Battle of Philippi

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Battle of Philippi
Philippi Races
Began:

June 3, 1861

Ended:

Same day

Location:

Barbour County, Virginia (now West Virginia)

Theater:

Eastern Theater

Campaign:

Operations in Western Virginia

Outcome:

Union victory

33 star flag.png
Combatants
Conf Navy Jack.png

Indiana Brigade
Department of the Ohio

Virginia state forces

Commanders

Thomas A. Morris
Brigadier General, USA

George A. Porterfield
Colonel, CSA

Strength

3,000

800

Casualties

4

26

  

Col. Thomas A. Morris, temporarily in command of Union forces in western Virginia, mounted a two-prong advance under E. Dumont and B.F. Kelley against a small Confederate occupation force at Philippi under Porterfield. Kelley marched on back roads from near Grafton on June 2 to reach the rear of the town, while Dumont moved south from Webster. Both columns arrived at Philippi before dawn on the 3rd. The resulting surprise attack routed the Confederate troops, forcing them to retreat to Huttonsville. Although a small affair, this was considered the first major land action in the Eastern Theater. (NPS summary)