Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-06-20

- - ''''-'.''-.s y E.
J.F.L.
Col. Damont's Report of the Affair at
Phnsppi.
- PmLL1rr, Va. June f.
Brigodier General 1zomas Il. Morris:
I herewith submit to you the report Of the
operations Of my command on the morn
ing Of the third day Of June, 1861. at this
place. On the second day of June you d.
rected me. with eight companies Of the
Seventh Indiana Regiment Of the Indiana
Volunteers. to proceed to Webster. that l
might be there reinforced with four CON-
panies Of the Ohio Volunteers, under the
command of Col. Steadman. the artillery
of his command being under the immedi-
ate command of Lieut.. Col. Sturgis, and
with four companies of the Sixth Indiana
Volunteers. under the command Of Col.
Crittenden. At o'clock on the night of
the second day Of June took up my line
Of march from Grafton, and at Webster
was reinforced, as stated above, and pro-
ceeded towards this place to meet the ene-
my. The night was very dark, and before
the troops left the cars terrible storm
was raging. which continued without
abatement until just before the attack was
made. 1t was so exceedingly dark that it
was with the utmost difficulty that could
form the command in the order which
desired to move it forward. and after it
was so formed | found il almost impos-
sible to pass from front to rear to direct
the command. The order Of march was
as follows: first. a small detachment of
twenty men Of Capt. Morgan's company.
Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers.
under the immediate command of Lieuten.
ant Benjamin Rickcts. followed at the dis
tance of four hundred yards by company
A Of said regiment, under the command
of Capt. Burgess. In order of that COM
pany. and at the distance of four hundred
PAGES. followed the remaining companies
of the Seventh Indiana Regiment. The
artillery was led by Lieutenant G olonel
Stargis, and seven companies of the Four
teenth Ohio Regiment. commanded by
Col. Steadmaa. and the four companies of
the Sixth Indiana Regiment. commanded
by Col. Crittenden. fol lowed in the order
named. Darkness, rain and mud impeded
the march and rendered it impossible to
arrive before Phillippi at A o'clock. the
time indicated in your order. At o'clock
the advance took such n position by file
movement under the direction Of Col.
Lander. as to allow the artillery to ad-
vance to the front; then advanced imme-
1iately in the rear Of the artillery. Scarce
had the disposition been made when the
picket of the enemy opened brisk fire
upon us. from the heights Immediately
above the town, and from the woods and
bushes on both sides of the road Lisut
Col. Sturges. with great promptness. got
the guns in position to command the town.
and under the direction of Col. Lander I
think opened tile fire. A moments de-
lay to the Infantry was occasioncd by
want of knowledge on my part as to which
of the two roads led to the bridge leading
into the town across the river At the
forks Of the road / halted my command.
and riding rapidly to the guns. got the
desired information from Col. Landcr.-
So inform d, proceeded on the double
quick down the declivity ofthe hill. and
here had q full view of the enemy, and 1
must confess that never saw fight de-
termined on with great promptncss, or
executed with more dispatch. The enemy
was under the command Of Col. G.. A.
Porter6eld. What his strength was is
variously estimated. On my own iudg.
ment would say from 1900 to 2, 900, of
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