Visiting the Rich Mountain Battlefield
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West Virginia, one of the Mid-Atlantic states of the USA. is bounded by Ohio and Kentucky to the West, Pennsylvania and Maryland to the North, and Virginia on the East and South. |
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Rich
Mountain Battlefield While you are in Beverly, stop at the new Rich Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center. Located on Files Creek Road in Beverly, the center is open through Monday through Friday 11 am to 4 pm and by appointment. The center has a gift shop, interpretive displays, brochures, and information about Rich Mountain and other area Civil War Sites, Historic Beverly, and the Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike Byway. |
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To reach the Battlefield from Beverly, turn west off of U.S. Route 219\250 onto Rich Mountain Road. The county road now known as Rich Mountain road follows the same route that was once the vital Staunton-Parkersburg turnpike, and is now designated as the Rich Mountain Backway. Follow that road, continuing straight at the stop sign, up the mountain about five miles to the Battlefield parking lot. |
At The Battlefield
The battlefield area at the top of the mountain is relatively intact, in spite of nearby strip mines. The buildings are long gone, but inscriptions carved by veterans of the battle can still be seen on the rocks on the north side of the road. An historical marker and a monument mark the site, which is owned by the Civil War Preservation Trust (formerly APCWS). Follow the short trail with interpretive signs to appreciate the Battlefield and its features. Brochures are also available at each parking lot, if you did not get one from the Visitor Center.
From there, return to your car and continue 1 1/2 miles further west to Camp Garnett at the western base of the mountain. From the parking lot here, take the interpretive trail to see remains of extensive entrenchments in the woods on the north side of the road. The observer can see just where the soldiers were stationed, and how their position overlooked the vital road.
As you enjoy your visit to Rich Mountain Battlefield, please do all that you can to protect this site. Please observe all posted rules, including No artifact hunting, metal detectors, or off-road vehicles.
