there any volunteer or other force here. There is great disaffection in this, and the adjoining counties, and opposition to the lawful action of the State authorities is certainly contemplated." He adds that he will proceed at once to endeavor to collect a force of volunteers, but requests that two hundred and fifty men be sent as a nucleus. He writes again on the 16th, and reports that he has found three companies in the territory assigned to his command, and has ordered them to report to Grafton. He has heard of two or three other companies. He repeats his warning of the inimical disposition of the people, and urges that troops be sent. Colonel Porterfield gathered from the country a force of about five hundred and fifty men at Grafton. He was not allowed time to organize them. Meanwhile, two regiments of western Virginians had been recruited for the United States' service at Wheeling, and companies were recruited for the same service all over the western counties. Receiving information that overwhelming forces were accumulating along Ohio River, and were preparing to move on Grafton, Colonel Porterfield destroyed two bridges on the branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Road which led to Wheeling, and one on the branch which led to Parkersburg, in order to delay the Federal advance. On May 26th, the forces of General McClellan, commanding the Department of the Ohio, crossed the river in two columns, one at Wheeling and one at Parkersburg. The column from Wheeling consisted of the First and Second Virginia (United States) regiments and an Ohio regiment, and was commanded by Colonel B. F. Kelley of the First Virginia. The column from Parkersburg consisted of two Ohio regiments. These two columns moved upon Grafton. Colonel Porterfield evacuated Grafton on May 28th, and retreated to Philippi, a town on Tygart River, fifteen miles south of Grafton. Here he was joined by a few recruits, raising his force to about one thousand men. He intended to make a stand at this point, and be in position. to assail the railroads, if the enemy should move forward. The column of Colonel Kelley, having repaired the burned bridges, occupied Grafton on May 30th, and was promptly joined by the Parkersburg column. Reinforcements soon arrived, among which was an Indiana Brigade under Brigadier-general Thomas A. Morris. Upon his arrival, General Morris assumed command. Colonel Kelley proposed a plan for capturing the Confederate force at Philippi. This plan received the sanction of General Morris, and Colonel Kelley was ordered to carry it out. The attacking force consisted of about three thousand men, and was divided into two columns. In order to disguise the movement, it was given out that the Federal force was about to advance to Harper's Ferry. Colonel Kelley's division embarked on the cars, and after going about six miles, disembarked at a small station and marched to Philippi. Colonel Ebenezer Dumont made a similar movement westward, disembarking from the train at Webster. The two columns marched so as to approach Philippi from opposite directions at daybreak. The attack occurred on June 3d. The Confederate camp was completely surprised. No pickets gave alarm; the first notice the Confederates received was the fire of Colonel Dumont's artillery. Thus suddenly aroused, they behaved with coolness. Colonel Porterfield extricated his men with skill, and retreated on the road to Beverly. The Federals had no cavalry, and were too much exhausted by the long night march to follow in pursuit. The casualties were remarkably slight. On the Federal side, Colonel Kelley was severely wounded, but there was no loss of life. On the Confederate side, the loss was variously estimated at from two to six. Colonel Porterfield retreated to Beverly, from which place he wrote to General Lee on June 9th, and received a letter in reply, informing him that General Robert S. Garnett had been appointed "to take command in the Northwest, with such a force as was disposable." Colonel Porterfield thereupon demanded a court of inquiry into his conduct. The court convened at Beverly, June 20th, with Colonel William B. Taliaferro as president. After a thorough investigation, the court found that Colonel Porterfield was in command at Philippi with one thousand men, sufficiently supplied with ammunition; that his camp was completely surprised, and no alarm was given by the pickets; that Colonel Porterfield had given the orders for the placing of pickets sufficient for ordinary occasions; that the pickets had failed of their duties, that Colonel Porterfield, having reason to suspect an attempt of the enemy to surprise him, ought to have increased his guards, and placed pickets further from the camp; that he ought to have retreated from Philippi the day before, and should not have permitted the rain to prevent him; and that he showed great coolness and skill in extricating his command after the surprise. General Lee approved the findings of the court, and dismissed the matter from further consideration. General Garnett assumed command on June 14th, at Huttonsville, to which place Colonel Porterfield had fallen back. About the same time, General McClellan arrived in person and took command of the forces in western Virginia. Both generals received reinforcements, and decided to advance toward each other. The reinforcements of General Garnett consisted of militia raised in Pendleton, Bath, and Highland counties on the eastern side of the Alleghany Mountains, and from Barbour, Randolph, and Pocahontas counties on the western side. Colonel J. M. Heck brought with him one battery of four guns, a company of cavalry, and three infantry companies. from eastern Virginia. Colonel Porterfield also had collected recruits from western Virginia. The recruits from all sources were organized into two regiments: the Twenty-fifth Virginia under Colonel Heck, and the Thirty-first Virginia under Colonel H. R. Jackson. General Garnett was the first to advance. After examining the topography of the country, he formed a plan which he decided to put into execution before he should be anticipated by General McClellan. |