Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is
located in the Greenbrier River Valley north
of Lewisburg and is the site of West Virginia's
last significant Civil War battle. On November
6, 1863, the federal army of Brigadier General
William W. Averell, in his second attempt
to disrupt the Virginia-Tennessee Railroad
at Salem, Virginia, faced again the Confederate
troops of Brigadier General John Echols.
Throughout the morning, Echols' smaller
confederate army held the high ground and
blocked the highway with artillery, but
in the afternoon was overwhelmed by the
crushing advance of federal infantry on
his left flank. Following the collapse of
his lines, General Echols retreated south
into Virginia with the remnants of his command.
Federal Troops occupied Lewisburg on November
7, but being burdened with prisoners and
captured livestock, General Averell elected
to return to his headquarters in Beverly,
West Virginia, waiting until early December
to lead a third and ultimately successful
attack on the vital railroad. Operations
in the Shenandoah Valley in the spring of
1864 drew remaining confederate troops out
of west Virginia, thus leaving the new state
securely under the control of the federal
government for the remainder of the war.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built
the Museum, Lookout Tower & other buildings
in the 1930's.
Droop Mountain Battlefield is an official
Civil War Discovery Trail site.
The Civil War Discovery Trail links more
than 300 sites in 16 states to inspire and
to teach the story of the Civil War and
its haunting impact on America. The Trail,
an initiative of the Civil War Trust, allows
visitors to explore battlefields, historic
homes, railroad stations, cemeteries, parks
and other destinations that bring history
to life. For more information on the Civil
War Discovery Trail and other programs of
The Civil War Trust,
call 1-800-CWTRUST.
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is
a state park located on Droop Mountain in
Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Droop
Mountain was the site of the last major
conflict of the American Civil War in West
Virginia. The battlefield was transformed
into a historical, outdoor recreation area
by the Civilian Conservation Corps during
the Great Depression. Public reenactments
of the battle are conducted periodically
by the West Virginia Reenactors Association.
The next reenactment is scheduled for October,
2006.
Last Sleep: The Battle of Droop Mountain November 6, 1863 (Paperback)
General William Averell's famed raid into West Virginia, and his clash with General John Echols. 302 pages with index. List all casualties and wounded men. Numerous photographs of the Marlinton/Hiilsboro area published for the first time. The only book ever written exclusively on this battle.
Terry Lowry has written five books on the Civil War. He has had articles published in North South Trader , Wonderful West Virginia, and Confederate Veteran. He has also contributed to the Time-Life series on the Civil War. He currently lives in Charleston, WV.
The park is located between Marlinton and
Lewisburg on U.S. Highway 219 and near Beartown
State Park and Watoga State Park.
Ghost of
the Battlefield
Droop Mountain boasts three state parks,
spectacular views, many ghost sightings,
a well-documented history, and wonderful
flora and fauna. Here are a few notes and
links, but bear in mind, I've barely scratched
the surface.
Ghosts of Droop Mountain
The Droop Mountain Battlefield has so many
ghost stories associated with it that Terry
Lowry, in his 1996 book Last Sleep: The
Battle of Droop Mountain November 6, 1863
devotes the final chapter to "The Ghosts
of Droop Mountain." He offers this
explanation:
While it is fairly common for ghost stories
to arise out of Civil War sites, Droop Mountain
probably ranks near, or even at the top,
of such areas to spawn wild-eyed stories
of ghosts, apparitions, headless soldiers,
illusions, and the like. Due primarily to
its somewhat isolated, rural location, Droop
Mountain battlefield has been the scene
of many unexplained happenings since the
Civil War battle that took place there in
1863. This is not unusual, considering fog
"often rolls over the mountain in waves,
there one minute, gone the next," creating
an eerie atmosphere conducive to tales of
ghosts and the supernatural.
The Snedegar Poltergeist
The oldest and most highly-embroidered ghost
story from the Droop Mountain Battlefield
is summarized by Terry Lowry in Last Sleep:
The Battle of Droop Mountain November 6,
1863.
The earliest known episode of a supernatural
occurrence at Droop Mountain took place
in 1865 when Betty and Nancy Snedegar, residents
of the west side of Droop and the daughters
of James C. and Rebecca Kellison Snedegar,
walked to the east side of the mountain
to pick berries. On their return trip they
located two guns, apparently lost during
the battle two years earlier. As the two
girls "started to carry off the guns,
rocks were thrown at them but they saw no
person. They went on home. As they went
to milk, more rocks and clubs were thrown
at them. At the house rocks came down the
chimney and knocked the lids off the pots.
Rocks came through the log walls, but left
no holes. There were sheepskin rugs on the
floor which started rarin' up..." Another
account claims the sheepskin rug would stand
erect and bawl. The Snedegar sisters then
"gathered all the rocks and threw them
in a sinkhole several [hundred?] feet deep.
The rocks all came flyin' back out."
One version of the story claimed "dog
irons would come out of the fireplace and
race around the room." Reportedly,
an uncle came to visit and two rocks hit
him in the arm and head, after this he quickly
departed. Finally, the guns were returned
to their original location and all the problems
ceased.
West Virginia's last significant Civil
War battle occurred on November 6, 1863.
Union troops pinned the Confederates, who
had concentrated their army on the ridge
crest, in place by attacking from the right,
left, and rear. This action drove the Confederates
from the summit. This 285-acre park includes
interpretive exhibits, Confederate earthworks,
a small museum containing artifacts from
the battle, lookout tower, picnic area,
hiking trails, and children play areas.
Droop is considered the oldest state park
in West Virginia and is 4 miles south of
Hillsboro. Here in the park stands an old
replica of a cannon. Sometimes, on certain
nights, you can see the spirit of a soldier
perched on top of it smoking a cigarette.
Droop Mountain Museum with battle artifacts
Lookout Tower
hiking
Picnic areas with shelters
Tots playgrounds
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
HC 64 Box 189
Hillsboro, WV 24946
(304) 653-4254
1-800-CALL WVA
