Battlefield Winchester Driving Tour 1864 Timeline AREA AT WAR Third Battle August 7 Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan of Winchester assumes command of the Federal Army of the Shenandoah, opposing Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early’s 1864: The Year of Decision Army of the Valley. For the Shenandoah Valley, the Civil War reached its turning point in 1864, the Valley’s “Year of Decision.” August – Early For nearly three years, the pain and misery of war had visited the Shenandoah as Union and Confederate 3 September Winchester armies marched and fought through the Valley’s fields and villages, with the Confederacy holding a Sheridan and Early alternately 2 advance and retreat in the tenuous grasp on the bountiful land. Finally, after continuous military losses and frustration, Federal Kernstown northern Valley, occasionally leaders determined in 1864 to conquer, occupy or destroy the military forces and provisions of the 6 engaging one another, and reconfiguring their forces, a time Valley once and for all. Spring brought Union frustration with a defeat at New Market in May, Strasburg 1 Front Royal some refer to as “mimic war.” then a victory on the rolling landscape at Piedmont in June. The Confederate high mark 4 5 came when Gen. Jubal Early marched north into Maryland and threatened fortress August 16 Elements of the two armies Washington, causing consternation in the Federal capital. After more losses in meet near Front Royal in the the Shenandoah Valley, desperate Federal leaders turned to a new commander, inconclusive Battle of Guard Hill. Guard Hill 1 Gen. Philip Sheridan. By early fall Sheridan delivered several stinging Berryville 2 defeats, dashing Confederate hopes. Federal forces then embarked September 3 – 4 Third Winchester 3 The armies fight another on a “scorched earth” campaign that burned and Fisher’s Hill 4 inconclusive engagement at laid waste to much of the Valley’s agricultural Tom’s Brook 5 Harrisonburg the Battle of Berryville; Early bounty. After one final attempt to destroy Cedar Creek 6 withdraws behind Opequon Creek. Sheridan’s army, Early met a smashing defeat at McDowell Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. Thereafter, September 19 the Confederacy had lost control of the Sheridan attacks Early’s divided Staunton army at the Third Battle of Shenandoah Valley. Winchester, winning a victory that sends Early’s army south to VIRGINIA Fisher’s Hill. The Waltz: September 21 – 22 Early’s army is defeated again August and September 1864 at the Battle of Fisher’s Hill and retreats south through the From the time Sheridan assumed command on August 7 through mid-September, the two foes maneuvered about the northern Valley. Valley, probing, deploying, marching, matching and mirroring each other’s moves but rarely fighting. After contacting a Unionist Sept. 23 – Oct. 8 Quaker in Winchester named Rebecca Wright, Sheridan learned that Early had sent a portion of his army east to reinforce Sheridan’s army moves south Gen. Robert E. Lee at Petersburg. Early had also split his army of some 15,000 soldiers to raid and harass the enemy north of all the way to Staunton, then Winchester. This was the opportunity that Sheridan had been awaiting. moves north and embarks on “The Burning,” systematically confiscating or destroying barns, mills, crops, and livestock Battle Summary throughout the central Valley. Early on the morning of September 19, Sheridan’s cavalry divisions crossed the Opequon Creek at three different points—the October 9 Confederate cavalry is routed vanguard of some 39,000 Union soldiers. Behind the cavalry marched three infantry corps advancing through the narrow but at the Battle of Tom’s Brook by direct approach to Winchester along the Berryville Pike and canyon. Sheridan’s plan was to surprise and overwhelm Early’s Union cavalry; the Burning ends. scattered forces with a powerful attack. However, on September 18, Early had realized Sheridan’s intentions and correctly Mid-October assumed that an attack was imminent. He quickly consolidated his forces, just in time for the Federal onslaught. Sheridan’s Federals encamp along the advance through the Berryville Canyon was confused and tangled with men and supply wagons, which gave Early time to meet banks of Cedar Creek, between the Federal attack. Union Gen. Horatio Wright’s VI Corps and Gen. William Emory’s XIX Corps were severely mauled attacking Strasburg and Middletown. across the plain near the Berryville Pike, through the forested First Woods, across the Middle Field, and then on the Second October 19 Woods north of the Pike. Confederate artillery and counter-attacks from Gen. John Gordon’s and Gen. Robert Rodes’ divisions Early attacks Sheridan’s Union stopped the attacks. By mid-afternoon, Federal Gen. George Crook’s Army of West Virginia (VIII Corps), Sheridan’s reserve, army at the Battle of Cedar fell upon Early’s weakened left line from the north forcing it to fold back into Winchester. Simultaneously, two Union cavalry Creek, winning much of the battlefield by early afternoon divisions—6,000 mounted soldiers—attacked along the Valley Pike, engulfing all resistance in their path. The Confederate left before Federals launch a flank collapsed under the tremendous force, causing a panic. Early ordered a retreat which turned into a rout through the streets counterattack that all but destroys Early’s army for the of Winchester. remainder of the war. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Tour Starting Point ~ US 7 crosses Opequon Creek 8 miles east of Winchester There is a pull-off area on the north side of the highway. Exploring the Old C harlestown Rd M Old Ch cC 5 arlestown Rd an 81 n’s Third Battle of Winchester Rd 11 Jo 6 Battlefield rd a Stop 1 ~ Federal army crosses Opequon Creek at n Sp Spout Spring (Sept 19, 1864) 2-9am r i n d g Exit 317 R s Area of the R At this location most of Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah crossed Opequon Creek, led n 7 r d u b by Gen. James Wilson’s 3rd Cavalry Division. Following was Wright’s VI Corps, Emory’s l i Third Battle of small XIX Corps of two divisions, and farther back in support was Crook’s corps. Wilson M 11 Winchester began crossing here at 2am, with the infantry filing into Berryville Canyon, and forced the R k 522 e e d e Confederate picket lines back. d R b Cr ud ll 9 n R i M uo (There are Virginia state markers in this area. To the left, south of US 7, is Millbank, a d q 37 s e d o Op house and mill in operation at the time of the battle.) o Martinsburg Pike W Following the tour: Drive west towards Winchester on US 7. Past the entrance of Millbrook Middle Field High School, the road rises. Stop at a safe pull-off along the road near the top of the hill. rnt Rd 8 Bu ry 4 cto Fa 50 West Woods 2 Stop 2 ~ Federal Deployment – 6-9am 11 First 7Woods (Mouth of Berryville Canyon) Exit 315 3 Wilson’s cavalry quickly and easily secured the plains beyond Berryville Canyon and met 10 little resistance. Wright’s VI Corps followed through the canyon but ignored orders to 1 d leave the train of wagons behind. The many wagons soon caused a huge jam in Berryville R y Canyon for Emory’s corps following behind. Sheridan established his Headquarters at le 37 l 12 Va the Eversole farm, just to the south of this location and the road. Realizing the serious- t n a 11 s ness of the traffic jam in the canyon, Sheridan’s famous anger boiled as his army met stiff e Senseny Rd v lea 81 A resistance. Still, he directed the deployment of his army effectively. But by then Confeder- P y e l ate reinforcements were en route—Sheridan lost his opportunity to destroy Early’s army. l de a Gra V Exit 313 On the morning of September 19, Early had only Gen. Stephen Ramseur’s division and ae k r C re small division under Gen. Gabriel Wharton available to meet the Federal juggernaut.Ceda As 50 Early consolidated his scattered forces through the morning, Ramseur’s division deployed Visitor Information a few hundred yards to the west straddling modern-day US 7 and was the only Confeder- d ate force to meet the Union advance from Berryville Canyon. Ramseur’s division stopped R le d Civil War site brochures, lodging and restaurant information, the Federal attack as Union brigades and regiments were thrown back. id M plus group tour information are available at: Following the tour: Continue west on US 7 and pull into the Winchester Mall parking lot on the right, just before the Interstate 81 interchange. 522 Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center and Civil War Orientation Center Stop 3 ~ Ramseur’s Defense – 6am-12noon (South of West Woods; Junction I-81 & US 7) 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester - 877-871-1326 In this area of east Winchester, Ramseur’s Confederate division was able to block37 the Federal advance, first Wilson’s cavalry division, and then Wright’s VI Corps. The Open daily - 9:00am to 5:00pm situation was desperate on both sides: Federal forces were stacking up in the canyon and being slaughtered as they reached the plain out of the mouth of the canyon; www.visitwinchesterva.com 81 Ramseur’s division was being driven back gradually and needed reinforcements. Eventually Confederate Gen. Rodes’ division arrived and deployed north and to the rear in an area called the West Woods.