Battle of Princeton Court House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Princeton Court House
Part of the American Civil War
Date May 15, 1862 (1862-05-15)–May 17, 1862 (1862-05-17) Location Mercer County, West Virginia Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States of America (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Jacob Dolson Cox	Humphrey Marshall
Units involved
Kanawha Division	Army of East Kentucky Department of Southwest Virginia
Casualties and losses
113 total 23 killed 69 wounded 21 missing	16 total 4 killed 12 wounded

The Battle of Princeton Court House was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened from May 15 to May 17, 1862, in Mercer County, which was then part of Virginia but is now West Virginia. This battle was connected to a bigger plan called Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. The battle ended with a victory for the Confederate side.

Why the Battle Happened

Union Plans in Virginia

By early May 1862, the Union army was getting ready to move into Virginia from two different directions. One group of Union soldiers, led by Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy, was marching along a road called the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike.

They had already taken over several places like Camp Allegheny, Monterey, McDowell, and Shenandoah Mountain. As these Union forces advanced, Confederate Brigadier General Edward "Allegheny" Johnson and his troops had to pull back. They retreated to a place called Westview, which was about six miles west of Staunton.

Threat to the Railroad

Another group of Union soldiers, part of Jacob D. Cox's District of Kanawha, was trying to get close to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. This railroad was very important for the Confederates to move supplies and soldiers.

By the middle of May, the Union forces were in Mercer County. Even though they had been pushed out of Pearisburg, they were still ready to try and capture the railroad. To stop them, Confederate Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall arrived with his soldiers, known as the Army of East Kentucky.

The Battle of Princeton Court House

Fighting in Mercer County

General Marshall decided to attack first. He led his Confederate troops against two brigades (smaller groups of soldiers) from General Cox's Union division. The fighting lasted for three days, from May 15 to May 17, 1862.

The main fighting happened around Princeton Courthouse in Mercer County. General Marshall's Confederate forces were successful in pushing back the Union soldiers. In total, 129 soldiers were either killed or wounded during these three days of fighting.

What Happened Next

Union Retreat

After the battle, on the night of May 17, General Cox's Union forces broke away from the Confederates. They retreated about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away from Princeton Court House.

Lewisburg and Winchester

Colonel George Crook, who was in charge of Cox's 3rd brigade, marched his soldiers to the city of Lewisburg and took control of it. On May 23, he fought against Brigadier General Henry Heth's Confederate brigade and won.

However, Colonel Crook soon learned that Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's main Confederate army had defeated a Union division at Winchester on May 25. Because of this news, Colonel Crook decided to pull his troops back from Lewisburg as well.

Images for kids

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  Map of the Princeton Court House Battlefield.