Battle of Carnifex Ferry

The Battle of Carnifex Ferry took place on September 10, 1861 in Nicholas County, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the [[American Civil War The battle of Carnifex Ferry took place along the Gauley River near Kessler’s cross lanes a small union force had recently been beaten there. Under the command of Brigadier General John Floyd confederate forces stormed the union camp taking many prisoners. Union forces under Colonel Tyler had been routed.

Floyd moved his forces to carnifex ferry an area with only one entry because of the Gauley River and steep banks Floyd dug in with his 2000 troops and decided it would be perfect they could only hit them from the front. General William S Rosecrans led three brigades of infantry numbering 5000 from the city of Clarksburg to support Colonel Tyler’s regrouped regiment. General Floyd repulsed the union 3 brigades and inflicted more casualties on the enemy then his own until general Rosecrans artillery eventually drove them out of their breastworks. The casualties were Union 17 killed and 141 wounded Confederate unknown killed 30 wounded.

The battle took its name from a former settlement, which was named after the local Carnefix family.