This might be the smallest battlefield I have visited. I spent more time driving to this place then I actually spent here. It is well off the beaten path in West Virginia and unless you want to also visit Pearl Buck’s birthplace you’re probably not going to visit. Anyway….
Droop Mountain
A Union force under William Averell was moving to combine with another under Alfred Duffie to make an attack on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Averell had about 5,000 men with him. John Echolls moved to oppose him with about 1,200 men.
On November 5, 1863 Averell moved on Echolls. He struck first and drove a small Confederate force back to Droop Mountain where they were reinforced by Echolls main force. The position was strong and the Confederates used the time they had to construct breastworks and Echolls controlled both the high ground and the highway. Averell followed but did not attack again until the following day.
When Averell attacked he turned the Confederate left with his infantry in the afternoon and after a brief but violent clash many Confederates fled. Averell pursued with his cavalry and captured many soldiers and material. Echolls rallied his men but was forced to fall back into Virginia with what was left of his command.
Averell united with Duffie but had too many prisoners and captured livestock to deal with and could not continue with the raid. This was the last serious battle fought in the new state of West Virginia during the war. Averell lost about 120 men and Echolls lost about 275.
The battlefield is preserved as Droop Mountain Battlefield State Historic Park.