Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

[494] to his soldiers, telling them that they had been ordered to “cross the frontier;” that their mission was “to protect the majesty of the law, and secure our brethren from the grasp of armed traitors.” he knew they would respect the feelings of the Virginians and their rights, and preserve perfect discipline. He believed in their courage. He begged them to remember that their only foes were “armed traitors;” and he exhorted his soldiers to show them mercy when they should fall into their hands, because many of them were misguided. He told them that when they had assisted the loyal men of Western Virginia until they could protect themselves, then they might return to their homes “with the proud satisfaction of having preserved: a gallant people from destruction.”

McClellan's addresses were read in Camp Carlile on the evening of the 26th, and Colonel Kelley and his regiment, full eleven hundred strong, immediately thereafter crossed over to Wheeling and moved in the direction of Grafton, where Colonel Porterfield was in command, with instructions from General Lee to gather volunteers there to the number of five thousand. His recruits came in slowly, and he had written to Lee, that if re-enforcements were not speedily sent into Northwestern Virginia, that section would be lost to the “Confederates.”

on the evening of the 27th, Kelley reached Buffalo Creek, in Marion County, when Porterfield, thoroughly alarmed, fled from Grafton with about fifteen hundred followers, and took post at Philippi, a village on the Tygart's Valley River, a branch of the Monongahela, about sixteen miles southward from Grafton. He had destroyed two bridges in Kelley's path toward Grafton, but these were soon rebuilt by the loyal Virginians, who, under their commander, entered the deserted Camp of Porterfield on the 30th. On that day, the latter

Virginia Volunteer Infantry.

issued a frantic appeal from Philippi to the people of Northwestern Virginia, begging them to stand by the “legally constituted authorities of the State,” of which he was the representative, and assuring all Unionists that they would be treated as enemies of the Commonwealth. He told the people that he came to protect them from “invasion by foreign forces,” and secure to them the enjoyment of all their rights. “it seems to me,” he said, most inappropriately, “that the true friend of National liberty cannot hesitate” to defend Virginia. “strike for your State!” he exclaimed. “strike for your liberties! rally! rally at once in defense of your mother.” his appeal had very little effect upon the sturdy people of the mountain region, and his efforts were almost fruitless.

while Colonel Kelley was pressing toward Grafton, the Ohio and Indiana troops were moving in the same direction. A part of them crossed the Ohio River at Wheeling, and another portion at Parkersburg; and they were all excepting two regiments (the Eighth and Tenth Indiana), at or near Grafton on the 2d of June, on which day General Morris arrived. Kelley was on the