Battle of Philippi Races
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For the Roman Civil War battle, see Battle of Philippi.
The Battle of Phillipi is generally considered the first major land action in the Eastern Theater 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.
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.