GIFT FROM A YANKEE will premiere on June 3rd, 2016 at the Masonic Theater in Clifton Forge, Virginia. It is a 1/2 hour docudrama depicting events in Alleghany County, VA on December 19th and 20th, 1863 and the aftermath. Here is a "teaser" for the film:
Tickets are available from the Masonic Theatre's site or at the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce office in the Mallow Mall (540( 962-2178.
Frank Reader's HISTORY OF THE FIFTH WEST VIRGINIA CAVALRY has recently been republished by 35th Star Publishing.
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New RAIDERS film in progress ...the Yankee raid was almost stopped cold in Covington, Virginia, December 19, 1863...
and many lives were forever changed.
Press Release Local Civil War Story to be Told in Video
The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism announces that a documentary video highlighting the historical events of the Salem Raid and Covington’s Island Forge Bridge site is in the works.
Two crucial days of the American Civil War took place in Covington, as 2,500 Yankee horseman desperately headed for sanctuary in West Virginia. They were trying to escape the harsh winter weather, high water, and the 12,000 Confederate soldiers chasing them after their successful raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad in Salem. The only force poised to stop them were 600 Confederates under Colonel William “Mudwall” Lowther Jackson Jr., along with old men and young boys of the Covington home guard.
The film will focus on the role of Covington and the hardships faced by both soldiers and citizens as Alleghany County became a battlefield. Some filming has already been completed, with one of the most significant scenes to be filmed in November/December – closer to when the battle actually occurred.
John Strott, volunteer and Chairman of the Alleghany Highlands Civil War Trails Committee, has been instrumental in bringing this project to the table and is committed to helping the community promote its heritage and has worked with several local historians on details and locations for the project.
"As the Civil War Sesquicentennial draws to a close I'm very interested in bringing a part of local history alive by helping the Chamber create a short documentary film about a major Civil War event that happened right here in Covington. This will certainly bring tourists and Civil War history buff's into town. The fight for the Island Forge Bridge was probably the most dramatic part of General Averell's Salem Raid and certainly deserves recognition in a short documentary film. We hope to make it both informative and exciting and we look forward to getting started on it,” states Mr. Strott.
Jon Averill, cinematographer and editor, is a retired high school teacher who taught in Greenbrier and Summers Counties, West Virginia. He is the producer/creator of three documentary films: Passing Through Sandstone, Angels at the Altar, and Averill’s Raiders & the 35th Star.
The documentary will encourage tourism and educate students interested in Civil War history by offering a video re-creation of events that occurred here in the Alleghany Highlands. “We are excited to bring a local Civil War story to the forefront and look forward to presenting the video to the residents of the Alleghany Highlands and to Civil War history buffs as well”, adds Teresa Hammond, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber.
The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism announces that a documentary video highlighting the historical events of the Salem Raid and Covington’s Island Forge Bridge site is in the works.
Two crucial days of the American Civil War took place in Covington, as 2,500 Yankee horseman desperately headed for sanctuary in West Virginia. They were trying to escape the harsh winter weather, high water, and the 12,000 Confederate soldiers chasing them after their successful raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad in Salem. The only force poised to stop them were 600 Confederates under Colonel William “Mudwall” Lowther Jackson Jr., along with old men and young boys of the Covington home guard.
The film will focus on the role of Covington and the hardships faced by both soldiers and citizens as Alleghany County became a battlefield. Some filming has already been completed, with one of the most significant scenes to be filmed in November/December – closer to when the battle actually occurred.
John Strott, volunteer and Chairman of the Alleghany Highlands Civil War Trails Committee, has been instrumental in bringing this project to the table and is committed to helping the community promote its heritage and has worked with several local historians on details and locations for the project.
"As the Civil War Sesquicentennial draws to a close I'm very interested in bringing a part of local history alive by helping the Chamber create a short documentary film about a major Civil War event that happened right here in Covington. This will certainly bring tourists and Civil War history buff's into town. The fight for the Island Forge Bridge was probably the most dramatic part of General Averell's Salem Raid and certainly deserves recognition in a short documentary film. We hope to make it both informative and exciting and we look forward to getting started on it,” states Mr. Strott.
Jon Averill, cinematographer and editor, is a retired high school teacher who taught in Greenbrier and Summers Counties, West Virginia. He is the producer/creator of three documentary films: Passing Through Sandstone, Angels at the Altar, and Averill’s Raiders & the 35th Star.
The documentary will encourage tourism and educate students interested in Civil War history by offering a video re-creation of events that occurred here in the Alleghany Highlands. “We are excited to bring a local Civil War story to the forefront and look forward to presenting the video to the residents of the Alleghany Highlands and to Civil War history buffs as well”, adds Teresa Hammond, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber.
June 14, 2015 - RAIDERS is expected to be shown at the Alpine Theater in Ripley WV as part of the Blue-Gray highway designation celebration.
US 33 in WV has been designated as the Blue-Gray Highway in recognition of numerous Civil War events in the region.
"Free dedication events from 1-5 p.m. will include demonstrations by Wise's Legion Civil War re-enactors, music by the Tower Street Stringband, a presentation by Mary Lincoln of the WV Humanities Council's History Alive, and a showing of the movie Averell's Raiders and the 35th Star."
Hours: 1-5 p.m. For more information, go to WV Commerce.
A new (winter 2014) historical marker graces the bank of Jackson's River next to the Alleghany Co. Visitors Center in Covington, VA. We are in the process of making a documentary about the confrontation between Jackson and Averell in Covington with members of the Historical Society.
Crook - Averell raid on the Dublin Bridge described in a Veterans Museum Calendar
Though the raid took place in May of 1864, the journey through West Virginia and Virginia is found under March in the Summers County WV Veterans Museum Calendar for 2015.
Retracing the Salem Raid...
151 years ago today, General Averell's 2500 horse soldiers entered Covington, Virginia.
Actually, 120 or so of them were taken prisoner at Covington by "Mudwall" Jackson's forces.
Several folks (Jon Averill, John Strott, Elizabeth Tucker Bodkin, "Bucky" Motren, Howard Hammond, and Abby Averill (not shown) took a Veterans Day ride over the mountains on some of the same trails used by Averell's force on those cold
days in December, 1863. Our collective research continues on events from that raid.
Actually, 120 or so of them were taken prisoner at Covington by "Mudwall" Jackson's forces.
Several folks (Jon Averill, John Strott, Elizabeth Tucker Bodkin, "Bucky" Motren, Howard Hammond, and Abby Averill (not shown) took a Veterans Day ride over the mountains on some of the same trails used by Averell's force on those cold
days in December, 1863. Our collective research continues on events from that raid.
Salem Raid commemoration and exploration planned!
Veterans Day 2014 will be celebrated by a few hearty souls as we retrace the course of Averell's troops as they headed
into Covington on December 19, 1863. The journey will be led by Covington native Bucky Mottern.
A Salem Raid historical marker will soon be placed at the Allegheny Highlands Visitors Center next to the K Mart in Covington. Tentative date for the ceremony is December 19th, the 151st anniversary of the raid.
into Covington on December 19, 1863. The journey will be led by Covington native Bucky Mottern.
A Salem Raid historical marker will soon be placed at the Allegheny Highlands Visitors Center next to the K Mart in Covington. Tentative date for the ceremony is December 19th, the 151st anniversary of the raid.
Battle of Moorefield recounted in the Charleston Gazette
Reporter Rick Steelhammer prepared a thorough observance of the Battle of Moorefield in a recent edition of the Charleston (WV) Gazette.
Confederate Brigadier General John McCausland, whose
forces werre routed by Averell on the early morning of August
7, 1864.
Confederate Brigadier General John McCausland, whose
forces werre routed by Averell on the early morning of August
7, 1864.
"Loyalty they always had..." a quote from Gen. John Hunt Oley and the title of the forthcoming book by Steve Cunningham of 35th Star Press. Steve presented a talk on the 7th West Virginia Cavalry to a group of about 50 people gathered at the Culture Center Library in Charleston, WV on Thursday, May 15th, 2014. The photos and details of this regiment, mustered in the Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia in 1861, were particularly engaging to those present who stand as descendants of these Yankee patriots. Particularly impressive are the large number of photographs that Steve has assembled, bringing us face to face with those who fought.
THE BATTLE OF COVE MOUNTAIN turns 150
May 10, 2014: Abby and I journeyed south on a threatening day, in search of the Cove Mountain Battlefield. 150 years earlier on the same day, General Averell was attempting to reach and destroy the lead mines south of Wytheville when he was intercepted by Confederate Generals John Hunt Morgan and William "Grumble" Jones. Turns out the simplest approach to Crockett's Cove is on a back road from Wytheville. However, we followed GPS routing on a single-lane road over a mountain, only to arrive at the back side of this sign:
Crockett's Cove is a narrow, north-south valley that Averell chose as the quickest route to the lead mines south of Wytheville. However, the Confederates had the railroad and quickly moved troops from Jeffersonville and Saltville to block his path.
Averell was wounded at Cove Mountain, grazed in the forehead by a bullet. A master of secret retreats, Averell was able to rally troops over the mountain to Crab Orchard (now Bland), then ford the raging New River into Christiansburg and escape the Confederate pursuers. He failed to destroy the salt or lead works of southern Virginia. He was able to engage a large force of Confederates and keep them from reenforcing Albert Jenkins, as General Crook attacked and destroyed the railway bridge over the New River.
below: historic home at the head of Crockett's Cove
Averell was wounded at Cove Mountain, grazed in the forehead by a bullet. A master of secret retreats, Averell was able to rally troops over the mountain to Crab Orchard (now Bland), then ford the raging New River into Christiansburg and escape the Confederate pursuers. He failed to destroy the salt or lead works of southern Virginia. He was able to engage a large force of Confederates and keep them from reenforcing Albert Jenkins, as General Crook attacked and destroyed the railway bridge over the New River.
below: historic home at the head of Crockett's Cove
The Crockett Cove Presbyterian Church was about 2 miles from the battlefield. Averell left 17 wounded Yankee soldiers in the Church. They were cared for by local citizens. It is amazing to see this historic building...congratulations to the congregation for keeping the building and the history (as well as the religious force) vibrant for over 150 years!
Abby and I did not meet any of the church trustees, nor were we able to talk with local residents. We found the church unlocked, and left a small donation: a copy of Averell's Raiders!
More on the battle from The Mountain Laurel
Abby and I did not meet any of the church trustees, nor were we able to talk with local residents. We found the church unlocked, and left a small donation: a copy of Averell's Raiders!
More on the battle from The Mountain Laurel
May 15, 2014 lecture in Charleston, West Virginia:
Steve Cunningham, regimental historian of the 7th West Virginia Cavalry, will be presenting a lecture entitled "Loyalty They Always Had: The 7th West Virginia in the U.S. Civil War" for the West Virginia State Archives Lecture Series.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Archives Library at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, West Virginia, at 6pm on Thursday, May 15, 2014.
Raised and organized in the Kanawha Valley in 1861, the 7th West Virginia Cavalry (previously the 8th Virginia Infantry and 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry) served during the U.S. Civil War in numerous battles, campaigns, and raids including the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, Cross Keys, 2nd Bull Run, White Sulphur Springs, Droop Mountain, the Salem Raid, Cloyds Mountain, and the Lynchburg Campaign. At war’s end, they facilitated the paroling of more than 5,000 returning Confederate soldiers to the Kanawha Valley region. Cunningham will share from his research for his upcoming book on the unit, entitled Loyalty They Always Had: The 7th West Virginia Cavalry in the U.S. Civil War.
Steve Cunningham has been conducting research on the 7th West Virginia Cavalry for about 20 years, maintains an active Web site about the 7th, and has hosted several events for descendants of the unit. He is a past president of Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable, where he was involved in the organization of the centennial rededication of the West Virginia monuments at Gettysburg, and co-authored the book,Their Deeds Are Their Monuments: West Virginia at Gettysburg. He also is the author or co-author of several articles on the Civil War, including “The 1st West Virginia Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign” for the scholarly journal Civil War Regiments. He was a contributor to the West Virginia Encyclopedia and has contributed research to several other authors’ books.
Cunningham created and maintains the Web site West Virginia in the Civil War, which receives 75,000 visitors each year, and is president and owner of 35th Star Publishing, which specializes in non-fiction titles on West Virginia history and culture. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Tech, and a master’s of business administration from the Marshall University Graduate College. He resides in Charleston and is employed by Charleston Area Medical Center.
For more information on this event, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, at [email protected] or at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Archives Library at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, West Virginia, at 6pm on Thursday, May 15, 2014.
Raised and organized in the Kanawha Valley in 1861, the 7th West Virginia Cavalry (previously the 8th Virginia Infantry and 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry) served during the U.S. Civil War in numerous battles, campaigns, and raids including the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, Cross Keys, 2nd Bull Run, White Sulphur Springs, Droop Mountain, the Salem Raid, Cloyds Mountain, and the Lynchburg Campaign. At war’s end, they facilitated the paroling of more than 5,000 returning Confederate soldiers to the Kanawha Valley region. Cunningham will share from his research for his upcoming book on the unit, entitled Loyalty They Always Had: The 7th West Virginia Cavalry in the U.S. Civil War.
Steve Cunningham has been conducting research on the 7th West Virginia Cavalry for about 20 years, maintains an active Web site about the 7th, and has hosted several events for descendants of the unit. He is a past president of Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable, where he was involved in the organization of the centennial rededication of the West Virginia monuments at Gettysburg, and co-authored the book,Their Deeds Are Their Monuments: West Virginia at Gettysburg. He also is the author or co-author of several articles on the Civil War, including “The 1st West Virginia Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign” for the scholarly journal Civil War Regiments. He was a contributor to the West Virginia Encyclopedia and has contributed research to several other authors’ books.
Cunningham created and maintains the Web site West Virginia in the Civil War, which receives 75,000 visitors each year, and is president and owner of 35th Star Publishing, which specializes in non-fiction titles on West Virginia history and culture. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Tech, and a master’s of business administration from the Marshall University Graduate College. He resides in Charleston and is employed by Charleston Area Medical Center.
For more information on this event, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, at [email protected] or at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163.
March 2014- We are midway through another General Averell project--- an audiobook "teaser" of his "Long and Perilous Ride" as he traveled toward Fort Arbuckle in Indian territory with evacuation orders. A "teaser" because this sketch of the United States at the very beginning of the Civil War may someday be a formidable motion picture.
On the 150th anniversary of the SALEM RAID,
the ROANOKE TIMES ran a front page story about
General Averell and the raid:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2444122-12/salem-depot-warehouses-targeted-by-union-cavalry-in.html
the ROANOKE TIMES ran a front page story about
General Averell and the raid:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2444122-12/salem-depot-warehouses-targeted-by-union-cavalry-in.html
Currently no theatrical screenings are scheduled for Averell's Raiders. Contact us if you have a venue and are interested; we prefer to share the film on the big screen in high definition from a Blu-rayTM disc.
PAST THEATRICAL SCREENINGS ARE LISTED BELOW:
AVERELL'S RAIDERS was screened at the Historic Elk Theater in Sutton, WV at the West Virginia FILMmakers Festival on Sunday, October 6th.
A receptive audience viewed RAIDERS in the New River National Park Visitor Center in our hometown of Sandstone, WV on September 29th. We thank Eastern National and the National Park Service for their support!
The HIDDEN HISTORY WEEKEND events, which included the showing of Averell's Raiders, was chock full of events highlighting regional history. Abby and I enjoyed a tour of Babcock State Park focused on the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
AVERELL'S RAIDERS was well-received at the Raleigh Playhouse & Theater in Beckley, WV on West Virginia Day, Thursday, June 20. 60 people attended the show.
Stay tuned for information on another possible showing at this wonderful new venue.
RAIDERS played for about 120 folks at the Lewis Theater in Lewisburg on June 19th. Almost 90 people stayed for a Q & A session after the film.
WORLD PREMIERE EVENTS: 300 people saw AVERELL'S RAIDERS at the two premiere showings In Hinton, WV on Memorial Day weekend, and response was enthusiastic. !!!!
Hear Eric Wittenberg interviewed on West Virginia Morning with Beth Vorhees...
Leading Cavalry Historian Lectured in Charleston, May 21st
Eric Wittenberg, one of the nation’s leading experts on Civil War cavalry, was the guest speaker for the May meeting of the Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable. Wittenberg is the author of The Battle of White Sulphur Springs: Averell Fails to Secure West Virginia. This book was the focus of Wittenberg’s lecture at the May meeting of the Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable. The meeting was Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the South Charleston Public Library.
Eric is one of the historians featured in Averell's Raiders & the 35th Star.
Eric is one of the historians featured in Averell's Raiders & the 35th Star.