Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-07-29
THE FIRST NAN WOUNDED IN THE WAR.

THE FIRST NAN WOUNDED IN THE WAR.
AN INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF TIE FIRST
SKI RMIsH IN vIRGINIA-THE WOUNDING OF
JAMES E. HANGER OF AUGU-TA COUNTY AND
LEROY DANGLRFIELD OF BATH CoUNTY-THE
FIRST SOLID SHOT FIRED WITH EFFECT.
The Southern Inteligencer of Richmond, Sc
yeral weeks agogave an account of the encoun-
ter of Con fsderate and Federal troops atPhillip-
pl which was the first in Virginia. and the first
in which confederate soldier was wounded.
In it's issue of the 18th inst, correspondent
from Harisonburg gives more accurate and
correct account of the affair, which we publish
as follows:
I'm your issue of the 18th instant see an ar
ticle detailing with much more accuracy than
IS usual In articles purpOrting 10 relate to the
early "reminiscences OF our Late unpleasant
ness the surprise at Phillippi, in which Mr..
Leroy Dangerfeld was wounded, but in some
particulars the incident of his receiving the
wound which lost him his leg is not accurately
stated. We had not retreated beyond the lin
its Of the town of "Phillipi, (named for Gov.
lions of the Augusta and Bath Cavalry compa-
niles were formed, in as much order as the
novelty Of the circumstances would admit, IN
rear OF the infantry "a part Of the same which
afterwards formed the Thirty First regiment
Of Stonewall Jackson's Brigade,) when the
horse Of David Guy, OF the Bath cavalry dash
enemy's column. Archibald McClintic, Leroy
Dangerfield, and myself whirled our horses and
rode back to tie head OF the Federal column,
In the hope of rescuing Guy or his body Che
turned out not to have been hurt, and 1t was
while thus engaged, and within ten yards of
the head Of the Federal column, that Danger
McClintic fired the shot from an old, fint-lock,
horseman's pistolNstyle of 1872 that we suppos-
which Dangerfieid and myself were armed be-
ing wet, failed to fire, and as McClintic shot
not above ten to fifteen yards at the only
tain that Kelley y, was wounded by him. Nc
Clintic and myself retired behind Dapgerf1eld
when he was wounded, and he gallOped to the
one foot, aud seizing the end-gate of q wagon,
dragged his mangled leg in. The rest of, your
account is substantially correct. You can. If
CHntie, LetcheF postoface Bath county, Va,
to see ii it aecords with his recollection In de-
tail, as know it must in the. pain facts.
by the Impression that the blankets shot
through were behind the saddle. Tney were
tied across his old Spanish saddle in 'front.'. and
behind the saddle the shot would have pene-
trated his body, not his leg.
do not send you this correction under the
impression that On apology is needed for one
man who rams in general retreat or stampede
but for the truth OF history: You omit to Ihsn-
ton that Mr. Hanger Of augusta also lost
to any onmagd but had brought tents from
Staupton for the Augusta boys. You refer to
Phllipgt 6 stampeas You q gan. call it
performances in the Valley In the fall of 1864,
when Sheridan had US training! You give all
the credit for the run at Phillippi to the caval-
ry., The infantry outnumbered the cavalry.
and ran Just as fest. and as far, despite the
cayalry's advantage OF six legs to two. D.
The sbaye correspondent is correct in stating
that Mr.. James e. Hanger was also wounded
at Phillippi, and from Mr.. Hanger hiA4self we
learn that he was wounded before Mr.. Danger
field.
He wac boy at the beginning of the war of
some seventeen years and had attached him
self to an infantry company. but on account
of his youthful and delicate health, and in obe-
dience to his mothers entreaties, he with
drew for the purpose of joining the ChurchvilIe
Cavalry Company. which was then at Phillippi.
In pursuance of this purpose, he went with
wagon, loaded with tents, to Phillippi. eng ar
rived there on the Saturday before the attack
by the Federals.
Early on the following Monday morning the
surprise Of the Confederates was made. He,
with number Of soldiers. was sleeping in the
hay NOW of stable. when they were aroused
by the firing of cannon. All fastened to get
out, and in doing SO he dropped through an
opening in the planks of the NOW into the sta
BILE below. Just as he lighted on his feet, solid
shot, six-pounder, penetrated the stable, and
passing through his right leg above the knee
buried itsslf in the studding of the stable.
He succeeded in crawling up ladder into the
NOW, where he remained until he was found
by the Federals. He was by them removed to
the house of a citizen In Phillippi, where his
leg vas amputated by the Federal surgeon, and
he was kindly treated by the officers in COM
mand.
This cannonading prematureiy took place
before the detachment of the Federals sent on
O flank movement, to cut off the the retreat OF
the Confederates, had succeeded in reaching
the road leading out of Phillippi to Beverley,
and consequently before Mr.. Daingerfeld was
wounded, WHICH was ;gst sftsr the Federals had
dsbouched into the road in the rear of the re-
treating Confederates,
Mr.. Hanger was afterwards informed by the
Captain of the Federal artillery that they had
at first opened on the town with canister. but,
seeing number of men about the stable. had
ordered a solid shot to be fired into it, which
was done. and this was the one which cost Mr..
Hanger his leg.
Mr.. Hanger is also confident that the Yuuaar
that the Federal artillery fred into their own
men that morning, wounding, if not killing
sonae, is true for this reason: On the day after
the attack, a Miss pillWorthy got permission
to pass through the Federal lines, and just out
side of Phillippi she saw the soldiers digging a
grave. She asked who it was for, and they re-
piled, "for that little rebel who was killed in
the stable" It was in consequence of this
news, brought by Miss Dillworthy. that his
family believed for some time that he had
been killed,
The facts as above given were, at our request,
detailed to US by Mr.. Hanger. and we give them
as an interesting addition to what has already
been published about these earlier times Of the
beginning of hostilities.