Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-24
BATTLE OF
PIGEON ROOST
FOUGHT ONE MILE SOUTH OF
PRINCETON, MAY. 1862, by
THE FEDERAL TROOPS UN-
DER GENERAL COX AND THE
CONFEDERATES UNDER COL.
G. q. WHARTON, COMMANDING
51ST VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

The following account of this bat
tie was written by the late Hon. Pc
ter ]. Otey. member of congress
from the Lynchburg district for
many years, who was at the time of
the battle a major in Wharton's reg
iment.
The 51st Virginia regiment with
Otey's Virginia battery and small
squadron of cavalry under Major
Houndshell. were encamped at the
southern base OF East River noun
tain and marched rapidly under or
ders received from General Marshall
over the turnpike towards Prince
ton.
Major Otey says: 1--WE reached
the top OF East River mountain and
received instructions from General
Marshall to proceed at once to
princeton. My recollection is that
we could see Princeton from the top
of the mountain. / was given com
mand OF three companies and one
piece of artillery of the Otey bat
terry under Lieut.. John Barnes Lang
horne than whom no more fearless
and gallant officer lived.
We had proceeded but short dis
lance when we discovered that the
enemy was directly behind us, NOV
ing after us on the same road. We
endeavored to hurry up: our rear
guard and one wagon were over
taken, wagon and supplies captured.
AS we neared Princeton, detach-
ment OF the enemy was discovered
in our front and It was then thought
that our order to proceed TO Prince
ton was not genuine, but a decoy
order to entrap us.
The detachment of the enemy. as
was reporter to us, had taken posi-
.tion on the road in log house.
commanding the road We unlim-
bered the one piece, but soon dis
covered that 1t was a false report
and proceeded on, Fastening to get
to Princeton. When we reached a
prominence we found that Marshall
was not at Princeton and we we're
now more than ever convinced that
a decoy order from the enemy had
entrapped us. Very soon we saw
the enemy approaching from Prince
ton, and thus we were between de
tachments of the federal troops.
either of which largely outnumber-
ed us.
Capt William A. Cooper, in com
mand OF two companies, accom-
panied by Lieutenant Langhorne.
with his gun, went forward on the
Princeton road to meet the advanc-
ing enemy from that direction.
while the remaining troops formed
to meet the column advancing from
the rear. Our orders from Whar-
ton were TO succor either line that
was pressed and Wharton then
rode off to find Marshall. In the
meantime Langhorne threw a shell
at the enemy which burst right
among them and Immediately re-
tired towards Princeton. We we're
Immediately attacked by the column
In the rear. ] mounted the fence
and called to my men to charge the
enemy. which they did with alacri-
". The enemy Immediately became
panic stricken and reiterated rapidly
towards East River mountain. We
continued to fire on them. killing
and woundlng a large number. AS
before stated, mo Cnted the fence
and jumped into the road, firing six
shots from my pistol at the enemy
at close range, when ] discovered a
large burly Dutch federal soldier
within a few feet Of me, presenting
his gun as II he intended to shoot
me. cried out to him, don't you
shoot; don't you see your men are
running and he replied Mister.
my gun amt loaded" This spirit
ed engagement was ended I'm TWEEN
ty-hve minutes after SC began.
Wharton returned to find US vie
torious. Cox refused to show him
self outside Of Princeton. and we
moved to the left and Joined Mar
shall and the next day Cox gave up
Princeton and we moved in. As be-
fore stated. Major Houndshell had
detachment Of cavalry in the road
and was by virtue OF the date Of his
commission the ranking officer on
the field.
Derrick, commanding one OF the