Battle of Princeton Court House

Other Names: None

Location: Mercer County, West Virginia

Campaign: Jackson's Valley campaign

Date: May 15–17, 1862

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Jacob Dolson Cox [US]; Gen. Humphrey Marshall [CS]

Forces Engaged: Kanawha Division [US]; East Kentucky, Department of Southwest Virginia [CS]

Casualties and losses: 129

Result(s): Confederate victory

Brief Description:

Union soldiers of Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox's District of Kanawha threatened the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. By mid-May, the Federals, although ousted from Pearisburg, held Mercer County and braced for a lunge at the railroad. Confederate Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall arrived from Abingdon, Virginia, with the Army of East Kentucky. Breaking contact with the Confederates on the night of May 17, Cox withdrew 20 miles. Col. George Crook, commanding Cox's 3rd brigade, marched to and occupied the city of Lewisburg, where on May 23 he defeated Brig. Gen. Henry Heth's larger brigade in the Battle of Lewisburg.