This is a short account of a small but important battle in West Virginia in 1861 during the Civil War. West Virginia was still part of Virginia but the movement to separate it was gathering strength. This battle helped guard the approach to Wheeling where the convention to secede from Virginia was due to take place. The Confederacy won the battle but was left in a dangerous position and had to retreat, abandoning their campaign to reach the Ohio River. The Union troops were left in possession of the field and in control of the whole region.

This is a kind of souvenir history with an emphasis on the West Virginia state park on the battle site. The writing is pretty straightforward and clear, though the battle narrative gets confusing sometimes, with references to left and right which do not specify what army is being referred to. Of course the battle itself must have been confusing. There are mini-biographies of a lot of the combatants which are interesting, and plenty of pictures. The circumstances leading up to the battle are very well explained. There is also an account of the preliminary conflict at Kesler's Cross Lanes on the day before the Carnifex Ferry encounter.

Interestingly, two future U.S. presidents fought in this battle, both on the Union side: Rutherford B. Hays and William McKinley. Also a future Supreme Court justice, Stanley Matthews. ( )