Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-15

n
The following is Col. Dumont's report in
full, as rendered to Geu. Morris, command.
ing:
PHILLIPPI, Va, June 4, 1861.
brIg0disr- General 4. Il. Worris:-
herewith submit to you report of the
operations OF my command on the morning
OF the third day of June, 1861, at this
place.
On the I'd of June yon directed me with
eight companies of the 7th Indiana Reei-
ment Of Volunteers, TO proceed to Webster
that there | would be reinforced with
four companies of the Ohio Volunteers
under command of Col. Stedman; the mr.
lillery of his command being under the
c"mmany of Lieut. Col. Sturgiss, and with
tour companies of the 9Th Indiana Yolun-
teers, under command Of Col. CritteEdcn.
Al o'clock, z. NJ, On the I'd of June. |
took up my line of march from Grafton.
and at Webster was reinforced, as stated
above, and proceeded towards this place
to meet the enemy.
The night was very dark, and before
the troops left the cars, terrible storm
was raging, whirh continued without
abatement until a short time before the
attack was made. II was so exceedingly
dark that II was with the utmost difficulty
that could form the command in III. or
der in which desired them to move for
ward, and after it was formed found it
almost impossible TO pass from front to
rear to direct the command. Tie order of
march was as follows: First, small de-
thchment Of twenty men of Capt Morgan's
company, 7th Indiana volunteers, under
the immediate command of Lieut.. Benia-
min Ricketts,, followed at the distance of
400 yards by company A, of said regi-
ment, under the command of Capt. James
Burgess. In the rear of that company, at
the distance of 400 PAGES, folfpwed the re-
manning companies of the 7th Indiana
Regiment. The artillery was lead by
Lteut--Col, Sturgiss, and Z companies of
the l4th Ohio Regiment commanded by
Col. Stedmau, and the four companies OF
tue 9Th Indiana Regiment, commanded
by Col Crittenden, followed in the order
named. Darkness, rain and mud impedcd
The march and rendered il ilimpossiblc to arr
rive at Phillppi before 4 O'Clock, A. NJ,
the time indicated in your order. At (
o'clock a. NJ. the advance took such n no.
sition by file movement under the dircc.
tton OF Col. Lander, us to allow the artil-
lery to advance to the front; then advanced
Immediately in the rear of the artillery
Scarce had this disposition been made,
when the picket of ;he enemy opened a
brisk fire upon us from the heights imlne-
diately above the town, ana from the roads
md bushes on both sides of the road
Lieut.. Col. Sturgiss, with great prompt
ness, got the guns in position to commnnd
the town, and under the direction of Col.
Lander, l think, opened the fire. a mo-
ments delay to the intnntry was OCCASION
ed by want of knowledge on my part as to
which of the two ronds led to the bridge
leading INTO the town across the river. A.
the forks of lhe road | halted my COM
niand, aud riding rapidly 20 the guns, got
the desired information from Col. Free.
Lander. So informed, / proceeded on tile
" double quick down the declivity of the
hill. aud here had full view Of the enc
my, and confess that never saw a fight
determined on with greater promptncss. or
executed with greater dispatch, Tho enc
emy was under the command of Col. G. \.
Porter6eld. What his strength was is va /.
riously estimated. In my own Judgment,
would say from 1900 to 1000, of which
] would think 400 were clvalry. They
had no artillery but a swivel. have con-
versed with many of the citizens of the
town Us to the strength of Col. P.'s COM
mNnd, who say that the Colonel himself
prOfessed to have twenty-five hundred
troops. 1t is my opinion that he had
not, but magnitied his own strength, with
n view to intimidNte the people, and
crush out the Union sentiment. When
first saw the enemy it seemeil to me
he was pushing for the bridge, which was
rapidly approaching; but it turned out that
it was necessary to converge towards the
bridge to gain the street leading out of the
town, on the opposite side from that en-
tered by my command. The bridge is II
narrow structure, some 800 or 400 feet in
length, spanning the Valley river a branch
of the Monongahela. A small body of de-
termined troops could have impedeh our
progress and crippled US ut the bridge,
and ! apprehended resistance at this point.
Towards It my men poured down the hill
In good order, and with an energy and de-
termination that assured mo in advance
that victory was certain. In moment I
was at the mouth of the bridge. 0ne OF
the passages was harricaded, the other
clear. Through it Company B, comman-
ded by Capt Jos. Morgan, in advance, J
my men pushed, the Tth Indiana frsi, then
Col. Steedman's command, not including
the artillery, then Col. Crittenden, and
opened upon the enemy, they retreating
in wild disorder. Both parties being upon
the fall run, and the distance between be.
ing quite considerable, hut little execution
could be done. pursued the euemy from
the bridge through the town, and for sew
erdl miles beyond. AT one time, til ought
Ishould be able to capture his entire
baggage train, but the horses, to prevent
this, were cut from many of the wagons
and mounted, and The wagons and contents
left TO our booty. The wagons we're filled
with munitions Of war, blankets, kuap.
sacks, clothinR, baggage of officers and