History of the First Regiment West Virginia Infantry

With new material by Tim McKinney

Originally published in 1887, this work remains the only history of the First West Virginia Infantry ever published. 

Its twenty-five chapters contain comprehensive accounts the regiment’s activities. This regiment was the first to be formed in West Virginia for defense of the Union. They participated in the first land battle of the Civil War at Philippi. They were subsequently engaged in guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and were mustered out of service in August 1861. Two days later Dr. Joseph Thoburn, the former surgeon of the regiment, organized the First Virginia Infantry for three years’ service. 

This reprint enhances Pvt. Rawling’s original work with an index, photographs, material from the Adjutant Generals Report of 1864, biographical data and statistical analysis of the regiment’s service. It is hoped that the reappearance of this work in quality book form, after an absence of 115 years, will serve to reacquaint the reading public with the service these men provided to the fledgling state of West Virginia.

Written by Charles J. Rawling of Wheeling, WV and originally published in 1887 by the J.B. Lippincott Company of Philadelphia, this work remains the only history of the First West Virginia Infantry ever published. Its twenty-five chapters contain a well written and comprehensive account of this Union regiments activities from 1861 to 1865.

This regiment was the first to be formed in West Virginia for defense of the Union. It began Civil War service in early May 1861 as a regiment intended for three months’ service, under command of Colonel Benjamin F. Kelly. Although formed in Wheeling, far from the secession cry of eastern Virginia, this regiments formation was not without controversy. Public sentiment being strongly divided in the region it was thought best to arm and equip the First Virginia Infantry as soon as possible.

The regiment left Wheeling on May 27, 1861 and were soon joined by troops from Ohio. On June 3, 1861 they participated in the first land battle of the Civil War at Philippi. They were subsequently engaged in guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and were mustered out of service on August 28, 1861. Two days later Dr. Joseph Thoburn, the former surgeon of the regiment, began organizing the First Virginia Infantry for three years’ service. The three-year regiment was formally organized on October 30, 1861 and embarked upon military service that would carry it to campsites and battlefields near and far.