HISTORY OF SUMMERSVILLE CIVIL WAR HISTORY The Battle of Carnifex Ferry resulted in West Virginia proceeding to statehood without serious threat from the Confederates. an entrenched position on the Henry Patterson Farm which overlooked Carnifex Ferry. The Confederate commander, Brigadier General John B. Floyd, retreated across the ferry to the south side of the Gauley River and on eastward N estled on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an important Civil War battle site. On September 10, 1861 Union troops led by Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans engaged the Confederates and forced them to evacuate 12 SUMMERSVILLE VISITORS GUIDE | SUMMERSVILLECVB.COMhttp://www.SUMMERSVILLECVB.COM