Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
August 13, 1861

Grafton, Aug. 14.:A severe skirmish took place a few miles west of here yesterday on the Fairmont and Webster road, information having been rec[e]ived that a secretly organized body of rebels living in this county were lodged within a few miles of Webster, Gen. Kelley dispatched Capt. Dayton, Co. A, 4th Virginia Regiment, with 50 men, from Webster to disarm them. After scouting nearly 24 hours, he come suddenly on them at noon yesterday and after an hours severe fighting succeeded in killing 21 and putting the others to flight, without any loss to his command. The rebels numbered 200, composed of some of the worst characters of this county, lead on by Zack Cochran, Sheriff of Taylor county under the Letcher rule.

The Wheeling Press lately gave an account of a skirmish near Grafton, in which it was stated that 200 Virginians were signally routed by 50 Federalists, led by Capt. Dayton, and a considerable number killed and wounded. A letter from Piedmont to the Baltimore Exchange says:

Now the truth is simply this: The aforesaid Dayton was sent out from Webster on a scouting expedition, and whilst out came upon an old man and his son, who were harvesting. As soon as the boy discovered the soldiers, he attempted to make his escape, and was fired at by them and wounded in the leg. After this, the party returned to camp and manufactured the account given by the Press. Captain Dayton and his company are from this place and neighborhood, and to persons who are acquainted with him and the material of which his company is composed, it would be useless to contradict his statement. I have only done so for the benefit of those who have been so fortunate as not to be acquainted with any of them.--There is also a statement in the American of the 19th inst., giving an account of the capture of several bridge burners, by a party of Federals under Jarboe. In the skirmish Jarboe is represented as having had his horse killed under him. How this could happen, I cannot imagine. The party consisting of fifty men came upon old Mr. Parker whilst he was on a visit to his daughter, and arrested him without any resistance. Mr. Sherts, of whom they speak, is a lad of 18, and was arrested in the same manner. Old McDonald was not arrested, and will not be by that party. This man Jarboe, who is thus trying to get up a reputation, is a native of Romney, where he and his family were raised from infancy by the charity of the citizens. As a return for their kindness, he was so obliging as to pilot Colonel Wallace with his command, from Cumberland to Romney, where they store everything hold of while Jarboe helped with the balance.

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