View source for William Henry Powell (soldier)

{{short description|American Medal of Honor recipient (1825–1904)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox military person
|name          = William Henry Powell
|image         = WHPowell.png
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1825|05|10}}
|death_date    = {{death date and age|1904|12|26|1825|05|10}}
|birth_place   = [[Pontypool]], [[Torfaen]], Wales, U.K.
|death_place   = [[Belleville, Illinois]], U.S.
|placeofburial = [[Graceland Cemetery]], [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
|allegiance    = {{flag|United States|1863}}
|branch        = {{army|United States}} ([[Union Army]])
|serviceyears  = 1861–1865
|rank          = [[File:Union Army brigadier general rank insignia.svg|35px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]<br />[[File:Union Army major general rank insignia.svg|35px]] [[Brevet (military)|Brevet]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
|commands      = [[2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment|2nd W.V. Cavalry Regiment]]<br />Brigade, [[Army of West Virginia]]<br />Division, Army of West Virginia
|battles       = [[American Civil War]]
*[[Battle of Charleston (1862)]]
*[[Battle of Lynchburg]]
*[[Battle of Rutherford's Farm]]
*[[Second Battle of Kernstown|Battle of Kernstown II]]
*[[Battle of Moorefield]]
*[[Battle of Opequon]]
*[[Battle of Fisher's Hill]]
*[[Battle of Cedar Creek]]
|awards        = {{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} [[Medal of Honor]] 1890
}}
'''William Henry Powell''' (May 10, 1825 – December 26, 1904) was an American soldier who fought for the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] in the [[American Civil War]]. He was a leader in the iron and nail business before the war, and his leadership abilities proved useful in the military. Powell began as a [[Captain (United States)#Captain (ground and air forces)|captain]], and quickly ascended to higher roles in the cavalry, including commanding a [[Regiment#United States Army|regiment]], a [[Brigade#United States|brigade]], and then a [[Division (military)#United States|division]]. Powell was awarded his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the [[Medal of Honor]], for heroism at [[Sinking Creek Raid|Sinking Creek]], [[Virginia]], when, as leader of a group of 22 men, he captured an enemy camp and took over 100 prisoners. This was accomplished without the loss of any of his men on November 26, 1862. He was honored with the award on July 22, 1890.

In July 1863, Powell was shot while leading cavalry in [[Wytheville, Virginia]].  Although surgeons on both sides of the conflict believed his wound was fatal, Powell survived—and became a prisoner of war.  He was later exchanged, and returned to his command of the [[2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment]]. In 1864, Powell commanded brigades while fighting mostly in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] under the direct supervision of General [[William W. Averell]] in an army commanded by General [[Philip Sheridan]]. Eventually, Powell replaced Averell as division commander. Powell led cavalry in numerous battles, including [[Battle of Moorefield|Moorefield]], [[Third Battle of Winchester|Opequon]], and [[Battle of Fisher's Hill|Fisher's Hill]]. He resigned as a [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] in January 1865 to tend to family health issues. He was later [[Brevet (military)#United States|brevetted]] to [[Major general (United States)|major general]]. Powell returned to his original profession working in the [[Ferrous metallurgy|iron making]] industry, and was active in the [[Grand Army of the Republic]], a fraternal organization of Union veterans of the American Civil War.

In a letter sent to headquarters in 1864, General [[George Crook]] said "Colonel Powell has served with me often since the commencement of the war. He has distinguished himself in every battle he was engaged in under me. He has been recommended by me on several occasions, for promotion.  I regard him as one of the best cavalry officers I have ever seen in the service."

==Early life==
William Henry Powell was born on May 10, 1825, in [[Pontypool, South Wales]].<ref name="Eicher438">{{harvnb|Eicher|Eicher|Simon|2001|p=438}}</ref>
At the time, the community was part of [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]], an iron-making region. Both of his parents, William and Sarah Griffith Powell, were [[Welsh people|Welsh]].<ref name="Lang181">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=181}}</ref><ref name="PowellPapers">{{cite web
|title=William H. Powell Papers, 1825-1899, ''Chronicling Illinois''
|publisher=Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
|url=http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/515
|access-date=2017-01-01
|archive-date=April 17, 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417053100/http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/515
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> His father immigrated to the United States in 1827, and his mother followed in 1830 with the rest of the family. Originally, they lived in [[New Jersey]] and [[Pennsylvania]], but they moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], in 1833. Powell's father was an [[ironworker]], and was employed by the Gennessee Iron Works. Powell began to learn his father's profession while still a boy, working in a rolling mill and nail factory in Nashville.<ref name="Bonham330">{{harvnb|Bonham|1883|p=330}}</ref> In 1840, the Gennessee Iron Works closed because of a [[List of recessions in the United States|recession]]. The family moved north to [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]], Virginia, in 1843. Powell's father began employment at Wheeling's Rolling Mill Nail Factory.<ref name="PowellPapers"/>

Powell continued learning his father's profession in Wheeling. Four years after the move to Wheeling, he built the Benwood Nail Works while only 22 years old, and became its superintendent.<ref name="Bonham330"/> In 1846, he was involved in an accident at the nail iron works and lost vision of his right eye. Powell married Sarah Gilchrist in 1847, and they eventually had six children. Two children died in infancy, and one died at age 20.<ref name="PowellPapers"/> In 1853, the family moved to [[Ironton, Ohio]], which is located southwest of Wheeling along the [[Ohio River]]. In Ironton, Powell built the Bellfonte Nail Works.<ref name="Bonham331">{{harvnb|Bonham|1883|p=331}}</ref> When the [[American Civil War]] began in 1861, Powell was general superintendent and financial agent of this large iron works.<ref name="Reid909">{{harvnb|Reid|1868|p=909}}</ref> He left the business in August to begin service as a cavalry captain.<ref name="Bonham331"/>

==American Civil War: Western Virginia==
Between September 20, 1860, and February 1, 1861, seven southern states seceded from the United States and formed the [[Confederate States of America]].{{#tag:ref|The major issues that caused the American Civil War were [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]] and the [[States' rights|rights of states]]. In the north, [[Abolitionism|abolitionists]] believed slavery was immoral and should not exist. The southern states believed that the northern abolitionists were interfering with states' rights.<ref name="Stampp19">{{harvnb|Stampp|1991|p=19}}</ref> In the south, [[Africa]]ns (the slaves), with their natural resistance to [[malaria]], were a superior labor force for harvesting crops that were essential to the southern economy.<ref name="Mann43">{{harvnb|Mann|2011|p=43}}</ref> Thus, the northern reason for seeking change was [[morality]], while the southern reason for keeping the [[status quo]] was [[Economics|economic]].<ref name="Mann137">{{harvnb|Mann|2011|p=137}}</ref>|group=Note}} Fighting began on April 12, 1861, when American troops were attacked at [[Fort Sumpter]] in [[South Carolina]]. This is considered the beginning of the American Civil War. Four additional states, including [[Virginia]], seceded during the next three months.<ref name="CWTfacts">{{cite web
|title=Civil War Facts
|date=August 16, 2011
|publisher=Civil War Trust
|url=https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/civil-war-facts
|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref> Some of the northwestern counties of Virginia disagreed with secession and they met in Wheeling to form a [[Restored Government of Virginia]] loyal to the United States.<ref name="WheelCon">{{cite web
|title=First Session of the Second Wheeling Convention
|publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/statehood/statehood07.html
|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>

Initially, the "[[Names of the American Civil War#War of the Rebellion|War of the Rebellion]]" was not expected to last long.<ref name="Barker4">{{harvnb|Barker|2003|p=4}}</ref> However, the war continued through the summer, and President [[Abraham Lincoln]] called for volunteers to fight against the rebels of the Confederacy. Powell resigned his civilian job on August 1, 1861, and recruited enough men to form a company of [[Cavalry in the American Civil War|cavalry]] and was elected their [[captain]].<ref name="Lang181"/> Ten companies were united to form a cavalry regiment which consisted mostly of men from the Ohio counties located close to the Ohio River. The regiment was originally intended to be the 4th Ohio Cavalry,<ref name="Sutton50">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=50}}</ref> but Ohio governor [[William Dennison Jr.|William Dennison]] refused to accept the unit's application because he had been instructed to accept no more new cavalry.<ref name="Sutton48"/> The regiment's application was accepted by the provisional governor of the Restored Government of Virginia, [[Francis Harrison Pierpont]], and became the [[2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment|2nd Regiment of Loyal Virginia Volunteer Cavalry]].<ref name="Sutton48">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=48}}</ref> Powell's company was designated Company&nbsp;B, and he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as its captain on August 14.<ref name="Congress1">{{harvnb|United States|1891|p=1}}</ref><!--Report No. 3777--> The regiment's first significant action was on January&nbsp;7, 1862, in [[Louisa, Kentucky]], where it assisted a force commanded by Colonel [[James A. Garfield]], future [[President of the United States]]. Powell led his company, reinforced with men from the regiment's Company&nbsp;C, in a charge that drove back a Confederate [[rearguard]].<ref name="Sutton5051">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|pp=50–51}}</ref>

===Kanawha Valley===
[[Image:Lightburns Retreat September 1862.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Early in the Civil War, Powell spent most of his time in the Kanawha River Valley. During the Kanawha Valley Campaign, Powell led the advance guard of cavalry commanded by Colonel John Paxton, which successfully prevented the Union army commanded by Colonel Joseph Lightburn from being surrounded.|alt=Old map of Kanawha Valley]]During 1862–1863, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry spent much of its time  confronting [[bushwhacker]]s—who were despised. The bushwhacker was thought of as an "unprincipled scoundrel who was too cowardly to join the army and fight as a man…", who would "sneak around like a thief in the night…."<ref name="Sutton56">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=56}}</ref> Eventually, Union forces in the mountains of what became West Virginia became very ruthless in their treatment of bushwhackers.<ref name="Mountcastle106">{{harvnb|Mountcastle|2009|p=106}}</ref>

Powell was usually stationed near the [[Kanawha River]] Valley, in the southwestern portion of present [[West Virginia]]—which was part of Virginia at the time. Entire regiments were not needed for bushwhacker duty, so the regiment often worked in detachments of two companies. In April 1862, Powell's regiment was divided into two [[battalion]]s.<ref name="Lang182">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=182}}</ref> Powell's battalion, commanded by Colonel William M. Bolles, joined some Ohio [[infantry]] regiments to form the 3rd Brigade of General [[Jacob Dolson Cox]]'s [[Kanawha Division]]. The [[brigade]] was commanded by Colonel (later Major General) [[George Crook]], a professional soldier with fighting experience in the [[Western United States|American West]]. Crook's brigade normally operated independently from the other portion of Cox's division.<ref name="Crook125">{{harvnb|Magid|2011|p=125}}</ref> Its [[Military camp|camp]] was located at [[Meadow Bluff, West Virginia|Meadow Bluff]], west of [[Lewisburg, West Virginia|Lewisburg]] in [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier County]].<ref name="Sutton53">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=53}}</ref>

Powell's major fighting experience as part of this brigade happened on May 27, against Confederate General [[Henry Heth]]. Crook's brigade ambushed Heth's force in Lewisburg, killing or wounding over 150 enemy soldiers and capturing over 150. The cavalry pursued the fleeing [[Confederate States Army|rebels]] and stopped only when a bridge was destroyed.<ref name="Sutton53"/> Shortly after this engagement, Colonel Bolles resigned and several officers of the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry were promoted.<ref name="Sutton55">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=55}}</ref> On June 25, 1862, Powell was promoted to [[Major (United States)|major]] because of his gallant conduct in Kentucky and to fill a vacancy caused by the Bolles resignation.<ref name="Wallace183">{{harvnb|Wallace|1897|p=183}}</ref>

===Kanawha Valley Campaign===
During August 1862, many of the Union soldiers stationed in western Virginia were sent to [[Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War|Washington]] to reinforce the [[Army of Virginia]]. This caused the two battalions from the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry to be reunited, and it was stationed with two infantry regiments in [[Kanawha Falls, West Virginia|Kanawha Falls]], close to [[Gauley Bridge, West Virginia|Gauley Bridge]], in what is now south central West Virginia. The small force was commanded by Colonel [[Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn]].<ref name="Sutton59">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=59}}</ref>

In September, the Confederate Army became aware of the Union Army's lack of manpower, and devised a plan of attack.<ref name="Schmiel54">{{harvnb|Schmiel|2014|p=54}}</ref> The Confederates sent a large force led by General [[William W. Loring]], incorrectly rumored to be 10,000 men, to attack Lightburn from the southeast. A cavalry brigade of about 550 men led by Colonel [[Albert G. Jenkins]] patrolled along the Ohio River with the intention of preventing a [[Withdrawal (military)|retreat]] by Lightburn.<ref name="WVAJenkins">{{cite web
 |title=West Virginia History - The Civil War Record of Albert Gallatin Jenkins, C. S. A.
 |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
 |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh8-1.html
 |access-date=2017-02-17}}</ref> A large portion of the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Colonel [[2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment#Disaster in Lewisburg|John C. Paxton]], was sent to confront Jenkins. Powell led the [[Vanguard|advance guard]], which happened to be Powell's company (Company{{nbsp}}B) before his promotion to major.<ref name="Sutton59"/> On September 8, Powell's advance group led the attack on Jenkins' rebel camp outside of [[Barboursville, West Virginia|Barboursville]], which is close to the Ohio River. The camp was captured, and Jenkins barely escaped. The rebel force, which was much larger than Paxton's cavalry, was driven southward up the [[Guyandotte River]].<ref name="Sutton60">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=60}}</ref>

Thus, Powell's advance guard for Paxton enabled a safe retreat to the Ohio River for the remaining portion of Lightburn's small force.<ref name="Sutton60"/> Lightburn's report said "The Second Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Paxton, did good service in keeping Jenkins' force at bay, thereby preventing an attack in our rear. I wish, also, to state that Colonel Paxton, with 300 men, attacked Jenkins' whole force (from 1,200 to 1,500), and drove them from Barboursville, which, no doubt, kept them from an attempt to harass our retreat."<ref name="WVKanawhaReport">{{cite web
  |title=Campaign in the Kanawha Valley, W. Va.
  |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
  |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/sesquicentennial/18620910b.html
  |access-date=2015-07-22}}</ref>

===Sinking Creek raid===
{{Main|Sinking Creek Raid}}
[[Image:Sinking Creek Raid Drawing.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Powell leads surprise raid on rebel camp at Sinking Creek|alt=uniformed soldiers on horses using sabers to attack enemy camp]] Confederate gains in the Kanawha Valley did not last long, and Union troops reoccupied much of the valley. In November&nbsp;1862, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry camped for the winter along the Kanawha River, about {{convert|12|mi}} upriver from [[Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston]]. Newly promoted [[Brigadier General]] George Crook commanded Union troops in the valley, and Paxton commanded Powell's regiment, the 2nd Loyal Virginia Cavalry. Crook was an experienced [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] fighter, and believed that adverse weather was an advantage in the hit-and-run fighting style of [[Raid (military)|raid]]s. On November&nbsp;23, he ordered Paxton to rendezvous with an infantry regiment on Cold Knob Mountain, and then lead an attack on two rebel camps in Sinking Creek Valley.<ref name="Black80">{{harvnb|Black|2004|p=80}}</ref> Before the cavalry regiment departed, Crook confidentially told Powell to not return without good results.<ref name="Wallace185">{{harvnb|Wallace|1897|p=185}}</ref>

The cavalry reached their meeting place near the top of Cold Knob Mountain on November&nbsp;26. The [[11th Ohio Infantry]] had arrived a few hours earlier. The men from the infantry had marched through rain, and were caught (as was the cavalry) in a snowstorm.<ref name="WVOfficial">{{cite web
  |title=Sinking Creek Raid Official Records
  |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
  |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/civilwar/sinkingcreek02.html
  |access-date=2015-02-15}}</ref> After a conference between Paxton and the infantry's Colonel Philander P. Lane, the infantry aborted their mission and began a return to camp.<ref name="Sutton65">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=65}}</ref> Paxton also considered aborting the mission, but was persuaded by Powell to continue. Paxton sent Powell and [[Second Lieutenant|2nd Lieutenant]] Jeremiah Davidson with 20 men from Company&nbsp;G down the mountain to scout for the rebel camps.<ref name="Lang185">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=185}}</ref>

Powell and his men found one of the camps, determined that it was poorly guarded, and decided to capture it themselves. Each member of Powell's advance guard was armed with a [[Sabre|saber]] and two six-shot [[revolver]]s. Powell decided to attack with sabers so that the other rebel camp would not be alarmed. They charged into the 500-man rebel camp with sabers drawn, and completely surprised the rebels. Many of the weapons captured were not loaded. Although hundreds of the rebels scattered into the countryside, a captain, a lieutenant and 112 [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] men were captured, along with 200 weapons, a few wagons and some camping equipment. Powell's only casualties were the loss of two horses. Two rebels were killed and two wounded.<ref name="Sutton69">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=69}}</ref> The trip back to camp was difficult because of the cold weather, and two men were hospitalized at the infantry's Summerville camp because of [[frostbite]]. Ten horses were lost because of cold and exhaustion. Paxton ended his report by writing "I cannot close this report without deservedly complimenting the officers and men, but, where all behaved so gallantly, it is impossible to particularize. But all honor is due Major Powell, who led the charge...."<ref name="Sutton70">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=70}}</ref> Powell and Davidson were promoted shortly afterwards—Powell from major to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]], and Davidson from second lieutenant to [[first lieutenant]].<ref name="Wallace191">{{harvnb|Wallace|1897|p=191}}</ref> After the war, Powell was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his performance in the Sinking Creek raid.{{#tag:ref|Criteria for awarding the Medal of Honor changed over the years, and the award became more difficult to receive beginning in 1897.<ref name="Editors94">{{harvnb|Editors of Boston Publishing Company|2014|p=94}}</ref> During the American Civil War, capturing a flag almost always earned someone a Medal of Honor.<ref name="Editors47">{{harvnb|Editors of Boston Publishing Company|2014|p=47}}</ref> In those cases, the medal was awarded soon after the event occurred. For example, Private Joseph Kimball of Company{{nbsp}}B of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry was issued his medal on May 3, 1865, for "Capture of flag of 6th North Carolina Infantry" at Sailors Creek on April 6, 1865.<ref name="MOH-Kimball">{{cite web
 |title=Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (G-L) Kimball, Joseph
 |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History
 |url=https://history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_gl.html#KIMBALL
 |access-date=2017-12-26}}</ref> Medals for actions other than the capture of a flag were not always awarded immediately. For example, Colonel Henry Capehart rescued a drowning soldier, under enemy fire, after both had gone over a waterfall.<ref name="Deeds344345">{{harvnb|Beyer|Keydel|1907|pp=344–345}}</ref> This happened on March 22, 1864. Capehart was not awarded his Medal of Honor until February 12, 1895.<ref name="MOH-HC">{{cite web
 |title=Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (A-F) Capehart, Henry
 |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History
 |url=https://history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_af.html#CAPEHARTH
 |access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref> Like Capehart, Powell did not receive his Medal of Honor until many years after the war. His citation says "Distinguished services in raid, where with 20 men, he charged and captured the enemy's camp, 500 strong, without the loss of man or gun."<ref name="MOH-Powell">{{cite web
 |title=Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (M-R) Powell, William H.
 |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History
 |url=https://history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_mr.html#POWELL
 |access-date=2017-12-26}}</ref>|group=Note}} In 1889, Crook said that he regarded the "expedition as one of the most daring, brilliant and successful of the whole war."<ref name="Lang186">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=186}}</ref>

===Regiment commander===
During March 1863, Powell became severely ill, and was unable to recover at camp. He eventually resigned from the cavalry, and returned to his home in Ohio.<ref name="Sutton73">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=73}}</ref> Powell was also unhappy with Paxton, although this was revealed to only a few.{{#tag:ref|Powell's health issues may have been a cover for his dissatisfaction with the popular Paxton, who he described as a "drunken commander". In a confidential letter written on May 1, 1863, he discussed his resignation, Paxton's drinking, and wrote "I cannot remain longer under Col. Paxton's administration."<ref name="PowellLetter">{{cite web
 |title=Confidential Camp Piatt May 1, 1863 (hand written letter)
 |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
 |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/civilwar/powellwilliam01.jpg
 |access-date=2015-12-27}}</ref>|group=Note}} On May 1, Paxton led a night raid (without Powell) near Lewisburg, and the regiment was defeated with significant [[Casualty (person)|casualties]]. Total losses were sixteen killed, missing, or wounded—plus 28 horses killed. General [[Eliakim P. Scammon]], the division commander after Crook had been sent elsewhere, dismissed Paxton after the regiment returned to camp. Paxton was popular with his troops, but the troops also respected Powell.<ref name="Sutton81">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=81}}</ref> At the time of Paxton's dismissal, Powell's resignation had yet to be accepted, and he was still at home in Ohio regaining his health. After a petition by the regiment, Powell was persuaded to retract his resignation. He was promoted to colonel and became the regiment's commander effective May 13, 1863.<ref name="Lang187">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=187}}</ref>

===Wytheville raid===
{{Main|Wytheville Raid}}
[[Image:Colonel Powell good Wheeling Daily Intelligencer Aug 12 1863 Page 2.png|thumb|300px|right|Newspaper article describing Powell in prison|alt=old newspaper article describing Powell in Confederate prison]] The [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]] raid occurred on July 18, 1863, in southwestern Virginia. Powell was second in command of a small 800-man brigade of cavalry and [[mounted infantry]].<ref name="Sutton89">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=89}}</ref> He had some disagreements with how his commander, an infantry veteran named Colonel John Toland, handled the cavalry, and both men were shot early in the raid; Toland being killed on a street in Wytheville, and Powell believed to be mortally wounded.{{#tag:ref|The Union and Confederate surgeons believed Powell was mortally wounded.<ref name="Walker60">{{harvnb|Walker|1985|p=60}}</ref> However, sources disagree on ''how'' Powell was wounded. The report of Major John J. Hoffman says Powell was accidentally shot by one of his own men. However, some witnesses believe he was shot by a Wytheville citizen stationed inside a house.<ref name="Rolston86">{{harvnb|Rolston|2017|p=86}}</ref> A letter written shortly after the war by Captain William Fortescue, of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry's Company I, briefly discussed the shooting of both colonels. Powell rode with Company I in the initial charge into town. Fortescue did not mention any [[friendly fire]] accident connected to Powell.<ref name="Pendleton619">{{harvnb|Pendleton|1920|p=619}}</ref>|group=Note}} Although the Union brigade was able to secure the town, it suffered numerous casualties—and left town less than 24 hours after its arrival. Powell's wound was painful enough that he could not be moved, and he became a prisoner of the Confederates.<ref name="Sutton103104">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|pp=103–104}}</ref>

The citizens of Wytheville blamed Powell for the burning of several homes and buildings, although the damage occurred after he was wounded.<ref name="Whisonant80">{{harvnb|Whisonant|2015|p=80}}</ref> When it appeared he might be harmed, a few of the local women intervened by hiding him in a hotel.<ref name="Walker56">{{harvnb|Walker|1985|p=56}}</ref> Powell unexpectedly recovered enough that he could be moved, and was eventually sent to Richmond's [[Libby Prison]]. He was placed in solitary confinement on charges of robbery and murder.<ref name="Walker60">{{harvnb|Walker|1985|p=60}}</ref> One of the men from the 2nd West Virginia cavalry wrote that "It was well known that the confederate authorities had placed Colonel Powell in a dungeon for some imaginary wrong...."<ref name="Sutton102">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=102}}</ref><!-- Sutton did not capitalize "confederate" on this page of his book. --> One of the main causes for his predicament was the burning of a house and barn near Lewisburg, West Virginia, an act that the Confederate army and Lewisburg community considered unjustified and without military purpose.<ref name="Sutton102"/>

On January 29, 1864, Powell was [[Parole#Prisoners of war|parole]]d for 30 days to negotiate his exchange for Confederate Colonel Richard H. Lee.<ref name="Lang186"/> This negotiation was successful (Lee was a distant relative of Confederate General [[Robert E. Lee]]), and Powell returned to Ironton, Ohio, to continue his recuperation. On February 22, friends presented him with a gold watch, money to purchase a horse, a saber, and "a brace of Colt's ivory mounted [[Colt Dragoon Revolver|44 calibre navy revolvers]]."{{#tag:ref|Lang's book describes the presentation to Powell in Ironton.<ref name="Lang188">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=188}}</ref> A ''brace'' of revolvers is a ''pair'' of handguns. In this case, the revolvers were capable of firing six shots each before needing to be reloaded.<ref name="Morgan7">{{harvnb|Morgan|2013|p=7}}</ref>|group=Note}} On March 20, 1864, he returned to Charleston and resumed command of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry regiment.<ref name="Sutton112">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=112}}</ref>

===Cove Mountain===
{{Main|Battle of Cove Mountain}}
Around the time of Powell's return, Crook was assigned command of the entire Kanawha Division. In April, General [[William W. Averell]] arrived in Charleston with two regiments of cavalry.<ref name="Sutton113">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=113}}</ref> On April 30, Crook organized a two prong attack against strategic Confederate locations along the [[Virginia and Tennessee Railroad]]. Crook led infantry from Charleston toward the Confederate regional headquarters at the [[Dublin, Virginia|Dublin Depot]] in Virginia. He sent cavalry under the command of Averell to attack [[Saltville, Virginia]]. Averell found Saltville strongly defended, so he decided to attack Wytheville instead. To get to Wytheville, Averell needed to move the cavalry through the mountains at Cove Gap (also known as Grassy Lick) in northern [[Wythe County, Virginia|Wythe County]].<ref name="Sutton115"/>

On May 10, Averell's path through the gap was blocked by a large force commanded by Confederate General [[William E. Jones (general)|William E. "Grumble" Jones]] reinforced by cavalry led by General [[John Hunt Morgan]]. Originally, Averell's plan was to have Powell lead a cavalry charge into the gap with sabers drawn. However, the charge was cancelled after a reconnaissance mission discovered a mass of Confederate soldiers waiting to ambush the Union cavalry. Instead, the Union cavalry formed a battle line that drew the Confederates out of the gap. A four-hour battle ensued. Averell's forehead was grazed by a bullet, and he temporarily relinquished command.<ref name="Sutton115">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=115}}</ref> The second in command, General [[Alfred N. Duffié]], had a "conspicuous absence", so command fell to Powell.{{#tag:ref|Sources do not agree on the extent of Averell's and Duffié's participation in the battle. Sutton, who was in the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, wrote that "General Averell was slightly wounded early in the engagement by a ball cutting the skin across his forehead, causing some inconvenience from the freedom with which it bled."<ref name="Sutton115"/> Lang says that "Averell received a wound across his forehead compelling his retirement from command during the battle, and in view of General Duffié's conspicuous absence, the command devolved upon Colonel Powell...."<ref name="Lang189">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=189}}</ref> Duncan says "Despite suffering a minor injury across his forehead, Averell continued to direct his men.".<ref name="Duncan81">{{harvnb|Duncan|1998|p=81}}</ref>|group=Note}} Powell was unable to get the cavalry through the gap, but he was able to make effective use of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, and hold off the larger Confederate force. The result of the battle was an inconclusive standoff that ended at dusk.<ref name="NPSCoveMountain">{{cite web
|title=Battle Summary: Cover Mountain, VA
|publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
|url=https://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va109.htm
|access-date=2017-03-18}}</ref>

During the night, a local slave led Averell's force on a difficult alternative route (Crab Orchard) through the mountains, and they eventually linked with Crook.{{#tag:ref|The detour and fighting were described by a private in the 2nd (West) Virginia Cavalry.<ref name="Sutton116">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=116}}</ref> The participation in the detour by a local slave was described by journalist John M. Johnson.<ref name="JohnsonCoveMtn">{{cite web
 |title=The Battle of Cove Mountain
 |publisher=The Mountain Laurel - The Journal of Mountain Life
 |url=http://mtnlaurel.com/history/1720-the-battle-of-cove-mountain.html
 |access-date=2017-10-25}}</ref> Although President Lincoln had issued the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] that freed slaves in the rebellious states earlier in the year, it was ignored by the Confederate states such as Virginia and did not apply to the nearby [[History of slavery in West Virginia|western Virginia counties]] that would eventually become West Virginia.<ref name="ArchivesWV">{{cite web
 |title=Celebrating West Virginia Statehood, June 20, 1863
 |date=August 15, 2016
 |publisher=The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
 |url=https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/west-virginia
 |access-date=2017-10-25}}</ref>|group=Note}} Averell's report said "The General commanding desires to express his high appreciation of the skillful evolution of the 2nd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Powell, upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade that continued without disorder under a heavy fire for four hours."<ref name="Lang189"/><!-- Lang's book really says "skillful evolution", perhaps meaning advancement. Not a transcription error. -->

===Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign===
{{Main|Battle of Lynchburg}}
On June 9, an army commanded by General [[David Hunter]] was reorganized, and Powell was assigned command of the 3rd Brigade under Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division of the Army of West Virginia. This brigade consisted of the [[1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment|1st West Virginia Cavalry]] and the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry.{{#tag:ref|Sutton says Powell's brigade consisted of the 1st and 2nd West Virginia cavalries, and the [[3rd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment|3rd West Virginia Cavalry]] was assigned to a division under the command of Crook.<ref name="Sutton126">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=126}}</ref> This source has been used herein because Sutton participated in the battle. Lang says that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Virginia cavalries were part of Powell's brigade.<ref name="Lang189"/> A third source also lists the three West Virginia regiments as being under the command of Powell.<ref name="Cambrian116">{{harvnb|Unlisted (The Cambrian)|1882|p=116}}</ref>|group=Note}} On June 10, Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign was organized, and troops departed from [[Stanton, Virginia]], toward [[Lynchburg, Virginia|Lynchburg]]. Powell's brigade often took the advance for the main portion of Hunter's force, moving south to [[Lexington, Virginia|Lexington]], then southeast toward Lynchburg.<ref name="Sutton126"/> Powell's cavalry approached Lynchburg from [[Campbell County Courthouse (Virginia)|Campbell Courthouse]], and pushed cavalries led by General [[John McCausland]] and General [[John D. Imboden]] to within four miles of Lynchburg during the morning of June 17.<ref name="Lang190">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=190}}</ref> Fighting continued periodically all day, and stopped at dusk. During this time, additional rebel troops were arriving in Lynchburg via the railroad.<ref name="NPSLYnchburg">{{cite web
|title=Battle Summary: Lynchburg, VA
|publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
|url=https://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va064.htm
|access-date=2017-03-23}}</ref> Powell's brigade was sent out during the evening, and got close enough to the city that "the church spires of the city could be plainly seen."<ref name="Sutton134">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=134}}</ref> Later during that morning, Powell was surprised to find out that the Union army (which had an ammunition shortage) was in full retreat, leaving his brigade in a dangerous situation. The brigade caught up with the rest of the retreating army near [[New London, Virginia|New London]]—just when the pursuing Confederates caught up with them. Averell's entire division, including Powell's brigade, became the rear guard as Hunter's army retreated west toward Charleston.<ref name="Sutton134"/>

==American Civil War: Shenandoah Valley==
After the retreat from Lynchburg to Charleston, the Army of West Virginia rested and resupplied. During July, it was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley. Powell commanded three West Virginia cavalry regiments as the 2nd Brigade of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division. His brigade left Charleston on July 8, and arrived at a [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|Baltimore & Ohio Railroad]] station in [[Parkersburg, West Virginia]], on July 12. A few days later the brigade began its train ride to [[Martinsburg, West Virginia]]. Portions of the brigade arrived in Martinsburg on July 19, but the entire brigade did not arrive until around July 23.<ref name="Sutton138">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=138}}</ref>

===Rutherford's Farm and Kernstown II===
[[File:Winchester - Kernstown - Fishers Hill Virginia.png|thumb|right|400px|Northern Shenandoah Valley area 1864|alt=map of Shenandoah Valley region where Civil War battles occurred in 1864]]The [[Battle of Rutherford's Farm]] occurred on July 20. General Averell's force of infantry and cavalry defeated a larger force commanded by General [[Stephen Dodson Ramseur]].<ref name="NPSRutherford">{{cite web
 |title=Rutherford's Farm
 |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
 |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles-detail.htm?battleCode=VA115
 |access-date=2017-03-30}}</ref> The battle took place on some farmland north of [[Winchester, Virginia in the American Civil War|Winchester, Virginia]], and is sometimes called the Battle of Carter's Farm. In this battle, two regiments from Powell's brigade (2nd West Virginia Cavalry and 3rd West Virginia Cavalry) caused the rebels to be "thrown into confusion" and "driven from the woods".<ref name="Sutton140">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=140}}</ref>

A few days later (July 24), the [[Second Battle of Kernstown]] was fought. In this Confederate victory, Crook's Army of West Virginia was driven north by General [[Jubal Early]]'s [[Army of the Valley]]. The Union retreat started south of Winchester and ended in the rain on the north side of the [[Potomac River]].<ref name="NPSKernstownII">{{cite web
 |title=Battle Summary: Kernstown, Second
 |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
 |url=https://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va116.htm
 |access-date=2017-03-31}}</ref> The disorganized retreat featured panicking soldiers, burning Union supply wagons, and one cavalry commander becoming separated from his brigade.{{#tag:ref|One of General Duffié's cavalry brigades fled north panic-stricken, and this panic spread to teamsters pulling supplies north. Many of the teamsters abandoned their wagons after setting them on fire, and rode their horses away from the battle.<ref name="PatchanSS244">{{harvnb|Patchan|2007|p=244}}</ref> Duffié became separated from his command during the darkness of a night rain.<ref name="PatchanSS254255">{{harvnb|Patchan|2007|pp=254–255}}</ref>|group=Note}} By the next day, Powell's brigade was the only cavalry unit still organized, and an infantry brigade commanded by (future President) Colonel [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] was among only two that remained organized.<ref name="PatchanSS253">{{harvnb|Patchan|2007|p=253}}</ref> Both units were instrumental in enabling the Union force to escape from pursuing rebel cavalry.<ref name="PatchanSS255">{{harvnb|Patchan|2007|p=255}}</ref>

===Moorefield===
{{Main|Battle of Moorefield}}
Powell's brigade participated in one of Averell's most impressive victories on August 6, when it charged across the [[Potomac River#South Branch Potomac River|South Branch]] of the Potomac River, attacked McCausland's cavalry and recovered a portion of private property taken on July 30 from the residents of [[Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="Sutton150">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=150}}</ref> The attack drove McCausland's brigade "to the mountains, with the loss of his remaining artillery and many prisoners."<ref name="OfficialXLIII494495">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|pp=494–495}}</ref> This battle ruined Early's Confederate cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley, and it was never again the dominant force it once was.<ref name="NPSMoorefield">{{cite web
 |title=Battle Detail - Moorefield
 |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
 |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles-detail.htm?battleCode=WV013
 |access-date=2017-04-03}}</ref>

===Opequon and Fisher's Hill===
The [[Third Battle of Winchester]], also known as Opequon, occurred on September 19.<ref name="NPSOpequon">{{cite web
|title=12. OPEQUON or Third Winchester (19 September 1864)
|publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
|url=https://www.nps.gov/abpp/shenandoah/svs3-12.html
|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref> By this time, Major General [[Philip Sheridan]] had been assigned command of Union armies in the Shenandoah Valley.<ref name="PatchanSS314">{{harvnb|Patchan|2007|p=314}}</ref> This battle was a major victory for Sheridan, and it resulted in numerous casualties for both sides—including generals and colonels.<ref name="NPSOpequonBattle">{{cite web
  |title=Battle Detail - Opequon
  |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
  |url=http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles-detail.htm?battleCode=va119
  |access-date=2015-09-12}}</ref> Powell remained in command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division, which consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiments. The brigade captured 80 prisoners and two pieces of artillery in a charge on the Winchester Heights.<ref name="Sutton160">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=160}}</ref>

The [[Battle of Fisher's Hill]] occurred on September 21 and 22.<ref name="NPSFishersHill">{{cite web
|title=13. FISHER'S HILL (21-22 September 1864)
|publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
|url=http://www.nps.gov/abpp/shenandoah/svs3-13.html
|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref>  Sheridan wrote that the battle was "in a measure, a part of the battle of Opequon".<ref name="Sheridan44">{{harvnb|Sheridan|1992|p=44}}</ref> Following the fighting at Winchester, Powell's brigade led the pursuit of Early's army. On July 22, they fought dismounted because of the nature of the terrain.<ref name="Sutton161">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=161}}</ref> After infantry commanded by Crook created a gap in the Confederate line, Powell's brigade (remounted) pushed through and pursued the fleeing Confederates. The pursuit was successful, and {{nobr|"[m]any}} prisoners were taken in this chase".<ref name="Sutton161"/>

==Division commander==
[[Image:Harrisonburg - Staunton VA Civil War.png|thumb|300px|right|Powell's Division operated in the Harrisonburg-Staunton area in late September 1864.|alt=map of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and area south during 1860s]][[Image:Powell Cavalry Raid Luray Valley.png|thumb|300px|right|Beginning of newspaper article about Powell's exploits near Luray|alt=Old newspaper article praising Powell near Luray]]In early September, several of Powell's superiors recommended him for promotion. Averell wrote that Powell "is a gentleman of high character, and one of the best brigade commanders that I know."<ref name="Lang191">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=191}}</ref> In a letter sent to headquarters in 1864, Crook said "Colonel Powell has served with me often since the commencement of the war. He has distinguished himself in every battle he was engaged in under me. He has been recommended by me on several occasions, for promotion. I regard him as one of the best cavalry officers I have ever seen in the service."<ref name="Lang191192">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|pp=191–192}}</ref> Sheridan also recommended Powell for promotion. President Lincoln wrote that Powell should at least be given a "[[Brevet (military)|brevet]] appointment, if a full commission is impracticable".<ref name="Lang192">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=192}}</ref>

Following the Battle of Fisher's Hill, the Union army continued pursuing Early's Army as it retreated south. At this time, Sheridan became dissatisfied with the pace of Averell's pursuit, and dismissed him as commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division. Powell was assigned command of the division on September 23.<ref name="Sutton161"/> Powell's command consisted of two brigades and a four-gun battery. The division's manpower when Powell became commander was 101 commissioned officers and 2,186 enlisted men present. Present and absent men totaled to 276 commissioned officers and 6,950 enlisted men.{{#tag:ref|The First Brigade consisted of the 8th Ohio Cavalry, the [[14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment|14th Pennsylvania Cavalry]], and the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry. Their brigade commander was Colonel [[James Martinus Schoonmaker|James M. Schoonmaker]]. The Second Brigade consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiments, plus the [[1st Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry|1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry]]. This brigade was commanded by Colonel [[Henry Capehart]]. Powell's artillery was Battery L, Fifth U.S. Artillery, which was commanded by Lieutenant Gulian V. Weir.<ref name="OfficialXLIII506">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=506}}</ref>|group=Note}} Because all but one person from Averell's staff left with Averell, and took the division's records, Powell had difficulty with the administrative work required of division commanders. He did not submit his first written report as division commander until October 27.<ref name="OfficialXLIII506"/>

On September 24, shortly after assuming command of the division, Powell moved his division from the [[Valley Pike]] to a road that leads to [[Harrisonburg, Virginia|Harrisonburg]]. His advance guard skirmished with some rebel pickets, and it was discovered he was nearing cavalries commanded by Generals Imboden, [[Bradley Tyler Johnson|Bradley Johnson]], and McCausland. A major battle did not ensue, but Powell captured 18 prisoners, 14 wagons, and a large quantity of ammunition. Fifteen rebels were killed.<ref name="OfficialXLIII507">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=507}}</ref> The skirmish occurred at Forest Hill, and was the first of two that would happen over the next few days.<ref name="Reid515">{{harvnb|Reid|1868|p=515}}</ref>

Powell's division reached Harrisonburg on September 25. For the next week, the division would spend its time patrolling a region bounded mostly by Harrisonburg, Brown's Gap, and Stanton. On September 27, Powell was ordered to cross the [[South River (South Fork Shenandoah River)|South River]].{{#tag:ref|Powell's report says September 27, and another source says September 26.<ref name="OfficialXLIII507"/><ref name="Reid515"/>|group=Note}} His division crossed while leaving one regiment behind to guard their camp and wagons. After the river crossing, the guarding regiment was attacked by [[Fitzhugh Lee]]'s cavalry supported by infantry. Powell re–crossed the river, changed fronts, and eventually drove back the attackers.<ref name="OfficialXLIII507"/> The main portion of this skirmish occurred at [[Weyers Cave, Virginia|Weyer's Cave]].<ref name="Reid515"/> Powell guarded his left flank by slowly falling back toward the community of [[Port Republic, Virginia|Port Republic]] while additional Confederate forces joined Lee and pursued. Powell crossed the [[North River (South Fork Shenandoah River)|North River]] and moved to [[Cross Keys, Virginia|Cross Keys]] where he met with General [[George Armstrong Custer]]. At that time, Custer assumed command of the 2nd Cavalry Division.<ref name="OfficialXLIII507"/>

General [[Ulysses S. Grant]], commander of all Union forces, had two major goals in the Shenandoah Valley:  eliminate Early's army and make the Valley unable to support any Confederate armies. With Early almost eliminated, the Union Army began to focus on the second goal. Troops were sent to destroy or consume livestock, crops, and [[forage]]. Structures such as barns, mills and tanneries were destroyed. This destruction of the fertile Shenandoah Valley became known as "[[Philip Sheridan#Army of the Shenandoah|The Burning]]".<ref name="Simson84">{{harvnb|Simson|2008|p=84}}</ref> On September 29, Custer moved the 2nd Cavalry Division from Cross Keys to [[Mount Sidney, Virginia|Mount Sidney]], where the division collected local horses and livestock, and destroyed forage, grain, and flour mills. The division moved to [[Mount Crawford, Virginia|Mount Crawford]], following the same orders to make the land unable to support the Confederate Army. On September 30, Custer was assigned to command the 3rd Cavalry Division, and Powell was again assigned to command the 2nd. Powell and his division reported to Major General [[Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert|Alfred T. Torbert]] at Harrisonburg on September 30.<ref name="OfficialXLIII508">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=508}}</ref>

===Luray Valley===
On October 1, Powell moved the division north to [[Luray, Virginia|Luray]] (as ordered by Torbert), "driving off all stock of every description, destroying all grain, burning mills, blast furnaces, distilleries, tanneries, and all forage".<ref name="OfficialXLIII508"/> While camped in Luray until the morning of October 7, Powell sent smaller groups on scouting expeditions and to hunt bushwhackers. On October 6, Powell destroyed a tannery used by the rebel army. The unfinished leather was said to be worth $800,000 (over $12 million in 2016 dollars).<ref name="OfficialXLIII508"/><!-- used the Wikipedia inflation function for this number {{Inflation|US|800000|1864|2016}} -->

The division moved north from Luray to [[Front Royal, Virginia|Front Royal]] on October 7, and then departed for [[Sperryville, Virginia|Sperryville]] October 11—passing through [[Chester Gap, Virginia|Chester Gap]] to get there. This is where Powell began to face challenges from Confederate Colonel [[John S. Mosby]]'s "[[Guerrilla warfare|guerrillas]]".<ref name="OfficialXLIII508"/> On October 13, Powell learned that one of his soldiers had been the victim of a "cold-blooded murder" by two members of Mosby's gang.<ref name="OfficialXLIII509">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=509}}</ref> In retaliation, Powell hanged one of his prisoners that was part of Mosby's command. He left a sign on the hanged man that said "A.C. Willis, member of Company C, Mosby's command, hanged by the neck in retaliation for the murder of a U.S. Soldier by Messrs. Chancellor and Myers".<ref name="OfficialXLIII509"/> In addition, Powell had Chancellor's house, barn, and livestock destroyed.<ref name="OfficialXLIII509"/>

=== Battle of Cedar Creek===
[[File:Front Royal - Winchester - Fisher's Hill Virginia.png|thumb|300px|right|Powell's division operated in the Front Royal area in October and November 1864.|alt=map of Front Royal, Virginia, and area nearby during 1860s]]On October 19, 1864, Powell was promoted to brigadier general.<ref name="Cambrian116"/> On the same day, the [[Battle of Cedar Creek]] took place southwest of [[Middletown, Virginia]].<ref name="NPSCedarCreek">{{cite web
  |title=Battle Detail - The Battle of Cedar Creek
  |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
  |url=http://www.nps.gov/cebe/learn/historyculture/the-battle-of-cedar-creek.htm
  |access-date=2015-12-26}}</ref> The battle began in the morning with a Confederate attack. At that time, Powell's 1st Brigade was eight miles away from Powell and the 2nd Brigade, and closer to Cedar Creek.<ref name="Farrar412">{{harvnb|Farrar|1911|p=412}}</ref> When the battle started, this brigade was needed to support the Union Army's left, so it was detached to General [[Wesley Merritt]].<ref name="Farrar414">{{harvnb|Farrar|1911|p=414}}</ref> Powell positioned the 2nd Brigade on the road to Front Royal, and prevented the Confederate cavalry under General [[Lunsford L. Lomax]] from [[Flanking maneuver|flanking]] the main Union force.<ref name="Sutton170">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=170}}</ref> A week later, the division [[Skirmisher|skirmished]] with Lomax's Division further northwest at Middletown.<ref name="Reid515"/>

===Nineveh===
On November 12, Powell again fought Lomax's Cavalry.<ref name="Reid515"/> Elsewhere, Custer and Merritt attacked General [[Thomas L. Rosser]]'s cavalry, and drove it back rapidly enough that Lomax was called for reinforcement.<ref name="Farrar435">{{harvnb|Farrar|1911|p=435}}</ref> This left a smaller force (still larger than a brigade) commanded by McCausland to face Powell. Powell sent most of his 1st Brigade out beyond Front Royal, where it encountered McCausland's force. The Confederates slowly pushed the 1st Brigade back. Powell brought his 2nd Brigade to the front, and the 1st Brigade moved to the rear.<ref name="Beach448449">{{harvnb|Beach|1902|pp=448–449}}</ref> The 2nd Brigade charged, resulting in a short clash that ended with the Confederates retreating as fast as they could. They were chased for eight miles.<ref name="Beach450">{{harvnb|Beach|1902|p=450}}</ref> Powell captured all of the rebel artillery (two guns), their ammunition train, and took 180 prisoners.<ref name="Rhodes149">{{harvnb|Rhodes|1900|p=149}}</ref> A newspaper account said that "Gen. Powell was on the field in person, and superintended the formation of the line of battle...."<ref name="WDI18641123">{{cite news
 |title=Camp Near Winchester, VA., Nov. 12 1864.
 |newspaper=Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
 |page = 1
 |date = 1864-11-23
 }}</ref> The newspaper also added that 40 Confederates were killed or wounded. Among those killed were a colonel and two majors, and among those wounded (slightly) was McCausland—"the scoundrel who [[Battle of Moorefield#Background|burned Chambersburg]]".<ref name="WDI18641123"/>

==Resigns==
Powell resigned from the Union Army on January 5, 1865, because of family issues.<ref name="Lang192"/> His father had died and his mother was seriously ill.<ref name="PowellPapers"/> He issued a farewell address on January 10. In accepting the resignation on January 14, Torbert wrote of his "appreciation of your valor and ability as a soldier, your zeal, efficiency and untiring energy as a cavalry commander."<ref name="Lang192"/> Sheridan thanked Powell for his "faithful support, and for your gallantry which has contributed so much to make the victories of the Shenandoah Valley decisive."<ref name="Lang193">{{harvnb|Lang|1895|p=193}}</ref> A tribute to Powell by Sheridan and officers from Powell's division was published on the front page of a Wheeling newspaper.<ref name="WDI18650120">{{cite news
|title=BRIG GEN'L WM H.POWELL.
|newspaper=Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
|page = 1
|date = 1865-01-20
|quote=Tribute of Respect from his Late Comrades in Arms}}</ref> Five days later, the same newspaper published a biographical sketch and Powell's farewell address.<ref name="WDI18650125">{{cite news
|title=Biographical Sketch of Brig. Get. W. H. Powell, formerly Colonel of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry....
|newspaper=Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
|page = 1
|date = 1865-01-25
|quote=We have already noticed the resignation of this gallant officer, soloing an honor to the West Virginia service....}}</ref>

During the American Civil War, Powell was involved in 61 battles and engagements, and rose from captain to brigadier general.<ref name="Congress1"/>  On February 24, 1866, Powell was nominated to be appointed to major general of the volunteers by brevet. The appointment was retroactive to March 13, 1865, and was for "gallant and meritorious services during the campaign of 1864 in West Virginia, and particularly at the battle of Front Royal."<ref name="NRHP-HD11-7">{{harvnb|United States|Congress|Senate|1887||pp=744–745}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Although Powell was breveted for actions at the "battle of Front Royal", he was fighting near Lewisburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), during May 1862 when the Battle of Front Royal took place.<ref name="NPSFrontRoyal">{{cite web
 |title=3. FRONT ROYAL (23 May 1862)
 |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
 |url=https://www.nps.gov/abpp/shenandoah/svs3-3.html
 |access-date=2017-06-22}}</ref><ref name="Sutton54">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=54}}</ref> His division was based in Front Royal during the Battle of Cedar Creek and the nearby Battle of Nineveh in late 1864.<ref name="OfficialXLIII506"/>|group=Note}}

==Animosity with Confederacy==
[[Image:Colonel Powell bad Wheeling Daily Intelligencer Aug 11 1863 Page 1.png|thumb|350px|right|Powell was not popular with the Confederacy.|alt=old newspaper article saying bad things about Powell]]Powell was strongly disliked by supporters of the Confederacy. No matter what his rank was, he was often leading Union cavalry attacks.{{#tag:ref|Examples of Powell's leadership against the Confederates include leading the advance guard as a major when it attacked the larger Confederate cavalry commanded by Colonel Albert Jenkins near Barboursville,<ref name="Sutton60"/> burning a mountaintop barn and home (as ordered) as a lieutenant colonel,<ref name="Sutton72">{{harvnb|Sutton|2001|p=72}}</ref> and commanding the first attackers in the Wytheville Raid as a colonel.<ref name="Sutton89"/>|group=Note}} Weather and terrain were not deterrents to Powell's aggression, as proven in the 1862 Sinking Creek raid.<ref name="Sutton65"/> Powell had been accused by Confederate General [[Samuel Jones (Confederate Army officer)|Sam Jones]] of shooting a prisoner "in cold blood". In another incident, he was accused of setting fire to a home with a family asleep inside. <!--By early 1863, -->Powell became "one of the Confederacy's most wanted Union officers".<ref name="Rolston85">{{harvnb|Rolston|2017|p=85}}</ref>

After Powell was wounded and captured in Wytheville, he was eventually moved to Libby Prison and initially kept in a dungeon.<ref name="Sutton102"/> Jones, who was the general in command of Confederate army regional headquarters in western Virginia, wrote at that time that Powell "is a bold, daring man, and one of the most dangerous officers we have had to contend with in the northwest of the state, and I am particularly anxious that he should not be allowed to return to the Kanawha Valley if it can be avoided."<ref name="Sutton103104"/>

As a division commander, Powell ordered the execution of at least three prisoners in retaliation for what he considered the murder of his men by bushwhackers. He called the bushwhackers "illegal and outlawed bands of horse-thieves and murderers, recognized and supported by rebel authorities".<ref name="OfficialXLIII511">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=511}}</ref>  The treatment of bushwhackers by both Custer and Powell caused Mosby to write an open letter to Sheridan threatening retaliation.<ref name="RichmondPaper">{{cite news
|title=Retaliation by Colonel Mosby
|newspaper=Richmond Daily Dispatch
|page = 2
|date = 1864-11-21
}}</ref> Powell reported that he would not be intimidated by threats from the [[Richmond in the American Civil War|Richmond]] press.<ref name="OfficialXLIII510">{{harvnb|Ainsworth|Kirkley|1902|p=510}}</ref> He wrote that he wished it be known to rebel authorities that if hanging two rebels for every one of his men murdered by bushwhackers was not enough, "I will increase it to twenty-two to one".<ref name="OfficialXLIII511"/> Contrary to newspaper reports that stated Powell resigned because of family issues, one source believes that Powell was dismissed from active duty because one of the rebels he executed was related to former Senator [[John J. Crittenden|John Crittenden]], Union General [[Thomas Leonidas Crittenden|Thomas L. Crittenden]], and Confederate General [[George B. Crittenden|George Crittenden]].<ref name="Rolston88">{{harvnb|Rolston|2017|p=88}}</ref> In Powell's farewell speech, he said "No one regrets the existence of the cause that necessitates the act more than I."<ref name="WDI18650125"/>

==Post war==
[[Image:William H. Powell (post-war).png|thumb|150px|right|William H. Powell|alt=Old picture of a distinguished old man with chin beard]]After leaving the military, Powell returned to the iron and nail business, becoming general manager of the Ironton Rolling Mill in Ironton, Ohio.<ref name="Cambrian116"/> He declined a Republican nomination for congress.<ref name="Rolston88"/> In the spring of 1867, he moved to [[Clifton, West Virginia]], to form the Clifton Nail Works, which he managed. His [[Powell-Redmond House|Clifton home]] is now part of the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="NRHPclifton">{{cite web
 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - Powell-Redmond House
 |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History (United States Department of the Interior)
 |url=http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/mason/83003243.pdf
 |access-date=2017-09-20}}</ref> In the [[1868 United States presidential election|Presidential election of 1868]], Powell was a Ulysses S. Grant elector in the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]].<ref name="Rolston88"/>

In 1870, Powell was almost killed in a [[horse and buggy]] accident, and was unable to work in the iron works business.<ref name="Bonham331"/> He sold his interest in the nail works, and moved to [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref name="Cambrian116"/> At Kansas City, Powell worked for [[Standard Oil]] until he moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] and worked for American Central Insurance.<ref name="PowellPapers"/>

In 1876, Powell had recovered enough from his accident that he could work in the iron/nail business again.<ref name="Cambrian116"/> This time, he moved to [[Belleville, Illinois]], where he lived for the rest of his life. He became one of the town's most respected citizens.<ref name="Rolston89"/> Powell was manager of the Waugh Company Nail Works until 1882, when he organized the Western Nail Works. He worked at this Belleville company, as president, superintendent and general manager, until 1892. During this time, one source claimed that Powell had "more intimate practical knowledge of the nail business than any other man in the United States".<ref name="Bonham334">{{harvnb|Bonham|1883|p=334}}</ref> Two years after Powell's move to Belleville, his wife Sara died. She had been diagnosed with cancer, and died seven months later while only 54 years old.<ref name="Rolston89">{{harvnb|Rolston|2017|p=89}}</ref> A year later in 1879, he married local resident Emma Weaver.<ref name="PowellPapers"/>

[[File:Grave of William Henry Powell (1825–1904) at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Powell's grave at Graceland Cemetery]]

Powell was acquainted with two Presidents: Hayes, and a long-time friend [[William McKinley]]—they all fought in the [[Army of West Virginia]] during the Civil War. McKinley also came from an iron-making family, and appointed Powell as an Internal Revenue Collector in 1895. Powell was a strong participant in a fraternal organization of Civil War veterans that fought for the Union, the [[Grand Army of the Republic]]. He was the Illinois department commander for that organization in 1895 and 1896.<ref name="PowellPapers"/>

The bullet that wounded Powell in Wytheville was never removed. It was lodged in his lung, and contributed to health difficulties that included [[rheumatism]] and [[Respiratory disease|respiratory]] problems.<ref name="Rolston89"/> Powell died at his home in Belleville on December 26, 1904. He was survived by his wife and three of his children.<ref name="WVPowellObits">{{cite web
 |title=William H. Powell Obituaries
 |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History
 |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/civilwar/powellwilliam01.html
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513140445/http://www.wvculture.org/history/civilwar/powellwilliam01.html
 |archive-date=2006-05-13
 |url-status=dead
 |access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref> Powell is buried at Chicago's [[Graceland Cemetery]].<ref name="GAR216">{{harvnb|Grand Army of the Republic Department of Illinois Encampment|1905||p=216}}</ref>

==Notes==

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=Note|colwidth=30em}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===References===
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*{{Cite book
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  | title = The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies Series I Volume XIX Part 1
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  }}  -->
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  | title = Reports of Committees of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Fifty-First Congress, 1890-'91<!--<United States Congressional Serial Set-->
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  | publisher = D. I. Jones
  | year = 1882
  | location = Cincinnati, Ohio
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  | last = Wallace
  | first = Lew
  | title = The story of American heroism : thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil War, as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men
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  | year = 1897
  | location = St. Louis
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=F80TAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Major+Powell+was+born+in+South+Wales%22&pg=PA182
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  | last = Whisonant   <!--< Cited in Wytheville County -->
  | first = Robert C.
  | title = Arming the Confederacy : How Virginia's Minerals Forged the Rebel War Machine
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  | year = 2015
  | location = Cham, Switzerland
  | oclc = 903929889
  | isbn = 978-3-319-14508-2
  }}     
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|William Henry Powell (soldier)}}

* [http://www.shepherd.edu/civilwar George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War]
* [https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/index.htm National Park Service - The Civil War]
* [http://www.wvculture.org/history/archives/wvcivilwar.html West Virginia Division of Culture and History - The Civil War in West Virginia]
* [http://www.wvculture.org/history/markers/sesqui/williamhpowell.html Powell Marker]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, William Henry}}
[[Category:1825 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:People from Ironton, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Pontypool]]
[[Category:People of Ohio in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Union army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Welsh-born Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Welsh emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago)]]
[[Category:Grand Army of the Republic officials]]