The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-06-08
Correspondence Of the Wheeling Intelligencer. ]
The Victory Mt PhIIlIppR.

Correspondence Of the w neeilng InGelIiBenCerI
The Victory at Philippe.
Astonishing March Of the U. S. Troops
Fearful Fright Of the RebeLs-Hoao Col.
Kelley a0as Wounded, SC, &c.
GRAFToN, Monday Night, June 3.
Yesterday morning. at ten o'clock, four
regiments lett here in two divisions-one
consisting of the LIST Virginia regiment, part
of the Ohio 10th, and the Indiana 7th IN
der command of Col. Kelly; the other the
Indiana 9th and the Ohio 18th, commanded
by Col. Lander, of Indian fighting, wagon
road, and Potter and Pryor duel notoriety.
Col Kelley's division moved east by rail-
road to Thornton, small way station five
miles distant from here. Thence they
marched to Phillippa, distanceiof twenty
two miles. The Indiana Regiment moved
out the n. W. Virginia Railroad to Webster,
where they were Joined by the Ohio l4th,
from which place they pushed forward on
foot to Phillippa, twelve miles distant
The march of the two divisions was per-
formed last night through darkness, rain,
and mud 1t was a terrible undertaking,
but they all went bravely through it,
unshrinkingly and without complaint.
All night they toiled on through the dark
ness and storm, the soft earth yielding
them in the presence of the enemy.
Col. Lander reports that as they neared
Phillippa they were discovered by a woman,
who fired at him twice, and who sent her
little boy across the hills (as he afterward
found) to apprise the enemy of their APP
proach. He arrived on the hill across the
river from, and below Philippe and com
handing the town and encampment (iust
below the town. q little before daylight
this morning. They at once planted two
pieces OF artillery on the brow of the hill,
Just above the camp, and prepared to open
on them when the time arrived-four o'clock
was the hour at which the attack was to be
made simultaneously by both divisions
Colonel Kelley was to attack them in the
rear and cut off their retreat, while Col
Lander was to attack them in front. But
Col. Kelley's division was behind the ap-
pointed hour, owing to the terrible fatigue
of their forced march of twenty-five miles 4.
and, in addition to this, they missed the
point, and instead of coming in on the Bev-
ery road, above Philippe, and effectualIy
cutting off all retreat they came, when
they did come, just below the town.
When the day began to dawn upon tie
impatient forces of Colonel Lander, it dis
covered to them the camp below 10 state
of commotion, evidently in great alarm and
preparing for fight. The hour appoint ted
for the attack came and passed, but still
Colonel Kelley's division had not arrived
Impatient to begin the attack, and fearful
that the rascals, almost within his grasp,
should escape without smelling powder
Colonel Lander ordered the artillery to be.
gin the attack; aud at quarter past four
tue guns were unlimbere and dropped the
first messengers Of terror into the rebel camp
less than quarter of mile away. Stimuli
taueousy with the roar of the first gun,
Colonel Kelly at the head of his command,
came in sight across the river below the
camp, and, comprehending the position of
affairs, they rushed forward at once in the
direction of the camp
Meanwhile, the battery having, after the
first shot or two, got an accurate range,
| played upon the camp with marked effect,
tearing through tents and houses at a fear
full rate. This the chivalry couldn't stand,
and they scattered like rats from a burning
barn. They had no time to retreat in or
der. They didn't even retreat at all-they
ran, fed most ingloriously -ran like sheep
in every direction that promised safety, after
firing a random and scattering voIley which
did no damage whatever. Col Kelley's
command was close after, the Virginia
troops in advance, the Henry Clay Guards
in front and Col Kelley and Capt. FordYce
/ leading. At the same time Col Lander's
force came rushing down the hill to the
bridge, and they all put out after the fugi-
tives, yelling like Indians.
But the legs of the fugitive chivaIry
knew them too well, and they could not be
: Overtalleu by our already exhausted men,
who, after chasing them couple of miles,
returned to the evacuated camp, to learn
the painful fact that their victory, though
complete, was dearly, too dearly bought.
CO.. Kelley, who, with bravery amount
ing to rashness, was foremost from first to
last was raliying his men il the upper part
of the town, the enemy having all appa-
rently fed, when he fell by shot from