William Henry Powell (soldier)

William Henry Powell
Born	(1825-05-10)May 10, 1825 Pontypool, Wales
Died	December 26, 1904(1904-12-26) (aged 79) Belleville, Illinois
Buried	Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861 - 1865
Rank	Brigadier General Brevet Major General
Commands held	2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment 2nd Brigade 2nd Division
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Charleston (1862) Lynchburg Campaign Battle of Lynchburg Early's operations against the B&O Railroad Battle of Rutherford's Farm Battle of Kernstown II Battle of Moorefield Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign Battle of Opequon (a.k.a. Third Battle of Winchester) Battle of Fisher's Hill Battle of Cedar Creek
Awards	Medal of Honor

William Henry Powell (May 10, 1825 – December 26, 1904) was an American soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War. He began as a captain, and quickly ascended to higher roles in the cavalry, including commanding a regiment, brigade, and division. Powell was awarded his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for heroism at Sinking Creek, Virginia, when, as leader of a group of 22 men, he captured a 500-man enemy camp, without a single loss of life, on November 26, 1862. He was honored with the award on July 22, 1890.

In July 1863, Powell was shot while leading cavalry in Wytheville, Virginia. Although surgeons on both sides of the conflict believed his wound was fatal, Powell survived—and became a prisoner of war. He was later exchanged, and returned to his command of the 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. In 1864, Powell commanded brigades while fighting mostly in the Shenandoah Valley under the direct supervision of General William W. Averell in an army commanded by General Philip Sheridan. Eventually, Powell replaced Averell as division commander. Powell led cavalry in numerous battles, including Moorefield, Opequon, and Fisher's Hill. He resigned as a brigadier general in January 1865 to tend to family health issues. He was later brevetted to major general. Powell returned to his original profession working in the iron making industry, and was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Union veterans of the American Civil War.

In a letter sent to headquarters in 1864, General George Crook said "Colonel Powell has served with me often since the commencement of the war. He has distinguished himself in every battle he was engaged in under me. He has been recommended by me on several occasions, for promotion. I regard him as one of the best cavalry officers I have ever seen in the service."^[1]

Early life

William Henry Powell was born on May 10, 1825, in Pontypool, South Wales.^[2] At the time, the community was part of Monmouthshire, and South Wales is part of the United Kingdom. Both of his parents, William and Sarah Griffith Powell, were Welsh.^[3][4] His father immigrated to the United States in 1827, and his mother followed in 1830 with the rest of the family. Originally, they lived in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1833. Powell's father was an ironworker, and was employed by the Gennessee Iron Works. Powell began to learn his father's profession.^[4]

In 1840, the Gennessee Iron Works closed because of a recession. The family moved north to Wheeling, Virginia, in 1843. Powell's father began employment at Wheeling's Rolling Mill Nail Factory. Powell continued learning his father's profession. In 1846, he was involved in an accident at an iron works, and lost his vision in his right eye.^[4] In 1853, he continued his iron–making in Ironton, Ohio, which is located southwest of Wheeling along the Ohio River. When the American Civil War began in 1861, he was general superintendent (general manager) of the Lawrence Iron Works.^[5]

American Civil War: Western Virginia

Between September 20, 1860, and February 1, 1861, seven southern states succeeded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. Fighting began on April 12, 1861, when American troops were attacked at Fort Sumpter in South Carolina. This is considered the beginning of the American Civil War. Four additional states, including Virginia, succeeded during the next three months.^[6] Some of the northwestern counties of Virginia disagreed with succession. They met in Wheeling and formed a Restored Government of Virginia that was loyal to the United States.^[7]

Initially, the "War of the Rebellion" was expected to not last long.^[8] However, the war continued through the summer, and President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to fight against the rebels of the Confederacy. Powell resigned his civilian job on August 1, 1861, and recruited enough men to form a company of cavalry. He was elected their captain.^[3] Ten companies were united to form a cavalry regiment that consisted mostly of men from the Ohio counties located close to the Ohio River. The regiment was originally intended to be the 4th Ohio Cavalry.^[9] However, Ohio governor William Dennison refused to accept the unit's application because he had been instructed to accept no more new cavalry.^[10] The regiment's application was accepted by the (loyal) provisional governor of Virginia, Francis Harrison Pierpont, and became the 2nd Regiment of Loyal Virginia Volunteer Cavalry.^[10] Powell's company was designated Company B, and he was commissioned as its captain on August 14.^[11] The regiment's first significant action was on January 7, 1862, in Louisa, Kentucky. They assisted a force commanded by Colonel James A. Garfield, future President of the United States. Powell led his Company B, reinforced with men from the regiment's Company C, in a charge that drove back a Confederate rearguard.^[12]

Kanawha Valley

Early in the Civil War, Powell spent most of his time in the Kanawha River Valley. During the Kanawha Valley Campaign, Powell led the advance guard of cavalry commanded by Colonel John Paxton, which successfully prevented the Union army commanded by Colonel Joseph Lightburn from being surrounded.

During 1862–1863, Powell was usually stationed near the Kanawha River Valley, in the southwestern portion of the present West Virginia—which was part of Virginia at the time. In April 1862, Powell's regiment was divided into two battalions.^[13] Powell's battalion, commanded by Colonel William M. Bolles, joined some Ohio infantry regiments to form the 3rd Brigade of General Jacob Dolson Cox's Kanawha Division. The brigade was commanded by Colonel (later Major General) George Crook, a professional soldier with fighting experience in the American West. Crook's brigade normally operated apart from Cox.^[14] Its camp was located at Meadow Bluff, west of Lewisburg in Greenbrier County.^[15]

Powell's major fighting experience as part of this brigade happened on May 27, against Confederate General Henry Heth. Crook's brigade ambushed Heth's force in Lewisburg, killing or wounding over 150 enemy soldiers, and capturing over 150. The cavalry pursued the fleeing rebels, and stopped only when a bridge was destroyed.^[15] Shortly after this engagement, Colonel Bolles resigned and several officers of the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry were promoted.^[16] On June 25, 1862, Powell was promoted to major because of his gallant conduct in Kentucky (and to fill a vacancy caused by the Bolles resignation).^[17]

Kanawha Valley Campaign

During August 1862, many of the Union soldiers stationed in western Virginia were sent to Washington to reinforce the Army of Virginia. This caused the two battalions from the 2nd Loyal Virginia cavalry to be reunited. Two infantry regiments, and the 2nd Loyal Virginia cavalry, were stationed in Kanawha Falls (close to Gauley Bridge) in what is now south central West Virginia. The small force was commanded by Colonel Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn.^[18]

In September, the Confederate Army became aware of the Union Army's lack of manpower, and devised a plan of attack.^[19] The Confederates sent a large force led by General William W. Loring, incorrectly rumored to be 10,000 men, to attack Lightburn from the southeast. A cavalry brigade of about 550 men led by Colonel Albert G. Jenkins patrolled along the Ohio River with the intention of preventing a retreat by Lightburn.^[20] A large portion of the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John C. Paxton, was sent to confront Jenkins. The advance guard consisted of Powell's old Company B, led by Major Powell himself.^[18] On September 8, Powell's advance group attacked Jenkins' rebel camp outside of Barboursville, which is close to the Ohio River. The camp was captured, and Jenkins barely escaped. The rebel force, which was much larger than Paxton's cavalry, was driven up (southward) the Guyandotte River.^[21]

Thus, Powell's advance guard for Colonel Paxton enabled a safe retreat to the Ohio River for the remaining portion of Lightburn's small force.^[21] Lightburn's report said "The Second Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Paxton, did good service in keeping Jenkins' force at bay, thereby preventing an attack in our rear. I wish, also, to state that Colonel Paxton, with 300 men, attacked Jenkins' whole force (from 1,200 to 1,500), and drove them from Barboursville, which, no doubt, kept them from an attempt to harass our retreat."^[22]

Sinking Creek raid

Powell leads surprise raid on rebel camp at Sinking Creek

Confederate gains in the Kanawha Valley did not last long, and Union troops reoccupied much of the valley. In November 1862, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry camped for the winter along the Kanawha River, about 12 miles (19 km) upriver from Charleston. Newly promoted Brigadier General George Crook commanded Union troops in the valley, and Colonel Paxton commanded Powell's regiment, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry. Crook was an experienced Indian fighter, and believed that adverse weather was an advantage in the hit–and–run fighting style of raids. On November 23, he ordered Paxton to rendezvous with an infantry regiment on Cold Knob Mountain, and then lead an attack on two rebel camps in Sinking Creek Valley.^[23] Before the cavalry regiment departed, Crook confidentially told Powell to not return without good results.^[24]

The cavalry reached their meeting place near the top of Cold Knob Mountain on November 26. The 11th Ohio Infantry had arrived a few hours earlier. The men from the infantry had marched through rain, and were caught (as was the cavalry) in a snowstorm.^[25] After a conference between the cavalry's Colonel Paxton and the infantry's Colonel Philander P. Lane, the infantry aborted their mission and began a return to camp.^[26] Paxton also considered aborting the mission, but was persuaded by Powell to continue. Paxton sent Powell, with 2nd Lieutenant Jeremiah Davidson and 20 men from Company G, men down the mountain to scout for the rebel camps.^[27]

Powell and his men found one of the camps, determined that it was poorly guarded, and decided to capture it themselves. Each member of Powell's advance guard was armed with a saber and two six-shot revolvers. Powell decided to attack with sabers so that the other rebel camp would not be alarmed. They charged into the rebel camp with sabers drawn, and completely surprised the rebels. Many of the weapons captured were not loaded. Although hundreds of the rebels scattered into the countryside, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, and 112 enlisted men were captured. About 200 weapons were captured, as were a few wagons and camping equipment.^[26] The trip back to camp was difficult because of the cold weather, and two men were hospitalized at the infantry's Summerville camp because of frostbite. Ten horses were lost because of cold and exhaustion. Colonel Paxton ended his report by writing "I cannot close this report without deservedly complimenting the officers and men, but, where all behaved so gallantly, it is impossible to particularize. But all honor is due Major Powell, who led the charge...."^[28] Powell and Davidson, were promoted shortly afterwards—Powell from major to lieutenant colonel, and Davidson from second lieutenant to first lieutenant.^[29] After the war, Powell was awarded the Medal of Honor for his performance in the Sinking Creek raid. In 1889, General Crook said that he regarded the "expedition as one of the most daring, brilliant and successful of the whole war."^[30]

Regiment commander

During March 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Powell became severely ill, and was unable to recover at camp. He eventually resigned from the cavalry, and returned to his home in Ohio.^[31] Powell was also unhappy with Colonel Paxton, although this was revealed to only a few.^{[Note 1]} On May 1, Colonel Paxton led a night raid (without Powell) near Lewisburg, and the regiment was defeated with significant casualties. Total losses were sixteen killed, missing, or wounded—plus 28 horses killed. General Eliakim P. Scammon dismissed Paxton after the regiment returned to camp. Paxton was popular with his troops, but the troops also respected Powell.^[33] At the time of Paxton's dismissal, Powell's resignation had yet to be accepted, and he was still at home in Ohio regaining his health. After a petition by the regiment, Powell was persuaded to retract his resignation. He was promoted to colonel and became the regiment's commander effective May 13, 1863.^[34]

Wytheville raid

Newspaper article describing Powell in prison.

The Wytheville raid occurred on July 18, 1863, in southwestern Virginia. Powell was second in command of a small brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry that totaled to slightly over 800 men.^[35] He had some disagreements with how his commander, an infantry veteran, handled the cavalry, and both men were shot early in the raid. Powell's commander, Colonel John Toland, was killed on a street in Wytheville, and Powell was thought to be mortally wounded. Although the Union brigade was able to secure the town, it suffered numerous casualties—and left town less than 24 hours after its arrival. Powell's wound was serious enough that he could not be moved, and he became a prisoner of the Confederates.^[36]

Powell unexpectedly recovered enough that he could be moved, and was eventually sent to Richmond's Libby Prison. He was placed in solitary confinement on charges of robbery and murder.^[37] One of the men from the 2nd West Virginia cavalry wrote that "It was well known that the confederate authorities had placed Colonel Powell in a dungeon for some imaginary wrong...."^[38] One of the main causes for his predicament was the burning of a house and barn near Lewisburg, West Virginia.^[38]

On January 29, 1864, Powell was paroled for 30 days to negotiate his exchange for Confederate Colonel Richard H. Lee.^[30] This negotiation was successful (Lee was a distant relative of Confederate General Robert E. Lee), and Powell returned to Ironton, Ohio, to continue regaining his health. On February 22, friends presented him with a gold watch, money to purchase a horse, a saber, and "a brace of Colt's ivory mounted 44 calibre navy revolvers."^[39] On March 20, 1864, he returned to Charleston, West Virginia, and resumed command of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry regiment.^[40]

Cove Mountain

On April 30, General George Crook organized a two prong attack against strategic Confederate locations along the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Crook marched his infantry from Charleston toward the Confederate regional headquarters at the Dublin Depot in Virginia. He sent cavalry under the command of General William W. Averell to attack Saltville, Virginia. Averell found Saltville strongly defended, so he decided to attack Wytheville instead. To get to Wytheville, Averell needed to move his cavalry through the mountains at Cove Gap (also known as Grassy Lick) in northern Wythe County.^[41]

On May 10, Averell's path through the gap was blocked by a large force commanded by Confederate General William E. "Grumble" Jones reinforced by cavalry led by General John Hunt Morgan. Originally, Averell's plan was to have Powell lead a cavalry charge into the gap with sabers drawn. However, the charge was cancelled after a recognizance mission discovered a mass of Confederate soldiers waiting to ambush the Union cavalry. Instead, the Union cavalry formed a battle line that drew the Confederates out of the gap. A four hour battle ensued. General Averell's forehead was grazed by a bullet, and he temporarily relinquished command.^[41] The second in command, General Alfred N. Duffié had a "conspicuous absence", so command fell to Colonel Powell.^{[42][Note 2]} Powell was unable to get the cavalry through the gap, but he was able to make effective use of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, and hold off the larger Confederate force. The result of the battle was an inconclusive standoff that ended at dusk.^[44]

During the night, a local slave led Averell's force on a difficult alternative route (Crab Orchard) through the mountains, and they eventually linked with General Crook's infantry.^[45] Averell's report said "The General commanding desires to express his high appreciation of the skillful evolution of the 2nd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Powell, upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade that continued without disorder under a heavy fire for four hours."^[42]

Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign

On June 9, an army commanded by General David Hunter was reorganized, and Powell was assigned command of the 3rd Brigade under General Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division of the Army of West Virginia. This brigade consisted of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry and the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry.^{[Note 3]} On June 10, Hunger's Lynchburg Campaign was organized, and troops departed from Stanton, Virginia, toward Lynchburg. Powell's Brigade often took the advance for the main portion of Hunter's force, moving south to Lexington, then southeast toward Lynchburg.^[46] Powell's cavalry approached Lynchburg from Campbell Courthouse, and pushed cavalries led by General John McCausland and General John D. Imboden to within four miles of Lynchburg during the morning of June 17.^[48] Fighting continued periodically all day, and stopped at dusk. During this time, additional rebel troops were arriving in Lynchburg via the railroad.^[49] Powell's Brigade was sent out during the evening, and got close enough to the city that "the church spires of the city could be plainly seen."^[50] Later during that morning, Powell was surprised to find out that the army (which had an ammunition shortage) was in full retreat, leaving his brigade in a dangerous situation. The brigade caught up with the rest of the retreating army near New London—just when the pursuing Confederates caught up with them. Averell's entire division, including Powell's Brigade, became the rear guard as Hunter's army retreated west toward Charleston.^[50]

American Civil War: Shenandoah Valley

Shenandoah Valley operations, August–October 1864

After the retreat from Lynchburg to Charleston, West Virginia, the Army of West Virginia rested and resupplied. During July, it was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley. Powell commanded all three West Virginia cavalry regiments as the 2nd Brigade of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division. His brigade left Charleston on July 8, and arrived at a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad station in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on July 12. A few days later the brigade began its train ride to Martinsburg, West Virginia. Portions of the brigade arrived in Martinsburg on July 19, but the entire brigade did not arrive until around July 23.^[51]

Rutherford's Farm and Kernstown II

The Battle of Rutherford's Farm occurred on July 20. General Averell's force of infantry and cavalry defeated a larger force commanded by General Stephen Dodson Ramseur.^[52] The battle took place on some farmland north of Winchester, and is sometimes called the Battle of Carter's Farm. In this battle, two regiments from Powell's Brigade (2nd West Virginia Cavalry and 3rd West Virginia Cavalry) caused the rebels to be "thrown into confusion" and "driven from the woods".^[53]

A few days later (July 24), the Second Battle of Kernstown was fought. In this Confederate victory, General Crook's Army of West Virginia was driven north by General Jubal Early's Army of the Valley. The Union retreat started south of Winchester and ended in the rain on the north side of the Potomac River.^[54] The disorganized retreat featured panicking soldiers, burning Union supply wagons, and one cavalry commander becoming separated from his brigade.^{[Note 4]} By the next day, Powell's Brigade was the only cavalry unit still organized, and an infantry brigade commanded by (future President) Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes was among only two that remained organized.^[57] Both units were instrumental in enabling the Union force to escape from a pursuing rebel cavalry.^[58]

Moorefield

Powell's Brigade participated in one of General Averell's most impressive victories on August 6. Powell's Brigade charged across the South Branch of the Potomac River to attack Confederate General McCausland's cavalry, and recovered a portion of private property taken on July 30 from the residents of Chambersburg.^[59] Powell's Second Brigade drove McCausland's Brigade "to the mountains, with the loss of his remaining artillery and many prisoners."^[60] This battle ruined the Confederate cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley, and it was never again the dominant force it once was.^[61]

Opequon and Fisher's Hill

The Third Battle of Winchester, also known as Opequon, occurred on July 19.^[62] By this time, Major General Philip Sheridan had been assigned command of Union armies in the Shenandoah Valley.^[63] This battle was a major victory for Sheridan, and it resulted in numerous casualties for both sides—including generals and colonels.^[64] Powell remained commanding the 2nd Cavalry Brigade of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division, which consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Virginia cavalries. The brigade captured 80 prisoners and two pieces of artillery in a charge on the Winchester Heights.^[65]

The Battle of Fisher's Hill occurred on July 21 and 22.^[66] Sheridan wrote that the battle was "in a measure, a part of the battle of Opequon".^[67] Following the fighting at Winchester, Powell's Brigade led the pursuit of Early's Army. On July 22, they fought dismounted because of the nature of the terrain.^[68] After infantry commanded by General Crook created a gap in the Confederate line, Powell's Brigade (remounted) pushed through and pursued the fleeing Confederates. The pursuit was successful, and "[m]any prisoners were taken in this chase".^[68]

Division commander

Powell's Division operated in the Harrisonburg-Staunton area in late September 1864.

Beginning of newspaper article about Powell's exploits near Luray

In early September, several of Powell's superiors recommended him for promotion. General Averell wrote that Powell "is a gentleman of high character, and one of the best brigade commanders that I know."^[69] General Crook wrote that Powell was "one of the best cavalry officers I have ever seen in the service."^[1] General Sheridan also recommended Powell for promotion. President Abraham Lincoln wrote that Powell should at least be given a "brevet appointment, if a full commission is impracticable.^[70]

Following the Battle of Fisher's Hill, the Union army continued pursuing Early's Army as it retreated south. At this time, General Sheridan became dissatisfied with the pace of General Averell's pursuit, and dismissed him as commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division. Powell was assigned command of the division on September 23.^[68] Powell's command consisted of two brigades and a four-gun battery. The division's manpower when Powell became commander was 101 commissioned officers and 2,186 enlisted men present. Present and absent men totaled to 276 commissioned officers and 6,950 enlisted men.^{[Note 5]}

Shortly after assuming command of the division (September 24), Powell moved his division from the Valley Pike to a road that leads to Harrisonburg. His advance guard skirmished with some rebel pickets, and it was discovered he was nearing cavalries commanded by Generals John D. Imboden, Bradley Johnson, and John McCausland. A major battle did not ensue, but Powell captured 18 prisoners, 14 wagons, and a large quantity of ammunition. Fifteen rebels were killed.^[72] The skirmish occurred at Forest Hill, and was the first of two that would happen over the next few days.^[73]

Powell's Division reached Harrisonburg on September 25. For the next week, the division would spend its time patrolling a region bounded mostly by Harrisonburg, Brown's Gap, and Stanton. On September 27, Powell was ordered to cross the South River.^{[Note 6]} His division crossed while leaving one regiment behind to guard their camp and wagons. After the river crossing, the guarding regiment was attacked by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry supported by infantry. Powell re–crossed the river, changed fronts, and eventually drove back the attackers.^[72] The main portion of this skirmish occurred at Weyer's Cave.^[73] Powell guarded his left flank by slowing falling back toward the community of Port Republic while additional Confederate forces joined Lee and pursued. Powell crossed the North River and moved to Cross Keys where he met with General George Armstrong Custer, who temporally took command.^[72]

General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of all Union forces, had two major goals in the Shenandoah Valley: eliminate Early's Army and make the Valley unable to support any Confederate armies. With Early almost eliminated, the Union Army began to focus on the second goal. Troops were sent to destroy or consume livestock, crops, and forage. Structures such as barns, mills and tanneries were destroyed. This destruction of the fertile Shenandoah Valley became known as "The Burning".^[74] On September 29, Custer moved the 2nd Division from Cross Keys to Mount Sidney, where the division collected local horses and livestock, and destroyed forage, grain, and flour mills. The division moved to Mount Crawford, following the same orders to make the land unable to support the Confederate Army. On September 30, Custer was assigned to command the 3rd Division, and Powell was again assigned to command the 2nd Division. Powell and his division reported to Major General Alfred T. Torbert at Harrisonburg on September 30.^[75]

Luray Valley

On October 1, Powell moved the division north to Luray (as ordered by General Torbert), "driving off all stock of every description, destroying all grain, burning mills, blast furnaces, distilleries, tanneries, and all forage".^[75] While camped in Luray until the morning of October 7, Powell sent smaller groups on scouting expeditions and to hunt bushwhackers. On October 6, Powell destroyed a tannery used by the rebel army. The unfinished leather was said to be worth $800,000 (over $12 million in 2016 dollars).^[75]

The division moved north from Luray to Front Royal on October 7, and then departed for Sperryville October 11—passing through Chester Gap to get there. This is where Powell began to face challenges from Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby's "guerillas".^[75] On October 13, Powell learned that one of his soldiers had been the victim of a "cold-blooded murder" by two members of Mosby's gang.^[76] In retaliation, Powell hanged one of his prisoners that was part of Mosby's command. He left a sign on the hanged man that said "A.C. Willis, member of Company C, Mosby's command, hanged by the neck in retaliation for the murder of a U.S. Soldier by Messrs. Chancellor and Myers".^[76] He also had all of Chancellor's property destroyed or driven away: house, barn, forage, and livestock.^[76]

Battle of Cedar Creek

Powell's Division operated in the Front Royal area in October and November 1864.

On October 19, 1864, Powell was promoted to brigadier general.^[47] Because all but one person from Averell's staff left with Averell, and took the division's records, Powell had difficulty with the administrative work required of division commanders.^[71] On the same day, the Battle of Cedar Creek took place.^[77] The battle began in the morning with a Confederate attack. At that time, Powell's 1st Brigade was eight miles away from Powell and the 2nd Brigade, and closer to Cedar Creek.^[78] When the battle started, this brigade was needed to support the Union Army's left, so it was put temporally under the command of General Wesley Merritt.^[79] Powell positioned the 2nd Brigade on the road to Front Royal, and prevented the Confederate cavalry under General Lunsford L. Lomax from flanking the main Union force.^[80] A week later, the division skirmished with Lomax's Division further northwest at Middletown.^[73]

Nineveh

On November 12, Powell again fought Lomax's Cavalry.^[73] Elsewhere, Custer and Merrit attacked General Thomas L. Rosser's cavalry, and drove it back rapidly enough that Lomax was called for reinforcement.^[81] This left a smaller force (still larger than a brigade) commanded by General McCausland to face Powell. Powell sent most of his 1st Brigade out beyond Front Royal, where it encountered McCausland's force. The Confederates slowly pushed the 1st Brigade back. Powell brought his 2nd Brigade to the front, and the 1st Brigade moved to the rear.^[82] The 2nd Brigade charged, resulting in a short clash that ended with the Confederates retreating as fast as they could. They were chased for eight miles.^[83] Powell captured all of the rebel artillery (two guns), their ammunition train, and took 180 prisoners.^[84] A newspaper account said that "Gen. Powell was on the field in person, and superintended the formation of the line of battle...." The newspaper also added that 40 Confederates were killed or wounded. Among those killed were a colonel and two majors, and among those wounded (slightly) was the "scoundrel" General McCausland (infamous for the burning of Chambersburg).^[85]

Animosity with Confederacy

Powell was not popular with the Confederacy.

Powell was strongly disliked by supporters of the Confederacy, and the feeling was mutual. No matter what his rank was, he was often the leader of Union cavalry attacking Confederates.^{[Note 7]} Weather and terrain were not deterrents to Powell's aggression. In 1862, he led a small group of men down a mountain in a snowstorm—and captured over 100 Confederates in what became known as the Sinking Creek raid.^[26]

Powell's original regiment, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry, spent much of its early years confronting bushwhackers—who were despised. The bushwhacker was thought of as an “unprincipled scoundrel who was too cowardly to join the army and fight as a man…”, who would “sneak around like a thief in the night….”^[87] Eventually, Union forces in the mountains of what became West Virginia became very ruthless in their treatment of bushwhackers.^[88] Powell was accused by Confederate General Sam Jones of shooting a prisoner "in cold blood". In another incident, he was accused of setting fire to a home with a family asleep inside. By early 1863, Powell was "one of the Confederacy's most wanted Union officers".^[89]

At least on one occasion, Powell was blamed for events that were beyond his control. He was lucky the citizens of Wytheville did not end his life after he became a prisoner in Wytheville—a few of the local women intervened when it appeared he might be harmed for the burning of buildings that happened after he was seriously wounded.^[90] The women hid Powell in a hotel.^[91] After he recovered enough to be moved to Libby Prison, he spent part of his time there in a dungeon.^[38] Confederate General Sam Jones wrote that Powell "is a bold, daring man, and one of the most dangerous officers we have had to contend with in the northwest of the state, and I am particularly anxious that he should not be allowed to return to the Kanawha Valley if it can be avoided."^[36]

As a division commander, Powell ordered the execution of at least three bushwhackers who murdered his men. He called them "illegal and outlawed bands of horse-thieves and murderers, recognized and supported by rebel authorities".^[92] The treatment of bushwhackers by both Custer and Powell caused Confederate Colonel Mosby to write an open letter to General Sheridan threatening retaliation.^[93] Powell reported that he would not be intimidated by threats from the Richmond press.^[94] He wrote that he wished it be known to rebel authorities that if hanging two rebels for every one of his men murdered by bushwhackers was not enough, "I will increase it to twenty-two to one".^[92]

Resigns

Powell resigned from the Union Army on January 5, 1865, because of a death and severe illness in his family. He issued a farewell address on January 10. In accepting the resignation on January 14, General Torbert wrote of his "appreciation of your valor and ability as a soldier, your zeal, efficiency and untiring energy as a cavalry commander."^[70] General Sheridan thanked Powell for his "faithful support, and for your gallantry which has contributed so much to make the victories of the Shenandoah Valley decisive."^[95]

In summary, Powell was involved in 61 battles and engagements during the American Civil War, and rose from captain to brigadier general.^[11] On February 24, 1866, Powell was nominated to be appointed to major general of the volunteers by brevet. The appointment was retroactive to March 13, 1865, and was for "gallant and meritorious services during the campaign of 1864 in West Virginia, and particularly at the battle of Front Royal."^{[96][Note 8]}

Post war

William H. Powell

After leaving the military, Powell returned to the iron business. He became general manager of the Ironton Rolling Mill in Ironton, Ohio.^[47] In the spring of 1867, he moved to Clifton, West Virginia, to form the Clifton Nail Works, which he managed. A severe injury in 1869 nearly cost him his leg, and he was unable to work. He sold his interest in the nail works, and moved to Kansas City, Missouri.^[47] At Kansas City, Powell worked for Standard Oil until he moved to St. Louis and worked for American Central Insurance.^[4] In 1876, he had recovered enough that he could work in the iron/nail business again.^[47] This time, he moved to Belleville, Illinois, where he lived for the rest of his life. He became manager of the Waugh Company Nail Works until 1882, when he organized the Western Nail Works. He worked at this Belleville company, as superintendent and general manager, until 1892.^[4] Two years after his move to Belleville, his wife Sara died. A year later in 1879, he married local resident Emma Weaver.

Powell was acquainted with President Rutherford B. Hayes, and a long-time friend of President William McKinley—they all fought in the Army of West Virginia during the Civil War. President McKinley also came from an iron-making family. McKinley appointed Powell as an Internal Revenue Collector in 1895.^[4] Powell was a strong participant in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the Illinois department commander in 1895 and 1896. Powell died at his home on December 26, 1904, in Belleville. He was survived by his wife and three of his children.^[99] He was buried at Chicago's Graceland Cemetery.^[100]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Henry Powell (soldier).

• George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War
• National Park Service - The Civil War
• West Virginia Division of Culture and History - The Civil War in West Virginia

Notes

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References