For the Roman Civil War battle, see Battle of Philippi.

The Battle of Phillipi was the first major land battle of the American Civil War near what is now Philippi, West Virginia.

On June 3, 1861, Union forces under the command of Col. Thomas A. Morris attacked a small Confederate force commanded by George A. Porterfield at Philippi. The attack surprised the Confederate forces, and they retreated to Huttsonville. There were less than fifty casualties.

This is generally considered the first major land action in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.

The Union victory resulted in more vocal protests in the western part of Virginia against secession. A few days later in Wheeling, the Wheeling Convention nullified the Virginia ordinance of secession and named Francis H. Pierpont governor.

EXTERNAL LINKS

• http://www.americancivilwar.com/statepic/wv/wv001.html