Shenandoah Valley, chronology of the operations in the
:Campaign of Grant against Lee embraced movements up the Shenandoah Valley. Sigel, commanding Department of West Virginia, is sent up the valley with 10,000 men, supported by General Crook, who leaves Charlestown, W. Va., at the same time | May 1, 1864 |
Breckinridge defeats Sigel at New-market | May 15, 1864 |
Grant relieves Sigel and appoints Hunter, who defeats the Confederates under Gen. W. E. Jones at Piedmont | June 5, 1864 |
Hunter, joined by Crook and Averill, advances to Staunton, and instead of proceeding to Gordonsville to join Sheridan, goes to Lexington, and on June 18 threatens Lynchburg with 20,000 men; but opposed by a much stronger force, escapes into West Virginia, where his force for the time is useless. | |
Confederate forces, now under General Early, move rapidly down the Shenandoah to the Potomac, and spread consternation from Baltimore to Washington | July 2-3, 1864 |
Gen. Lew. Wallace attempts to check the Confederates at Monocacy, but is defeated with a loss of ninety-eight killed, 579 wounded, and 1,280 missing | July 9, 1864 |
Confederate cavalry approach Baltimore | July 10, 1864 |
On the 11th Early is within 6 or 7 miles of Washington, and menaces the capital on the 12th, but retires on the 13th. The 19th Corps (Emory's), arriving at Fortress Monroe from Louisiana, and the 6th Corps from before Petersburg, sent by Grant under Wright to attack Early, pursue him some distance up the valley, and return to Leesburg, and are ordered back to Petersburg. Early returns as soon as the pursuit ceases; strikes Crook at Martinsburg, defeats him, and holds the Potomac from Shepardstown to Williamsport, | |
Early now sends B. R. Johnston and McCausland with some 3,000 cavalry on a raid into Pennsylvania | July 30, 1864 |
Approaching Chambersburg, Pa., they demand $100,000, which is not paid, and burn the town | July 30, 1864 |
Sixth and 19th Corps, on their way to Petersburg, return. Grant relieves General Hunter, organizes the army of the middle division, and gives the command to Sheridan | Aug. 7, 1864 |
Sheridan attacks and defeats Early, strongly fortified at Opequan Creek, near Winchester | Sept. 19, 1864 |
Early falls back to Fisher's Hill, south of Winchester, where Sheridan routs him, taking 1,100 prisoners and sixteen guns | Sept. 23, 1864 |
Sheridan pushes Early to the mountains; returns to Cedar Creek, and, leaving his command, visits Washington | Oct. 15, 1864 |
Early, reinforced, returns to Fisher's Hill, and, learning of Sheridan's absence, sets out to attack on the evening of | Oct. 18, 1864 |
Surprises the Federals under Wright, driving them back with a loss of twenty-four guns and 1,200 prisoners, morning of | Oct. 19, 1864 |
Sheridan at Winchester on the night of the 18th. On his way to the front news of the rout of his army reaches him. His arrival on the field stops the retreat. Early is crushed and the campaign in the valley ended, Oct. 19, 1864. See Cedar Creek. | |
Sheridan, with 10,000 cavalry, drives the Confederates from Waynesboro, Feb. 27, and, advancing, joins Grant before Petersburg | March 27, 1865 |