The National tribune., 1890-04-10

THE FIRST BATTLE.
An Indiana Surgeons Claim.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: You have In
different numbers recently been publishing
statements aud opinions OF comrades as to the
date of the first engagement between the Union
and rebel forces in the lato war. Some of US
feel interested in making known the truth of
history in this matter. i remember nothing
earlier between the opposing forces than the
affair ut Philippi, Barbour County, w. Va June
g. 1861. There the Federal troops met and
routed the rebels, under command of Porter
field.
The Union forces were the 6th 9TH and 9th
Ind, under command of Coils, Crittenden,
Dumont and Miroy; the 1st VIVA, under Col.
Kelly; the l4th Ohio, under Col. Steedman,
and Col. Baruett's lst Ohio l.. A. The Federal
forces attacked tho enemy from the north side
OF tho town. This was early in the morning,
before the rebels were up and ready for us.
Coils Kelly and Milroy were expected to attack
from the south ut the same time, but the terri
bic rain through which we all marched tho
night before hindered them from being on tho
field of attack as early RS expected.
The rebels were routed in great confusion,
many of them before they had completed their
morning dress This is especially true of Porter
field, who mounted his unsaddled horse, him.
self not in military dress, Tor several OF our
boys say they saw his white flag behind him as
he gallOped out of the village bareheaded.
Col. Kelly was shot through his right lung
by rebel commissary officer named Sims.
The men of the 9Th Ind, by command of Lieut..
b. G. Shaw, of the 9TH Ind. carried him from
the little orchard, where no fell, to o house in
the town near by. !, rs Surgeon, examined
him. The bullet passed through his body aud
under the skin at his back, from which it was
removed. The Colonel bore the shock of tho
wound very well. His clothes were thoroughly
wet from the past nights rain. i well remem-
Der removing his kid gloves.
L.. T.N,,f ,ln h. l,n
name of James t. Hanger lost his leg by q
cannon ball. l also dressed this amputation,
and | say | dressed the first wounded Federal
Colonel and the first amputated leg of the late
war. And here l may say soldier of my
regiment killed the first rebel General in the
battle of Carrcks Ford, July b. 1861, Gen. T..
S. Garnett) In this Philippi affair my regi-
ment the 9TH Ind had one man killed. His
name was Charles Dcgner.
In the three months campaign the Union
forces captured large amount of stores from
the enemy, about go wagons aud contents two
pieces of artillery, several horses and mules,
aud the battlellag of the Oglethorpe Artillery.
] had this flag. Ii was taken from me by q
superior officer, with promise to return it, but
have never seen it since then. Col. Dumont
and the 9Th Ind. were the first troops in the
town of Philippi, and had led the advance col
umn in the night before In rain and mud.
From these facts we of the 9TH Ind. claim
TO have been among the first in active duty and
battle in the late war, and our man killed in
that affair TO have been among the first to yield
his life for the country. The 9th Ind. lost
several men killed in that three months
service.
Here / may say that an Indianian was per-
haps the last man killed by rebel bullet in
the war "a month aud four days after Lees
surrender), by the rebels under Kirby Smith,
In southwest Texas on the 18th of Nav 1863,
at Whites, or Palmetto Ranch, on the Rio
Grande, near Brownsville. His name was
Williams, and he belonged to the Saith Ind.
lndiauians think they were early and late
in the struggle for the Union.-GEoRGE w.
New, Surgeon, 9TH Ind, indianapolis, Ind.