Looking for information on the Civil War Battle of Guyandotte, Wayne Co. in which my wife's gr., gr., grandfather fought and was captured by Confederates, escaped and was recaptured and escaped again, or was in a second battle, captured and escaped again. His full name was Kellian van Renesselaer Whaley.

To my knowledge there was only one raid that took place on November 10, 1861. reports show that Confederate troops under the command of a Col. Clark w/an estimate of 500 - 750 mounted troops over took the town of 150 Union troops and volunteers. Union sympathizers and soldiers were rounded up and the Confederates left that evening, moving toward Chapmansville, Va. on to Richmond.

It was a Col. Albert Jenkins and Col. Clarkson that captured Col. Kellian V. Whaley at Guyandotte..Col. Whaley was training unseasoned or green troops and was ill prepared to fight.

There are 3 books written about this battle, two in print and the last, soon to be on the book shelves..I have no idea of the one in print's name, but the others are, Civil War in Cabell Co. Wv 1861-1865 and Wayne Co. Wv in the Civil War..

Col. Whaley had a wonderful background, he was a Col in the Union Army, captured at Guyandotte (often referred to as the Bloody Battle Of Guyandotte). He was a personal friend of Pres. A. Lincoln and an honor guard at his funeral...In the history of the USA, only 40 men have held cong. seats from two states, Kellian V. Whaley was one of those men, holding a seat in the Va House, 1861-1863 and Wv, 1863-1867..

He, in fact escaped his captors, swam a river and walked in the woods thru the day to keep from freezing to death..He found his way to the home of Absolom Queen, a true Unionist and friend..Mr. Queen warmed him, gave him dry clothes and food..There were soldier at Mr. Queen's home (he was a Home Guard) and they transported Col. Whaley to the safety of a Union Camp..Thus ending his military career..

From the Union Army he went home and was a lawyer, JP and Notary, farmer and timber man..He ran for office and was elected and was accused of treason during the first Wheeling Convention..It was from Western Va he ran and not Va (they had not suceeded as of yet) so he was called a traitor by the Va assembly..Those doing the name calling were thrown from the assembly and not allowed to return..Col. Whaley was cheered and applauded for his efforts for statehood for WV.

.It was Col. Whaley's speech that made Pres. Lincoln decide to allow Wv to succeed from Va and become their own state..He was then an asst. to the 1st. Gov of WV, and his political career spiraled from there..

Kellian V. Whaley was against slavery and for the Union and fought to preserve the constitution all the way to the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC..He won his case and upheld the 14th ammendment...

Kellian was born May 6, 1821 and married Polly Perdue, at the age of 23, Polly was 16 at the time, their first child Mary Jane was born 4 years later..Their marriage produced a total of 7 children..*

Kellian was appointed to the position of Customs Officer on the Texas and Mexico border during the restoration..His job was to ensure safety to ships importing and exporting goods during that time..President Lincoln had closed the Gulf to trade and stationed Union Soldiers there to ensure no guns or spies were allowed in from Europe.. He and two of his son's headed to Texas on a boat in hopes of a new adventure in what was knows as his, "6 gun western/frontier days"..that, and following the orders of his President..This position was a Presidential appointment..

(You can only imagine how the cowboys were raiding that area during the restoration..A good read for that era is, Leander McNelly, he was a far to honest Texas Ranger..I love the stories of the old west..This is a true story and can be Google searched, you and your family will enjoy reading some of the action that Customs Officer Whaley endured during his Texas assignment..)

Kellian Whaley came home to Point Pleasant, Wv and retired from public life..He was a very elusive man, it is difficult to find a lot of information on Mr. Whaley..He died on May 20, 1876 and is buried at the Lone Oak Cemetary in Pt. Pleasant..His obituary states, he died from a lingering disease and at home..They gave no actual cause of his death..We were very suprised when we read your note saying his death was due to accident while riding horse back..

I do so hope you have enjoyed reading this reasearch as much as we enjoyed learning of this wonderful man..Kellian V. Whaley.

He was a soldier, a POW, an office and a gentleman..He was a man of letters, a friend to Presidents and First Ladies..He was a merchant, a lawyer, a lumber man, buying and selling large lots of lumber in Wv, Va, Ohio and surrounding areas..He was a man that started a state, Wv, he fought for freedom for all men and women, not just against slavery..by helping to form and create a Constitution for Wv..He was all that and a husband, father and an ancestor to your wife, your children and their children..

Col. Kellian V. Whaley is a man that anyone would be proud to have in their family tree..

God bless you and your family, God bless America and pray for our troops..

I am a great grand daughter of Virginia Rose Whaley grand daughter to Col. Whaley. I am just getting started on this journey and I love all of the postings. I will be speacking this week in my 7 year old daughters class on Presidents day how our Grandfather Kellian was also important to the time and to President Lincoln. I have a few special photos to share with the class. Thank you ancestry.com for helping me fill in a few gaps on my Grandfather. Sincerly Valerie.

Do you know how we can find these books? I am the ggg grand daughter of Absolom Queen