[1] A party of Confederate cavalry intended to disrupt the local Unionist elections in Tucker County, but were surprised by a force of Union soldiers hidden around the residence of Adam Bowman on the banks of the Cheat River.

[3] McClellan maneuvered Union forces into position in front of Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain to confront Garnett, and pro-Union delegates in Wheeling declared secession illegal, voting to form a Restored Government of Virginia to represent the state in Washington, DC.

On the night of June 28, 1861, Lt. Robert McChesney and a detachment of 9 men rode northeast toward St. George, which was the seat of Tucker County along the Cheat River, on a scouting mission to disrupt the Unionist elections.

Hiram Miller of Company H, 15th Ohio Infantry Regiment, had pulled down a secession flag fluttering over the courthouse in St. George, and the union forces returned to guard the elections and polling places.

[6] On the morning of June 29, Lt. McChesney and his men, along with a group of local Confederate Home Guards, proceeded to St. George, where they found the election had already occurred.

They rode north along a mountain road following the Cheat River toward the residence of Adam H. Bowman, a local attorney, which served as a Unionist polling place.