The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-07-06
First Campaign Of the Civil War
now NoRInREsI yIRdLNIA WIS WON AID LOST

AIsT
sPoRTERFiELp REIJ RENE 10
PHI tLIPPis
May 2sth; from Fhilippl Col 9or-
terfeld reported TO Ad1t Cen. Gar
nett that on the 2Tth he had received
reliable information Of q contemplat-
ed advance on the 9th to occur in1-
Smediate1y that about 300 federal
troops were at Be1laire, 4 900 to 800
on the Island at Wheeling; in fact
that there were considerable bodies
of men everywhere on that border
Abat could be easily collected and
launched therefrom. In this state OF
things" he adds:
i ordered some Of the bridges OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad north.
west Of Fairmont to be destroyed
which order was carried into effect
BY the destruction Of two between
Pennington and Huntington, about
80 miles northwest of Grafton.
II also sent out an expedition to de-
stroy bridge Of the Northwestern
Virginia railroad 30 or 60 miles west
Of Grafton: The object of this expe.
dition has, / am Informed, been ac-
complfshed, although my party mas
not returned caused small bridge
of the same road, about Is miles west
of Grafton, o., TO be destroyed, but
/ learn it has been repaired by the
company SO trains pass over 1t.
"On the evening OF the 9th I re-
celved information Of the arrival by
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad OF q
body Of troops variously estimated at
from 1000 to 5000 at the burned
bridges near Warrington. It was sup
posed these men would be FOLLOWED
by others as soon as tne Rouse- cars,
which contained them' could be re
TUNED to the Ohio river In this
states Of things, inquired OF Gen.
johnson, by telegraph tthe Grafton end
of which only was under the control
OF our friends, SO far as know II
he could reinforce me. For reply ]
was informed that no men could be
sent from his command at Harper's
Ferry.
"On the 2Sth, hearing from most re-
liable persons that the invading force
had reached Fatrmont, 20 miles north
west Of Grafton, and thinking that the
latter point from its typography and the
character Of it's population Ia good
part Of which would have united with
our enemies upon their appearance
was not an ellgable one for us, and
considering our very inadequate sup
ply Of provisions and ammunition, par
ticularly caps, and that our number
of Infantry was small mot more than
about 500 and the want Of any sort of
training or military discipline among
our men, and being informed that 9th
err bodies OF men besides those first
spoken of had passed. the burned
bridges by means of temporary re-
pairs of them and approached Fair
mont, | concluded to remove the State
arms and stores to Philippi, about Is
miles in our rear. there established a
depot, in a friendly country. TO con-
centrate such volunteers as were on
lie way or could easily and speedily
be attracted to that point, and there to
organize and strength my cotnmanl.
l met on the way an unarmed cpm-
hany OF volunteers from upshur. and
at Philippi was Joined by we'll
armed company of horse from Rocl1-
bridge. 1 have been compelled to
send home for want OF arms TO sup
ply them with, company Of horse
from Pocahontas. and to dismiss to
their ZONES for short time like
company raised in Barbour.
las soon as can organize my
command which hope to do soon, !
will return to some more eligable
point in the neighborhood of Graf
ion, which will enable me to COM
mand both railroads, and in the mean
time / hope to be able more effectual-
~ 10 cut of the railroad communica,
tfons eat and west Of that place. TIE
railroad isl unQuestionably used by
the company against us, and may be
obliged, for the snfety OF the command
at Harper's Ferry to make further de-
struction Of it."
In the foregoing, Col. Porterfeld
speaks of the force with which he re-
tired to Philtppi as not more than $50
men. 1t was automatically reported in
the Wheeling papers, at the time,
that on the 2Sd Of May about 1000