20 citizens" (Workman, 2006). As the day progressed, the fighting on the river road became a desperate test of wills. According to one source, the battle raged "at intervals from 3 p.m. until dark...." (Workman, 2006). Green could do nothing to dislodge the stubborn Rowlesburg troops and townsmen from their positions. Finally, an enraged Jones personally commanded the last assault. After seeing his troops still stalemated, he ordered Green to hold his position until dusk, and then pull back to the turnpike. Jones accepted defeat and moved west to camp for the night. According to Jones, "To renew the attack without the hope of surprise was out of the question, with the difficulties of the ground against us" (Workman, 2006). The dreaded Confederate Cavalry had proven useless because of the narrow passage and steep hillside. Analogous to the Persians at Thermopylae, Jones was defeated by geography and a stubborn enemy willing to sacrifice all in his first major battle of the campaign. Both Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia General Robert E. Lee considered Rowlesburg a principal target of the raid. Nonetheless, it had withstood the Confederate onslaught and was the only target of that raid to emerge unscathed. "Lincoln's Lifeline" was preserved. The Oakland raid had succeeded in destroying bridges, but the critical Cheat River bridge remained intact. Jones blamed his subordinates for weak execution of his orders. Gen. John Imboden commanded the 22nd, 25th, and 31st Virginia Infantry regiments, the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry, Dunn's Mounted Infantry, and the 18th and 19th Virginia Cavalry. His subordinate officers included Col. George S. Patton of the 22nd, and Col. William Lowther Jackson of the 19th Virginia Cavalry (later promoted to brigadier general). On April 20, 1863, Imboden moved westward from Shenandoah Mountain with 1,825 men, and reinforcements the next day increased his strength to 3,365. Imboden marched through a heavy rain and then snow toward Beverly. There, he defeated Union defenders under Col. George Latham, who retreated northward, abandoning much needed supplies. Imboden proceeded towards Buckhannon, but reports of Union reinforcements at Philippi and no news of Jones's position caused him to return to Beverly. Union Brig. Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts, at Buckhannon, decided to withdraw his forces from there as well as from Philippi in order to reinforce Clarksburg. That same day, April 28, Imboden learned of Roberts' retreat from Buckhannon and immediately