The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-03
THE CAMP FIRE.
THE FIRST BATTLE DESCRIBED By AN
INDIANA SURGEON.
A Real Heroine--1he Finishing Touch al
Appomattox = Mortality of union
GeneraIs-Etc.



In different papers have been pub
lished statements and opinions OF com
rades as 10 the date OF the first engage
ment between the Union AID rebel
forces i'm the late war. Some OF us feel
interested ia making known the truth OF
history in this matter. i remember
nothing earlier between the opposing
forces than the affair at Philippi, Bar
bour County. w. Va, June 3, 1851.
There the Federal troops met and routed
the rebels, under command OF Porter
field.
The Union forces were the 9Th, eth
and 9th Ind, under command OF Coils.
Crittenden, Dumont and Milroy; the 1st
w. Va, under Col. Kelley; the 14th
Ohio, under Col. Steedman, and Col.
Barnett's lst Ohio l.. A. The Federal
forces attacked the enemy from the
north side of the town. This was early
in the morning. before the rebels were
mp and ready for us. Coils. Kelly and
Milroy were expected TO attack from the
south mt the same time, but the terrible
rain through which we all marched the
night before hindered them from being
on the field of attack as early as ex-
pected.
The rebels were routed in great con-
fusion. many OF them before they had
completed their morning dress. This is
especially true Of Portertield, who
mounted his unsaddled horse. himself
not in military dress, for several of our
bows say they saw his white flag behind
him as he galloped out OF the village
baTeheaded.
Col Kelly was shot through his right
| lung bv n 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 lit
tie orchard, where he fell, TO house in
the town near by. /, rs Surgeon, ex-
amined him. The bullet passed through
his body and under the skin at his back,
from which IL was removed. The Col
onel bore the shock Of the wound very
well. His clothes were thoroughly wet
from the past nights rain. / well re-
member removing his Md gloves.
In this affair u young Confederate by
the name OF James T.. Hanger lost his
leg by "A cannon ball. | also dressed
this amputation, and say / dressed the
first wounded Federal Colonel and the
first amputated leg OF the late war.
And here | may say soldier of my
regiment killed the first rebel General
in the battle OF Carrick's Ford, July 10.
1861, Gen z. 5. Garnett.) In this
Philippi affair my regiment uhe 9Th
Ind had one man killed. His name
was Charles Degner,
In the three months campaign the
Union forces captured a large amount
OF stores from the enemy, about &c
wagons and contents, Two pieces OF
artillery, several horses and mules. ano
the battlehag OF the Oglethorpe Artil
lery. | had this flag. IL was taker
from me by a superior officer, with q
promise to return il. but | have never
seen il since then. Col. Dumont nno
the 9TH Ind. were the first troops IN TIE
town Of Philippi, and had led the ad
vance column in the night before Il
rain and mud.
From these facts we OF the ith Ind
clam TO have been among the first a
active duty and battle in the late war
and our man killed IN that affair 4
have been among the first TO yield hi
life for the country. The 9th lnd. los
several men killed IN that three months
service.
Here | may say that an IndianlaI
was perhaps the last man killed 10y
rebel bullet in the war Ga month an'
four days after Lees surrenderl, by tn
rebels under Kirby Smith. IN southwes
Texas. on the 18th Of May, 1863, a
Whites. or Palmetto Ranch. on toe Ri
Grand, near Brownsville. His name wa
Williams, and lac belonged 10 the BAT
Ind. Indianians think they were earl
and late in the struggle Tor the Union.-
GEORGE w. New, Surgeon, 1th Tod.