The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03
PHILIPPI VS.. BIG BETHEL


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
OF March my attention is called to an article
from the pen of Mr. Edison G. Brace, of West
Virginia. Washington, ID. c. under the head OF
Battle of Philippi," in which he, in rather
strong and entirely very assuming language,
takes exceptions to my statement in the article
on Bay State Minutemen," that Big Bethel
was tho first battle fought during tho late re-
belli0n. He calls it an extraordinary and
incorrect statement; that, in making the
statement, he partly destroys confidence in
the accuracy of his narration as a whole"
Dir. Brace assumes 10 write in tho interest
OF good history" He makes the claim that at
Philippi WAS fought the lrst battle OF the war;
aud In proof of his statement refers me to an
official dispatch Of Gen. Geo. H. Mcclellan, aud
says. IL will be observed that this official lis
patch is dated Sd of June, one week before Big
Bethel, and the date is also fully authenticated
by the orders aud reports published in the OIL
cial account of the War of tho Rebellion"
Furthermore, he says, These reports show
the field 10 have been sharply and stubbornly
contested, with good deal of blood letting on
both sides, as the lists OF casualties bear sad
evidence"
would not, by single word, seek TO do an
injustice to those gallant Western troops from
West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana, who, under
tho command Of that noble old veteran soldier,
Gen. Kelley, participated in the movement on
Philippi Juno 3, 1861. That movement was q
most successful one in It's every detail. and
have no doubt but what, If battle had been
fought, our noble Western comrades would
have been equally as successful at this point.
must state, in the interest of good history"
that at Phlippi there was no battle fought on
the I'd day OF June, 1861 and, in support OF
this bold statement, would most respectfully
refer my friend Brace to the official records to
which he called my attention. See Series |, vol.
II, page 2. June 3. 1861, Action at Philippi, w.
Va. ~ June 10, 1861, Engagement at Big
Bethel, or Bethel Church, Va. (?).
On pages 90 and 66 please read carefully the
official reports of Gen. Mcclellan aud Gen.
Morris (Union). DO you find any mention of q
battle being fought. or Of " a good deal of blood
letting" on the Union side? Unfortunately,
COL Kelley was the only one injured and too
much credit cannot be given Col. +. w. Lander
for his heroic effort in capturing tho rebel Off
Ger who fired the unlucky shot that wounded
the brave commander of the expedition.
Read official report on page 65, No. 3 (rebel).
do you ind any report of battle being fought
Was " blood-letting" any fun2 Read official
report on pages ~, ~, "a, No. (rebel What
do we find there? Why, my dear friend in all
our searchings 1" In the interest of good his
tory" we find that the action ut Philippi, w.
VA, juno 3, 1861, was most successful move
ment on the part of the Union troops, aud 40
complished without a battle being fought.
Please turn to pages ~ to l04. on which may
be found official reports from l to IL. Do we
find any report of baltic being fought2 Was
there any blood letting" in this the first On =
gagement, or battle, of the WARP Let us see on
page 30. which gives the casualties in United
States forces at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861: