Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
July 14, 1861

Although we have published accounts of the fight at New Creek Station, or Paddy-town, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the following, from a participant, will be read with interest:

A detachment of Col. McDonald's Regiment of Cavalry, composed of most of Capt. Macon Jordan's company, of Page, a few of Capt. Wingfield's, of Rockingham, and Bowen's, of Warren, numbering about one hundred, were ordered on 13th instant from headquarters, at Romney, to proceed to Piedmont, to break up railroad and bridges. This being accomplished, and passing to another point of duty, they entered Paddytown, of New Creek Station, Hampshire county, about daylight on the morning of the 14th. They were told by a tavern-keeper that there were no Federals scouts, but advancing a short distance, they found two sentinels, killed one and arrested the other, when, just beyond, a fire was opened upon them from a meadow, where the Federals were concealed in the tall grass. The Page boys jumped the fence, charged, and drove them to a large brick house. From the doors, window, and cupola, a deadly fire was directed at our brave fellows, and nobly did these boys (for juniors they were in such conflicts) exhibit the metal of which this regiment is composed. Two of Capt. Jordan's Rangers, Lieutenant Booton and private Miller, fell at this charge. Fifteen or more of the enemy were killed, and perhaps many more wounded. The enemy's position and overwhelming numbers, sheltered in houses, and large reinforcements coming up, outnumbering us, perhaps twenty to one, caused our detachment to withdraw, saddened at heart at the loss of there two brave comrades, whose bodies we had to leave with the inhospitable savages that held them, and who actually refused to expect a flag of truce sent to inter them.

Massanutta Ranger.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1861