STATE MILITARY FORCES OF THE LEWIS COUNTY AREA 1770 - PRESENT

by Marty Garton

COLONIAL MILITIA, DIST. OF WEST AUGUSTA, VA. IN 1770, PIONEERS BEGAN SETTLING THE UPPER WEST FORK RIVER VALLEY. WITH INDIAN RAIDS ON THE RISE, A SERIES OF FORTS WERE CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE WESTERN FRONTIER. BY 1773, WEST’S FORT HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN JANE LEW, AND LATER FLESHER’S BLOCKHOUSE IN WESTON. IN 1774, LORD DUNMORE, GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, CALLED FOR 2,500 VOLUNTEERS TO ATTACK THE INDIANS ON THEIR OWN SOIL. A COMPANY OF MEN FROM THE WEST FORK VALLEY WAS ORGANIZED UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM LOWTHER. AFTER ASSEMBLING THE TROOPS, LORD DUNMORE SENT 1,000 MEN WITH CAPTAIN ANDREW LEWIS DOWN THE KANAWHA VALLEY, WHILE HE TOOK 1,500 MEN, INCLUDING LOWTHER’S CO., DOWN THE OHIO RIVER FROM WHEELING. THE PLAN WAS TO MEET AT POINT PLEASANT, BUT DUNMORE INSTEAD MARCHED INTO OHIO AND BEGAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. CHIEF CORNSTALK, WITH 1,000 WARRIORS, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SEPARATION AND ATTACKED CAPTAIN LEWIS AT POINT PLEASANT BUT WAS DEFEATED. AS A RESULT, THE INDIANS SIGNED THE TREATY OF CAMP CHARLOTTE, ENDING DUNMORE’S WAR.

PATRIOT MILITIA, MONONGALIA CO. VA. THE AMERICAN COLONIES BEGAN RESISTING BRITISH RULE IN 1774. IN APR. 1775, THE BRITISH ATTACKED AT LEXINGTON, MA. ON 4 JUL. 1776, THE UNITED STATES DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLAND. THAT SAME YEAR MONONGALIA CO. WAS FORMED, WHICH INCLUDED THE ENTIRE WEST FORK RIVER VALLEY, AND ASSIGNED THE 76TH REG. THE INDIANS, WHO HAD ALLIED WITH THE BRITISH, BEGAN CONDUCTING RAIDS ON THE FRONTIER SETTLEMENTS. BEGINNING IN 1777 AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE WAR, THERE WERE MORE RAIDS CONDUCTED AGAINST THE UPPER WEST FORK VALLEY THAN ANYWHERE IN THE STATE. SCOUT AND SPY COMPANIES WERE FORMED AND BEGAN WORKING OUT OF THE SEVERAL FORTS IN THE AREA. WEST’S FORT WAS BURNED BY THE INDIANS IN THE WINTER OF 1779-80 AND REBUILT NEARBY THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IN THE FALL OF 1782, SOME OF THE MEN PARTICIPATED IN GEN. GEORGE R. CLARK’S OHIO EXPEDITION UNDER CPT. GEORGE JACKSON AND COL. WILLIAM LOWTHER. GEN. CLARK DESTROYED THE SHAWNEE TOWNS OF UPPER AND LOWER PIQUA, INCLUDING THEIR WINTER FOOD SUPPLY. THE WAR ENDED WITH THE TREATY OF PARIS IN 1783.

STATE MILITIA, HARRISON CO. VA. PART I IN 1784, HARRISON COUNTY WAS FORMED FROM SOUTHERN MONONGALIA COUNTY AND INCLUDED ALL OF PRESENT DAY LEWIS COUNTY. THE PERIOD OF CALM, WHICH EXISTED FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, ENDED AFTER THE BRITISH CONVINCED THE INDIANS TO RESUME RAIDS ON THE WESTERN SETTLEMENTS. THE SCOUT AND SPY COMPANIES WERE SOON REFORMED, RETURNING TO THE OLD FRONTIER DEFENSES AS THEIR BASE OF OPERATIONS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE WEST’S FORT IN JANE LEW. THE ORIGINAL FORT HAD STOOD ON THE PLATEAU NEAR THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF HACKER’S CREEK AND WEST RUN. THE NEW FORT WAS BUILT IN WHAT WAS ONCE A BEND IN HACKER’S CREEK NEAR THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MAIN AVE. AND FIRST ST. THIS FORT WAS ALSO KNOWN AS BEECH FORT, BEING CONSTRUCTED ENTIRELY OF BEECH LOGS. FURTHER TO THE SOUTH IN THE TOWN OF WESTON STOOD FLESHER’S BLOCKHOUSE. THIS LOG STRUCTURE WAS LOCATED NEAR THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MAIN AVE. AND SECOND ST. THE LOCAL MILITIA WOULD CONTINUE DEFENDING THE FRONTIER UNTIL 1794 WHEN THE TREATY OF GREENVILLE ENDED HOSTILITIES.

STATE MILITIA, HARRISON CO. VA. PART II IN 1812, THE UNITED STATES DECLARED WAR ON GREAT BRITAIN OVER THEIR OPPRESSIVE MARITIME PRACTICES. HARRISON COUNTY’S 11TH AND 119TH REGIMENTS WOULD SOON BE CALLED UPON FOR TROOPS. THAT FALL, THE COUNTY SENT THREE COMPANIES OF MILITIA TO THE NORTHWESTERN ARMY UNDER GEN. WILLIAM H. HARRISON. THESE WERE THE INFANTRY COMPANIES OF CPT. JOSIAH PECK, CPT. JOHN PATTON, AND CPT. JOHN MCWHORTER. THESE UNITS WOULD BE CREDITED WITH SERVICE IN THE CANADA CAMPAIGN. IN 1814, THE COUNTY SENT SIX UNITS TO NORFOLK, VA. THESE WERE CPT. GEORGE DAVISSON’S ARTILLERY BATTERY AND THE INFANTRY COMPANIES OF CPT. JOHN BOZARTH, CPT. GABRIEL WILKINSON, CPT. JOSEPH JOHNSON, CPT. JOHN PITZER, AND LT. JETHRO NEVILLE. ON DECEMBER 24, 1814, THE TREATY OF GHENT WAS SIGNED ENDING THE WAR. BEFORE THIS INFORMATION COULD BE RECEIVED, THE COUNTY WOULD SEND THREE UNITS TO DEFEND THE CITY OF RICHMOND, VA. IN EARLY 1815. THESE WERE THE INFANTRY COMPANIES OF CPT. JACOB ISRAEL, CPT. NATHAN DAVIS, AND THE CAVALRY TROOP OF LT. FORBES BRITTON.

125^TH REG. INF. V.S.M. IN 1816, LEWIS COUNTY WAS FORMED FROM SOUTHERN HARRISON COUNTY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED, WITH THE COUNTY SEAT AT WESTFIELD. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THE MILITIA WAS ORGANIZED AND DESIGNATED AS THE 125TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, VIRGINIA STATE MILITIA. IT CONSISTED OF ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 45. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ATTEND ANNUAL DRILL AND MUSTER. IN 1829, A SECOND REGIMENT WAS ADDED TO THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY. THE 125TH WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO WESTERN LEWIS COUNTY. A NEW REGIMENT WAS LATER ADDED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, AT WHICH TIME THE 125TH WAS REASSIGNED TO SOUTHERN LEWIS COUNTY. AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE UNIT WAS COMMANDED BY COL. COMMODORE P. HUDSON AND EVENTUALLY SERVED FOR SIXTY AND NINETY DAY PERIODS. THEIR MAIN MISSION BECAME SCOUTING FOR CONFEDERATE RAIDERS. GENERAL ALBERT G. JENKINS CAPTURED THE TOWN OF WESTON IN AUGUST 1862 AND BURNED THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE BEFORE MOVING ON TO GLENVILLE. BY LATE 1863, THE UNIT HAD BEEN DISBANDED.

133^RD REG. INF. V.S.M. WHEN LEWIS COUNTY WAS FORMED IN 1816, IT WAS MUCH LARGER THAN IT IS TODAY. FROM THE PRESENT HARRISON COUNTY BORDER, IT EXTENDED EAST TAKING IN SOUTHWESTERN BARBOUR COUNTY. THEN SOUTH, TAKING IN WESTERN UPSHUR AND NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER COUNTIES. THEN NORTHWEST, TAKING IN NORTHERN BRAXTON, MOST OF GILMER, AND NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTIES. FROM THERE, IT EXTENDED NORTHEAST TAKING IN SOUTHEASTERN RITCHIE COUNTY AND THEN BACK TO THE HARRISON LINE TAKING IN SOUTHERN DODDRIDGE COUNTY. COUPLED WITH THE FACT THERE WERE NO ROADS, IT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOLDIERS TO ATTEND ANNUAL MUSTER AND DRILL. AS A RESULT, ADDITIONAL REGIMENTS WERE FORMED AS THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY GREW. IN 1829, THE 133RD REGIMENT INFANTRY, VIRGINIA STATE MILITIA, WAS ORGANIZED IN EASTERN LEWIS COUNTY. IN 1851, UPSHUR COUNTY WAS FORMED FROM LEWIS, BARBOUR, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES. MOST OF THE SOLDIERS IN THIS UNIT WERE NOW RESIDENTS OF THIS NEW COUNTY. RATHER THAN ASSIGN UPSHUR COUNTY A NEW UNIT, THEY INSTEAD ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE 133RD REGIMENT.

CPT. BLAND’S CO. VA. VOLS. IN 1846, THE U.S. WENT TO WAR WITH MEXICO OVER THE DISPUTED TEXAS BORDER. CONGRESS AUTHORIZED PRESIDENT JAMES K. POLK TO CALL UP 50,000 VOLUNTEERS. WITH PATRIOTISM AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, THIS WOULD PROVE TO BE AN EASY TASK. THE TERM OF ENLISTMENT FOR ACTIVATED UNITS WAS THREE, SIX, OR TWELVE MONTHS, THE LATER BEING THE MOST COMMON. IT WAS ALSO DURING THIS PERIOD THAT THOMAS J. JACKSON OF LEWIS COUNTY GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY. JACKSON WAS COMMISSIONED 2LT. AND ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY’S FIRST FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT. LT. JACKSON, ON FURLOUGH PRIOR TO HIS DEPLOYMENT TO MEXICO, PERSUADED DR. WILLIAM J. BLAND OF WESTON TO ORGANIZE A COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAR. AFTER RECRUITING HIS COMPANY, CPT. BLAND OFFERED THEIR SERVICES WITH AN ENLISTMENT TERM OF SIX MONTHS. UNFORTUNATELY, ALREADY HAVING ENOUGH TROOPS, THE OFFER WAS TURNED DOWN. THE STATE OF VIRGINIA EVENTUALLY PROVIDED FOURTEEN COMPANIES FOR SERVICE IN THE WAR. AS FOR THE COUNTIES WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS, ONLY CABELL AND MONONGALIA HAD UNITS FEDERALIZED.

192^ND REG. INF. V.S.M. AFTER LOSING THE 133RD REGIMENT TO UPSHUR COUNTY IN 1851, LEWIS COUNTY WAS ASSIGNED A NEW REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. THIS NEW REGIMENT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND DESIGNATED AS THE 192ND REGIMENT INFANTRY, VIRGINIA STATE MILITIA. IT CONSISTED OF ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 45. AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE REGIMENT WAS UNDER THE COMMAND OF COL. PAUL STEVENS. THE VARIOUS COMPANIES OF THIS REGIMENT WERE EVENTUALLY ACTIVATED FOR SIXTY AND NINETY DAY PERIODS. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THIS UNIT WAS TO SCOUT THE AREA FOR CONFEDERATE ACTIVITY. IN MAY OF 1863, GENERALS WILLIAM E. JONES AND JOHN D. IMBODEN CAPTURED THE TOWN OF WESTON. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT SOME OF IMBODEN’S MEN SKIRMISHED WITH UNION FORCES NEAR JANE LEW. THE JONES-IMBODEN RAID PAID CONFEDERATE CURRENCY FOR THE HORSES, CATTLE, AND OTHER ITEMS THEY COLLECTED. MOST OF THE CONFEDERATE UNITS SELECTED FOR THIS MISSION WERE FROM WEST VIRGINIA. THE REGIMENT WAS DISBANDED IN THE FALL OF 1863 DURING A REORGANIZATION OF THE STATE MILITIA.

CO. I 31^ST REG. INF. VA. VOLS. ORGANIZED AT SKIN CREEK IN THE SPRING OF 1861 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN ALFRED JACKSON. KNOWN AS THE LEWIS RANGERS, THE COMPANY WAS LATER DESIGNATED AS COMPANY I 31ST REGIMENT INFANTRY, VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS. THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NORTHWEST VIRGINIA UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL ROBERT GARNETT. HERE, THE COMPANY CONDUCTED OPERATIONS TROUGHOUT THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN VIRGINIA. THEY WERE LATER ASSIGNED TO GENERAL THOMAS J. “STONEWALL” JACKSON’S SECOND CORPS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA UNDER GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE. IN 1863, THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE JONES-IMBODEN RAID INTO WESTERN VIRGINIA GATHERING HORSES AND SUPPLIES. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE VALLEY, PENINSULA, SECOND MANASSAS, SHARPSBURG, FREDERICKSBURG, GETTYSBURG, WILDERNESS, SPOTSYLVANIA, COLD HARBOR, SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT GAIN’S MILL AND FREDERICKSBURG, VA. THE COMPANY, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON, SURRENDERED AT APPOMATTOX, VIRGINIA IN APRIL 1865.

DET. CO. A 10^TH REG. INF. WV. VOLS. TO COUNTER GUERRILLA ACTIVITY, UPSHUR COUNTY’S CO. A 10TH REG. INF. WAS MOBILIZED IN LATE 1861 TO DUFFY IN SOUTHERN LEWIS CO. THIS NEWLY FORMED COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING AT BUCKHANNON WHEN THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE. AFTER SETTING UP CAMP AT DUFFY, THE UNIT CONTINUED RECRUITING. AS A RESULT, NEARLY HALF OF THE SOLDIERS IN THIS COMPANY WERE FROM LEWIS CO. HERE, THE UNIT CONSTRUCTED A BLOCKHOUSE ON THE PICKENS FARM THAT BECAME KNOWN AS FORT PICKENS. CONFEDERATE GUERRILLAS BURNED THE BLOCKHOUSE IN DEC. 1864. THE UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE EIGHTH CORPS, DEPT. OF WV. WHERE THEY SERVED UNDER GENERALS ROBERT MILROY, WILLIAM AVERELL, BENJAMIN KELLEY, AND FRANZ SIGEL. THEY WERE LATER ASSIGNED TO GEN. PHILIP SHERIDAN’S ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH AND THE 24TH CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES UNDER GEN. E.O.C. ORD. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLE OF DROOP MTN., WV. THE UNIT WAS MUSTERED OUT AT RICHMOND, VA. IN AUG. 1865 AND DISBANDED AT WHEELING.

CO. C 10^TH REG. INF. WV. VOLS. ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN LATE 1861 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM D. HALL AND ASSIGNED TO THE EIGHT CORPS, DEPT. OF WV. THEY WERE TASKED WITH FIGHTING GUERRILLAS AND BUSHWHACKERS BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED TO GENERAL ROBERT MILROY’S COMMAND. THEY LATER SERVED AS MOUNTED INFANTRY UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL WILLIAM W. AVERELL. HERE, THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE RAID ON SALEM, VA. WHERE THE CONFEDERATE SUPPLY DEPOT AND SIXTEEN MILES OF THE VIRGINIA & TENNESSEE RAILROAD WERE DESTROYED. THE UNIT ALSO SERVED UNDER GENERALS BENJAMIN KELLEY AND FRANZ SIGEL. THE UNIT WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN AND THE TWENTY-FORTH CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES UNDER GENERAL E.O.C. ORD. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLES OF SECOND KERNSTOWN AND THIRD WINCHESTER, VA. IN AUGUST 1865, THE UNIT WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT RICHMOND, VA. AND LATER DISBANDED AT WHEELING, WV.

CO. D 10^TH REG. INF. WV. VOLS. ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN LATE 1861 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN THOMAS D. MURRIN AND ASSIGNED TO THE EIGHT CORPS, DEPT. OF WV. THEY WERE TASKED WITH FIGHTING GUERRILLAS AND BUSHWHACKERS BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED TO GENERAL ROBERT MILROY’S COMMAND. THEY LATER SERVED AS MOUNTED INFANTRY UNDER GENERAL WILLIAM W. AVERELL, WHERE THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE RAID ON SALEM, VA. THEY ALSO SERVED IN THE COMMANDS OF GENERALS BENJAMIN KELLEY, FRANZ SIGEL, AND PHILIP SHERIDAN’S ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH. THEY WERE LATER ASSIGNED TO THE TWENTY-FORTH CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES UNDER GENERAL E.O.C. ORD. HERE, DURING THE FALL OF PETERSBURG, VA., THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE STORMING OF FORT WHITWORTH, WHICH ALLOWED UNION FORCES TO TAKE NEARBY FORT GREGG. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLES OF SECOND KERNSTOWN AND HATCHER’S RUN, VA. IN AUGUST 1865, THE UNIT WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT RICHMOND, VA. AND LATER DISBANDED AT WHEELING, WV

CO. C 17^TH REG. CAV. VA. VOLS. SECRETLY ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1862 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM C. TAVENNER. THE UNIT ASSEMBLED AT HILLSBURO, WV. AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE THIRTY-THIRD VIRGINIA CAVALRY BATTALION AS THE LEWIS CAVALRY. THEY WERE LATER DESIGNATED AS COMPANY C SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT CAVALRY, VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS. THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SAMUAL JONES. THE UNIT WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO GENERAL JOHN MCCAUSLAND’S BRIGADE, GENERAL JUBAL EARLY’S CORPS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. IN JULY 1864, GENERAL MCCAUSLAND BURNED CHAMBERSBURG, PA. IN RETALIATION FOR THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY UNION FORCES TO LEXINGTON, VA. AND THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE GETTYSBURG, SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLES OF THIRD WINCHESTER AND NINEVEH, VA. ESCAPING CAPTURE AT APPOMATTOX, THE UNIT DISBANDED AT LYNCHBURG, VA. IN APRIL 1865, NEVER SURRENDERING TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

CO. B 15^TH REG. INF. WV. VOLS. ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1862 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN MICHAEL EGAN. THE COMPANY WAS ASSIGNED TO THE RAILROAD DISTRICT, EIGHT CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA UNDER GENERAL BENJAMIN KELLEY. HERE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL GEORGE CROOK, THE UNIT PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW RIVER RAID. THIS COMPANY, WHILE UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE, DESTROYED THE NEW RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE AT CENTRAL DEPOT (RADFORD), VA. MAKING THIS RAID THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT’S 1864 SPRING OFFENSIVE. THEY ALSO SERVED UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL DAVID HUNTER DURING THE RAID ON LYNCHBURG, VA. THE UNIT WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN’S ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH AND THE TWENTY-FORTH CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES UNDER GENERAL E.O.C. ORD. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLES OF LYNCHBURG AND CEDAR CREEK, VA. IN JUNE 1865, THE UNIT WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT RICHMOND, VA. AND LATER DISBANDED AT WHEELING, WV.

CO. D 15^TH REG. INF. WV. VOLS. ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1862 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JASPER PETERSON. THE COMPANY WAS ASSIGNED TO THE RAILROAD DISTRICT, EIGHT CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA UNDER GENERAL BENJAMIN KELLEY. HERE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL GEORGE CROOK, THE UNIT PARTICIPATED IN THE RAID ON DUBLIN, VA. WHERE THEY DESTROYED THE CONFEDERATE SUPPLY DEPOT AND DAMAGED THE VIRGINIA & TENNESSEE RAILROAD. THE COMPANY ALSO SERVED UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL DAVID HUNTER DURING THE RAID ON LYNCHBURG, VA. CAUSING MUCH DESTRUCTION TO THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON AND THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. THE UNIT WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN’S ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH AND THE TWENTY-FORTH CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES UNDER GENERAL E.O.C. ORD. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE SHENANDOAH, PETERSBURG, AND APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNS SEEING THEIR HARDEST FIGHTING AT THE BATTLES OF CLOYD’S MOUNTAIN AND LYNCHBURG, VA. IN JUNE 1865, THE UNIT WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT RICHMOND, VA. AND LATER DISBANDED AT WHEELING, WV.

LEWIS CO. INDP. SCOUTS AS WEST VIRGINIA WAS PREPARING TO BECOME THE THIRTY-FIFTH STATE IN THE UNION, PLANS WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY TO REORGANIZE THE STATE MILITIA. THE PLAN WOULD ORGANIZE A SINGLE COMPANY IN THE NECESSARY COUNTIES TO REPLACE THE COMPANIES OF THE OLD VIRGINIA MILITIA REGIMENTS, WHICH WERE CURRENTLY SERVING ON DUTY. IN SEPTEMBER 1863, A COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED AT WESTON UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JOSHUA C. WILKINSON AND DESIGNATED AS THE LEWIS COUNTY INDEPENDENT SCOUTS. AS A FIGHTING FORCE, THESE UNITS WERE NO MATCH FOR THE WELL EQUIPPED AND BATTLE HARDENED CONFEDERATE FORCES. THEIR MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO SCOUT THE AREA FOR ENEMY ACTIVITY AND GIVE THE ALARM OF APPROACHING RAIDERS. THIS WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO UNION FORCES AND GAVE THE LOCAL CITIZENS TIME TO HIDE THEIR VALUABLES AND TAKE THEIR LIVESTOCK INTO THE HILLS. ONE SUCH RAID OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 1864 WHEN COLONEL VINCENT WITCHER’S CAVALRY CAPTURED THE TOWN OF WESTON AND JANE LEW, ROBBING THE WESTON EXCHANGE BANK OF OVER $5,000. THE UNIT WAS DISBANDED IN NOVEMBER 1864.

STATE MILITIA, LEWIS CO. WV. IN 1865, THE STATE BEGAN A REORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA. EXSISTING UNITS WERE SOON TO BE MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AND DISBANDED. THE STATE WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE REGIONS. COUNTIES EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS MADE UP THE EASTERN DIVISION, SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES THE WESTERN DIVISION, AND THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES, INCLUDING LEWIS, THE MIDDLE DIVISION. ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 45 WERE ENROLLED. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ATTEND ANNUAL MUSTER AND DRILL. THIS SYSTEM LASTED UNTIL 1873 WHEN IT WAS DISCONTINUED, LEAVING THE STATE WITH ONLY A FEW INDEPENDENT COMPANIES. IN 1878, THE STATE REESTABLISHED THE MILITIA WITH TWO REGIMENTS OF INFANTRY. THE FIRST REGIMENT WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE SECOND IN THE NORTH. NO UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN LEWIS COUNTY DURING THIS PERIOD. IN 1882, THE FIRST REGIMENT WAS DISBANDED AND THE SECOND REDESIGNATED AS THE FIRST. THAT SAME YEAR THE STATE REINSTATED THE ENROLLMENT OF ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN AS THE RESERVE MILITIA. BY 1886, THE FIRST REGIMENT HAD ALSO DISBANDED.

WESTON LIGHT GUARDS IN 1887, THE FIRST REGIMENT WAS REESTABLISHED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE. IN 1889, THE SECOND REGIMENT WAS REESTABLISHED IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE RESERVE MILITIA WAS DISCONTINUED. IT WAS AT THIS TIME, THE STATE CHANGED THE NAME OF THE MILITIA TO NATIONAL GUARD. ALSO IN 1889, THE WESTON LIGHT GUARDS WERE FORMED UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN T. L. EGAN. THIS COMPANY HAD SIX PLATOONS OF LIGHT INFANTRY. THE FIRST PLATOON WAS LOCATED AT WESTON, SECOND PLATOON AT CAMDEN, THIRD PLATOON AT CROOKED RUN, FOURTH PLATOON AT JANE LEW, FIFTH PLATOON AT BERLIN, AND SIXTH PLATOON AT BENDALE. PLANS WERE UNDERWAY TO FORM ADDITIONAL COMPANIES IN THE COUNTY. AS WAS THE CASE IN THESE DAYS, A UNIT HAD THE CHOICE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT OR BECOME A UNIT IN THE VOLUNTEER REGIMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE SUCCESSFUL REESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST AND SECOND REGIMENTS LATER IN THE YEAR, INDEPENDENT COMPANIES WERE NO LONGER AUTHORIZED. THE WESTON LIGHT GUARDS WERE DISBANDED AFTER NOT JOINING ONE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD REGIMENTS.

CO. F 2^ND REG. INF. W.V.N.G. IN FEB. 1898, THE U.S.S. MAINE EXPLODED AND SANK IN CUBA’S HAVANNA HARBOR. IN APR., THE UNITED STATES DECLARED WAR AGAINST SPAIN. AT THE REQUEST OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY, WEST VIRGINIA ASSEMBLED THE FIRST INFANTRY REGIMENT FOR FEDERAL SERVICE IN EARLY MAY. IN LATE MAY, THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR A SECOND REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. AT THIS TIME, COMPANY F OF THE SECOND REG. WAS ORGANIZED AT WESTON UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JACKSON ARNOLD. IN JUNE, THE REGIMENT WAS MUSTERD INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT CHARLESTON, WV. AND ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS. THEY WERE THAN MOBILIZED TO CAMP MEADE, MIDDLETOWN, PA. IN NOV., THE REGIMENT MOVED TO CAMP WETHERILL, GREENVILLE, SC. THE SOLDIERS WERE ISSUED THEIR FULL COMPLEMENT OF EQUIPMENT TO INCLUDE THE MODEL 1873, CAL. .45-70, SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND THE COLT, .38 CAL., DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER. WITH THE SURRENDER OF SPAIN, THE REGIMENT WAS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE FINAL PEACE TREATY WITH SPAIN WAS RATIFIED IN MAR. 1899 AND THE REGIMENT WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE A MONTH LATER.

CO. B 1^ST REG. INF. W.V.N.G. WHEN THE WAR WITH SPAIN ENDED, NATIONAL GUARD UNITS WHICH HAD BEEN CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WERE MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AND DISBANDED. IN DOING SO, INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS WERE RELIEVED OF ANY MILITARY OBLIGATION THEY MAY HAVE HAD. THE DEACTIVATED UNITS CEASED TO EXSIST FORCING THE STATES TO REORGANIZE. THIS COMMON PRACTICE WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL 1933, WHEN THE NATIONAL GUARD ACT REQUIRED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RETURN DEACTIVATED UNITS BACK TO STATE CONTROL. THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA WASTED LITTLE TIME IN GETTING STARTED ON THE REORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND INFANTRY REGIMENTS. IN OCTOBER 1899, COMPANY B OF THE FIRST INFANTRY REGIMENT WAS ORGANIZED AT WESTON UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JACKSON ARNOLD. UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNIT ONLY LASTED UNTIL MARCH OF 1900 WHEN IT WAS DIBANDED. THIS WAS MOST LIKELY DO TO LOW STRENGTH AND THE INABILITY TO ACQUIRE A SUITABLE ARMORY FACILITY. THE ORGANIZATION WAS RELOCATED TO SUTTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

CO. A 1^ST REG. INF. W.V.N.G. ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN 1905 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JACKSON ARNOLD. THE COMPANY MOVED INTO ITS NEW ARMORY FACILITY LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF CENTER AND FOURTH STREETS IN WESTON. AT THE TIME, THIS SINGLE-STORY WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE WAS ONE OF ONLY THREE SUITABLE ARMORIES IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. THE COMPANY WAS ISSUED THE NEW KHAKI UNIFORM, WHICH HAD BEEN PHASED IN FOLLOWING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR REPLACING THE OLD BLUES. IN 1908, THE UNIT WAS ISSUED THE MODEL 1903 SPRINGFIELD, .30 CALIBER, BOLT-ACTION RIFLE. OFFICERS RECEIVED THE COLT ARMY, .38 CALIBER, DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST LEWIS COUNTY UNIT TO ATTEND THE TWO-WEEK ANNUAL TRAINING, WHICH HAD BEEN HELD BY THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD SINCE 1891. IN 1909, CAMP DAWSON, NAMED FOR GOVERNOR WILLIAM M. O. DAWSON, WAS ESTABLISED IN PRESTON COUNTY AS HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FIRST REGIMENT. IN 1915, THE UNIT WAS DISBANDED AND RELOCATED TO CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

HQ. 2^ND BN. 1^ST REG. INF. W.V.N.G. IN 1912, CPT. JACKSON ARNOLD RELINQUISHED COMMAND OF CO. A 1ST REG. AND WAS LATER ASSIGNED COMMANDER OF HQ. 2ND BN. 1ST REG. INF. AT WESTON. THIS HQ. COMMANDED CO. E GRAFTON, CO. F MARTINSBURG, CO. G KINGWOOD, AND CO. H FAIRMONT. IN JUNE 1916, THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD REPORTED TO CHARLESTON, WV. FOR MEXICAN BORDER SERVICE. AFTER A MONTH IN CAMP, ONLY THE 2ND REGIMENT WAS MOBILIZED TO TX. AND THE 1ST REG. RETURNED TO HOME STATION. IN EARLY 1917, THE 1ST REG. BEGAN PREPARING FOR SERVICE IN WWI AND IN MARCH, THE REG. WAS MOBILIZED TO CP. CORNWELL, WV. IN AUGUST, THE UNIT MOVED TO CP. SHELBY, MS. WITH UNITS FROM KENTUCKY AND INDIANA WHERE IT WAS USED AS FILLERS IN THE 38TH INF. DIV. MAJOR JACKSON ARNOLD WAS PROMOTED TO LTC. OF THE 1ST REG. AND BECAME WELL KNOWN FOR CHECKING ON THE WV. SOLDIERS TO SEE THEY WERE TREATED FAIRLY IN THEIR NEW ASSIGNMENTS. IN SEPTEMBER 1918, THE DIV. DEPLOYED TO FRANCE WHERE IT WAS USED AS REPLACEMENTS. WITH THE WAR ENDING IN NOVEMBER 1918, THE UNITS WERE RETURNED TO THE U.S. BY EARLY 1919 AND MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE.

DET. CO. C 1^ST REG. INF. W.V.N.G. IN EARLY 1917, THE FIRST REG. BEGAN PREPARING FOR SERVICE IN WWI. TO BRING UPSHUR COUNTY’S CO. C 1ST REG. INF. UP TO STRENGTH, LAWRENCE B. HARRIS OF WESTON WAS COMMISSIONED 2LT. AND ORDERED TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN SOLDIERS AT THE WESTON ARMORY. AS A RESULT, NEARLY 1/3 OF THE MEN IN THIS UNIT WERE FROM LEWIS COUNTY. IN MAR. 1917, THE REG. WAS MOBILIZED TO CP. CORNWELL, FAIRMONT, WV. IN AUG., THE UNIT MOVED TO CP. SHELBY, HATTIESBURG, MS. WHERE IT WAS USED AS FILLERS IN THE 38TH INF. “CYCLONE” DIV. THE UNIT WAS REASSIGNED AS CO. C 137TH M.G. BN. HERE, THE DIV. WAS USED TO TRAIN UNITS FOR THE A. E. F. IN AUG. 1918, THE UNIT MOVED TO CP. MILLS, NY. AND DEPLOYED TO LAHAVRE, FRANCE A MONTH LATER. THE UNIT MOVED TO NANTES, LEMANS, AND VERDUN WHERE THEY WERE REASSIGNED AS REPLACEMENTS TO CO. C 103RD M.G. BN., 26TH INF. “YANKEE” DIV. FROM THERE THE UNIT MOVED TO CHAUMONT AND THEN TO BREST. GERMANY SIGNED THE COMPIEGNE ARMISTICE IN NOV. 1918 ENDING THE WAR. IN APR. 1919, THE UNIT RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND WAS MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT CP. SHERMAN, CHILLICOTHE, OH.

CO. E 201^ST REG. INF. W.V.N.G. FORMERLY THE 1ST REG., THE UNIT WAS ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 1927. IN DECEMBER, THE UNIT MOVED INTO ITS NEW ARMORY FACILITY LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF BROAD AND DEPOT STREETS, WESTON. IN THE LATE 1930’S, THE U.S. BEGAN PREPARING ITS FORCES FOR POSSIABLE ENTRY INTO WWII. BECAUSE OF JAPANESE AGGRESSION IN THE PACIFIC, THE U.S. BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF NAVEL AIR AND SUBMARINE BASES IN THE ISLANDS OF ALASKA. IN ADDITION, THE ARMY BEGAN DEPLOYING TROOPS TO ALASKA TO DEFEND THESE BASES. IN JANUARY 1941, THE COMPANY, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CPT. WILLIAM T. WEBER, WAS MOBILIZED WITH THE REGIMENT TO MORGANTOWN, WV. THE UNIT LATER MOVED TO FT. BENJAMIN HARRISON, IN. WHERE THEY TRAINED UNTIL AUGUST. THE REGIMENT WAS THEN SENT TO FT. LEWIS, WA. WHERE IT DEPLOYED TO ALASKA A MONTH LATER. THE UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ALASKAN DEFENCE COMMAND AT SITKA AND KODIAK ISLANDS WHERE THEY CONDUCTED DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS DURING THE WAR. SHORTLY AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN IN SEPTEMBER 1945, THE REGIMENT WAS DEACTIVATED AT FT. RUCKER, AL.

CO. E 1^ST REG. INF. W.V.S.G. WITH THE ENTIRE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD FEDERALIZED, THE STATE WAS LEFT WITH NO UNITS FOR STATE ACTIVE DUTY. IN FEBRUARY 1942, THEY ORGANIZED THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE GUARD. IT CONSISTED OF TWO REGIMENTS OF INFANTRY, THE FIRST IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE SECOND, PLUS TWO COMPANIES OF COLORED TROOPS, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE. THIS WAS DONE IN ALL BUT FOUR OF THE FORTY-EIGHT STATES. THE COMPANY ORGANIZED AT WESTON WAS DESIGNATED AS COMPANY E FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY, WEST VIRGINIA STATE GUARD, AND WAS UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN MINTER RALSTON. THE UNIT, WHICH OCCUPIED THE LOCAL ARMORY, WAS ISSUED THE MODEL 1917, CALIBER .30, BOLT-ACTION RIFLE AS WELL AS UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA. THE COMPANY PERFORMED GUARD DUTY AND ENFORCED CURFEWS AND BLACK OUTS. THEY ALSO ANSWERED THE CALL FOR NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS THE TORNADO, WHICH STRUCK SHINNSTON, WEST VIRGINIA ON 23 JUNE 1944. THESE UNITS REMAINED IN SERVICE UNTIL THE WEST VIRGINIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WAS REORGANIZED FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO.

CO. B 150^TH INF. RCT, WVARNG ORGANIZED AT WESTON IN 1947 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN RUPERT R. OLDAKER. THE ORGANIZATION WAS UNDER THE SECOND ARMY COMMAND. THE COMPANY REMAINED STATIONED AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY ON THE CORNER OF BROAD AND DEPOT STREETS. AS A REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, THE ORGANIZATION HAD THE OPTION OF DESIGNING ITS OWN SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA. THE STAFF TURNED TO THE TROOPS FOR IDEAS AND A DESIGN, SUBMITTED BY LIEUTENANT JAMES J. BIVENS OF COMPANY B, WAS SELECTED. HIS PATCH, REPRESENTING WEST VIRGINIA’S COAL, ALSO GAVE THE ORGANIZATION ITS NICKNAME, “THE BLACK DIAMOND REGIMENT”. IN THESE DAYS, DRILL WAS HELD ONE EVENING PER WEEK FOR FOUR HOURS. SOLDIERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM DRILL IN THE COMPANY’S DEUCE AND A HALF, MAKING THE ROUND TRIP FROM WESTON TO BURNSVILLE, VIA GLENVILLE AND ROANOKE. DURING A MAJOR REORGANIZATION IN 1955, THE LOCAL UNIT WAS REASSIGNED. THE 150TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, FORMERLY THE SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY, WAS REORGANIZED IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AS AN ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT.

193^RD ENG. CO. (PONTON BRIDGE) WVARNG ASSIGNED TO WESTON IN AUGUST 1955 UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN ROBERT D. HENDERSON. THE ORGANIZATION HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSIGNED TO LOGAN, WEST VIRGINIA. THE COMPANY WAS UNDER THE SECOND ARMY COMMAND AND ATTACHED TO THE 1092ND ENGINEER BATTALION OUT OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA. THIS ASSIGNMENT MARKED THE FIRST TIME A LEWIS COUNTY UNIT HAD SERVED AS ENGINEERS. ANOTHER BIG CHANGE WAS THAT RESERVE COMPONENT SOLDIERS WERE NOW REQUIRED TO ATTEND BASIC AND ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AFTER ENLISTMENT. THE COMPANY REMAINED STATIONED AT THE ARMORY ON BROAD AND DEPOT STREETS, WESTON. THE COMPANY’S ENGINEER EQUIPMENT WAS KEPT IN A SMALL MOTORPOOL ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF DEPOT AND BLAND STREETS. A LARGER MOTORPOOL WAS LATER CONSTRUCTED WEST OF TOWN, NEAR SUNSET ACRES, ON LAND DONATED BY THE WESTON STATE HOSPITAL. DURING ANOTHER REORGANIZATION IN MARCH OF 1959, THE UNIT WAS AGAIN REASSIGNED AND THE 193RD ENGINEER COMPANY MOVED BACK TO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

CO. B 1092^ND ENG. CBT. BTN. WVARNG PART 1 ASSIGNED TO WESTON IN MARCH OF 1959 UNDER THE SECOND ARMY COMMAND. IN 1961, THE UNIT MOVED INTO ITS NEW ARMORY LOCATED AT BENDALE. IN THE MID 1960’S, THE UNIT WAS REASSIGNED TO THE FIRST ARMY COMMAND. DURING THE COLD WAR PERIOD OF THE 1980’S, ATTENTION WAS TURNED TO THE SOVIET BACKED SANDINISTAS IN NICARAGUA AND THE LEFTIST GUERILLAS IN EL SALVADOR. TO COUNTER THIS THREAT, THE U.S. BEGAN SUPPORTING THE CONTRAS IN NICARAGUA AND CONDUCTING EXERCISES IN THE REGION. ONE OF THESE EXERCISES, WHICH BEGAN IN 1986, WAS FUERTES CAMINOS (STRONG ROADS) IN NEIGHBORING HONDURAS, CENTRAL AMERICA. IN JANUARY 1988, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN TIMOTHY W. CURRAN, THE UNIT DEPLOYED FROM FORT MEAD, MD. TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF HONDURAS. HERE, THEY CONDUCTED ROAD CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS BETWEEN THE VILLAGES OF YORO AND JOCON, RETURNING HOME IN FEBRUARY. THE ROAD, COMPLETED IN 1992, OPENED THE AGUAN RIVER VALLEY TO THE NORTERN PORTS OF HONDURAS. IN THE FALL OF 2001, THE UNIT BEGAN TRAINING FOR THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.

CO. B 1092^ND ENG. CBT. BTN. WVARNG PART ll ON 3 FEBRUARY 2003, THE BATTALION WAS ACTIVATED FOR THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. THE UNIT MOBILIZED TO FORT BRAGG, NC. WHERE THEY TRAINED FOR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. ON 8 APRIL, THEY DEPLOYED TO KUWAIT AND WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST M.E.F. COMPANY B, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JOHN C. WILKINSON, BEGAN CONDUCTING CONVOY SECURITY OPERATIONS INTO IRAQ. ON 5 MAY, THE UNIT MOVED TO CAMP SAPPER NEAR NASIRIYAH, IRAQ. HERE, UNDER THE 130TH EN. BD., THE UNIT CONDUCTED M.S.R. AND BASE MAINTENANCE, SCHOOL REPAIR, TRAINING OF IRAQI FORCES, AND FORCE PROTECTION OPERATIONS. IN LATE NOVEMBER, THEY MOVED TO CAMP ANACONDA NEAR BALAD WHERE, UNDER THE 4TH I.D., THEY SUPPORTED OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN THE AREA TO INCLUDE VILLAGE RAIDS AND ROUTE CLEARANCE. IN JANUARY 2004, THE UNIT MOVED TO CAMP GLORY NEAR MOSUL WHERE THEY PROVIDED ENGINEER SUPPORT FOR THE 2ND I.D. ON 27 MARCH, THE BATTALION RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND WAS DEACTIVATED AT FORT BRAGG IN APRIL. IN THE SUMMER OF 2006, THE COMPANY WAS REASSIGNED.

601^ST BCT, ENG. SPT. CO. WVARNG BY EARLY 2006, COMPANY B 1092ND ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION HAD BECOME THE LONGEST STANDING UNIT IN LEWIS COUNTY HISTORY WITH OVER FORTY-SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE. THIS MILESTONE COULD NOT HAVE COME TOO SOON, FOR IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 THE UNIT WAS REASSIGNED AS THE 601ST BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, ENGINEER SUPPORT COMPANY UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HILL. THE MISSION FOR THIS UNIT WILL BE THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF BASE CAMPS AND AIRFIELDS. THE COMPANY WILL BE UNDER THE 1092ND ENGINEER BATTALION HEADQUARTERS OUT OF PARKERSBURG AND THE 111TH ENGINEER BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS OUT OF ELEANOR, WEST VIRGINIA. THIS UNIT WILL BE PART OF THE ARMY’S NEW FUTURE FORCE. WITH THE ONGOING GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, THE ARMY RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR SMALL MODULAR UNITS THAT CAN BE RAPIDLY DEPLOYED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BATTLEFIELD COMMANDERS. FUTURE PLANS CALL FOR A NEW ARMORY TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE REGION. THE COMPANY REMAINS STATIONED AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN BENDALE.

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