Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-06-11
The Affair at Phillippa.

w are az q great loss 70 kuoW "nso " - |
,out the affair at Phillippa, as we have heard
thousand and one stories, and no two concurrins'
We are even at loss to know what to call IT.
,ot knowing whether fight, fight, skirmlsn OF
oot-race is the most appropriate. Our forces,
between 700 and 800, were at Phillippa, (not
Philippe as it is usually but erroneousiy, VIII
ter. having fallen back from Grafton. 1t seems
that, on Saturday, Ex- Governor Johnson Drougn'
intelligence to our camp at Phillippat that the en-
emy, about 12,OOO strong, were at Grafton, ana
that on Sunday, the next day, at O'CLOCK
P. M, two heroic ladies, Misses Mollle NC
Leod and Abbie Kerr, arrived at Phillippa, nav
ing ridden from Fairmont, u distance OF "a miles
in great haste to apprse our forces that the enemy
were marching upon them, and that they Woulo
be attacked that night or the next morning
Notwithstanding they had been thus forewarned,
they remained at PhilIippa in fancied security
neglected to have scouts sent out to give warn
ing If the enemy should approach, went to sleep'
and slept soundly till they were awakened by the
loud reports of the enemy's artillery. They
found to their utter surprise and amazement that
the enemy, in overwhelming force, had sscaught
them mapping" and were cordially bidding them
s'good-morning'' in the strong voice Of deep
mouthed cannon. The Commandant, Col. Por
terfeld, looked out of the window, witnessed the
cordial greeting the enemy was bestowing upon
our men, and with wise appreciation of their
good fortune, gave the command, ssRun, boys,
run 20 and as they had learned the first duty Of
the soldier, they promptly, and with commend
able alacrity, obeyed the command of their supe-
rior officer. AS would necessarily and inevita-
bly, be the case under such circumstances, our
men were panic-stricken, and thrown into mex
tricable confusion. The cavalry horses broke
their picket ropes, and without riders or saddles,
dashed furiously in every direction. The COM
panles retreated in disorder towards Beverly,
with the exception of that under the command
OF Capt. Moomau. He, it seems, rallied his men
In order, together with portion of Capt Hull's
Company, which, by some means, became sepa'
rated from the other portion Of their Company
and by this means became the Commander of
Company Of about $50 men. With this force he
diverged from the main road, and took position
in the woods. That portion fthe nemy's force
which had been sent around Phillippa for the
purpose cutting off the retreat of our men, were
thus prevented by Capt. Moomau's Company
from succeeding in their purpose. This part O
the enemy's force was stationed upon hill
which commanded the position occupied BY
Capt. Moomau, from which they kept up con
slant firing upon his Company, but, though
] within the range of their minnie guns, did no
kill single man. They shot too high. A bal
passed through the hat Of George Blakemore
one of the smallest men in the Company, and i
e.. L L,
, would have been killed.
Capt Moomau, knowing that that portion O.
the enemy which was firing upon him, was no
within the range of his guns, (the common ri
, fies0 very wisely ordered his men not to fire
upon them. He had but five rounds, and could
) not afford to throw any of them away. He re-
served his fire for the main body of the enemy
which he expected would attempt to pass along
the main road in pursuit Of our forces which had
J retreated beyond that point. In short time the
advance guard of the main body approached as
he had expected, when they were brought to q
sudden halt by the firing of bis Company The
time for the enemy to be frightened had now ar
rived, and as they imagined that our whole force
was there in ambuscade impatently awaiting
their approach, they thought ssdiscreton the bet
ter part Of valor, and lost no time in retreating
They did not give this gallant Company time OF
opportunity to kill many-it is supposed that
they killed ten or twelve, of the enemy, whilst
none of them were hurt.
The loss of the enemy is not known. 1t was
first reported by their own dispatches that Col.
|, Kelley was killed, but more recent dispatches
, received through..the same medium, say that he
was only wounded. Iti reported that Col. Kelley
was shot by James Withers, member of the
Rockbridge Cavalry, Capt. McNutt. There were
none killed upon our side. It was reported that
Mr.. Thomas E. Simms, of Richmond, who was
attached to the Commissary department. was
killed, but more recent intelligence afirms that
he was merely taken prisoner. Leroy P. Dan
gerfeld, an estimable gentleman and gallant SOL
dier, member Of the Bath Cav airy, Capt. Rich
ards, had his leg broken by rifle ball, near the
ancle. His leg has been amputated few inches
above the ancle. James Hanger, a young man,
not soldier, who accompanied the "Churchville
Cavalry of this County under the command of
Capt. Sterrett, also had his leg broken. Robert
B. Dunlap, son of Bailey Dunlap, of this coun-
ty, was shot in the arm. 1t was a flesh wound
merely, and is not serious. By this surprise and
retreat we lost all Of our Wagons and stores and
a considerable number of arms.
| To the Militia.