Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-20

Mr. W. NJ. .OUSN--Ne1F SStF. i dave tue
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
Cor. w. F. LAxDEn-Dear Sir: beg
leave to'call your attention TO scandalous
communication in the Cincinnati 7TDlsS OF
this date respecting the conduct of the In-
diana soldiers at the rout of the rebels at
PhiIlippi.I l+-es 81 ~
AS yon took part in that attack, feel
assured you will take. pleasure in vindiea-
1 ting the honor Of your fellow soldiers.
E Your obedient servant.
GSigned,1 .ael W. NJ. DUNN.
i will cordially VindiCate the honor Of
my fellow soldiers so far as my personal
knowledge enables me to do so.
! cannot, however. under any circum-
| stances, deny that some unjustiiable acts
| were committed after the rOut of the Sc
cession forces atsPhillippi. They arose
| from general break of the tired troops
20 search the town for Secession flags, and
concealed men and munitions. AT the
| time left the town for Grafton, Col. Du-
mont hNdjust called council of officers
to devise means to prevent such occurren-
ces. am confident that in moments of
less excitement, every volunteer soldier, of
| whatever State or Regiment, would regard
! the proclamation OF the Major General MS
| worthy not only obedience, but respect
Those engaged in these aggressiOns.
which, so far as have an opportunity of
knowing, are entirely Overrated and mag
nified by the writer of the article to which
+. you refer, are liable to death by the arti-
| vIes of war.
Two columns moved on Phillippi, COM
manded, respectively, by Col. Kelley, of
the First Virginin Regiment, and Col
| Dumont, of the Seventh Indiana. They
approached by distinct routes, and were
both accompanied by Indiana troops.
can only inform you US TO that led by Col.
DuInOnt.
Col. Dumont was ably supported by
4 portion of the 18th Ohio, COL. SteadmAn,
and part of the 9Th Indiana, Col. Critten-
den. He was also supported by Lieut..
CG. Sturgis ia command of detachment
and two pieces of the LIST Ohio Artillery.
This detachment is entitled to much credit
i tor efficient movements with untr71tned
horses, and being enCRmped on an eminRnce
outside the town are free even of suspicion
| Of bad conduct.
think the wrong of the article in qucs
ton is the endeHvOr to fix the whole blame
of-the disorderly acts of the volunteers on
the Indiana regiments.
l Having ridden across the town from Col.
DumOnts column aud Joined Col. Kelley
TO obtain a view of the condition of the
retrcatinE enemy, while in advance ofthat
gallant officer, and just after he fell, cir
cumstances occurred whichlen5 me 10 re-
quest Col. Dumont to move up his regi-
ment in good order, take the advance, and
pursue the Seeessionists. This he did
with energy and effect. The Secession
newspapers concur in the report of Col.
II Dumont as tn the number of their killed
and wounded. One mounted officer at
tached 70 Col. Dumont's column, captur-
ed five prisoners, four of whom were re-
leased on taking the oath of allegiance, and
one, the assistant quarteFmaster of the Sc
cessiOn forces, who, it is said, shot Col.
, Kelley, remains in custody. The official
record proves that many others were tn.
ken, the majority of whom were released
on taking the oath of allegiance.
To Col. Dumonts command belongs the
, credit of no attempt TO injure unarEned
prisoners. Ills column was the last in pnr-
: suit, and therefore the latest to return tn
the town ana join in the search of the cit
| liens dwellings, If, as am not appraised, it
! engaged in It all.
The movement on Phillippi during the
E dark and stormy night Of juno I'd is no
subject for ridiCule. Many 0fith men bad
been confined crowded together in freight
cars during the previous day, and marched
r without rest or refreshment, yet no COM
I plants were made. 1t WAS reported that
4 the Secessionisis were 5000 strong, and
q supported by artillery. Nothing but the
! imbrcility of the enemy prevented the
9 march on Phillippi being one of extreme
/. risk to the advance guard. This was de-
5 tniled from Col Drmont's Seventh Indiana
y Regiment. The squads and companies
E were respectively commanded by Lient.
q Ricketts, and Capt. Burgess. Three COM
III panies of the Seventh Indiana were de-
. tailed to support the artillery when In po-
Il sitiou. aH
4 Tito have been in the advance through
d the night, led the attack Oh the only strong
points the enemy could occupy, and then,
from their good order and discipline, have
II been called TO the extreme advance to pur-
/ sue tue refreshing column, is not sufficient
Is credit to the gallant Dumont and his COM
= rNdes, there IS no more to be gained in an
engagement where the opposing force de-
|. clines to make stand.
e embrace this opportunity to refer tc
d the important services OF the 18th Ohio
Regiment, under Col. Steadman He oc.
n. cupied, protected and repaired the Park!
K, eTsburg Branch Railway under peculiar
e circumstances of privAtion and exposure
T. Z. thus enabling his own and the Sixth lndi,
Il ana Regiment to participate in the attacI
Z. on Phillippi Captain Noe, Of the Four
q teenth Ohio, commanded the advance gnart
q, while repairing the railway, and furnished
= the map of the town OF Phillippi, by thu
T, details Of which the attack was planned. a
May refer you to the records Mt head
d. quarters ofthe Department ofthe Ohio TO
], further information, my desire at yonr re
ID quest to do justice to my comrades no
being further or sufficient excnse in til
ie premises for violating official etiquette.
20 am, most respectfully,
o. Your obedient servant
y F. ". LANDER.
4