Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 1862March 11Thomas J. Jackson evacuates Winchester. March 12Nathaniel P. Banks occupies Winchester. March 18Skirmish at Middletown. March 23First Battle of KernstownForces Engaged: 12,300 total (US 8,500; CS 3,800) April 30Richard S. Ewell's division crosses the Blue Ridge at Swift Run Gap into the Shenandoah Valley. May 3Jackson's army departs the Valley via Brown's Gap. May 4Jackson returns his army to the Valley by rail, from Mechum's River Station via Rockfish Gap to Staunton. May 8Battle of McDowellForces Engaged: 12,500 total (US 6,500; CS 3,000) May 23Battle of Front RoyalForces Engaged: 4,063 total (US 1,063; CS 3,000) May 25First Battle of WinchesterForces Engaged: 22,500 total (US 6,500; CS 16,000) May 29-30Jackson demonstrates against Harper's Ferry. May 31Jackson's army marches through Winchester. June 6Skirmish near Harrisonburg, Brig. Gen. Turner Ashby killed in action. June 8Battle of Cross KeysForces Engaged: 17,300 total (US 11,500; CS 5,800) June 9Battle of Port RepublicForces Engaged: 9,500 total (US 3,500; CS 6,000) June 17Jackson leaves the Valley for Richmond, Virginia. September 11Jackson with three divisions crosses the Potomac back into Virginia from Williamsport, Maryland. Brig. Gen. Julius White's Federal garrison at Martinsburg retreats to Harper's Ferry. September 12-15Siege of Harper's FerryForces Engaged: 36,900 total (US 14,000; CS 22,900) September 19-20Battle of SheperdstownForces Engaged: (US 2,000) 1863January 1President Lincoln's EmanciPa.tion Proclamation. General Robert Milroy occupies Winchester. June 13-15Second Battle of WinchesterForces Engaged: 19,500 total (US 7,000; CS 12,500) June 15Ewell's Second Corps crosses the Potomac River northward at Williamsport, Md. and Shepherdstown, W.V. June 24Hill's Third Corps crosses the Potomac River at Boteler's Ford (Shepherdstown, W.V.). June 25Longstreet's First Corps crosses the Potomac River at Williamsport, Md. July 14Army of Northern Virginia enters Martinsburg, W.V. 1864April 30Federal army under Franz Sigel advances south from Martinsburg, W.V. May 1Sigel occupies Winchester. May 11Sigel's army encamps at Cedar Creek just south of Middletown. May 15Battle of New MarketForces Engaged: 10,365 total (US 6,275; CS 4,090) May 16Sigel returns to Cedar Creek May 19Sigel is relieved of command and posted to Harper's Ferry. May 21David Hunter takes command of Federal army at Cedar Creek. May 26Hunter advances southward. June 2Hunter's army reaches Harrisonburg, Va. June 5-6Battle of PiedmontForces Engaged: 14,000 total (US 8,500; CS 5,500) June 6Hunter enters Staunton, Va. June 11Hunter sacks Lexington, Va., including burning Virginia Military Institute. June 13Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early's Second Corps is ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. June 17Early's Second Corps begins arriving in Lynchburg, Va. June 17-18Battle of LynchburgResult: Confederate Victory July 2Early's Army of the Valley reaches Winchester, Va. July 9Battle of MonocacyResult: Confederate Victory July 22Federal troops reoccupy Winchester. July 24Second Battle of KernstownForces Engaged: 23,000 total (US 10,000; CS 13,000) July 30Confederate cavalry under John McCausland burns Chambersburg, Pa. July 14Early crosses the Potomac back into the Valley at White's Ferry, Va. August 7Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan arrives in Harper's Ferry, W.V., assuming command of the Middle Military Division and the Army of the Shenandoah. August 15Early's army is reenforced by Kershaw's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's calVa.ry divisions. September 16Gen. Ulysses S. Grant meets with Sheridan at his Charles Town, W.V., headquarters. Kerhsaw's Division begins returning to Lee's army. September 19Third Battle of Winchester (Battle of Opequon)Forces Engaged: 54,440 total (US 39,240; CS 15,200) September 22Battle of Fishers HillForces Engaged: 38,944 total (US 29,444; CS 9,500) September 23Skirmish at Front Royal, Federal cavalry execute six of Mosby's Rangers. September 24Kershaw's Division rejoins Early's army. September 27The systematic destruction of the Valley begins under Sheridan's command. Known simply as "The Burning". Lee urges Early to defeat Sheridan in the Valley. October 3Lt. John R. Meigs is killed by Confederate scouts near Dayton. Sheridan orders the burning of Dayton, Va. and surrounding homes in retaliation. October 4Sheridan rescinds the order to burn Dayton. October 9Battle of Tom's Brook (Battle of Woodstock Races)Forces Engaged: 9,800 total (US 6,300; CS 3,500) "The Burning" is completed after 13 days. October 10Sheridan's army encamps along Cedar Creek. October 13The Sixth Corps marches to Ashby's Gap en route to Alexandria but is recalled by Sheridan. Skirmish at Hupp's HillForces Engaged: 8,400 total (US 1,900; CS 6,500) October 14The Sixth Corps returns to right of Federal line along Cedar Creek. October 15Sheridan leaves for Washington, D.C. to attend a war strategy meeting.The Eighth and Nineteenth Corps begin entrenching. October 16Early has decoy message wigwagged from Signal Knob in view of the Federal army. Sheridan receives word of the decoded message in Front Royal and wires the news to Halleck. October 17Gen. John B. Gordon, Gen. Clement A. EVa.ns, Maj. Robert W. Hunter, and Maj. Jedidiah Hotchkiss climb Massanutten Mountain and observes Sheridan's army from Signal Knob. Rosser attacks Custer's pickets. Sheridan arrives in Washington at 8 a.m., meets with Stanton and Halleck, and takes a noon train to Martinsburg, W.V. October 18At a headquarters conference, Early accepts attack plan proposed by Gordon and Hotchkiss. Gen. Gordon, Gen. Stephen D Ramseur, and Maj. Hotchkiss reconnoiter trail around Massanutten Mountain. Pioneers from Rodes' (Ramseur's) Division improve trail.Sheridan rides from Martinsburg to Winchester. October 19The Battle of Cedar CreekForces Engaged: 46,091 (US 32,000; CS 14,091) |
Last updated: June 27, 2022