One column met Confederate resistance at Barboursville on July 13 and 14, while Cox’s main force established a camp near Poca.

Wise commanded a few thousand troops stationed near St. Albans, just south of Scary and Poca, and intended to halt the Union advance.

Early on the morning of July 14, while fighting occurred at Barboursville, Cox sent a detachment of the 21st Ohio Infantry, Companies F, G, and H, towards Scary to reconnoiter the Confederate positions.

The following day, another small skirmish occurred as Confederate pickets probed the Union camp at Poca, on the north side of the Kanawha River.

Captain Patton tried to rally his men, but during the attack, was wounded in the left shoulder, and Albert Jenkins assumed command.

[6] Fresh Confederate reinforcements arrived from Coal Knob and drove the Ohioans back from the bridge and the left flank by 5:00 pm.

Sustaining casualties from the fierce bayonet charge and fighting around the bridge, the Federals pulled back, aiming to return to the main column at Camp Poca.

Cox refused, and the men of the 21st were compelled to wait at the opposite side of the river, listening to the sounds of the nearby battle.

They neared the battlefield, but were met by Lowe’s retreating forces, and taking up a rear guard to skirmish with advance Confederate pickets, returned to the main camp.

[9] General Wise ordered a force of 800 men to attack the Union camp at Poca after the battle around 10:00 pm, but they were repulsed by elements of the Ohio infantry.

[10] Despite the tactical victory, General Wise decided to withdraw back up the Kanawha Valley toward the Confederate supply bases in Fayette and Greenbrier Counties in a highly criticized move.