During the Civil War, thousands of men from (West) Virginia joined the Union Army—over 32,000 in total, though many were actually from nearby states like Pennsylvania and Ohio. Most Union support came from the northern and western parts of the state, especially near the Ohio River and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Still, not everyone agreed. Around 18,000 men from West Virginia fought for the Confederacy.

Because of these divided loyalties, there was a lot of violence in the state beyond regular battles. Guerrilla warfare, surprise raids, and attacks by partisan fighters were common. Some towns, like Romney, were taken over multiple times, and civilians often suffered during the fighting.