my great, great grandfather Calvin Brown Rennick, CSA, shot and killed the first person in field fighting during the War of Northern Aggression. While on picket duty near Philippi, VA, (now WV) he and his fellow squad members saw some "yamn dankees" walking down a road. The took aim and fired. The one that CBR shot at was killed. The others were wounded and managed to get back to their unit.
Two days later the first recognized field battle of the war took place. The battle of Philippi was not much of a battle compared to later on, but it was the beginning of a horrible 4 years. In fact it is commonly referred to as the "Philippi Races".
CBR served three tours of duty during the war and ended up with the rank of Captain. Like most members of the CSA army, he was proud of his service and believed he was fighting for a good and just cause.
That's awesome.
> my great, great grandfather Calvin Brown Rennick, CSA, shot and killed the first person in field fighting during the War of Northern Aggression. While on picket duty near Philippi, VA, (now WV) he and his fellow squad members saw some "yamn dankees" walking down a road. The took aim and fired. The one that CBR shot at was killed. The others were wounded and managed to get back to their unit.
>
> Two days later the first recognized field battle of the war took place. The battle of Philippi was not much of a battle compared to later on, but it was the beginning of a horrible 4 years. In fact it is commonly referred to as the "Philippi Races".
Dave, I grew up about 30 minutes from Philippi (in Bridgeport) and have crossed the old covered bridge many, many times on the way to Elkins and Boy Scout camp and skiing, etc... I had family on both sides of the war. Bullough and Umphreys from that area are in my lineage, among some others. I have a litho of the bridge and Alderson-Broaddus (The Battlers) in my house.
Very cool.
Thanks for the history revisit!!
Carl
Dave,
Wikipedia says June 3, 1861. I guess 2 days don't really matter though...
The Union forces began firing their artillery, which awakened the sleeping Confederates. After firing a few shots at the advancing Union troops, the Southerners broke lines and began running frantically to the south, some still in their bed clothes, which caused journalists to refer to the battle as the "Races at Philippi". Dumont's troops entered the town from the bridge (Col. Lander's ride down the steep hillside through heavy underbrush was considered such a feat of horsemanship that Leslie's Weekly gave an illustrated account of it shortly afterward[6]), but Kelley's column had arrived from the north on the wrong road and were unable to block the Confederate escape. Col. Kelley himself was shot while chasing some of the retreating Confederates, but Col. Lander personally chased down and captured the soldier who shot Kelley. The remaining Confederate troops retreated to Huttonsville, about 45 miles (72 km) to the south.
And so the first 'battle' of the Civil War seems to have been the whole war in microcosm.
Hmmm, but even after this it seems like we somehow surprised you.
Battle of Philippi Reports - West Virginia Archives
The Federals were patting themselves on the back while the Confederates are pointing fingers and holding an inquiry.
I've read that many of my West Virginia kinfolk were shooting at fellow kinfolk during those years. Those were the days when families with 12 to 20 kids were common. Knowing the names of all your first cousins would have been rather difficult, except for those that were also your aunts and uncles.:-(
Dan,
I didn't have time to read all the way through those cables, but I do find it interesting that Grafton is shown as both "W.Va" and "Va" at different times in there. In 1861, that was all still VA... But were they already calling it WV? I mean, I don't know... I really don't.
Huttonsville is also called Va. But it is in Randolph Co, south of Elkins, and most assuredly in W.Va. Beverly is also.
Strange back and forth with the naming is all I am saying.
