In a message dated 1/17/04 6:27:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: May 1, 1862: Burning of Princeton during Civil War Clarence, et al: Rutherford B. Hayes, future president and officer of the 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment that occupied Raleigh County during the Civil War, describes the burning of Princeton in the following way: We were told of great reinforcements at Princeton or soon to be at Princeton. The 45th (Virginia) there or coming. Captain Ward, a pleasant gentleman, said we would probably "get thunder at Princeton." We kept ahead. On approaching town we saw great clouds. Some thought it smoke, some supposed it was clouds. Within two miles we knew the rebels were burning the town. We hurried forward; soon reached an elevated ground overlooking the place. All the brick buildings, court houses, churches, etc., were burning. I ordered up the howitzers to scatter out the few Rebel cavalry who were doing it; deployed the regiment by a file right into a field and marched forward by battalion front. The town was soon overrun. Some fires were put out; 4 or 5 tolerably fine buildings were saved; a number of small buildings and some good stables were also saved. Sincerely, Mike Peters [email protected]

----- Original Message ----- Thanks Mike, very interesting. Sarah From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 7:06 PM Subject: Re: [WVRALEIG] Burning of Princeton > In a message dated 1/17/04 6:27:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > May 1, 1862: Burning of Princeton during Civil War > Clarence, et al: > Rutherford B. Hayes, future president and officer of the 23rd Ohio Infantry > Regiment that occupied Raleigh County during the Civil War, describes the > burning of Princeton in the following way: > We were told of great reinforcements at Princeton or soon to be at > Princeton. The 45th (Virginia) there or coming. Captain Ward, a pleasant gentleman, > said we would probably "get thunder at Princeton." We kept ahead. On > approaching town we saw great clouds. Some thought it smoke, some supposed it was > clouds. Within two miles we knew the rebels were burning the town. We hurried > forward; soon reached an elevated ground overlooking the place. All the brick > buildings, court houses, churches, etc., were burning. I ordered up the > howitzers to scatter out the few Rebel cavalry who were doing it; deployed the > regiment by a file right into a field and marched forward by battalion front. The > town was soon overrun. Some fires were put out; 4 or 5 tolerably fine > buildings were saved; a number of small buildings and some good stables were also > saved. > Sincerely, > > Mike Peters > [email protected] > >