Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/299

 Famous Retreat from Philippi. 291

sault; Philippi was to be approached at the 'north end by two divisions, while a flanking detachment was to enter by the southern road simultaneously, cutting off all retreat.

BROUGHT ABOUT CONFUSION.

"It seemed to have .been intended that the attack should be brought on by the infantry upon the sleeping soldiers, followed up by the artillery opening on the cavalry camp at the northern limits of the town. Had this plan of battle been carried out, the Virginians would have all been slain or captured. Through a very manifest Providence interposing, as the writer views it, confusion was brought upon the designs of the Unionists by the assault opening with the artillery. This gave the sleeping Virginians time to leave town before the infantry could cut off retreat.

"The flanking party of the Unionists came into position just as the last of the Virginians were passing out of the town on the southern road.

"On the part of the Virginians not a life was reported as lost. Two or three were seriously wounded Leroy Dangerfield, of the Bath Cavalry, and Private Hanger, of the Churchville Cavalry.

"The Unionists had their commanding officer, Col. B. F. Kelley, severely wounded near the southern extremity of the town, and as soon as that occurred all pursuit seemed to have ceased."

Such is Dr. Price's account of the Philippi disaster. It is well to note that he was not an eye-witness, but was some miles in the rear, but near enough to hear the firing of the guns, and in a little while the fleeing Virginians came rushing by. On the 3rd of June, 1861, Mr. Wilson makes the note that he was waked-up at 3 o'clock that morning, and put on guard duty, and just at daylight he saw the flash of the artillery fire directed at the cavalry camp when all was thrown into confusion and retreat ordered.

The artillery was charged with solid shot, and Young Han- ger's leg was cut off with a cannon ball. Mr. Hanger survived