Notes for Matilda Hudson:
Thank you Dan Myer and i realize she is you family also
From "History of Barbour County" by Hu Maxwell, pp. 255 - 256:
It is stated on authority which seems to be unquestionable, that the attack [by Union troops on Philippi] was commenced because of a mistaken signal, a pistol shot fired by a woman, Mrs. Thomas Humphreys, and to this circumstance is due the escape of the Confederates, who thus had time to retreat before cut off by Colonel Kelley. Mrs. Humphreys lived on the hill at the old Talbott place, near the road along which the Federals were marching. She was awakened by the passing of the army, the cannon in advance: and being anxious to warn the Confederates of their danger, she waked her son, put him on a horse and started him toward Philippi. He was within full view of the Federals and they arrested him at once. Seeing her son pulled from the horse, Mrs. Humphreys sallied forth to give battle, and she dealt many a blow with sticks, and rocks, and fists, and finally rescued her son. Had she retired to her house at that stage she would probably have been permitted to do so; but no sooner was her son free from the clutches of his captors than she put him on the horse again and attempted to send him to Philippi. He was again pulled from the horse and Mrs. Humphreys renewed her attack upon the Federal army: but she was no longer content to fight with rocks: but pulling a pistol from her bosom she fired it point-blank at the soldiers' faces. Fortunately the bullet missed. The soldiers raised their guns to fire, but an officer forbade it, and in the confusion of the moment she hustled her boy into the house and shut the door. But the pistol shot had had its effect. The cannon had already been planted on the hill and overlooking Philippi; and the order was not to fire unless a signal by a pistol shot should be heard. Mrs. Humphreys' pistol was heard, and the Federals supposing that it was the expected signal, the artillery opened upon the Confederate camp.
THE PRIVATE WAR OF MRS. HUMPHREYS
by Donald L. Pulket
History records(1) that a woman fired the first shot in the first significant
land battle of the American Civil War. That woman was my Great-great
grandmother Matilda Hudson Humphreys, and this is her story.
Throughout the war, control of the railroads through the western Virginia
mountains was critical to both the North and the South. In June of 1861, both
sides jockeyed for strategic position throughout the peaceful Tygart River
Valley of Barbour County, Virginia(2). At that time Thomas Humphreys, his wife
Matilda, and their eight children were tenant farming up on the old Talbott
place, just about one quarter of a mile north of the town of Philippi.
In the early morning hours of June 3rd, Matilda was awakened by the noise of
troops passing by her farmhouse. These troops were Union forces positioning
themselves for a pre-dawn first strike against Confederate units camped in the
town below. Matilda knew all-to-well that her son Lorenzo, my
great-grandfather, was in the Confederate encampment, having enlisted in
Company H, the "Barbour Greys", of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment on May
14, 1861.
In an effort to warn her son of the coming danger, Matilda quickly dressed
younger son Newt, saddled a horse, and sent him off down the hill to alert his
older brother. Seeing what was about to happen, Union troopers caught the boy,
and pulled him down from the horse. This infuriated Matilda to no end, and she
began throwing stones and firewood at the offenders. They soon retreated, and
she again placed the boy back up on the horse. And again, the soldiers pulled
him down.
Now, the "Yankees" had gone too far. Matilda went inside the farmhouse,
and then, quickly re-emerged carrying a pistol. She fired one shot and missed;
she only scared herself and her targets alike. One of the troopers drew down on
her with his own weapon. Fortunately for Matilda, a Union officer interceded
on her behalf, and would not let his troops fire on a woman. Matilda and Newt
then returned to the house. One might think this to be the end of the story;
not hardly.
As it turns out, the well-plan Union attack on Philippi was to be a coordinated
effort of many units. It was to begin at four o'clock in early morning
darkness. The signal to begin the attack; one pistol shot. Matilda Hudson
Humphreys had, inadvertently, fired the first shot of the Battle of Philippi,
the first land battle in a war that would go on for nearly four more years.
Hearing Matilda's shot the Union forces launched a full-scale attack. Union
cannon, positioned above the town, now rained down deadly fire upon the sleeping
citizens of Philippi. The Confederate units were caught completely off guard.
The Union forces did not fair much better. The premature signal found several
units either on the wrong side of the mountain, or on the wrong roads, having
not yet reached assigned positions.
The battle was to go on for three days. When it was over the surprised and
heavily out-numbered Southern forces were soundly defeated. Before this war was
over, it would cost Thomas and Matilda the life of son Richard, and son Lorenzo
would lose a leg due to wounds inflicted during Cedar Creek skirmishes in
August, 1864. Oh yes, the old farmhouse still stands today, just off of U.S.
Route 119, between Philippi and Webster, WV. It has seen many changes through
the years, and yet is still remembered best for Matilda's spirited stand in the
early morning hours of June 3, 1861.
Thank you Dan Myer and i realize she is you family also
From "History of Barbour County" by Hu Maxwell, pp. 255 - 256:
It is stated on authority which seems to be unquestionable, that the attack [by Union troops on Philippi] was commenced because of a mistaken signal, a pistol shot fired by a woman, Mrs. Thomas Humphreys, and to this circumstance is due the escape of the Confederates, who thus had time to retreat before cut off by Colonel Kelley. Mrs. Humphreys lived on the hill at the old Talbott place, near the road along which the Federals were marching. She was awakened by the passing of the army, the cannon in advance: and being anxious to warn the Confederates of their danger, she waked her son, put him on a horse and started him toward Philippi. He was within full view of the Federals and they arrested him at once. Seeing her son pulled from the horse, Mrs. Humphreys sallied forth to give battle, and she dealt many a blow with sticks, and rocks, and fists, and finally rescued her son. Had she retired to her house at that stage she would probably have been permitted to do so; but no sooner was her son free from the clutches of his captors than she put him on the horse again and attempted to send him to Philippi. He was again pulled from the horse and Mrs. Humphreys renewed her attack upon the Federal army: but she was no longer content to fight with rocks: but pulling a pistol from her bosom she fired it point-blank at the soldiers' faces. Fortunately the bullet missed. The soldiers raised their guns to fire, but an officer forbade it, and in the confusion of the moment she hustled her boy into the house and shut the door. But the pistol shot had had its effect. The cannon had already been planted on the hill and overlooking Philippi; and the order was not to fire unless a signal by a pistol shot should be heard. Mrs. Humphreys' pistol was heard, and the Federals supposing that it was the expected signal, the artillery opened upon the Confederate camp.
THE PRIVATE WAR OF MRS. HUMPHREYS
by Donald L. Pulket
History records(1) that a woman fired the first shot in the first significant
land battle of the American Civil War. That woman was my Great-great
grandmother Matilda Hudson Humphreys, and this is her story.
Throughout the war, control of the railroads through the western Virginia
mountains was critical to both the North and the South. In June of 1861, both
sides jockeyed for strategic position throughout the peaceful Tygart River
Valley of Barbour County, Virginia(2). At that time Thomas Humphreys, his wife
Matilda, and their eight children were tenant farming up on the old Talbott
place, just about one quarter of a mile north of the town of Philippi.
In the early morning hours of June 3rd, Matilda was awakened by the noise of
troops passing by her farmhouse. These troops were Union forces positioning
themselves for a pre-dawn first strike against Confederate units camped in the
town below. Matilda knew all-to-well that her son Lorenzo, my
great-grandfather, was in the Confederate encampment, having enlisted in
Company H, the "Barbour Greys", of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment on May
14, 1861.
In an effort to warn her son of the coming danger, Matilda quickly dressed
younger son Newt, saddled a horse, and sent him off down the hill to alert his
older brother. Seeing what was about to happen, Union troopers caught the boy,
and pulled him down from the horse. This infuriated Matilda to no end, and she
began throwing stones and firewood at the offenders. They soon retreated, and
she again placed the boy back up on the horse. And again, the soldiers pulled
him down.
Now, the "Yankees" had gone too far. Matilda went inside the farmhouse,
and then, quickly re-emerged carrying a pistol. She fired one shot and missed;
she only scared herself and her targets alike. One of the troopers drew down on
her with his own weapon. Fortunately for Matilda, a Union officer interceded
on her behalf, and would not let his troops fire on a woman. Matilda and Newt
then returned to the house. One might think this to be the end of the story;
not hardly.
As it turns out, the well-plan Union attack on Philippi was to be a coordinated
effort of many units. It was to begin at four o'clock in early morning
darkness. The signal to begin the attack; one pistol shot. Matilda Hudson
Humphreys had, inadvertently, fired the first shot of the Battle of Philippi,
the first land battle in a war that would go on for nearly four more years.
Hearing Matilda's shot the Union forces launched a full-scale attack. Union
cannon, positioned above the town, now rained down deadly fire upon the sleeping
citizens of Philippi. The Confederate units were caught completely off guard.
The Union forces did not fair much better. The premature signal found several
units either on the wrong side of the mountain, or on the wrong roads, having
not yet reached assigned positions.
The battle was to go on for three days. When it was over the surprised and
heavily out-numbered Southern forces were soundly defeated. Before this war was
over, it would cost Thomas and Matilda the life of son Richard, and son Lorenzo
would lose a leg due to wounds inflicted during Cedar Creek skirmishes in
August, 1864. Oh yes, the old farmhouse still stands today, just off of U.S.
Route 119, between Philippi and Webster, WV. It has seen many changes through
the years, and yet is still remembered best for Matilda's spirited stand in the
early morning hours of June 3, 1861.
Notes for Matilda Hudson:
Thank you Dan Myer and i realize she is you family also
From "History of Barbour County" by Hu Maxwell, pp. 255 - 256:
It is stated on authority which seems to be unquestionable, that the attack [by Union troops on Philippi] was commenced because of a mistaken signal, a pistol shot fired by a woman, Mrs. Thomas Humphreys, and to this circumstance is due the escape of the Confederates, who thus had time to retreat before cut off by Colonel Kelley. Mrs. Humphreys lived on the hill at the old Talbott place, near the road along which the Federals were marching. She was awakened by the passing of the army, the cannon in advance: and being anxious to warn the Confederates of their danger, she waked her son, put him on a horse and started him toward Philippi. He was within full view of the Federals and they arrested him at once. Seeing her son pulled from the horse, Mrs. Humphreys sallied forth to give battle, and she dealt many a blow with sticks, and rocks, and fists, and finally rescued her son. Had she retired to her house at that stage she would probably have been permitted to do so; but no sooner was her son free from the clutches of his captors than she put him on the horse again and attempted to send him to Philippi. He was again pulled from the horse and Mrs. Humphreys renewed her attack upon the Federal army: but she was no longer content to fight with rocks: but pulling a pistol from her bosom she fired it point-blank at the soldiers' faces. Fortunately the bullet missed. The soldiers raised their guns to fire, but an officer forbade it, and in the confusion of the moment she hustled her boy into the house and shut the door. But the pistol shot had had its effect. The cannon had already been planted on the hill and overlooking Philippi; and the order was not to fire unless a signal by a pistol shot should be heard. Mrs. Humphreys' pistol was heard, and the Federals supposing that it was the expected signal, the artillery opened upon the Confederate camp.
THE PRIVATE WAR OF MRS. HUMPHREYS
by Donald L. Pulket
History records(1) that a woman fired the first shot in the first significant
land battle of the American Civil War. That woman was my Great-great
grandmother Matilda Hudson Humphreys, and this is her story.
Throughout the war, control of the railroads through the western Virginia
mountains was critical to both the North and the South. In June of 1861, both
sides jockeyed for strategic position throughout the peaceful Tygart River
Valley of Barbour County, Virginia(2). At that time Thomas Humphreys, his wife
Matilda, and their eight children were tenant farming up on the old Talbott
place, just about one quarter of a mile north of the town of Philippi.
In the early morning hours of June 3rd, Matilda was awakened by the noise of
troops passing by her farmhouse. These troops were Union forces positioning
themselves for a pre-dawn first strike against Confederate units camped in the
town below. Matilda knew all-to-well that her son Lorenzo, my
great-grandfather, was in the Confederate encampment, having enlisted in
Company H, the "Barbour Greys", of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment on May
14, 1861.
In an effort to warn her son of the coming danger, Matilda quickly dressed
younger son Newt, saddled a horse, and sent him off down the hill to alert his
older brother. Seeing what was about to happen, Union troopers caught the boy,
and pulled him down from the horse. This infuriated Matilda to no end, and she
began throwing stones and firewood at the offenders. They soon retreated, and
she again placed the boy back up on the horse. And again, the soldiers pulled
him down.
Now, the "Yankees" had gone too far. Matilda went inside the farmhouse,
and then, quickly re-emerged carrying a pistol. She fired one shot and missed;
she only scared herself and her targets alike. One of the troopers drew down on
her with his own weapon. Fortunately for Matilda, a Union officer interceded
on her behalf, and would not let his troops fire on a woman. Matilda and Newt
then returned to the house. One might think this to be the end of the story;
not hardly.
As it turns out, the well-plan Union attack on Philippi was to be a coordinated
effort of many units. It was to begin at four o'clock in early morning
darkness. The signal to begin the attack; one pistol shot. Matilda Hudson
Humphreys had, inadvertently, fired the first shot of the Battle of Philippi,
the first land battle in a war that would go on for nearly four more years.
Hearing Matilda's shot the Union forces launched a full-scale attack. Union
cannon, positioned above the town, now rained down deadly fire upon the sleeping
citizens of Philippi. The Confederate units were caught completely off guard.
The Union forces did not fair much better. The premature signal found several
units either on the wrong side of the mountain, or on the wrong roads, having
not yet reached assigned positions.
The battle was to go on for three days. When it was over the surprised and
heavily out-numbered Southern forces were soundly defeated. Before this war was
over, it would cost Thomas and Matilda the life of son Richard, and son Lorenzo
would lose a leg due to wounds inflicted during Cedar Creek skirmishes in
August, 1864. Oh yes, the old farmhouse still stands today, just off of U.S.
Route 119, between Philippi and Webster, WV. It has seen many changes through
the years, and yet is still remembered best for Matilda's spirited stand in the
early morning hours of June 3, 1861.
Thank you Dan Myer and i realize she is you family also
From "History of Barbour County" by Hu Maxwell, pp. 255 - 256:
It is stated on authority which seems to be unquestionable, that the attack [by Union troops on Philippi] was commenced because of a mistaken signal, a pistol shot fired by a woman, Mrs. Thomas Humphreys, and to this circumstance is due the escape of the Confederates, who thus had time to retreat before cut off by Colonel Kelley. Mrs. Humphreys lived on the hill at the old Talbott place, near the road along which the Federals were marching. She was awakened by the passing of the army, the cannon in advance: and being anxious to warn the Confederates of their danger, she waked her son, put him on a horse and started him toward Philippi. He was within full view of the Federals and they arrested him at once. Seeing her son pulled from the horse, Mrs. Humphreys sallied forth to give battle, and she dealt many a blow with sticks, and rocks, and fists, and finally rescued her son. Had she retired to her house at that stage she would probably have been permitted to do so; but no sooner was her son free from the clutches of his captors than she put him on the horse again and attempted to send him to Philippi. He was again pulled from the horse and Mrs. Humphreys renewed her attack upon the Federal army: but she was no longer content to fight with rocks: but pulling a pistol from her bosom she fired it point-blank at the soldiers' faces. Fortunately the bullet missed. The soldiers raised their guns to fire, but an officer forbade it, and in the confusion of the moment she hustled her boy into the house and shut the door. But the pistol shot had had its effect. The cannon had already been planted on the hill and overlooking Philippi; and the order was not to fire unless a signal by a pistol shot should be heard. Mrs. Humphreys' pistol was heard, and the Federals supposing that it was the expected signal, the artillery opened upon the Confederate camp.
THE PRIVATE WAR OF MRS. HUMPHREYS
by Donald L. Pulket
History records(1) that a woman fired the first shot in the first significant
land battle of the American Civil War. That woman was my Great-great
grandmother Matilda Hudson Humphreys, and this is her story.
Throughout the war, control of the railroads through the western Virginia
mountains was critical to both the North and the South. In June of 1861, both
sides jockeyed for strategic position throughout the peaceful Tygart River
Valley of Barbour County, Virginia(2). At that time Thomas Humphreys, his wife
Matilda, and their eight children were tenant farming up on the old Talbott
place, just about one quarter of a mile north of the town of Philippi.
In the early morning hours of June 3rd, Matilda was awakened by the noise of
troops passing by her farmhouse. These troops were Union forces positioning
themselves for a pre-dawn first strike against Confederate units camped in the
town below. Matilda knew all-to-well that her son Lorenzo, my
great-grandfather, was in the Confederate encampment, having enlisted in
Company H, the "Barbour Greys", of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment on May
14, 1861.
In an effort to warn her son of the coming danger, Matilda quickly dressed
younger son Newt, saddled a horse, and sent him off down the hill to alert his
older brother. Seeing what was about to happen, Union troopers caught the boy,
and pulled him down from the horse. This infuriated Matilda to no end, and she
began throwing stones and firewood at the offenders. They soon retreated, and
she again placed the boy back up on the horse. And again, the soldiers pulled
him down.
Now, the "Yankees" had gone too far. Matilda went inside the farmhouse,
and then, quickly re-emerged carrying a pistol. She fired one shot and missed;
she only scared herself and her targets alike. One of the troopers drew down on
her with his own weapon. Fortunately for Matilda, a Union officer interceded
on her behalf, and would not let his troops fire on a woman. Matilda and Newt
then returned to the house. One might think this to be the end of the story;
not hardly.
As it turns out, the well-plan Union attack on Philippi was to be a coordinated
effort of many units. It was to begin at four o'clock in early morning
darkness. The signal to begin the attack; one pistol shot. Matilda Hudson
Humphreys had, inadvertently, fired the first shot of the Battle of Philippi,
the first land battle in a war that would go on for nearly four more years.
Hearing Matilda's shot the Union forces launched a full-scale attack. Union
cannon, positioned above the town, now rained down deadly fire upon the sleeping
citizens of Philippi. The Confederate units were caught completely off guard.
The Union forces did not fair much better. The premature signal found several
units either on the wrong side of the mountain, or on the wrong roads, having
not yet reached assigned positions.
The battle was to go on for three days. When it was over the surprised and
heavily out-numbered Southern forces were soundly defeated. Before this war was
over, it would cost Thomas and Matilda the life of son Richard, and son Lorenzo
would lose a leg due to wounds inflicted during Cedar Creek skirmishes in
August, 1864. Oh yes, the old farmhouse still stands today, just off of U.S.
Route 119, between Philippi and Webster, WV. It has seen many changes through
the years, and yet is still remembered best for Matilda's spirited stand in the
early morning hours of June 3, 1861.
