The Confederate authorities were equally anxious to retain possession to recruit their armies, secure the supplies which the country afforded, and bring every possible influence to bear upon the people to induce them to cast their fortunes with the South. To this end Colonel Porterfield, upon assuming command a few days prior to Steadman’s occupation of Parkersburg, had issued a high-flown proclamation to the people of Western Virginia. In sounding phrase he called upon them to stand by their state and urged them to fill up the Confederate ranks and assist in protecting their firesides from the ravage of the invader. He assured them that not a foot of Virginia soil should be surrendered to the hated “Yankees,” though it took every drop of blood in his veins. A few days later he and such of his soldiers as were not killed or captured were leaving tracks behind them with the utmost diligence, in their efforts to escape from their blue-coated pursuers.
General McClellan was in command of all the Union forces in that department. He planned the campaign and directed the movements that were so successful during the early days of the war. The services rendered by the three months’ men in Western Virginia were of inestimable value to the government, even though the amount of blood actually shed on either side was not large when compared with the copious streams that reddened the earth before the war was finished. The “battles” of those days would have ranked only as skirmishes when the great conflict was at its height, when mighty armies met and thousands upon thousands were slain or wounded in a single day. But history has justly given an enduring fame to those who sprang to arms at the first call, and by their promptness and gallantry saved Western Virginia to the Union. In this campaign the Cleveland Light Artillery bore a most honorable part and deserved the high praise which was so freely accorded to it.
The force under Colonel Steadman, including the detachment of the Cleveland Light Artillery, advanced rapidly along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, moving by train with occasional stops for the repair of bridges and culverts. With such celerity was this accomplished that on June 1—4 a. m., Clarksburg was reached, about eighty miles east of Parkersburg. There was occasional skirmishing on the way, and a few prisoners were picked up, but no action of moment took place. The enemy retreated at all points before the advance of the Union force. On May 30th Grafton was occupied, without loss of life, by a force under Colonel B. F. Kelley, First Virginia (Union) Volunteers, which made a rapid movement from Wheeling and secured a safe lodgment at this important point. The rebels evacuated in mad haste upon its approach.
The rebel forces which had been driven out of Clarksburg and Grafton fell back to Philippi, some thirty miles south of Grafton. Here they made a stand and announced their determination to fight. It was at once decided to give them an opportunity to do so. An immediate advance of the Union forces upon that place was ordered. It was desirable to again strike the enemy before he should have time to fortify and otherwise strengthen his position. The rebel commander was calling loudly for reinforcements and it was deemed of the utmost importance to keep him on the run before his force should be so augmented as to outnumber the Union troops. The greatest energy was displayed in the movement on Philippi. Steadman, with five companies of the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry and Companies D and F of the Cleveland Artillery, was ordered by rail to Webster, within 12 miles of Grafton, and the nearest point to Philippi. To reach the latter, a rapid march of fifteen miles was to be made. Steadman’s command moved from Clarksburg to Webster on the 2nd of June. Artillery in command of Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Sturges. At the same time another column was advancing on Philippi from Grafton, under Colonel Kelley. The whole expedition was in command of Brigadier-General T. A. Morris, Colonel Lamb acting as staff officer for General McClellan.
It is now necessary to go back to Marietta and see what has become of the four companies of the artillery which remained grumbling in Camp Putnam when Lieutenant-Colonel Sturges went with the detachment to join Steadman. The impatient patriots did not have long to wait. One more night in camp, and then came a summons that electrified them. The four companies, with all the goods, chattels and other appurtenances thereto belonging, embarked on a steamboat and went with all speed to Benwood, on the Virginia side of the river opposite Bellaire, and not far from Wheeling. The trip of sixty-five miles was made in a few hours and the happy Clevelanders set their feet for the first time within the confines of Dixie’s Land. Barnett reported to General Morris and was directed to move his command at once by rail to Grafton, where the four guns were attached to the column to be led by Kelley in the advance upon Philippi. The infantry force consisted of portions of Kelley’s regiment, the First Virginia, the North Indiana, Colonel Milroy, and the Sixteenth Ohio, Colonel Irvine. This column was ordered by rail to Thornton, a few miles east of Grafton, from which point the march to Philippi was to be made. The route was four or five miles longer than that to be traversed by the co-operating force to advance from Webster.
General Morris said in his order to Colonel Kelley prescribing the details of the movement, dated Grafton, June 2d, 1861: You must regulate your march according to your own discretion, and your bivouac or rest at night in such manner that you are sure of coming before the town of Philippi as near 4 o’clock tomorrow morning as possible. Should you this evening receive certain information that the rebels have retreated eastward from Philippi, you will make the resting time of your troops as short as possible, in order to follow them up with all the speed the strength of your troops will allow.
The right attacking column was under the command of Colonel Dumont, Seventh Indiana Volunteers, to which the force of Steadman had been joined, with part of the Sixth Indiana, Colonel Crittenden. The following is the order of General Morris to Colonel Dumont:
Headquarters U. S. Volunteers,
Grafton, W. Va., June 2, 1861.
Colonel Dumont,