Battle of Fayetteville (1862)

Battle of Fayetteville (1862 Western Virginia)
Part of the Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1862 of the American Civil War
Fayette County, West Virginia (Fayette County was part of Virginia in 1862).
Date September 10, 1862 (1862-09-10) Location Fayetteville, West Virginia 38°3′4″N 81°6′25″W / 38.05111°N 81.10694°W / 38.05111; -81.10694 Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Edward Siber	William W. Loring John Echols John S. Williams Gabriel C. Wharton
Units involved
District of the Kanawha First Brigade	Dept. of SW Virginia First Brigade Second Brigade Third Brigade
Strength
~ 1,200	~ 5,000
Casualties and losses
139 16 killed 69 wounded 54 captured/missing	88 21 killed 63 wounded 4 died from illness
Mortally wounded have been removed from wounded counts and added to those killed.

The Battle of Fayetteville occurred in Fayette County, Virginia (now West Virginia), on September 10, 1862, during the American Civil War. A Confederate Army, consisting of multiple brigades commanded by Major General William W. Loring, drove away a Union brigade commanded by Colonel Edward Siber. The battle is part of the Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1862.

During August 1862, Union Brigadier General Jacob Dolson Cox was ordered to move his Kanawha Division from southwestern Virginia to Washington as reinforcement for Major General John Pope's Army of Virginia. Cox left behind a small force of about 5,000 men, which was under the command of Colonel Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn. Confederate leadership found out about the depleted force, and sent Loring to drive the remaining Union soldiers out of the Kanawha Valley. Loring had a force of about 5,000 men, but some people believed his force numbered as many as 10,000.

Lightburn's troops were divided into two brigades. His First Brigade, commanded by Colonel Siber, was stationed at Fayetteville, which put it between the Kanawha Valley and Loring. The Battle of Fayetteville was the first battle in Loring's attempt to accomplish his objective of clearing the Kanawha Valley, and his force was about four times the size of Siber's—although Siber's men had the protection of fortifications. Lightburn's other brigade was further north and not involved in the battle. Loring moved one brigade to Siber's right flank, while another made a frontal attack. Siber held off Loring for the whole day, but realized he was nearly surrounded. After midnight, Siber's force escaped north to the Kanawha River. Loring pursued, beginning a series of skirmishes that led to the Battle of Charleston.