Philippi in Barbour County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Philippi

The Commands

— The First Campaign —

Philippi Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

1. Philippi Marker

Inscription.

Philippi. The Commands. Col. Benjamin F. Kelley , Kelley, a railroad agent in Philadelphia and former resident of Wheeling, was called back to command the First Virginia (Union) Infantry--the first Union regiment raised in the South. He planned and led the attack on Philippi. Severely wounded there, he recovered and was awarded a Brigadier General's Star., Federal , Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, Commanding, U.S. Army, Department of the Ohio. , Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris, Commanding, U.S. Army, Western Virginia, Regiments , Col. Benjamin F. Kelley, 1st (West) Virginia Volunteers, Commander, Federal Forces at Philippi. , Col. Ebenezer Dumont, 7th Indiana Volunteers, Commander Federal Right Wing at Philippi. , Col. Frederick W. Lander, Aide-de-Camp, General Morris, Commander, Federal Field Artillery at Philippi. , Col. Thomas T. Crittenden, 6th Indiana Volunteers. , Col. Robert H. Milroy, 9th Indiana Volunteers. , Col. James B. Steedman, 14th Ohio Volunteers. , Col. James Irvine, 16th Ohio Volunteers, Col. George A. Porterfield , Porterfield was from Jefferson County (West) Virginia. He was an 1844 graduate of Virginia Military Institute and a veteran of the Mexican War. On May 4, Gen. Lee made him commander of the Northwest. Chased out of Philippi by the Federals on June 3, he retreated to Huttonsville. On June 8, Lee replaced him with Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett. A board of inquiry reprimanded him for not defending Philippi, but noted his skillful and orderly retreat., Confederate , Maj. Gen. Robert E. Lee, Commanding, Virginia Militia , Col. George A. Porterfield, Commanding, Virginia Militia, Northwestern Virginia, Companies , Capt. Albert G. Reger, Barbour Grays , Capt. Thomas A. Bradford, Barbour Grays , Capt. Henry Sturm, Barbour Mountain Guards , Capt. Hill, Barbour Militia , Capt. John C. Higgenbotham, Upser Grays , Capt. John B. Moomau, Franklin Guards , Capt. William P. Thompson, Marion Guards , Capt. William Willey, Marion Guards , Capt. Anderson, Hardy Blues , Capt. George W. Hansbrough, Taylor County Infantry , Capt. John Robinson, Taylor County Infantry , Capt. D.A. Stoner, Pendleton County Infantry , Capt. F.F. Sterrett, Churchville Cavalry , Capt. Robert McChestney, Rockbridge Cavalry , Capt. McNutter, Rockbridge Cavalry , Capt. Felix Hull, Highland County Infantry , Harrison State Guards; Augusta Lee Rifles

Col. Benjamin F. Kelley
Kelley, a railroad agent in Philadelphia and former resident of Wheeling, was called back to command the First Virginia (Union) Infantry--the first Union regiment raised in the South. He planned and led the attack on Philippi. Severely wounded there, he recovered and was awarded a Brigadier General's Star.

Federal
Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, Commanding, U.S. Army, Department of the Ohio.
Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris, Commanding, U.S. Army, Western Virginia

Regiments
Col. Benjamin F. Kelley, 1st (West) Virginia Volunteers, Commander, Federal Forces at Philippi.
Col. Ebenezer Dumont, 7th Indiana Volunteers, Commander Federal Right Wing at Philippi.
Col. Frederick W. Lander, Aide-de-Camp, General Morris, Commander, Federal Field Artillery at Philippi.
Col. Thomas T. Crittenden, 6th Indiana Volunteers.
Col. Robert H. Milroy, 9th Indiana Volunteers.
Col. James B. Steedman, 14th Ohio Volunteers.
Col. James Irvine, 16th Ohio Volunteers

Col. George A. Porterfield
Porterfield was from Jefferson County (West) Virginia. He was an 1844 graduate of Virginia Military Institute and a veteran of

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the Mexican War. On May 4, Gen. Lee made him commander of the Northwest. Chased out of Philippi by the Federals on June 3, he retreated to Huttonsville. On June 8, Lee replaced him with Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett. A board of inquiry reprimanded him for not defending Philippi, but noted his skillful and orderly retreat.

Confederate
Maj. Gen. Robert E. Lee, Commanding, Virginia Militia
Col. George A. Porterfield, Commanding, Virginia Militia, Northwestern Virginia

Companies
Capt. Albert G. Reger, Barbour Grays
Capt. Thomas A. Bradford, Barbour Grays
Capt. Henry Sturm, Barbour Mountain Guards
Capt. Hill, Barbour Militia
Capt. John C. Higgenbotham, Upser Grays
Capt. John B. Moomau, Franklin Guards
Capt. William P. Thompson, Marion Guards
Capt. William Willey, Marion Guards
Capt. Anderson, Hardy Blues
Capt. George W. Hansbrough, Taylor County Infantry
Capt. John Robinson, Taylor County Infantry
Capt. D.A. Stoner, Pendleton County Infantry
Capt. F.F. Sterrett, Churchville Cavalry
Capt. Robert McChestney, Rockbridge Cavalry
Capt. McNutter, Rockbridge Cavalry
Capt. Felix Hull, Highland County Infantry
Harrison State

Area Civil War Sites image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

2. Area Civil War Sites

Guards; Augusta Lee Rifles

Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Battlefield Trails - Civil War, and the West Virginia Civil War Trails series lists.

Location. 39° 9.148′ N, 80° 2.63′ W. Marker is in Philippi, West Virginia, in Barbour County. It is at the intersection of Mansfield Drive (U.S. 250) and North Main Street (U.S. 250), on the right when traveling east on Mansfield Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philippi WV 26416, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of

Philippi Marker and Flagpoles image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

3. Philippi Marker and Flagpoles

this marker: Confederate Regimental Flag (here, next to this marker); Churchville Cavalry Flag (here, next to this marker); United States Flag (a few steps from this marker); Palmetto Flag (a few steps from this marker); Colonel Porterfield's Headquarters Flag (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of the Sago Miners (a few steps from this marker); The Philippi Covered Bridge (a few steps from this marker); First Battle of a Long War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philippi.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Philippi Races by markers.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

4. Philippi

Looking over the Tygart Valley River at Philippi.

Benjamin F. Kelley image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

5. Benjamin F. Kelley

Photo by Mathew Brady

The Daring Ride of Colonel Lander at the Battle of Philippi image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

6. The Daring Ride of Colonel Lander at the Battle of Philippi

From a sketch by [Leslie's] special artist accompanying Major-General M'Clellan's Command -- Illustration in: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, vol. 12, no. 293, June 29, 1861, p. 106.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,336 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on December 3, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 29, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6. submitted on June 23, 2024, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.