The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-06-15

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fcorrespondence Of he Wheeling 1ntellisencsr
THE BATTLE OF PHILLIPPI.
flolorl Lander Leading Tie AAack-E rciting ~
tails of tie Fight and flight 4,
G.Arrox, Monday Night, June 9.
The excitement has been intense mere all gay,
about the action at Phiihppl. !es.erday n'o' :,
;ne At ten o'clock, four regiments lett mere IN
two Two divisions. One consisting Of the LIST Vir-
cinia Regiment, part Of the Ohio 10th, ana the
1ud;ana 7th under command OF Col. Kelly the
other the Indiana 9th and the Ohio l4tn, COM
manded by Col Lander, Of Indiana hsnting,
wagon road. and Potter aud Pryor duel notorie-
ty Col Kely's division moved East, by rail-
road 10 Thornton, small way station, nVe
miles distant from here. Thence they Hiarcneu
to Phillpp, distance of twenty two miles
The Indiana regiment moved Out on tue Nortn
western virginia Railroad to Webster, where
they we're Joined BY the Ohio l4th, from which
place they pushed forward on foot to Phiiilppi,
IL miles distant.
The MAJ oh of the two divisions was perform
ed last night through darkness, rain aud mud
II was terrible undertaking, but they all went
brayely through it, unshrinkingly and without
complaint. All night they toied on through
the darkness and storm, the soft earth yielding
beneath their feet, till the grey dawn found them
in the neighborhood Of the enemy
Col Lander reports that Us they neared fnii1
lippi they were discovered by woman, VINO
fred at him twice, and who sent her little son
across the hills las he afterwards found) to ap.
prise the enemy OF their approach he arrived
ON the hill across the river from and below Phil
| lippi. and commanding the town and encamp-
ment tjust below the town. little before day
light this morning. They at once prepared to
| open on them when the time arrived. -Four o.
clock WAS the hour ut which the attack was to
| be made simultaneously by both divisions. Col.
| Kelly was to attack them in the rear, and cut OIL
their retreat while Col Lander would assault
them in front. But Col. Kelly's division was
behind the appointed hour, owing to the terrible
fatigues of their forced march OF twenty-five
miles; and in addition to this they missed their
point, and instead OF coming in on the Beverly
road, above Pbillippi, and cffectually cutting of
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 cominotion,
evidently in great alarm, and preparing for fight.
The hour appointed for attack came and passed,
but still Col Kelly's division had not arrived -
Impatient to begin the attack and fearful the
rascals, almost within his grasp, should escape
without smelling powder, Col. Lander ordered
the artillery to commence the attack, and at a
quarter past four, the gana were numbered,
and dropped the first messenger Of terror in the
rebel camp, less than quarter OF a 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 com
pretending the position of affairs, they rushed
forward ut once in the direction OF the camp.
Meanwhile the battery haying, after the first
shot or two, got an accurate range, played upon
| af1,,o thrnn oh
the tents and houses at fearful rate This the
chivary couldn't stand, and most ingloriously-
ran like sheep in every direction that promised
safety, after firing a random and scattering vol
/ lev which did no damage whatever. Col. Kelly g
command was close after the Virginia troops in
advance, the Henry Clay Guards in front, and
Col. Kelly and Capt. Fordyce leading. At the
same time Col. Lander's came rushing down the
hill to the bridge, and they all put out after the
fugitives, yelling like Indians.
But the legs OF the fugitive chivalry served
them too we'll, and they could not be overtaken
bv our already exhausted men, who, after chas,
ing them couple of miles, returlcdto the eva
cuated camp, to learn The painful fact that their
victory, though complete, was too dearly bought.
Col. Kelly, who, with a 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 has OF from foe concealed either behind
| 3 fence or in a house.
The shot was fred after the engagement was
over, and was Just such piece of assassination
| as that by which the lanCDted Ellsworth fell
The assassin was an Assistant Quarterniaster in
the Confederate force. His name is Smms, and
ne halls from Chester field across the River from
| Richmond. He was immediately seized, and it
| is great wonder they didn't make mince meat
of him instanter. The pistol with which he shot
Col Kelly, is an old fashioned Virginia horse
pistol, carrying very large bail, and INJECTING
| d most dangerous wound. The ball entered the
left breast, and passing clear through lodged be-
meath tine skin, just underneath the shoulder
blade Il human skill can save him he will be
saved
| In the grey uncertain light of the morning it
was impossible to tell anything about the loss of
the enemy, they carried away in their flight
whatever killed and wounded they may have
| had.
A leg, which had been torn eff by cannon
ball, was picked up in the camp. There was a
great deal Of blood upon the ground, and all
along the road, IN the direction of the flight, on
the fences, and on ever, hing in the way of the
indiscrilninate retreat Hats, blankets, cloaks,
and every imaginable description OF luggage was
| scattered along the road for more than Il mile.
! The rebels lett behind some forty horses, all
their provisions, their baggage and camp equip
age, and u good many handsome uniforms, to-
gether with some 440 stand OF arms, all OF which
fell into the hands Of the victors. Several pri.
soners were taken besides Simms-among them
D. NJ. Anvil Prosecuting ATTORNEY, and the long
looked for-takcn at last, Colonel Wiley, Of burnt
bridge notoriety. He processes to be terribly
unwell, and he ought to be, if he fully appre-
cates his situation. Capt. Robinson, of the Lo.
| r,n Guards had the honor of making the can.
ture. Col. Wiey's commission from the Con-
fcderate authorities, With some interesting cor
respondence, was found upon his person.
Not side, SO far as heard from,
except Col. Kelly, was hurt.
A detachment of Ohio troops went out to
Phillippi this afternoon, under Col. Andrews
who will take command there