| In 1861 and the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas J. | | | | knew that transportation routes were far and few |
| Jackson, the West Virginia Confederate General who | | | | between in the rugged mountainous terrain. The |
| would later become known as “Stonewall” | | | | dense forests and mountains posed logistical |
| Jackson, believed he had the key to a quick and sure | | | | problems in moving supplies and large numbers of |
| victory for the newly formed Confederacy. His | | | | people through the area. There were very few roads |
| ambitious plan was to invade the United States from | | | | and the rivers were not large enough to navigate. |
| the panhandle of northern Virginia and continue north | | | | There were few railways in the area but they were |
| all the way to Canada. His plan made good military | | | | the most efficient means of transporting supplies. |
| sense as it would carry the war to the enemy and | | | | West Virginia would see both the United States and |
| effectively divide the eastern from the western | | | | the Confederacy in a constant struggle to control |
| states. Not only would this invasion be a good | | | | these vital railroads and other transportation routes. |
| logistical move but would give the Confederate | | | | Use of these routes was important to both sides but |
| States of America legitimacy with foreign countries | | | | was critical logistically to the South’s being able |
| and the opening of foreign trade relations. | | | | to re-supply their commissary from the Shenandoah |
| In Jackson’s mind, Confederate control of the | | | | Valley |
| railways and turnpikes in the Trans-Allegheny area | | | | In time both sides learned hard lessons in that the |
| would be crucial to its defense of the Shenandoah | | | | mountains and valleys proved difficult to build |
| Valley and it’s ready source of supplies in the | | | | fortifications that effectively protected important |
| Virginia heartland. Unfortunately for the CSA, | | | | logistical positions on the few roads and railroads. The |
| Stonewall Jackson’s plan for invading the United | | | | Civil War in Western Virginia was to largely become a |
| States was to be overruled by the Generals in | | | | war of flanking tactics, battles that were more |
| Richmond. Politics in the new Confederate States had | | | | skirmishes than full fledged battles and deadly hit and |
| yet to be ironed out to say the least. | | | | run warfare. The Union by sheer numbers had a |
| Going forward with Richmond’s orders, General | | | | definite advantage in moving supplies. Even with this |
| Jackson, having been raised in Western Virginia | | | | advantage the Confederates proved to be a |
| (which was to become the state of West Virginia) | | | | significant foe in disrupting supply lines. |