and also
PARKERSBURG to GRAFTON:
“Meanwhile, the 14th Ohio Infantry Regiment, under Col. James B. Steedman, was ordered to occupy Parkersburg
and then proceed to Grafton, about 90 miles (140 km) to the east.
By May 28, McClellan had ordered a total of about 3,000 troops into Western Virginia and placed them under the overall command of Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris, commander of Indiana Volunteers.”
Confederate forces retreat:
“As the Union columns advanced,
Porterfield’s poorly armed 800 recruits retreated to Philippi, about 17 miles (27 km) south of Grafton.
Philippi was the county seat of Barbour County, which had voted in favor of Virginia’s secession ordinance.
A palmetto secession flag had been flying above the courthouse since January, 1861.[5]
At Philippi, a covered bridge spanned the Tygart Valley River and was an important segment of the vital Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike.”