---
title: Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races): The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War
author: Joshua J. Mark
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Philippi_(Philippi_Races)/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2026-07-14
---

# Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races): The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War

_Authored by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/)_

The [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of [Philippi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Philippi/) (3 June 1861) was the first organized land engagement of the [American Civil War](https://www.worldhistory.org/American_Civil_War/), fought in Philippi, Virginia (present-day West Virginia) over a month before the more widely recognized First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the Battle of First Manassas) on 21 July 1861, commonly held to be the first battle of the [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).

The Battle of Philippi differs from the Battle of Fairfax Court House on 1 June 1861 in that this engagement was an organized effort on the part of the Union Army, whereas the earlier one at Fairfax Court House was an accidental clash of opposing forces.

The battle, usually regarded as a skirmish, was a Union victory, heralded as a great [triumph](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Triumph/) in the Northern press, which claimed it presaged a speedy resolution to the War of the Rebellion. The engagement, aside from its status as the first land battle of the conflict, is significant for several events:

- The elevation of Union Major General George B. McClellan to a national hero in the North, encouraging his appointment by President Lincoln to the post of Commanding General of the United States Army from 1861 to 1862.
- The first instance of battlefield amputations, performed by Union surgeons on Confederate casualties.
- The creation of a prosthetic leg by Confederate James E. Hanger, one of the casualties, who later manufactured prosthetic limbs for the Confederacy and went on to establish the Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc., still operating in the USA today as Hanger, Inc.
- The empowerment of Virginia's pro-Union government in exile, which would lead to the establishment of the State of West Virginia in 1863.

The engagement is also known as the "Philippi Races," a term coined by the Northern press to mock the flight from the field by the surprised and poorly prepared Confederates when the Union assault on the town began.

### Pro-Union and Pro-Secessionist Virginia

The [Jamestown Colony of Virginia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Jamestown_Colony_of_Virginia/) was founded in 1607, and [colonization](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/colonization/) of the region spread westward. By 1640, chattel slavery had been established, and it became institutionalized by 1660. The large plantations that relied on slave labor, however, did not extend into the northwest region of the colony, and, in time, the citizens of that region found they had more in common with those of Ohio and Pennsylvania than those of their own state.

After the Union Fort Sumter was fired upon by Confederate troops 12 April 1861, and President [Abraham](https://www.worldhistory.org/Abraham,_the_Patriarch/) Lincoln called for a mobilization of troops to put down the rebellion, the Virginia government at Richmond voted in favor of secession on 23 May – but there was strong pro-Union sentiment in the northwest region of the state and, especially, in Wheeling, which would become the seat of the so-called pro-Union government in exile.

Still, there were many pockets of pro-Secessionist citizens in the region, and, after secession had been passed in Richmond, Confederate officers arrived in various towns to recruit men for the army. One such town was Grafton, chosen by Confederate Colonel George Porterfield as a site to muster troops. Grafton, however, was strongly pro-Union, and so Porterfield retreated to Philippi, a secessionist town.

### Lead-up to Battle

Porterfield had been supplied with around 1,000 old muskets from the [War of 1812](https://www.worldhistory.org/War_of_1812/) and percussion caps designed for shotguns. He was able to muster 750-775 recruits who arrived with hunting rifles and long knives and whatever other weapons they could find, but they had little to no military training and absolutely no experience in battle.

[ ![Map of the United States on the Eve of Civil War, 1861](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/20390.png?v=1783347916-1765364192) Map of the United States on the Eve of Civil War, 1861 Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20390/map-of-the-united-states-on-the-eve-of-civil-war-1/ "Map of the United States on the Eve of Civil War, 1861")To slow any potential movement against him, Porterfield burned the bridges between Philippi and Wheeling. This gave Major General George B. McClellan the excuse he had needed to send troops into Virginia from his headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. McClellan's objectives were:

- to kill or capture those responsible for the destruction of the bridges
- to occupy the region and protect the pro-Union populace
- to protect, maintain, and ensure the operation of the Baltimore and Ohio [Railroad](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Railroad/) line, which was necessary for Union troop movements and supplies

Scholar Hunter Lesser comments:

> On May 27, 1861, General McClellan ordered Federal troops to cross the Ohio River on steamboats and invade Western Virginia…Leading his invasion was the First Virginia Infantry, a regiment of United States volunteers, mustered on Virginia soil. Here the war was truly brother against brother. 
> (13)

McClellan placed Brigadier General Thomas A. Morris in command of the invasion of Virginia. Colonel [Benjamin Franklin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Benjamin_Franklin/) Kelley, commanding the Virginia regiment, devised a plan for a pincer movement, a two-prong attack in which Kelley's troops would arrive south of Philippi, while those under Colonel Ebenezer Dumont (supported by Colonel Frederick W. Lander) would take the town from the northwest. To fool their enemy into thinking their objective was Harpers Ferry, Kelley's 1,600 troops were loaded onto a train heading east, disembarked at the village of Thornton, and then marched back toward Philippi.

Meanwhile, Colonel Dumont and Colonel Lander led their 1,400 troops through the rainy night of 2-3 June to arrive above Philippi on the morning of the 3rd. Morris had ordered the attack to commence before dawn at the sound of a pistol shot, which would trigger an artillery barrage followed by an assault on the town by Dumont – with Kelley to advance from the south, capturing the rebel forces between them.

### Battle of Philippi

The rain of the night before continued into the morning of 3 June, and those Confederates in Philippi not still sleeping were taking refuge in their tents. No picket lines had been established, and no guards were posted around the camp. Everything favored the success of Morris' plan going precisely as envisioned until an unexpected intervention. Mrs. Thomas Humphreys, a secessionist sympathizer in the town, saw the Union troops taking up their position and sent her son to saddle his horse and warn the camp. When her son was caught by Union pickets, Mrs. Humphreys fired her pistol at them, missing her [mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Mark/), but starting the attack earlier than planned.

Kelley, who had taken a wrong turn on his way to Philippi, arrived further north than planned and, with the attack underway, had no time to deploy south to complete the pincer movement and block a Confederate escape. Dumont's artillery opened fire on the Confederate camp, causing widespread panic and flight toward the south, many of the men still in their bed clothes. Some paused to return fire before joining the rest in fleeing the town. Dumont's infantry then advanced, entering the town across the now-famous covered bridge, while Colonel Lander made his ride down the steep hillside above the town, a feat later celebrated widely by the Northern [media](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/media/), becoming the most famous image of the Battle of Philippi after an artist's rendering was published in the periodical *Leslie's Weekly*.

[ ![Daring Ride of Colonel Lander at the Battle of Philippi](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/21903.png?v=1782841473-1783394517) Daring Ride of Colonel Lander at the Battle of Philippi Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21903/daring-ride-of-colonel-lander-at-the-battle-of-phi/ "Daring Ride of Colonel Lander at the Battle of Philippi")The haphazard flight of the Confederate camp gave rise to the popular name for the engagement, the "Races at Philippi," which was later shortened to the "Philippi Races." Kelley, unable to block the Confederate retreat, pursued them with his troops and was shot in the chest (but lived), and Colonel Lander then shot the man who had shot Kelley (this man also lived). The Confederates continued their retreat for 45 miles (72 km) until they arrived at Huttonsville.

### Aftermath

Although both sides reported inflicting casualties on the other, there were no fatalities; only two wounded on the Union side and three Confederates. Two of these three, wounded by cannon fire, needed limbs amputated, and these are cited as the first field amputations of the American Civil War. One of these, as noted, was the 18-year-old college student James E. Hanger, who, after returning home, made himself an artificial leg with a hinge at the knee and ankle, from barrel staves and rubber. His prosthetic was so well designed that the Virginia State Legislature at Richmond commissioned him to create more, leading to the famous "Hanger Limb" – the most popular prosthetic of the conflict. Hanger patented his creation and, after the war, founded what became the Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc., today known as Hanger, Inc., the world's leading provider of prosthetics and medical equipment.

[ ![American Civil War Leg Prosthesis](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/21159.jpg?v=1774366767-1774366767) American Civil War Leg Prosthesis Unknown Photographer (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21159/american-civil-war-leg-prosthesis/ "American Civil War Leg Prosthesis")Along with the Confederate troops, many of the citizens of Philippi also fled, abandoning their homes and possessions. One month later, a report from Union troops stationed in Philippi noted that only three families had returned, and the place was essentially a [ghost](https://www.worldhistory.org/ghost/) town.

The Northern press proclaimed the battle an epic victory, citing the valor of the Union generals, the brilliance of McClellan's campaign (making him instantly famous), and repeatedly noting the "cowardly flight of the rebels" as evidence in support of an easy victory over the Confederacy, which could be won by a swift advance on Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States. President Lincoln and his staff agreed, and this advance was ordered – and was famously stopped by the Confederate forces at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) on 21 July 1861 – commonly referred to as the first battle of the American Civil War. Without the battle (or skirmish) at Philippi, however, First Bull Run would not have happened or, at least, not when and how it did.

### Conclusion

First Bull Run, a Confederate victory, led to further Union defeats throughout 1861 and into 1862, due largely to the inept and overly cautious McClellan, who, despite being hailed as the Hero of Philippi, was not present at the battle and had nothing to do with the victory.

The "first battle of the American Civil War," then, is always cited as a Confederate win – but this is not so. The first *major* battle of the American Civil War was the Battle of First Bull Run/First Manassas, but that was not the first time Union and Confederate troops met on the field of combat. The first orchestrated land engagement was at Philippi, and it was a Union victory, the first of many that would begin in earnest 1863-1865 through the skills of generals such as George Meade, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman.

The Battle of Philippi also empowered the pro-Union government at Wheeling to adopt A Declaration of the People of Virginia at the Second Wheeling Convention of June 1861, mandating that any change in state government be approved by the people – not, as in the case of the secession convention in Richmond back in May, by the legislature. This action would eventually move the region toward its break with the rest of Virginia and the formation of West Virginia, admitted to the Union in June of 1863.

[ ![Philippi Covered Bridge, 2015](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/21901.jpeg?v=1782840726-1783392841) Philippi Covered Bridge, 2015 Carol M. Highsmith (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21901/philippi-covered-bridge-2015/ "Philippi Covered Bridge, 2015")Today, the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Philippi, West Virginia, has a population of over 3,000 and is the county seat of Barbour County. Every year, the Battle of Philippi is commemorated there in June during the event known as the Blue and Gray Reunion, which includes a re-enactment of the battle, a parade, and a festival.

A reconstruction of the covered bridge over which Dumont led his troops still spans the Tygart River, and, every day, people walk the streets of the town that became famous for the "Philippi Races" during the first organized campaign of the American Civil War.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- [American Battlefield Trust/First Blood at Philippi](https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/first-blood-philippi "American Battlefield Trust/First Blood at Philippi"), accessed 30 Jun 2026.
- [American Civil War Society Archives - The Battle of Philippi](https://acws.co.uk/archives-history-battle_philippi "American Civil War Society Archives - The Battle of Philippi"), accessed 30 Jun 2026.
- [Blue and Gray Reunion Celebrates 165th Anniversary of Philippi Races by Ethan Gregory](https://www.wboy.com/news/barbour/blue-gray-reunion-celebrates-165th-anniversary-of-philippi-races/ "Blue and Gray Reunion Celebrates 165th Anniversary of Philippi Races by Ethan Gregory"), accessed 30 Jun 2026.
- [Bradford, N. *Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.* E. P. Dutton, 1989.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0890095701/)
- [Foote, S. *The Civil War, Vol 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville.* Vintage Books, 1986.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01K3ROYE2/)
- [Lesser, H. *First Campaign: A Guide to Civil War in the Mountains of West Virginia, 1861.* Quarrier Press, 2023.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1891852752/)

## About the Author

Joshua J. Mark is World History Encyclopedia's co-founder and Content Director. He was previously a professor at Marist College (NY) where he taught history, philosophy, literature, and writing. He has traveled extensively and lived in Greece and Germany.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/pub/joshua-j-mark/38/614/339)

## Timeline

- **3 Jun 1861 CE**: The [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of [Philippi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Philippi/) (Philippi Races) becomes the first organized land engagement of the [American Civil War](https://www.worldhistory.org/American_Civil_War/); it is a Union victory.

## Questions & Answers

### What was the American Civil War battle known as the Philippi Races?
The Battle of Philippi on 3 June 1861 was the first organized land engagement of the American Civil War and is sometimes referred to as the Philippi Races. 

### Why is the Battle of Philippi known as the Philippi Races?
The Battle of Philippi is also known as the Philippi Races because the Confederate forces in the town of Philippi were surprised by an early morning artillery assault by Union troops and fled quickly. Northern press outlets coined the term "Philippi Races" to make fun of the retreating Confederates. 

### Who won the American Civil War Battle of Philippi?
The Union forces won the Battle of Philippi by surprising the new and poorly prepared Confederate troops in an early morning assault on the town. 

### Why is the American Civil War Battle of Philippi important?
The Battle of Philippi (3 June 1861) is important because it is the first organized land engagement of the American Civil War and was a Union victory. The First Battle of Bull Run, fought on 21 July 1861, a Confederate victory, is usually cited as the first battle of the Civil War - but this is not so. 


## External Links

- [American Battlefield Trust/First Blood at Philippi](https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/first-blood-philippi)
- [American Civil War Society Archives/The Battle of Philippi](https://acws.co.uk/archives-history-battle_philippi)
- [12WBOY News/Blue and Gray Reunion Celebrates 165th Anniversary of Philippi Races by Ethan Gregory](https://www.wboy.com/news/barbour/blue-gray-reunion-celebrates-165th-anniversary-of-philippi-races/)
- [National Council for Social Studies/The Civil War Battle That Helped Create a State by Kay A. Chick](https://www.socialstudies.org/system/files/publications/articles/se_730134.pdf)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Mark, J. J. (2026, July 14). Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races): The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle\_of\_Philippi\_(Philippi\_Races)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Philippi_(Philippi_Races)/)
### Chicago
Mark, Joshua J.. "Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races): The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 14, 2026. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle\_of\_Philippi\_(Philippi\_Races)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Philippi_(Philippi_Races)/).
### MLA
Mark, Joshua J.. "Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races): The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War." *World History Encyclopedia*, 14 Jul 2026, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle\_of\_Philippi\_(Philippi\_Races)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Philippi_(Philippi_Races)/).

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/ "User Page: Joshua J. Mark"), published on 14 July 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.