Stories of Appalachia is an interesting podcast started in 2015. Hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins discuss a variety of topics, including history and folklore from across the Eastern United States Appalachian region. A few weeks ago, they posted an episode about the Battle of Philippi. The action took place on June 3, 1861 and involved a few thousand soldiers. It was not, as often claimed, the first land battle of the Civil War, but it was among the first, if you can even call it a battle. The podcast hosts were right when they said, “Calling it a battle might be a bit generous. It was more like a wakeup call for the Confederate soldiers defending the town.”
The episode is a fun and educational exploration of this interesting event in West Virginia history.
Spirit of '61 