Our Friends and Relatives Were All Among Them:
The Civil War in West Virginia

More Americans died in the Civil War than in the other major wars in which Americans have fought. "Our friends and relatives were all among them," Victoria Hansford from Coalsmouth (now Saint Albans) recorded in her diary.

In the early months of the war, western Virginia became a battleground...Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the major east-west link. The two sides also struggled for command of the region's roads and salt supplies in the Kanawha Valley. In June 1861, citizens of the western counties created a "Restored Government of Virginia," which secured recognition by President Lincoln and Congress. This government was instrumental in the formation of West Virginia, as it provided the legal underpinnings for the statehood process...West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863 - the only state created out of the carnage of the Civil War.

From within (West Virginia's) borders more than 40,000 men served, equally divided between the Union and the Confederacy. The ravages of the Civil War and divided loyalties of West Virginia's citizens produced sharp and bitter feelings that remained long after the war ended.

from the introduction to the exhibit

The exhibit, on display in the West Virginia State Museum through 2000, allows visitors to explore the social and political context of the war through a variety of artifacts from the State Museum collection, including amputation kits, Confederate currency, the noose used to hang abolitionist John Brown at Harpers Ferry, a cavalry saddle, weapons, tintypes, mess kits and canteens, rare regimental battle flags, musical instruments, shackles from the Federal Guard House in Charleston, relics of slavery including a bullwhip, and portraits of West Virginia soldiers like generals Stonewall Jackson and Albert Gallatin Jenkins. On this page we offer a glimpse of the exhibit. It features some large graphics, so please be patient while the images load.

This unsigned portrait of abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859) is attributed to Seldon Woodham. Brown chose Harper's Ferry as the starting point for an insurrection to liberate slaves and attempted to seize the federal armory on the night of October 16, 1859, with 22 other men.

The State Archives has an online database of information and images pertaining to John Brown. You can access the database here.

After Brown's raid in Harper's Ferry, the state of Virginia imprisoned him in Charlestown. This is the lock and key from the door to his cell. After his capture, he was restrained with shackles and this collar and handcuffs. This noose was used to execute Brown on December 2, 1859.

photograph by Michael Keller

The Logan County Wildcats departed on June 3, 1861 to join the Confederate forces led by General John McCausland. The Wildcats traveled under this banner (larger flag above) sewn by area women.

This panoramic view shows only a portion of the exhibition.

photograph by Michael Keller