WVWBTSVETS-L Archives

From: Glenn Belcher <>
Subject: [WVWBTSVETS-L] ROSSER RAIDS BEVERLY
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 22:39:50 -0500

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
CONFEDERATES RAID A FEDERAL SUPPLY DEPOT ON JANUARY 11, 1865
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Following years of foraging and burning by the federal armies
the Shenandoah Valley was left desperately devasted. For any
military units to sustain themselves, they had to travel out-
side the valley for food and supplies.

In the early days of 1865, General Thomas Rosser learned of a
supply depot that was bulging with rations and clothes and it
was situated in the western hills of Virginia, now the enemy
territory of West Virginia. His troops had been in desperate
need of supplies for months and a surprise attack on the dept
would bring them both food and clothing. General Rosser asked
for volunteers to undertake a raid, and 300 men stepped up to
participate in a bitterly cold winter raid. Leaving on Janu-
ary 7th they left Staunton, Virginia, and headed west through
snow swollen mountain passes and ice covered road and streams

Arriving on the night of January 10th on the northern side of
Beverly, General Rosser deployed his troops for an early dawn
attack. Swarming across the camp area into the sleeping depot
guards, the 34th and 8th Ohio regiments were quickly taken by
surprise and offered little resistance. Capturing 580 troops
with another 38 killed or wounded; the Confederates captured
100 horses, 600 weapons and 10,000 rations which they brought
back to their famished comrades in the Shenandoah.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

DEO VINDICE!

This thread:

• [WVWBTSVETS-L] ROSSER RAIDS BEVERLY by Glenn Belcher <>