Bullets and Steel: The Fight For the Great Kanawha Valley, 1861-1865

This book covers the period before, during, and after the Civil War in the Great Kanawha Valley from Gauley Bridge to Point Pleasant, WV.The title "Bullets and Steel" comes from a song sung by the Sandy Rangers of Wayne County during the Battle pf Scary Creek.Gauley Bridge, at the foot of the imposing mountain barrier to the east and the river valley to the west, was a focal point of the conflict. Roads traversed the town both north to south and from east to west. Charleston and the salt works were east on the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, and were important military objectives in the control of the entire valley. The salt works figured prominently in the strategies of both armies for the first two years of the war.This is not a definitive look at the history of every event in the valley during the war. Instead, it is an excellent overview of the main actions using as many first-person accounts as possible, as well as photos and drawings to enhance the story.