Col. Kirk Marple's Federal Cavalry Brigade arrived at Princeton on May 19th and disrupted Confederate recruiting activities. Federals began recruiting in Princeton the following day and Marple sent the 25th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry to Hampton to do the same. When the 25th reached Hampton, it found two Confederate regiments there, which were joined by Martin's Brigade just at the 25th arrived. The Federals quickly starting retreating back towards Princeton, followed by Martin's Brigade.
The result skirmishing between Col. Dibble's Brigade and Brig. Gen. Krafts cavalrymen at Holly Springs was the retreat of Kraft's Federal horsemen toward Princeton to join Marple and resupply. As Kraft moved towards Princeton, Randall's Confederate cavalry brigade was simultaneously moving eastward towards Princeton from Cache Marsa.
Marple's Brigade deployed along the bridges on the north bank of Tulip Creek, where he was ready for Martin's arrival on the afternoon of the 24th. Martin did not attempt to take the bridges, but deployed on the south bank of the creek near Princeton Mills. Further east, Kraft had been moving to join Marple when Randall's Brigade appeared to the west, threatening Marple's flank and rear. Kraft stopped at Bent Tree Hill and deployed in a strong defensive position across the Greenville Road. Randall halted and also deployed defensively on the west bank of Plum Creek.
And that's where the evening found them... There was no engagement on the 24th, but after days of light skirmishing that was sometimes only between two or three regiments, a total of 15 regiments now face each other south and southeast of Princeton town.
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