Philippi in Barbour County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Confederate Escape
Union Troops Enter the Town
You are standing in the epicenter of the battlefield. Federal artillery shells rained down on this spot, and two Union infantry charges were converging here. Col. Dumont's 1,400 troops thundered across the bridge to your left just as another 1,600 soldiers under Col. Benjamin F. Kelley raced into town on your right.
The two columns planned to trap Porterfield's Confederate troops in Philippi. Kelley's troops took a train east to Thorton, to act as if they were leaving the area. His men were supposed to arrive on the east end of town to cut off the Confederate escape route, but took a wrong road and arrived here instead.
Virginia infantryman James E. Hall remembered the "shells fell thick and fast among us, wounding a few. Col. Porterfield immediately ordered a retreat." Porterfield saw an avenue of escape, ordering his Confederates to retreat to Beverly down Main St. Their pell-mell escape was dubbed the "Philippi Races."
(Sidebar)
Lander's Daring Ride
Col. Frederick Lander was on Talbott Hill with the Union artillery. When he saw Gen. Kelley arrive in the wrong location, Lander spurred his horse down the steep hill in front of you and dashed up Main Street to Kelley, who had already been shot. Lander then chased down and captured the man who wounded Kelley. The story of Lander's daring ride at Philippi soon found its way to Northern papers.
(Captions)
Union artillery continues to bombard Philippi as infantrymen attack the town from the left. All images courtesy Library of Congress
Take a left, and march up Main Street to sign 4.
Erected 2022 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 West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 3, 1861.
Location. 39° 9.204′ N, 80° 2.477′ W. Marker is in Philippi, West Virginia, in Barbour County. Marker is at the intersection of Pike Street and Bosworth Street, on the left when traveling north on Pike Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27 Pike Street, Philippi WV 26416, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Philippi Mummies (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Barbour County Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); "Ruinous Effect of War" (about 400 feet away); The Covered Bridge (about 400 feet away); First Amputation of the Civil War (about 500 feet away); Medical Firsts (about 600 feet away); Hanger's Limb (about 600 feet away); Barbour County War Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philippi.
More about this marker. Marker is #3 of 5 on the Civil War Trails walking tour in Philippi.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 6, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.