Phillipi, West Virginia seems like a sleepy village along the Tygart Valley River today but it holds the distinction of being the scene of the first organized land battle of the Civil War on July 3, 1861. It also was the site of a pivotal event that led to the development of life changing technology still in use today.

There’s a West Virginia Civil War Trails historic marker near the bridge that relates the story of what went on here. In spring of 1861, Union forces rushed to northwestern Virginia to secure the vital Baltimore and Ohio railroad, protect important turnpikes and to support Unionists in the area against Confederates.

I have read more than one account that suggests this battle was more of skirmish and that the Confederates put up little resistance. According to the historic marker, the untrained Confederates fled south causing Union journalists to nickname the engagement the Phillipi Races.

Only a few men on either side were wounded and none killed. However, Private James E. Hanger had the tragic distinction of being the war’s first amputee. Hanger was an engineering student who enlisted with the Confederate Army at the age of 18. Two days later, a cannonball tore through his leg, forcing a life changing battlefield amputation.

Hanger returned home to Churchville, Virginia to develop an articulated prosthetic leg for himself and began manufacturing prosthetic devices to help other injured soldiers. He dedicated his life to helping others by developing the best possible technology. In fact, in 1915 he traveled to Europe to study the latest in prosthetic technology being developed there.

He died just four years later at the age of 76.

His firm became the largest manufacturer of artificial limbs in the country. Today, Hanger Orthopedic Group remains the nation’s foremost provider of prosthetic services and devices. Many of Hanger’s descendants and other relatives remain involved in the company. Learn more about him here.

Millions of men, women and children have benefited because Private Hanger refused to give up. He used his skills and a powerful amount of grit and determination to turn a tragedy into a blessing for many.

And it all started with the Battle of Phillipi.