Battle of Cloyd's Mountain

Battle of Cloyd's Mountain
Part of Crook-Averell Raid (a.k.a. Dublin Raid)
on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
of the American Civil War
Map of Virginia by county with Pulaski County highlighted in the western portion of the state
Pulaski County, Virginia
DateMay 9, 1864 (1864-05-09)
Location
Pulaski County, Virginia
37°10′28.5″N 80°42′32.4″W / 37.174583°N 80.709000°W / 37.174583; -80.709000
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
George Crook Albert G. Jenkins  †
John McCausland
Strength
~ 6,555 ~ 2,350
Casualties and losses
688
  • 108 killed
  • 508 wounded
  • 72 captured/missing
 538
  • 76 killed
  • 262 wounded
  • 77 captured
  • 133 missing

The Battle of Cloyd's Mountain occurred in Pulaski County, Virginia, on May 9, 1864, during the American Civil War. The fight has also been called the Battle of Cloyd's Farm. A Union Army division led by Brigadier General George Crook defeated a Confederate Army consisting of three regiments, one battalion, and Confederate Home Guard. The Confederate force was led by Brigadier General Albert G. Jenkins and Colonel John McCausland. Although the intense fighting portion of this battle may have lasted for only one hour, it was southwestern Virginia's largest fight of the Civil War.

The battle was a Confederate attempt to prevent an attack on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. That railroad was important to the Confederacy for moving troops and supplies. The fighting occurred about five miles (8.0 km) north of the Virginia & Tennessee's Dublin Depot. Additional Confederate forces arrived at a nearby railroad depot after the major portion of the fighting was completed, and they enabled the Confederate fighters to escape.

On the next day, skirmishing erupted at a Virginia & Tennessee Railroad bridge located about eight miles (13 km) east of the Dublin Depot. This fighting was essentially an artillery duel, and its few casualties are included in totals for both sides. Confederate forces eventually fled further east, and the railroad bridge was burned by Crook's men. Although Union forces burned the railroad depot, burned a major railroad bridge, and destroyed portions of the railroad track, the damage was repaired in about one month.