THE BATTLE OF FISHER’S HILL “THE FALL OF GIBRALTAR” ● SEPTEMBER 22, 1864 Sketch of battle by James E. Taylor. Courtesy the “Thence we went, sweeping down their lines like a western cyclone.” Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio – U.S. Col. Thomas F. Wildes on Crook’s flank attack PRELUDE TO BATTLE: “INDICATIONS WERE OMINOUS” Crook launched his assault about 4 pm, his soldiers charging down In the fall of 1864, U.S. Gen Philip Sheridan was sent to the the side of the mountain, scattering the Confederate cavalry and Shenandoah Valley to bring an end to Confederate control of the closing on the Confederate infantry on the position now known as region. After delivering a crushing defeat to Confederates at Third “Ramseur's Hill.” The southern infantry (who had seen Crook’s men Winchester on September 19, Sheridan faced Confederate Gen. forming) initially held, but as additional units attacked from other Jubal Early again days later, south of Strasburg at Fisher’s Hill. directions, cries of “we’re flanked!” rang out, and the southern line began to collapse. Early galloped to that part of the field, trying to Fisher’s Hill, the “Gibraltar of the Valley,” was an imposing stem the tide by redirecting troops from the center – and by ordering defensive position, considered almost unbreakable – if properly his units to shoot his own fleeing men. “General Early rode up and manned. But Early no longer had enough troops to cover the ordered our regiment to fire into them if they would not halt,” th Valley’s span. Additionally, the Federals were flush with recalled Capt. Samuel D. Buck of the 13 Virginia Infantry. “No one confidence after their victory at Winchester. For the Confederates, obeyed the order.” The retreating troops crashed into other units, as Maj. Henry Kyd Douglas wrote, “indications were ominous.” including Buck’s, and carried them away in the tide of retreat. “A cavalryman came down our line telling the men they were flanked...I have Early believed the biggest threat to his position was to the east, and often regretted I did not shoot him.” - Confederate Capt. Samuel D. Buck his western flank was held only by dismounted cavalry. Unfortunately for Early, Sheridan sent Gen. George Crook and his Sheridan ordered the rest of the Federals to advance. The VI Corps, attacking in the center of the battlefield, descended the northern Army of West Virginia (VIII Corps) on a turning movement against that flank. On September 21, Gen. Horatio Wright’s VI Corps heights to the area around Pifer’s Mill, crossed Tumbling Run and the pushed Confederates skirmishers (sheltered behind fence-rail mill race, then climbed the hillside. The Confederates “poured in one barricades called “bull pens”) off the heights north of Tumbling tremendous volley...then broke and fled in the wildest disorder.” Run, in part to keep them from seeing Crook’s flank march. Private George W. Nichols of the 61st Georgia Infantry, on the On the night of September 21-22, Crook and his men, using forest eastern side of the Confederate position, described how the Federals cover to remain hidden from view, moved beyond the left flank of “broke our line where we had a few dismounted cavalry, and made a Early’s line. Meanwhile, to distract the Confederates, the rest of the dash on our rear. We did not know what it meant at first, for we saw Federals demonstrated and probed Early’s line throughout Sept- our men leaving our works on our left and begin to fall back in a run.” ember 22. To the east, Union Capt. John W. DeForest’s regiment Facing overwhelming force from front and rear, the Confederates was ordered to fire across a gorge into the woods on the other side, retreated along the Valley Turnpike towards Woodstock. “The rout even though they “could not discern a living creature.” While the of wagons, caissons, limbers, artillery, and flying men was fearful,” action seemed strange, DeForest later realized that the “purpose of this cartridge burning [was] to aid in distracting [the] Southerners Jedediah Hotchkiss recalled. Private Nichols described how, by the from our serious turning movement far away to the right.” time he reached Woodstock, “I was so fatigued till I spit blood.” Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon said the retreat was “a rout,” but “The squirrels and stray pigs over there must have wondered what we had noted that, “It is not just to blame the troops. There are conditions in against them.” - Union Capt. John W. DeForest, 12th Connecticut war when courage, firmness, steadiness of nerve, and self-reliance are of small avail. Such were the conditions at Fisher's Hill.” .