On this date in 1861- what some consider the first organized land battle of the American Civil war took place in Philippi, Virginia [now West Virginia} I think it was more of a skirmish than a battle. Confederate forces occupied the town. Union forces approached in the morning. The Confederates woke up, shot back a few times then ran through town to escape. That gave the battle the nickname the Philippi Races. No one was killed. Its not much of a battle if no one is killed.

There is a neat little museum right across the Philippi Covered Bridge in Philippi. If you are ever in Philippi stop at the museum. You pay $1 and they will let you see the two “Mummies of Philippi” well worth the price of admission.