The Battle of Corricks Ford, fought on July 13, 1861, was important because it saw the first general officer killed in the Civil War—Confederate Gen. Robert S. Garnett. After a defeat at Rich Mountain, Garnett tried to lead his troops to safety but took a wrong route to avoid what he thought was a Union-held town.

Union Gen. Thomas A. Morris pursued Garnett through Tucker County. The chase ended in a running battle along Shavers Fork, with heavy fighting at Corricks Ford. As Confederate wagons got stuck in mud, Garnett was shot and killed while trying to hold off Union troops. Many Confederate soldiers were captured, but the rest eventually escaped to Virginia.