One of the earliest contests in the
Civil War occurred June 3, 1861, at
Philippi, Va., on
Tygart Valley River, about 16 miles southward from
Grafton.
Ohio and Indiana volunteers gathered at
Grafton (on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad), and loyal armed
Virginians who had assembled there were divided into two columns, one commanded by
Col. Benjamin F. Kelley, and the other by
Col. E. Dumont, of
Indiana.
Colonel Porterfield, with 1,500
Virginians, onethird of them mounted, was at
Philippi.
The two Union columns marched against him, by different routes, to make a simultaneous attack.
In darkness and a drenching rain the columns moved over the rugged hills, through hot valleys, and across swollen streams.
Kelley was misled by a treacherous guide, and
Dumont approached
Philippi first.
His troops were discovered by a woman, who fired a pistol at
Colonel Lander, and sent her boy to alarm
Porterfield.
The lad was caught and detained, but
Porterfield's camp was put in commotion by the pistol.
Dumont took position on the heights, with cannon commanding a bridge, the village, and the insurgent camp.
Colonel Lander had taken command of the artillery, and, without waiting for the arrival of
Kelley, he opened heavy guns upon the
Confederates.
At the same time
Dumont's infantry swept down to the bridge, where the
Confederates had gathered to dispute their passage.
The latter were panic-stricken, and fled.
Kelley, approaching rapidly, struck the
[
169]
flank of the flying force, which was driven in wild confusion through the village and up the
Beverly Road.
The two columns pursued them about 2 miles, when the fugitives, abandoning their baggage-train, escaped.
Colonel Kelley was severely wounded by a pistol-shot that passed through his right breast, and, fainting from loss of blood, fell into the arms of some of his soldiers.
For a long time his recovery was doubtful, but, under the watchful care of a devoted daughter, he finally recovered, and was commissioned a brigadier-general.
Colonel Dumont assumed the command of the combined columns.
Lacking transportation, the
Indiana troops were recalled to
Grafton by the
chief-commander,
T. A. Morris.
Philippine Islands 
