Frenchburg, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Frenchburg is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County
in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. Frenchburg is located along the Northwestern Turnpike
(U.S. Route 50
) where the Little Cacapon River
is formed by the confluence
of the North and South forks of the Little Cacapon east of Shanks
. Frenchburg is also the location of the southern terminus of Little Cacapon River Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 50/9) on U.S. Route 50. Frenchburg is primarily known for the events that took place there during the American Civil War
.
, Frenchburg was a village consisting of a cluster of houses and a mill, operated by the Cummins family, along the Northwestern Turnpike. The town was burned by Union
troops in late 1861. It was believed by the Union troops that Frenchburg's residents were aiding Confederate
bushwhacker
s.
Sergeant John C. Leps, along with seven men, departed the Confederate camp near Blue's Gap and fired upon a detachment of Union soldiers in the vicinity of Frenchburg. The ambush wounded and killed several men. Afterwards, Union Captain George F. Sheetz and other officers sent out word to the residents of Frencburg and the surrounding area that if bushwhacking were to occur again against Union troops in the district, its residents would face punishment. While Frenchburg's residents were most likely not responsible for aiding bushwhackers in the area, Captain Sheetz gave orders that the town be burned.
Confederate troops and partisans used a "back road", which presently consists of parts of Little Cacapon River Road (CR 50/9), Three Churches Hollow Road (CR 5/4), and Don McCauley Road (CR 28/1), that ran from Frenchburg to Buffalo Hollow
near Hanging Rocks
.
After the war, Frenchburg's Camp Walker served as a site for reunions of Confederate veterans and their families until the 1930s.
ing destination when the Little Cacapon's water level is high enough.
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Frenchburg is located along the Northwestern Turnpike
Northwestern Turnpike
The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia , important for being historically one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 1830s. In modern times, west of Winchester, Virginia, U.S...
(U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
) where the Little Cacapon River
Little Cacapon River
The Little Cacapon River is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River in the center of Hampshire County, West Virginia. Via the Potomac River, its waters are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, leading to the Atlantic Ocean. The Little Cacapon at an elevation of near the community of...
is formed by the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the North and South forks of the Little Cacapon east of Shanks
Shanks, West Virginia
Shanks is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. According to the 2000 census, the Shanks community has a population of 806....
. Frenchburg is also the location of the southern terminus of Little Cacapon River Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 50/9) on U.S. Route 50. Frenchburg is primarily known for the events that took place there during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
American Civil War
In its earliest days, Frenchburg consisted of a general store and a wagon repair shop. During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Frenchburg was a village consisting of a cluster of houses and a mill, operated by the Cummins family, along the Northwestern Turnpike. The town was burned by Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
troops in late 1861. It was believed by the Union troops that Frenchburg's residents were aiding Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
bushwhacker
Bushwhacker
Bushwhacking was a form of guerrilla warfare common during the American Revolutionary War, American Civil War and other conflicts in which there are large areas of contested land and few Governmental Resources to control these tracts...
s.
Sergeant John C. Leps, along with seven men, departed the Confederate camp near Blue's Gap and fired upon a detachment of Union soldiers in the vicinity of Frenchburg. The ambush wounded and killed several men. Afterwards, Union Captain George F. Sheetz and other officers sent out word to the residents of Frencburg and the surrounding area that if bushwhacking were to occur again against Union troops in the district, its residents would face punishment. While Frenchburg's residents were most likely not responsible for aiding bushwhackers in the area, Captain Sheetz gave orders that the town be burned.
Confederate troops and partisans used a "back road", which presently consists of parts of Little Cacapon River Road (CR 50/9), Three Churches Hollow Road (CR 5/4), and Don McCauley Road (CR 28/1), that ran from Frenchburg to Buffalo Hollow
Buffalo Creek (South Branch Potomac River)
Buffalo Creek is a free-flowing tributary stream of the South Branch Potomac River, itself a tributary of the Potomac River, making it a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Buffalo Creek is located in west-central Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia...
near Hanging Rocks
Hanging Rocks
Hanging Rocks are perpendicular cliffs rising nearly above the South Branch Potomac River in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Hanging Rocks are located four miles north of Romney at Wappocomo on West Virginia Route 28. Hanging Rocks has also been known throughout its history...
.
After the war, Frenchburg's Camp Walker served as a site for reunions of Confederate veterans and their families until the 1930s.
Recreation
Due to its location at the confluence of the Little Cacapon River with its North and South forks, Frenchburg is a popular kayakKayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing destination when the Little Cacapon's water level is high enough.