiment and general a friend.  The men who followed him in the charge will never forget his glorious example."

Up The Steep Slope

The Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain was fought May 9^th 1864 in western Virginia over one of the last Confederate railroads.

As Union General Ulysses S Grant began his 1864 spring campaign, he ordered Brigadier General George Crook who commanded the Union Army of West Virginia to march through the Appalachian Mountain into southwestern Virginia.  Crook was to work along with Union General William W Averell to destroy the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad.  The Confederate force in the area was commanded by General Albert G Jenkins.  Jenkins had only been in command for a few days when the battle broke out.

Jenkins found a strong defensive position at Cloyd’s Mountain in Pulaski County, Virginia and decided to hold the line.  Crook quickly decided that the Confederate position was too strong for a frontal assault, but he could use a heavily forested area to the Confederate right to out flank them.  On May 9^th 1864 Crook opened the battle with an artillery barrage.  He sent out new West Virginia troops to the Confederate right, while troops under future president Colonel Rutherford B Hayes made a frontal assault.  Crook advanced on foot with Hayes’ men up the steep slope.  By 11am they had fought their way into the Confederate lines where the fight became hand to hand.  The West Virginian’s advanced beyond some Confederate cannon over running their crew.  Two new regiments of Ohio men moved in where Hayes’ men were and overwhelmed the Confederate center.  Jenkins shifted his troops skillfully, but was mortally wounded and taken prisoner by some Union soldiers.

After Jenkins was wounded, Brigadier General John McCausland took over command of the Confederate troops.  He conducted a rear guard fight as he withdrew the remaining troops.  Crook reported 688 casualties, while the Confederate lost 538 men.  Crook would continue to move forward and destroy the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad at Dublin, Virginia.

If you would like to read more check Cloyds Mountain Campaign

Pushed Through The Cove

The Battle of Cove Mountain was fought in Wythe County, Virginia on May 10^th 1864.

On May 10^th 1864 a Union cavalry brigade under Brigadier General William W Averell ran across a Confederate brigade commanded by Brigadier General William E Grumble Jones.  The Union forces attacked and were driven back.  Then Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan arrived, his cavalry counterattacked.  Morgan’s men pushed Averell’s troops through the Cove Mountain area of Wythe County, Virginia.

The Confederates held the battlefield, forcing Averell and his men back to West Virginia.

Confederate Cavalry Lost Their Effectiveness

After burning Chambersburg, Confederate Brigadier General John McCausland was returning to the Shenandoah Valley. He and Bradley Johnson’s Cavalry were surprised at Moorefield West Virginia on August 7th 1864 and routed by Union Cavalry led by Brigadier General William W Averell. The defeat at the Battle of Moorefield had a bad morale effect on the Confederates, and the cavalry pretty much lost any effectiveness through out the 1864 Valley campaign.

Averell’s official report stated they had captured 38 Confederate officers, 377 men, along with killing and wounding about 73. Federals lost about 42 wounded, killed or taken prisoner.