Battle Analysis Template-3 (1)
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Northern Kentucky University *
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Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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HIS 417
Battle Analysis
Student Name: Ian Simpson
Name(s) of battle: The Battle of Droop Mountain
Place of battle: Pocahontas, WV
Date of battle: November 6
th
, 1863
Size of forces:
The Union held a size of 5000 Soldiers, compared to the Meer 1700 Confederate soldiers.
Commanders (Identify Federal & Confederate):
Union: William W. Averell
Confederate: John Echols
Other participants of note (if applicable):
General Benjamin F. Kelly
Key points:
The Preservation of the state of West Virginia was key in this battle. The Battle of Droop Mountain played a role in preserving this. The state had been officially admitted to the Union as the 35th state on June 20, 1863, just a few months prior. The Union victory cemented the position as a pro-Union state and ensured that it remained within the Union. This also helped establish a firm grasp over the eastern and western theater. The Confederates also had plans to utilize West Virginia as a launching point for invasions into Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Battle of Droop Mountain disrupted these Confederate plans. The Union victory repelled Confederate
ambitions and prevented them from advancing deeper into Union territory. The battle's outcome detailed the threat posed by Confederate forces in the region. Outcome:
Union Casualties:
Killed: Approximately 119 Union soldiers were killed in the battle.
Wounded: An estimated 50 Union soldiers were wounded. Confederate Casualties:
Killed: The Confederate casualties included approximately 275 killed.
Wounded: A significant number of Confederate soldiers were wounded, but the exact figure is not available in .
Significance of the battle: The Battle of Droop Mountain was pivotal in the Union victory that played a crucial role in preserving Union control over West Virginia. This was particularly significant as West Virginia had been admitted to the Union as the 35th state just a few months before the battle. The Union victory at Droop Mountain ensured that West Virginia remained firmly aligned with the Union. It marked the end of Confederate attempts to gain a foothold in the region. While the battle may have been relatively small compared to some of the major battles of
the Civil War, its significance extended beyond its immediate reach. The Battle of Droop Mountain had a much broader strategic impact for the Union's military objectives in
the Western Theater, The Western Theater American Civil War referred to the area of military operations west of the Appalachian Mountains. one of the two major theaters of the war, the other being the Eastern Theater, which primarily encompassed the Eastern United States, including states like Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The victory weakened the Confederate positions and contributed to the overall Union strategy in the region, shifting the momentum of the war in favor of the Union.
The Battle of Droop Mountain also occurred within a unique historical event I’ve discovered in researching this. The formation of West Virginia in 1863, separating from Virginia, had no parallel in American
history. The roots of the split involved differences over commerce, education, internal improvements, and regional identities, West Virginians found themselves on both sides of the conflict, illustrating the complexity of loyalties and divisions during the Civil War.
Sources (minimum of three required): https://mh3wv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Battle_at_DROOP_MOUNTAIN-WV-booklet.pdf
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/droop-mountain
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/battle-of-droop-mountain/
https://wajr.com/the-battle-of-droop-mountain-remembered/
Battle Map:
This can be hand-drawn or pasted. If pasted, be sure to include the source of the map.
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