Princeton, Va.,
May 2nd, 1862.
Yesterday morning at daylight, the
troops were on the move from
Flat
Top southward. A heavy fog, that the
vision could penetrate but a
few rods,
hung like a curtain around
us, &
on the mountain sides. Our march
commenced with the descent of
the
mountain upon which we had
encamped
the night previous. We had traveled
probably four miles, when the
Cavalry
& some Infantry were
suddenly ordered
into position, & the
remainder sent
scouring the adjacent hills,
an
undesirable job, truly. Away we went
tearing through underbrush,
& over logs
& stones, keeping both
eyes wide open,
as was necessary in order for
us to
make progress, & examine
the country.
Our hunt proved to be a “wild goose
chase,” & we returned to
where the others
were in the road, &
learned the cause of
all the warlike movements.
A small body of the enemy,
numbering
about 300, had decamped from
this place
but a short time previous,
after having
a severe fight with Co. ‘C.’ of our Reg’t.
The circumstance is as follows. This
Company had been sent out the
day previous
to scout and reconnoitre in
advance.
After scouring the country
considerably,
& burning up a
“bushwhackers” camp,
they started to rejoin the
Regiment, & should
have reported to Camp that
evening. All
were so tired, however, that
they concluded
to stay in a house about four
miles
from Camp. Intelligence of their doings
& whereabouts was forth
with made known
at Princeton,
& the rebel forces started out
in pursuit. Just as Co.
‘C’. was ready
ready to start in the
morning, they
greatly superior force, fully
four times as
great as theirs. The position our boys occupied
was a poor one, but the
enemy, posted as they were
on surrounding hills,
unquestionably had the advantage in every
respect.
The fight continued about an hour,
when the enemy suddenly
withdrew,
probably hearing of our
proximity. The
damage on both sides was
severe. What
the exact loss of the rebels
was, is
unknown, but enough is known
to make
it certain that they were
worsted. Co.
“C’s’
loss was one killed & 23
wounded, one of
whom has since died. It was a fearful
decimation, but that heroic
band
would have fought to the last
man, before
allowing themselves to be
taken. All
honor to the heroes, say I,
& say all
of us. – The wounded were
sent to
Flat Top Mountain, & will
remain
there, under charge of Ass’t
Surg. Mc Curdy,
until able for removal
further.
The regiment proceeded forward without
further delay, and, although
an unpleasant
day, and the roads slippery,
they reached
Princeton before sundown, 23 miles from
Flat Top. Having tarried considerably,
I did not reach here until
today.
Our boys were a trifle too late however,
as the enemy, being made
aware of their
approach, had fired the town,
really a
pretty one, subtstantially
built, and were
just “skedaddling” over the
hills in sight
of town. All was destroyed but 3 or 4
houses. Public buildings, which had cost
the people thousands of
dollars, shared the
common fate. What possible benefit to
them, or harm to us can
accrue from this
piece of vandalism I
am unable to see.
Let rebels talk about &
condemn Vandalism
now, as confined entirely to
the Northern
hirelings, when they wantonly
destroy property
against the protests of the
citizens, & have
no “military necessity” to
justify it.
“We come to protect you,” say they &
their press, “to guard your
homes & firesides
from the encroachments of the
Northern
invaders.” Their proclamations are as false,
as their actions are damnable. We can
truly acquiesce,
(ironically,) “Aye, such protection
as vultures give to lambs,
covering & devouring them.”
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13925
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