Burning Springs

This story teller came to the local library to tell of the very first act of war where the enemy's action was to attack and destroy oil production and reserves.  The first man-made eco-disaster caused buy the unchecked release of caustic and volitble compounds into the environment.  
And it happened in the state where I live.
At Burning Springs, WV.
In May of 1863 during the civil war.
What followed was a government cover-up and the destruction of the oil wells as well as the entire town of roughly 12,000 people was never reported in any newspaper.  Amazingly, there were no civilian deaths.