The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-06-06
GEN. COX's REFUSE
PRINCETON, VA.
GaIIantry of Maj +. u. FrankIin.

Gaiiantry of Maj. y. ". Franklin.
twill be remembered that Gen. Cox
in his advance from the Kanawha Volle,
out to Newberne, on the East Tennessee
g. Virginia Railroad, was suddenly
checked near Princeton, while still some
forty or fifty miles from the road, by find
ing Gems. Heath, Humphrey Marshall
and Williams in his front, with heavy
forces; and that on the 10th inst, his ad.
vance was attacked. Ofthe engagement
that followed, we find these details in
the correspondence of the Times:
THE ATTACK.
The first announcement of the imme.
diate presence Of the enemy was an at.
tack on foruging party from our forces
about three miles from Princeton, on the
morning Of the 10th. composed Of de-
tachment Of the 2Sth Ohio regiment. A
party ofthe 34th (Piatt Zouaves), under
Major Franklin, Immediately went to the
scene of action, and series of skirmishes
ensued, our men rallying from knoll tc
knoll, and making a most desperate re.
sistance against superior numbers, aud re.
fusing to surrender one foot of ground
until they were actually driven from il
by such superior numbers that il was i'm.
possible 10 contend against them.
At one time, it is said that one hundred
aud fifty men sustained, in unbroken col.
umn, the attack Of more than thousand
rebels, and never fell back from their po-
sition until they were ordered to do 50.
MORE HARD FIGHTING.
About o'clock, Capt, Phelps, the Post
QuLrtcrmaster at Princeton, who was
volunteer All on the occasion, reported
from the field Of battle to Gen. Cox, and
returned answer to Major Franklin tha,
'he must hold the ground until he was
re~enlorced. The Major replied that il
was dos crate thing, but he would obey
orders.
They held their ground from O'Clock
until nearly dark. At that time it was
found that the enemy were making a
Ranking movement with the evident in
tention of surrounding the entire force
L; was then thought advisable to fall back
to n position nearer to the town. The
enemy however, had so nearly circum-
vented them that the proposed withdrawal
was found TO be rather difficult task.
TIMELY ARRIVAL.
Just at this juncture the arrival of Cap
tain Evans of the 3ith (Zouaves), came
to their relief and opened brisk fire,
making gap in the closing lines of the
enemy, which allowed of the withdrawal
OF the almost captured troops.
The Federal force engaged then fell
back to Princeton, and restcd Oh their
arms for the night.
THE FIGHT OF SATURDAY.
During all of Friday night Gen. Cox
was engaged in making his arrangements
for the day. It was ascertained that the
force of the enemy was quite large, and
il was known that if the ground was held
at all il would only be by most despe-
rate struggle.
At curiy dawn on Saturday morning a
detachment made up Of portions of the
3ith, 3Ith and 3Sth Ohio regiments were
sent by the East river road to attack the
enemy in the rear, while the available
cd TO the advance of the rebels.
The foe was found at the same point
they had occupied on the previous day.
The battle opened, and in a short time be-
came general. Our men fought with u
desperation truly worthy of themselves,
and even in the face of superior numbers
exhibited a determination to carry the
field.
A desperate charge made by the Zou-
aves deprived the enemy of one OF their
most valuable pieces OF artillery, but n
rally of the superior numbers of the enc-
my, Obliged them to relinquish their prize
and again fall back upon the line.
THE ATTACK IN THE REAR.
In the meantime the force sent by the
East river road to attack the enemy in
the rear had been observed by the rebels
before they reached the scene of opera
tons, and preparations had been made to
resist them. AS they came up TO the at
tack they were met by a force dispatched
for the purpose, and murderous fire swept
their ranks, coming mostly from the ranks
of the rebel infantry.
Under such circumstances, being fully
convinced that il was impossible to con-
tend successfully against the heavier
force of the foe, our troops left the field
and retired in good order into Prince
ton.
1t now became full y evident that the
Federal force was too weak to compete
with nearly three times their number OH
the side of the enemy, Gen. Cox determin.
ed to Withdraw from Princeton and cstob-
lish himselfat more advantageous point
on the Gauley road.
Accordingly, during the night, the
troops silently left the town, alter hav-
ing destroyed such stores as could not be
transported, aud moved in the direction
Of favorable point known as "Flat Top"
where his forces are now encampcd.