John McClure wore a uniform of Union blue even before the Civil War broke out. Back in 1859, he had joined the Franklin Guards, a militia unit from western Virginias strongly pro-union Pendleton County. It was only natural he would follow his unit directly into active service. But in a turn of events that mirrored the deeply divided sentiments of western Virginians, in May 1861 McClure and the blue-clad Franklin Guards joined not the Union army, but the Confederate one.
As Co F of the 25th Virginia Infantry, McClure and his comrades fought to keep Union forces from Ohio out of northwestern Virginia. The Pendleton County men's career was a short one, however. At the Battle of Rich Mountain on July 11, most of the 25th Virginia-including McClure-was captured.
Paroled and exchanged a year later, McClure and the remainder of Co F were transferred to the 62nd Va. Inf. in Jan. 1863. McClure participated in the Jones_Imboden Raid in western Virginia in April 1863. McClure participated in the Gettysburg Campaign into Pa. a few months later. After the Battle of Gettysburg, McClure's unit played a significant role in protecting the Confederate wagon train when it was attacked near Williamsport, Md.
In late 1863, the 62nd Va. became a mounted infantry regiment, and McClure learned to fight on horseback. McClure was on hand when the 62nd took part in hardfought battles at New Market and Cold Harbor, Va.,in May and June 1862(in which his brother Billy was killed),and McClure and 62nd joined in Early's march on Washington, D.C., then fought in battles at Monocacy, Md., in July and Winchester, Fishers's Hill, and Cedar Creek, Va, in the fall of 1864. Afterwards, the regt. served on outpost duty in Virginia's Page Valley.
Home on furlough when news of the Confederate surrender came in April 1865, McClure and some of his fellow infantrymen decided to report to a detachment of their regiment stationed in an adjoining county. Chancing upon some apple brandy on the way, the soldiers presented themselves to the captain in a less than flattering condition condition. The captain told them to go home.
McClure returned to Pendleton County, which had become part of the new state of West Virginia. He acquired a small store, married the girl next door, and began acquiring land and raising cattle. Although childless, he and his wife raised and educated a niece and nephew. He became a pillar of the Prebysterian Church and brought electric lighting to the town of Franklin. At the time of his death in 1915, "Colonel" McClure was known as the "Cattle King of West Virginia". CWT
Highest Rank Private
As Co F of the 25th Virginia Infantry, McClure and his comrades fought to keep Union forces from Ohio out of northwestern Virginia. The Pendleton County men's career was a short one, however. At the Battle of Rich Mountain on July 11, most of the 25th Virginia-including McClure-was captured.
Paroled and exchanged a year later, McClure and the remainder of Co F were transferred to the 62nd Va. Inf. in Jan. 1863. McClure participated in the Jones_Imboden Raid in western Virginia in April 1863. McClure participated in the Gettysburg Campaign into Pa. a few months later. After the Battle of Gettysburg, McClure's unit played a significant role in protecting the Confederate wagon train when it was attacked near Williamsport, Md.
In late 1863, the 62nd Va. became a mounted infantry regiment, and McClure learned to fight on horseback. McClure was on hand when the 62nd took part in hardfought battles at New Market and Cold Harbor, Va.,in May and June 1862(in which his brother Billy was killed),and McClure and 62nd joined in Early's march on Washington, D.C., then fought in battles at Monocacy, Md., in July and Winchester, Fishers's Hill, and Cedar Creek, Va, in the fall of 1864. Afterwards, the regt. served on outpost duty in Virginia's Page Valley.
Home on furlough when news of the Confederate surrender came in April 1865, McClure and some of his fellow infantrymen decided to report to a detachment of their regiment stationed in an adjoining county. Chancing upon some apple brandy on the way, the soldiers presented themselves to the captain in a less than flattering condition condition. The captain told them to go home.
McClure returned to Pendleton County, which had become part of the new state of West Virginia. He acquired a small store, married the girl next door, and began acquiring land and raising cattle. Although childless, he and his wife raised and educated a niece and nephew. He became a pillar of the Prebysterian Church and brought electric lighting to the town of Franklin. At the time of his death in 1915, "Colonel" McClure was known as the "Cattle King of West Virginia". CWT
Highest Rank Private
John McClure wore a uniform of Union blue even before the Civil War broke out. Back in 1859, he had joined the Franklin Guards, a militia unit from western Virginias strongly pro-union Pendleton County. It was only natural he would follow his unit directly into active service. But in a turn of events that mirrored the deeply divided sentiments of western Virginians, in May 1861 McClure and the blue-clad Franklin Guards joined not the Union army, but the Confederate one.
As Co F of the 25th Virginia Infantry, McClure and his comrades fought to keep Union forces from Ohio out of northwestern Virginia. The Pendleton County men's career was a short one, however. At the Battle of Rich Mountain on July 11, most of the 25th Virginia-including McClure-was captured.
Paroled and exchanged a year later, McClure and the remainder of Co F were transferred to the 62nd Va. Inf. in Jan. 1863. McClure participated in the Jones_Imboden Raid in western Virginia in April 1863. McClure participated in the Gettysburg Campaign into Pa. a few months later. After the Battle of Gettysburg, McClure's unit played a significant role in protecting the Confederate wagon train when it was attacked near Williamsport, Md.
In late 1863, the 62nd Va. became a mounted infantry regiment, and McClure learned to fight on horseback. McClure was on hand when the 62nd took part in hardfought battles at New Market and Cold Harbor, Va.,in May and June 1862(in which his brother Billy was killed),and McClure and 62nd joined in Early's march on Washington, D.C., then fought in battles at Monocacy, Md., in July and Winchester, Fishers's Hill, and Cedar Creek, Va, in the fall of 1864. Afterwards, the regt. served on outpost duty in Virginia's Page Valley.
Home on furlough when news of the Confederate surrender came in April 1865, McClure and some of his fellow infantrymen decided to report to a detachment of their regiment stationed in an adjoining county. Chancing upon some apple brandy on the way, the soldiers presented themselves to the captain in a less than flattering condition condition. The captain told them to go home.
McClure returned to Pendleton County, which had become part of the new state of West Virginia. He acquired a small store, married the girl next door, and began acquiring land and raising cattle. Although childless, he and his wife raised and educated a niece and nephew. He became a pillar of the Prebysterian Church and brought electric lighting to the town of Franklin. At the time of his death in 1915, "Colonel" McClure was known as the "Cattle King of West Virginia". CWT
Highest Rank Private
As Co F of the 25th Virginia Infantry, McClure and his comrades fought to keep Union forces from Ohio out of northwestern Virginia. The Pendleton County men's career was a short one, however. At the Battle of Rich Mountain on July 11, most of the 25th Virginia-including McClure-was captured.
Paroled and exchanged a year later, McClure and the remainder of Co F were transferred to the 62nd Va. Inf. in Jan. 1863. McClure participated in the Jones_Imboden Raid in western Virginia in April 1863. McClure participated in the Gettysburg Campaign into Pa. a few months later. After the Battle of Gettysburg, McClure's unit played a significant role in protecting the Confederate wagon train when it was attacked near Williamsport, Md.
In late 1863, the 62nd Va. became a mounted infantry regiment, and McClure learned to fight on horseback. McClure was on hand when the 62nd took part in hardfought battles at New Market and Cold Harbor, Va.,in May and June 1862(in which his brother Billy was killed),and McClure and 62nd joined in Early's march on Washington, D.C., then fought in battles at Monocacy, Md., in July and Winchester, Fishers's Hill, and Cedar Creek, Va, in the fall of 1864. Afterwards, the regt. served on outpost duty in Virginia's Page Valley.
Home on furlough when news of the Confederate surrender came in April 1865, McClure and some of his fellow infantrymen decided to report to a detachment of their regiment stationed in an adjoining county. Chancing upon some apple brandy on the way, the soldiers presented themselves to the captain in a less than flattering condition condition. The captain told them to go home.
McClure returned to Pendleton County, which had become part of the new state of West Virginia. He acquired a small store, married the girl next door, and began acquiring land and raising cattle. Although childless, he and his wife raised and educated a niece and nephew. He became a pillar of the Prebysterian Church and brought electric lighting to the town of Franklin. At the time of his death in 1915, "Colonel" McClure was known as the "Cattle King of West Virginia". CWT
Highest Rank Private
