Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-10
THE BATTLE AT PHIL1PPI.

Inglorious Defeat Of the Rebels-Ihe Sons Of the
f. +. Y. Champion PedeshianS-GT Pur-
suit After the Foe-SceneS Of Carnage Along
the Route Capture Of Muskets, Cannon, and
Camp EgWipdge.
Correspondence of the Wheeling (Va.) Intellgencerl
GRAFTON, Monday Night, June 3, 1851
The excitement has been intense here, all day,
about the action at Philppi. Ever since
about eleven o'clock this morning persons
have been coming in from the scene of action,
and at each new arrival eager crowds would
gather around to hear the latest version Of the
fight. On Sunday morning, at ten o'clock,
four regiments left here in two divisions one
consisting of the First Virginia Regiment,
part OF the Ohio Sixteenth, and the Indiana
Seventh, under command Of Col Kelley; the
other the Indiana Ninth and the Ohio EonS:.
sHgnIIng, wagon road and Potter and Pryor
duel notorety. Col. Kelley's division moved
east, by railroad, to Thornton, a small way
station, five miles distant from here. Thence
they marched TO Philippi, distance of %
miles. The Indiana Regiment moved out by
the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, to Web.
ster, where they were Joined by the Ohio
Fourteenth, from which place they pushed
forward on foot to Philippi, twelve miles dis
tant. The march of the two divisions was
performed, last night, through darkness, rain,
and mud. 1t was terrible undertaking, but
they all went bravely through il, unShrinking-
ly and without complaint. All night lhey
toiled on through the darkness and storm, the
soft earth yielding beneath their feet, till the
gray dawn found them in the neighborhood
of the enemy.
Col. Lander reports that, as they neared
Phllippi, they were discovered by a woman,
who fired at him-twice and who sent her little
boy across the hills las he afterwards found)
DrhH H..
arrived on the hill across the river from and
below Philippi, and commanding the town and
the encampment Gust below the town., a 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.
Col. Kelly was 10 attack them in the rear, and
cut off their retreat. while Col Lander would
assault them in front. But Col. Kelly's divis.
ion was behind the appointed time, owing to
the terrible fatigue OF their forced march of
twenty-five miles; and in addition to this
they missed their point, and instead of coming
III on the Beverley road, above Phiippi and
effectuay cutting off all retreat, they came
in, when they did come, just below the town.
When the day began to dawn upon the impa-
tIent forces of Col. Lander, it discovered to
them the camp below in state of commotion,
evidently In great alarm and preparing for
flight The hour appointed for the attack
came and passed, but still Col. Kelly's division
had not arrived. Impatient to begin the at
tack, and fearful that the rascals, almost with.
in his gasp, should escape without smelling
powder, Col. Lander ordered the artillery to
begin the attack, and at quarter past four
the guns were unimbered, and dropped the
r. - Al L
less than quarter of mile away.
simultaneously with the roar of the first
gun, Col. 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
fearful rate. This the chivalry couldn't
stand, and they scattered like rats from "a
burning barn. They had no time to retreat
in order. They didn't even retreat at all
they ram fled most inglorously- like
sheep in every direction that promised safety,
after firing a random and scattering volley
which did no damage whatever. Colonel
Kelly's command was close after, the Virginia
troops in advance the Henry Clay Guard in
front, and Col Kelly and Capt. Fordyce lead.
ing. AT the same time Col. Lander's force
came rushing down the hill to the bridge, and
they all put after the fugitives, yelling like
Indians. But the legs Of the fugitive chipaly
serued them too tceii, and they could not be over.
taken 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 dear
ly, too dearly bought Colonel Kelly, who,
with bravery amounting to rashness, was
foremost from first to last, was rallying his
men in the upper part of the town, the enemy
having all apparently fed, when he fell by
shot from a foe concealed either be
hind a fence or in house; some
say the assaant fired from behind a wagon,
others that Col. Kelley was pressing him hard
with view of capturing him, when he wheel
ed and fired. This is not substanliated. AT
any rate the shot was fred alter the engage
ment was over, and was just such a piece of
assassination as that by which fell the loved
and lamented Ellsworth. The assassin was
an assistant quartermaster in the confederate
force. His uanle is Simms, and he halls from
Chesterfield, across the river from Richmond.
He was Immediately seized, and it is great