Good thing I drive one of these!
Posted on 03/09/2006 7:15:31 PM PST by alfa6
"When Confederate troops threatened the B&O at Grafton the federal government quickly moved troops into the area. On the night of June 3, 1861, the first land battle of the Civil War involving organized troops took place at Philippi, about 15 miles south of Grafton. Some 3,000 federal troops under the general command of Major General George B. McClellan and the immediate command of Colonels Benjamin F. Kelley and Ebenezar Dumont drove about 800 Confederates under Colonel George A. Porterfield from the town. While no one was killed in the battle, the Confederates suffered several severe wounds necessitating the first amputations of the Civil War, one each by Union and Confederate surgeons.
Source: WV Encyclopedia
The siege of Ft. Sumpter (April 12, 1861) was a harbor bombardment from Ft. Moultrie, Castle Pinckney and Morris Island. It would seem that Sumpter was not a true "land battle" but I'd defer to the more scholarly. What say you?
Great Story
Thanks for sharing it here on the Foxhole
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
LOL! I guess it's because they're the "the southern most northern state and the northern most southern state." ;^)
Good thing I drive one of these!
I'll just say that I have some serious theological differences with them, which I have articulated on the Religion board. But other than that, I'll heed your advice.
There is some merit to that. It was more of a bombardment.
From the book "The Longest Night" A Military History of the Civil War" by Favid J. Eicher Copyright 2001 by Touchstone Press.
"At Fairfax Court House, Virginia on June 1, (1961)50 cavalry troopers and 25 dragoons led by Lt. Charles H. Thompson of the U.S. 2nd Cavalry, a regular army veteran, cut through the town on their way to Germantown. In what was ostensibly the first land battle of the war, Confederates of the Prince William Cavalry and the Warrenton Rifles put up a short fight, opening fire at first from windows in the town. Capt. John Q. Marr of the Warrenton Rifles was killed and Col. Richard S. Ewell, whose fame and influence would rise greatly after he recovered, was wounded in the shoulder. The Confederates in Fairfax Court House greatly outnumbered the U.S. troopers and Tompkins retreated to safety after the brief skirmish.
Also form the same source just a few paragraphs later.
"Yankees and Rebels met agian on June 3, at Philippi, Virginia. Maj. Gen. George B McClellan, in command of the Department of Ohio, had overall authority in the area. His strategy called for Union forces to march from Grafton throught the dark mountain roads during a night rainfall and strike the Confederates under Col. Geaorge A. Porterfield at daylight. Union militia Brig. Gen Thomas A. Morris ordered the attack. The force would be led by Col. Benjamin F. Kelley and would consist of about 2,000 men. At dawn the Union forces fiorewd a shell into the midst of the Confederate encampment, stunning and scattering Porterfield's 1,500 troops. Early in the action Kelley was struck in the chest by a pistol shot and severely wounded, although he subsequently recovered. Thereafter, Col. Ebenezer Dumont of the 7th Indian Infantry took command. As the seccesionist fled, the Yankees pursued until all were exhausted. Althought this minor skirmish was glorified in the press, which dubbed it the "Phillippi Races" it had little significance. The casualtires were slight: 15 Confederates were killed and, aside from Kelley, 2 Yankees wounded."
Depending on your definition of "battle" there could be a bit of disagrrement. I don't think the skirmish at Fairfax Court House has the numbers or pehaps the amount of fighting , at least from this account, to count as a "battle"
YMMV
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
1861 Battles
FWIW Mr Eicher rated the June 10th engagement as the first major battle of the Civil War. As I mentioned earlier it all depends on what "is" is.
Opps wrong analogy, thought it might be good for a cheap laugh :-)
I will have to look through Mr. Eicher's book some more tonight.
E-book version of "The Long Night" is here.
(http://cyberread.com/Shop/Details.php?product_id=7458)
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
That's pretty funny.
hI MISS fEATHER
The bittygirl phrase of the day: "icky gickies"
Msdrby was changing a Bittydiaper when:
"I went to change her diaper, and I opened the almost brand new box of babywipes to find (drumroll) a bunch of (now soggy) crackers sitting on top of the wipes."
"Althought this minor skirmish was glorified in the press, which dubbed it the "Phillippi Races" it had little significance."
Maybe it's a not so major battle/skirmish?
ROTFLOL!!
Oh, yikes!
LOL. It's so cute!
That pup looks like that rascal Sarge, doesn't he??
I agree with you. Now let me go back over to the Religon board where I can find something with which to disagree.
I've read it a dozen times and get a different perspective each time. There's much to a bridge.
1. Wisconsin visitors and residents enjoy the state's 7,446 streams and rivers. End-to-end they'd stretch 26,767 miles. That is more than enough to circle the globe at the equator.
2. Wisconsin's Door County has five state parks and 250 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan. These figures represent more than any other county in the country.
3. In 1878-1879 the Wisconsin legislature approved the creation of a state park in Vilas County. The proposal was not successful and the state ended up selling two-thirds of area land to lumber interest for $8 an acre in 1897.
4. In 1900 land acquisition for Wisconsin's first state park began. The park became Interstate State Park located in St. Croix Falls.
5. Devil's Lake was established in 1911. The facility has become one of Wisconsin's oldest and most famous state parks. It leads the state parks in attendance.
6. The House on the Rock was designed and built in the early 1940s. It is considered an architectural marvel and is perched on a 60-foot chimney of rock. The 14-room house is now a complex of rooms, streets, buildings, and gardens covering over 200 acres. The Infinity Room contains 3,264 windows.
7. The state is nicknamed the Badger State.
8. In 1882 the first hydroelectric plant in the United States was built at Fox River.
9. The first practical typewriter was designed in Milwaukee in 1867.
10. Wausau is the Ginseng Capital of the World.
11. The American Birkebeiner, a 52K cross-country ski race between Cable and Hayward, is the largest on the North American continent.
12. Wisconsin snowmobile trails total 15,210 miles of signed and groomed snow highways.
13. Mount Horeb is the Troll Capital of the World and home to the Mustard Museum (see below.)
14. In the 1930s the Flambeau River State Forest was established and became a legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Project Administration.
15. Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells is the nation's largest water-themed park.
16. Belleville is the Unidentified Flying Object Capital of Wisconsin.
17. Potosi is the Catfish Capital of the state.
18. The nation's first kindergarten was established in Watertown in 1856. Its first students were local German-speaking youngsters.
19. Wisconsin is the dairy capital of the United States.
20. Wisconsin produces more milk than any other state.
21. Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center on June 8, 1867
22. The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward is shaped like a Muskie.
23. The original Barbie is from Willows. Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts.
24. Bloomer is the Jump Rope Capital of the World.
25. Milwaukee is home of Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
26. The first Ringling Brothers Circus was staged in Baraboo in 1884.
27. Somerset is the Inner Tubing Capital of the World.
28. Green Bay is Wisconsin's oldest city.
29. Two Rivers is the home of the ice cream sundae.
30. Wisconsin's second oldest city is Prairie du Chien.
31. The state's constitution is the oldest of any state west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was adopted in 1848.
32. Boscobeel is the Turkey Capital of the state.
33. The Republican Party was founded in Ripon in 1854.
34. The Hamburger hall of fame is located in Seymour.
35. Monroe is the Swiss Cheese Capital of the World.
36. Mercer is the Loon Capital of the World.
37. With an average of 2,500 performers, Milwaukee's Summerfest is the nation's largest music festival.
38. Famous Wisconsinites include: Harry Houdini, famous magician and escape artist. Douglas MacArthur, well known World War II and Korean War general. Frank Lloyd Wright, America's most famous architect. William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Don Ameche, actor and winner of an academy award for his performance in "Cocoon."
39. Mount Horeb's internationally known Mustard Museum holds the world's largest mustard collection. The museum contains more than 2,300 varieties of mustard. The museum celebrates National Mustard Day each August.
40. The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame is in Hayward.
41. Eagle River is known as the Snowmobile Capital of the World.
42. Marshfield is located in the geographic center of the state and is known Hub City.
43. Bonduel is the Spelling Capital of Wisconsin.
44. Muscoda is the Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin.
45. Sauk City is Wisconsin's oldest incorporated village.
46. Prairie du Sac hosts the State Cow Chip Throwing Contest on Labor Day weekend.
47. Sturgeon Bay is the Shipbuilding Capital of the Great Lakes.
48. Sheboygan is the Bratwurst Capital of the World.
49. The falls in Niagara has the same geological feature as Niagara Falls, New York.
50. Green Bay is the Toilet Paper Capital of the World.
13. Mount Horeb is the Troll Capital of the World and home to the Mustard Museum (see below.)
16. Belleville is the Unidentified Flying Object Capital of Wisconsin.
17. Potosi is the Catfish Capital of the state.
19. Wisconsin is the dairy capital of the United States
24. Bloomer is the Jump Rope Capital of the World.
27. Somerset is the Inner Tubing Capital of the World.
32. Boscobeel is the Turkey Capital of the state.
35. Monroe is the Swiss Cheese Capital of the World.
36. Mercer is the Loon Capital of the World.
41. Eagle River is known as the Snowmobile Capital of the World.
43. Bonduel is the Spelling Capital of Wisconsin.
44. Muscoda is the Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin.
47. Sturgeon Bay is the Shipbuilding Capital of the Great Lakes.
48. Sheboygan is the Bratwurst Capital of the World.
50. Green Bay is the Toilet Paper Capital of the World.
I think someone has figured it out . . . don't use the words largest, smallest, first or only; use the word "capital". ;^)
BTW, do you know what Madison is the Capital of?
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