They might not be the first battles that leap to mind when thinking about the American Civil War, but the battles fought in West Virginia were important, one expert said.

C. Stuart McGehee is a history professor and dean of his department at West Virginia State University. He has spent much of his professional life studying the Civil War battles that were fought within the boundaries of what now is the Mountain State.

"There are two things about Civil War battles in West Virginia: They were very small affairs. The only strategic objective was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Once the Union ...

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