The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-12

| |S ~ mlSr eproSe MT q,
| - Y n would not again refer
| A5tS to the matter. It's i'm
| G8. portance on account of
| ~s".-Gs- Col. Kelley being the
| first Federal officer wounded in battle waged
| for the Union cause, justifes asking for the
| publication of the facts they occurred, as it
| has even gone into some histories in per-
verted form. not giving the gallant Colonel
credit In a full measure for the conspicuous
| gallantry displayed when he was wounded.
Being within few steps of him, and an eye
witness, and actor in the affair, / deem it my
/ duty to has memory to give the readers oil
/ THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE "a correct statement
| Of the facts, well as tho surroundings OF the
| incident.
| The rebel camp was located on the north side
| of the town of Philippi. between the town and
the river bridge and was assaulted by the col
| umn which had marched direct from Webster,
| Va. about 4 o'clock on the morning OF June 3,
| 1861. under command of Col. f. Dumont.
| The 7th Ind. led the assault. followed by the
| 18th Ohio and the 9th Ind. The enemy were
routed, and ran. in a very disorgaBized shape,
south with the first fire of the advance COM
panieso of the 9TH Ind. which was then formed
in column OF companies, followed by the bal
| ance of that column.
As the advance passed the Capitol Hotel q
| rebel flag was still floating from its roof With
| out slack of tbs running pace of the regi-
Inent. the oolorguard ran up on the hotel and
| tore down that emblem of treason, and ran up
the Stars aud Stripes. Thus the flag of the 7th
/ Ind. was the first to float over captured town
| in the war for the Union.
| When at the outskirts of the town, and close
| on the heels of the enemy, The eth Ind, by a
flank movement WAS thrown into line OF bat
/ tie, and moved at a rapid pace across the COM
mons, south. Immediately in front of Co. +,
| and in the rear Of the fleeing cohorts, was AN
nld W. wit yyn
the driver was whipping and slashing to his
utmost, but the line of infantry on the run
| was so fast gaining on him, that he jumped out
and undertook to cut his horse loose, that he
might mount him and make his escape.
| Col. Kelley, having left his column and rode
! to the front, was Immediately behind our
| line, and demanded passage through for him
self and mounted staff; which l ordered by a
right and left oblique in the middle of Co.
! L without Stacking pace. In an Instant Col
/ Kelley and Col. f. w. Lander, of McClellan's
staff and four or FIVE others dashed through
| the line bearing down with all fury on the
hapless rockaway driver only 100 yards
away, who, seeing his chance for escape was
hopeless, jerked up a large-sized horse pistol
and fired ut tie leader Of the charge. and the
/ bullet. as large as a round musk et-shot, pene-
! trated the upper left breast Of that gallant
| officer Col. Kelley. He was caught by one Of
staff and prevented from falling to the ground
| Instantly line was even with him, and /
! ordered Corp1 Daniel Coy of &c. i. and
others who were lowering the Colonel down
| from his horse. to take care of him. But we
| did not halt the line. Col. Lander and other
| horsemen were instantly around the driver,
| who surrendered to them, Of course, as he
could do no more fighting or running. Two
men of Co. Z were placed on guard of the old
| rockaway, and on went the line after the
| fleeing enemy. A few hundred yards further
on Col. Dumont halted the command, which
| had run about two miles without stopping
! that the situation might be taken in and
| give the boys q needed rest.
When say the captured driver proved to be
| the Confederate commanders Quartermaster
| (Simms), and that the rockaway was afterward
/ found to contain the Headquarters effects, all
official papers. and Col. Porterfeld's private
| trunks including fine new uniform, with
| large gold bullion epaulet5, and fine sword
! recently presented TO him, as / remember it,
| by the ladies of Buckhannon, Va. the value Of
| the capture became apparent. The sword and
uniform were returned to the owner. under a
| flag of truce, day or two later, with his pri-
vate papers, but the official ones were sent to
the General commanding at Grafton.
Your correspondent in The NATIONAL
| TRIBUNE Of April z, Edison Brace, Of New York
| City, among many we'll told "reminiscences OF
! TIE gallant Colonel afterwards Gcneral1 Kelley,
| tells the truth as to his being wounded by a
Philippi, juno 3, 1861.
But the reason for SO many stories being told
| OF his wOunding in several different ways by
| men who claim to have personal knowledge
on that subject has not been accounted for,
aud the readers of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
| should be informed why these improbable and
absurd stories find their way into print utter
all these years; and l believe that can be
| solved.
| Exasperated by the supposed MORALLY wound
/ ing of their Colonel and the LIST Va. being still
| back in town, they commenced an indiscrim-
| mate sacking Of the place. That word coming
| TO the front, Col. Dumont, in command Of all
the forces ordered the writer TO take Co. f.
| 7th Ind, and return to town to act as Provost
| Marshal; to use my own company and any
| other troops available for st-guards, TO
| stop the marauding and get the LIST Va. biv-
| ouacked in the courthouse yard.
| While performing that duty some officers ex-
| cused the action of the men Of that regiment
| declaring that their Colonel had been shot from
! q house while passing along the street to the
| front; others said he had been shot by rebel
| prisoner. who pulled pistol from his pocket
aud shot him when he learned that the officer
was Col. Kelley. q Nirginian; and many other
. absurd yarns which have forgotten.
The writer assured them the Colonel was
| fairly shot, and. with the assistance of some of
tho officers of that regiment, in a couple Of
| hours order WAS restored, and the pillaging had
| ceased but the Absurd stories have been reit-
Grated in the face Of the facts continually since
| aud nniustiy to the Generals memory. From
| long service afterward with tho lst Va. in the
| same division, and part of the time in the same
| brigade, the writer could if ii were necessary,
attest to their glorious services in the Union
| army; but the records place that command
as ore Of the very best fighting regiments. aud