Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/297

 Famous Retreat from Philip pi. 281)

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when Colonel Porterfield ordered a retreat to Philippi. This retreat was made in good order.

ASLEEP WHEtf ATTACKED.

Colonel Porterfield remained at Philippi until the 3d morning" of June, when, just at the break of day, the Federals opened on him and his little army with all the artillery that was avail- able on this occasion.

The Confederates were all asleep apparently when the artillery began to fire. To oppose McClellan's vast host Colonel Porter-' iield had probably, all told, twelve hundred men, that were poorly armed and equipped for service.

The attacking army was fully 10,000 men, that were armed and equipped in the very best possible condition, under the com- mand of General T. A. Morris, of the Indiana volunteers. The attack of infantry was led by Col. B. F. Kelly in person, and had it not been for the timely shooting of Colonel Kelly by John W. Sheffee, a member of Capt. Hull's company, in the streets of Philippi, as the Colonel was leading the charge on the routed Virginians, a greater part of the latter would have been cap- tured.

Captain Hull's company was in the rear of the Virginians, and young Sheffee took dead aim at Colonel Kelly, and when the gun cracked he, with great glee, came jumping forward to his companions, and exclaimed, "Sergeant, I have done it!" ''Done what?" "L flopped that big fellow from his horse that was coming after us so savage." Sheffee was a green mountain boy, but knew how to shoot, and when Colonel Kelly came wal- lop to the ground all effort to pursue the Virginians just then stopped, and this break in the charge gave them time to get together and defend themselves.

This Col. B. F. Kelly is the same man who became a major- general in the Federal army, and was captured the last winter of the war in Cumberland City, Md., by Jesse McNeil. Major - General George Crook was captured at the same time by Mc- Neil.