PHILIPPI, [WEST] VIRGINIA,
June 4, 1861.
I herewith submit to you a report of the operations of my command on the morning of June 3, 1861, at this place. On June 2 you directed me, with eight companies of the Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to proceed to Webster, that I might be there reinforced with four companies of the Ohio Volunteers, under the command of Colonel [James B.] Steedman, the artillery of his command being under the immediate command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sturgis, and with four companies of the Sixth Indiana Volunteers, under the command of Colonel [Thomas T.] Crittenden.
At 8 o’clock on the night of June 2, I took up my line of march from Grafton, and at Webster was reinforced, as stated above, and proceeded towards this place to meet the enemy. The night was very dark, and before the troops left the cars a terrible storm was raging, which continued without abatement until just before the attack was made. It was so exceedingly dark that it was with the utmost difficulty that I could form the command in the order which I desired to move it forward, and after it was so formed I found it almost impossible to pass from front to rear to direct the command. The order of march was as follows: First, a small detachment of twenty men of Captain Morgan’s Company, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, under the immediate command of Lieutenant Benjamin Ricketts, followed at the distance of 400 yards by Company A of said regiment, under the command of Captain Burgess. In order of that company, and at the distance of 400 paces, followed the remaining companies of the Seventh Indiana Regiment. The artillery was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Sturgis and seven companies of the Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Colonel Steedman, and the four companies of the Sixth Indiana Regiment, commanded by Colonel Crittenden, followed in the order named. Darkness, rain, and mud impeded the march and rendered it impossible to arrive before Philippi at 4 o’clock, the time indicated in your order. At 5 o’clock the advance took such a position by a file movement, under the direction of Colonel [Frederick W.] Lander, as to allow the artillery to advance to the front; then advanced immediately in the rear of the artillery. Scarce had the disposition been made when the picket of the enemy opened a brisk fire upon us from the heights immediately above the town, and from the woods and bushes on both sides of the road. Lieutenant-Colonel Sturgis, with great promptness, got the guns in position to command the town, and, under the direction of Colonel Lander, (I think), opened the fire. A moment’s delay to the infantry was occasioned by want of knowledge on my part as to which of the two roads led to the bridge leading into the town across the river. At the forks of the road I halted my command, and, riding rapidly to the guns, got the desired information from Colonel Lander. So informed, I proceeded on the double-quick down the declivity of the hill, and here had a full view of the enemy, and I must confess that I never saw a fight determined on with greater promptness, or executed with more dispatch. The enemy was under the command of Colonel [George] A. Porterfield. What his strength was, is variously estimated. On my own judgment, I would say from 1,500 to 2000, of which I would think 500 were cavalry.
They had no artillery but a swivel. I have conversed with many of the citizens of the town as to the strength of Colonel Porterfield’s command. Some say the colonel himself professed to have 2,500 troops. It is my opinion that he had but magnified his own strength, with a view to intimidate the people and crush out the Union sentiment.
When I first saw the enemy, it seemed to me he was pushing for the bridge, which I was rapidly approaching; but it turned out that it was necessary to converge towards the bridge to gain the street leading out of the town on the opposite side from that entered by my command. The bridge is a narrow structure, some 300 or 400 feet in length, spanning the Valley River, a branch of the Monongahela. A small body of determined troops could have impeded our progress, and crippled us at the bridge, and I apprehended resistance at this point.
Toward it my men poured down the hill, in good order, and with an energy and determination that assured me in advance that victory was certain. In a moment I was at the mouth of the bridge; one of the passages was barricaded, the other clear. Through it (Company B, commanded by Captain Morgan, in advance), my men pushed—the Seventh Indiana first, then Colonel Steedman’s command, not including the artillery, then Colonel Crittenden’s—and opened upon the enemy, then retreated in wild disorder. Both parties being upon the full run, and the distance between them being quite considerable, but little execution could be done.
I pursued the enemy from the bridge through the town and for several miles beyond. At one time I thought I should be able to capture his entire baggage train, but the horses, to prevent this, were cut from many of the wagons and mounted, and the wagons and contents left as our booty. The wagons were filled with munitions of war—blankets, knapsacks, clothing, baggage of officers and men, and with a considerable amount of flour and forage.
Having pursued the assault and pursuit of the enemy, I speak particularly of these officers, because being of my immediate command, their conduct was under my personal observation; and because thrown suddenly in command of different detachments of troops, to the officers of which I am a stranger, I am unable to mention the names of many whose bearing and courage are worthy of praise.
The detachment of the Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Steedman, crossed the bridge immediately after the Seventh Indiana, and was followed quickly by the Sixth Indiana, under Colonel Crittenden. Colonel Steedman captured a large amount of tents, a number of muskets and rifles, and other munitions of war, and I believe some prisoners; we were separated during the engagement, but his conduct, as well as that of his officers and men, is spoken of with much praise by those who witnessed it. Lieutenant-Colonel Sturgis, of the same regiment, in charge of the artillery, managed his guns with great celerity. I understand that he was assisted and directed by Colonel Lander, by special delegation from the commanding General. So informed, I did not myself give any directions in regard to the guns. Colonel Crittenden was necessarily placed in the rear, for he left the cars at Webster, after a tedious journey, but to take up his march on Philippi, his men marching in the rear, in the darkness of midnight, and in the raging storm, would necessarily be vastly more fatigued than those in front. Still, they and their gallant commander held up with unfaltering spirit, and did as great service in the fight and chase as it was possible for good officers and good men to do.
While descending the hill towards the bridge a body of troops made their appearance on the heights to the left. A friendly cheer assured us it was the command of the gallant Colonel [Robert H.] Milroy, and the First [West] Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel [Benjamin F.] Kelley, and a detachment from Colonel [James] Irvine’s Ohio Regiment. A rapid descent down the declivity enabled them to strike the retreating enemy, but not with so much effect as if the descent could have been made a few minutes sooner. Colonel Milroy assaulted that part of the enemy who had left the main road and betook themselves to the hills to enjoy the protection of the trees, while Colonels Kelley and Irvine’s command pursued the enemy up the road leading towards Beverly. They succeeded in overtaking, killing, and wounding a number, but, unfortunately, Colonel Kelley himself fell severely wounded by a pistol shot in the breast; my men carried him into the town, when surgical assistance was immediately rendered by Doctor George W. New, of my regiment, who had proved himself as gallant and courageous in the field, as he is skillful in his profession. Just before we had approached the town, he volunteered to make a reconnaissance of the bridge, and bore my message along the line repeatedly, seemingly unmindful of his own personal safety.
Captain G. W. Robinson, of Colonel Kelley’s command, reports to me that he captured Captain [William J.] Willey, of the Rebel army, and upon his person found his commission from Adjutant-General Garnett, of the Rebel forces, and other papers of importance which he reports he holds subject to my order. I enclose his report. It perhaps is not my province to speak much of that part of the expedition which marched by way of Evansville, under the command of Colonel Kelley, consisting of Kelley, Milroy, and Irvine, and their commands. I know nothing personally of their march prior to arriving before Philippi, and only speak of what I myself saw. The two commands or bodies of troops arrived almost simultaneously upon different hills overhanging the town, and did all that could be done to arrest the flight and punish the enemy.
I only undertake to report the particulars of that part of the expedition under my immediate command, and which marched upon Philippi by way of Webster and the bridge. I speak of the part of the expedition commanded by Colonels Kelley, Milroy and Irvine, only because Colonel Kelley’s condition is such as to render a report from him impossible. In doing so, I may have made some mistakes, but not intentionally. I herewith hand to you the reports made to me by Colonels Crittenden, Milroy and Steedman. Our loss was two wounded and two missing; what the enemy’s loss was is not certainly known, as he succeeded in carrying off many of his dead. It was inconsiderable, perhaps not to exceed forty.
I have heard the conduct of Jonathan W. Gordon of Colonel Milroy’s command, spoken of in terms of decided approbation by the officers of the same command. Since we have been here he had a small mounted scouting party on a hazardous expedition, and performed it in a very satisfactory manner.
Davis W. Cheek, commissary and quartermaster’s clerk, at my instance, mounted a horse, and rode at my side, bore messages and rendered me very valuable services, and proved himself brave and courageous.
The colors presented by the ladies of Aurora to the Seventh Indiana Regiment, were the Stars and Stripes which first floated over the town.
The disunion flag was captured by Captain Ferry’s command, of my regiment, and the Stars and Stripes were run up and given to the breeze in its place.
Captain William C. Moreau, of Colonel Crittenden’s command, has rendered me very valuable assistance in a business point of view, since I took command of this post, and I hear his conduct in the recent engagement spoken of in terms of praise both by his officers and men. I recommend Corporal Charles Bryant and Sergeant John Griffin of Company G, Seventh Indiana, for good conduct.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
E. DUMONT,
Commanding troops at Philippi.
Brigadier-General THOMAS A. MORRIS,
Indiana Militia.
Primary Sources
Hewett, Janet B., Noah Andre Trudeau, and Bryce A, Suderow, eds., Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Pt. I, Vol. 1. Wilmington: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1994.
Spirit of '61 