The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-06
BATTLE OF PHILIPPI.
The First Battle and Victory Of The War.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
OF Feb 20, is printed an article by Mr.. Jas. J.,
Sherman, of Providence, Il. J., under the head
ing Bay State Minute Men y; aud in this ar
ticle is tho extraordinary and incorrect state
ment that the battle OF Big Bethel, fought by 81
detachment of Gen. b. i. Buffers troops, and n
Confederate force under Coils. Magruder and ID.
II. Hill, June 10, 1871, was the first fight of the
war.
Mr.. sherman gives anrintoresting account of
the action, and of the movements which led up
to it, and his contribution is valuable AS Il de.
tailed description in n somewhat new light, Of
tho first defeat of the Union troops in open
battle with the Confedorates; but when he says
as he does, Thus ended the first battle of tho
war;" he partly destroys confidence in the ac-
curacy of his narrative rs whole.
In tho interest of good history and to do JUS
lice 10 The gallant Western troops-West Vr-
ginians. Ohioans and Northumberland TO their
intrepid leader. who really fought the first fight
of the rebellion land won it handsomely, too, J
] beg to remind you that on tho 81 day of
June, 1861, Just one week before tho action Mt
Big Bethel, Col (afterward Major. General) +.
i. Kelley led, at four o'clock in tho morning,
an attacking column upon the town of Phllippi
in Barbour County, now West Virginia which
was held by the Confederate Col Porteriiold
with n force of about 1900 and after hot
fight the COnfcdcratcs were worsted In this
engagement Col. Kclloy was shot through tho
body, and was pronounced to be mOrtally
wounded. lie had just been placed in command
OF troops in that portion of Virginia by Gen
Mcclellan, then commanding tho Military Di-
vision, with headquarters Mt Cincinnati after
having raised at Wheeling tho first Union regi-
mont organized south of Mason IL Dixon's
line, tho lst Virginia Volunteer Infantry
News of the victory and of the wounding of Col.
Kelley was sent the day of tho battle to head
r,Ns Il l.
the following dispatch was received by the
officer who succeeded to the command and was
read TO the fallen commander, who lay blanch
cd and helpless from suffering and loss of blood
calmly conscious of his surroundings and of his
desperate situation:
CINCTNNATT, June 3, 1861.
To Gen. r 4. NOUNS:
Say Ia Col. Kelley that cannot vet believe il
possible that one who has opened his course so
brilliantly can he MORALLY wounded. In the name
of the country thank him for his conduct. which
has been the most brilliant episode of the
thus far. II IL can cheer him IN his last moments
tell him cannot repair his loss, aud only regret
that cannot be by hs aide To thank him in person
God bless him.
isgncdl GEoRGE h. MCCLELLAN.
IL will be observed that this official dispatch
is dated tho ID Of June, ono week before Big
Bethel aud tho date Is also fully authenticated
by the orders and reports published in the
official account of the War of tho Rebellion
these reports snow the hcld to have been
sharply aud stubborniy contested. with good
deal OF bood.ottinR on both sides, IA the lists
of casualties bear sad evidence
am glad TO be able TO add, and n great many
veterans will be glad to read that tho sterling
leader who foil at Philippi aud whose life was
not considered worth an hours grace, according
t0 the diagnosis and decision of the learned
Surgeons is now living in Washington, at the
age Of -, with clear memory aud vigorous
thinking powers, II not altogether robust in
body lio receives good deal OF attention
from people who were identified with his mill
tary career, and never fails 10 entertain his
callers with "reminiscences which, interesting
In themselves. are uniquely illuminated by his
rugged aud trenChant manner Of recital Ed.
sos G. BRACE Of West Virginia, Washington,
ID. &.