The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12
TIE THREE MONTHS PICNIC.
Where and How the First Indiana Regi-
ment Encountered the Rebels.
The Battle at Philippi-The First Soldier
from Indiana Killed in the War-What
Was Done on the Upper Potomac.
Written for the journal by w. FL. Smith.

The three months campaign has often been
spoken of as the three months picnic" 1t had
its pleasant features, and, in many respects, did
resemble prolonged picnic; but it had its ex-
periences of hard work, of toilsome marches and
exposures that made it look like real war, even
If 1t was on small scale. It occurred during
the most pleasant months of the year; had 1t
been otherwise i'll provided as the troops were,
it would have been a campaign of untold hard
ships and unexampled sufferings / do not
propose to write history of the campaign, but
to call to the minds of those from Indiana who
took part, some of the old scenes around the
campfire and on the march that will carry
them back to the days of 1861 and help to make
them young again. Many of them who went
out with the first six regiments have crossed
over to the majority" Some of them went
down amid the carnage of battle; some fingered
and died in the hospital, while others lived to
see the cause for which they fought, triumph,
and then, amid the pursuits Of peace yielded up
their lives. Others remain; but, in a few years,
ali will be gone.
OF the six Indiana regiments that took part in
the three months campaign five were in West
Virginia and one on the upper Potomac. On
the 10Th of May the Seventh and Ninth regi-
rnents left for the seat of war, and were followed
fhe next day by the Sixth; the Eleventh had
previously been sent to Evansville. At Indian
npolis the boys had had splendid time, with
plenty to eat and that of the best, and had good
shelter from the rain. 1t was different when
they reached Virginia. Then 'hard tack took
the place of soft bread, and ''sow belly of fresh
beef. Every one can call up his experience
when he wrestled for the first time with the
hard tack" furnished by this good govern
mert of ours. The experience of
storms and marching came together, for
On the night Of June 2, while the rain was pour
ing down, start was made for the rebel camp
at Philipp Full of enthusiasm as they were, it
did not take long to make the boys footsore and
weary. They had been used to drilling, but not
to marching; soft was not to be wondered al that,
as the hours of the night dragged along, there
was struggling. Who that took part in it does
not remember that first march? The mud was
almost bottomless, while the darkness was i'm
Penetrable Fourteen miles is right smart
walk even on good roads in the light of day,
but add to the length of the walk the mud,
the rain, the darkness, the heavy muskets
and knapsacks, and each mile stretches to
Virginia was not pleasant episode by any
means. Notwithstanding all the dscouragements,
the boys were full of jokes, and could
hardly be restrained from breaking out
into song. The boys marched in two
columns. 1t ought to be said that when the third
regiment reached Grafton they found Colonel
Kelley just about to start for Philippi with his
small force. General Morris in command of the
Indiana brigade persuad ed him to abandon the
project, until the Sixth Indiana and Fourteenth
Ohio should arrive, when the attack would be
made in front and rear
Just as the sun peepine over the eastern
mountains the Hoosiers, for the first time, saw
armed men in rebellion against the government,
and were to join in their first battle 1t was
beautiful sight The darkness and the storm
had fed together. The first enemy was female
rebel, and the first gun was fired by her. She
discovered the approach of the troops, with Col.
Lander riding in front She opened on him
with revolver. firing two shots. Thus the first
gun of the first battle of the war was fred
by woman. Before firing she had
started her son. small lad, to run into
the town and warn the rebels that we were COM
ing. Some of the Sixth started after the little
rebel, and the chase furnished amusement for
long time afterwards. The legs of the Hoosiers
were too much for the boy and he was over
taken, and thus became the first prisoner of war
captured by the Union troops. After the battle
some of the boys persisted in administering to
him the oath of allegiance.
The firing of the pistol had aroused the rebels
and without waiting for the appearance of Col
Kelley with his second column the boys with
shout and a hu rrah rushed down the hill over
across the river into the town, and almost in
the twlnkiug of an eye the first battle of the
war was fought and won, for our rebel friends
a i nt aft O nav hair IN hi1f Aa2
toward Beverly many of them not having even
so much as the typical Georgia costume 1t was
demonstrated early In the war that
the HOLSTERS could readily adapt them
selves to any circumstances. In the grounds
around the court house they found prepare
parations already begun for furnishing the rebel
troops with a comfortable breakfast These pre-
parations had been interfered with by the unex-
pected appearance of the Union troops, but the
Hoosiers, flushed with their first victory as they
were, without waiting to apologize, took posses
sion of the breakfast and relished it. They We're
just as much at home as if they had lived in
Philippi all their lives. The next few weeks
Were weeks of excitement, and many personal
adventures could be related. No night passed
without one or more alarms. and sklrmlSheS
with the enemy of almost daily occurrence
The boys would seek for permits to go beyond
the lines and the granting of such permits
to lead to skirmish The scouts, led by
Captain Trip, of the Sixth, were especially act
i've, and went securing over the country in
dacity and bravado pervaded this little
band of scouts They were i'll
mounted, but they dashed hither
and thither, sometimes almost into the rebel
camps. The fun of these expeditions was in
catching rebels and administering to them the
oath of allegiance. At time they made a
dash for Laurel Hill, where 1000 rebel troops
were posted but the rebel pickets discovered
them and greeted them with volley. Several
OF the scouts were thrown from their horses by
the breaking of saddle -girths. They hastily re
treated to Philippi, and on arriving there about
daylight, found the troops all under arms, with
the streets and bridges barricaded. When the
rebel volley delivered. of the scouts was
in the rear. He the men all fall, and sup
posed they were either killed wounded so he
fed toward camp, followed by two three rider