The summer of 1864 marked a critical turning point in the American Civil War, setting the stage for Sheridan’s Valley Campaign in Virginia. This decisive campaign was orchestrated by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, who recognized the enduring vulnerability of Washington, D.C., and the persistent threat posed by Confederate forces in the strategically vital Shenandoah Valley. Following the defeat of General David Hunter, Grant sought an aggressive commander capable of neutralizing Confederate General Jubal Early and his army. He found that leader in Union Major General Philip Sheridan, a formidable cavalry commander from the Army of the Potomac, who was entrusted with the newly formed Army of the Shenandoah. Sheridan’s initial cautious approach was influenced by the delicate political climate of the 1864 presidential election, aiming to avoid any Union setbacks that could undermine President Abraham Lincoln’s re-election bid. The ensuing campaign, largely fought across Virginia with a few skirmishes in West Virginia, saw a series of significant battles unfold between August and October 1864, fundamentally altering the course of the war in the region.
The Initial Engagements: August 1864
Guard Hill (August 16, 1864)
Also known as the Battle of Front Royal and the Battle of Cedarville, this engagement unfolded in Warren County, Virginia. Confederate forces, specifically General Joseph Kershaw’s infantry division and General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry, operating under Lieutenant General Richard Anderson, were dispatched from Petersburg to reinforce Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early’s army in the Shenandoah Valley. On August 16, Union cavalry under Brigadier General Wesley Merritt’s division launched a surprise attack on the Confederate columns as they were mid-stream in the Shenandoah River, successfully capturing approximately 300 enemy soldiers. Though initially caught off guard, the Confederates managed to rally and advance, gradually pushing the two Union brigades back towards Cedarville. As darkness fell, Merritt ordered a withdrawal to Ninevah. The battle proved inconclusive, with an estimated total of 550 casualties on both sides, but demonstrated the Union’s growing initiative.
Summit Point (August 21, 1864)
Known also as the Battle of Flowing Springs or Cameron’s Depot, this skirmish took place in Jefferson County, West Virginia, near Charles Town. As General Sheridan concentrated his forces near Charles Town, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early and Major General Richard H. Anderson launched a coordinated attack with converging columns on August 21. The Union forces engaged in effective delaying actions, skillfully buying time and inflicting casualties before executing a strategic withdrawal to defensive positions near Halltown the following day. This inconclusive battle resulted in roughly 1,000 casualties, highlighting the fierce resistance faced by both armies.
Smithfield Crossing (August 25–29, 1864)
This engagement spanned Jefferson and Berkeley Counties of West Virginia. On August 29, two Confederate infantry divisions under Lieutenant General Jubal Early initiated a crossing of Opequon Creek at Smithfield Crossing, successfully pushing back Wesley Merritt’s Union cavalry division towards Charles Town. However, a well-timed counterattack led by Union General James Ricketts’ infantry division halted the Confederate advance decisively. Following this strong Union response, the Confederate troops made no further attempts to press forward, rendering the battle inconclusive. Notably, Smithfield Crossing marked the last engagement of the American Civil War to occur within West Virginia.
Sharpening the Focus: September 1864
Berryville (September 3-4, 1864)
Taking place in Clarke County, Virginia, this encounter saw Major General Philip Sheridan’s divisions marching south from Halltown, reaching Berryville on September 3. Elements of Union General George Crook’s corps established camp, only to be attacked by Confederate General Joseph Kershaw’s infantry division. The Confederate assault yielded limited results against the Union positions. During the night, Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early brought up his entire army, but upon assessing General Sheridan’s firmly entrenched position by daylight, deemed it too strong for a direct assault. General Early subsequently withdrew under the cover of darkness behind Opequon Creek. The inconclusive engagement resulted in an estimated total of 500 casualties.
Opequon (Third Battle of Winchester) (September 19, 1864)
Fought in Frederick County, Virginia, this was arguably the most significant and fiercely contested battle of the entire Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Earlier, Joseph Kershaw’s infantry division had departed Winchester to rejoin General Robert E. Lee’s army at Petersburg, leaving Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early’s four remaining infantry divisions poorly dispersed while renewing raids on the B&O Railroad at Martinsburg. Seizing this opportunity, Union Major General Philip Sheridan advanced toward Winchester along the Berryville Pike on September 19 with the VI and XIX Corps, crossing Opequon Creek. The Union advance was delayed just long enough for Early to concentrate his forces, setting the stage for a brutal main assault that lasted several hours. Casualties mounted rapidly on both sides. The Confederate line was gradually forced back toward the town. In the mid-afternoon, Union Brigadier General George Crook’s VIII Corps, supported by cavalry, executed a critical maneuver, turning the Confederate left flank. Early was compelled to order a general retreat. The battle claimed the lives of Confederate Generals Robert Rodes and Archibald Godwin, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee, William Terry, Edward Johnson, and John Wharton were wounded. On the Union side, General David A. Russell was killed, and Generals John B. McIntosh, Emory Upton, and George Chapman were wounded. Due to its scale, intensity, and decisive Union victory, many historians consider the Third Battle of Winchester the most impactful conflict of the Shenandoah Valley. Estimated casualties were substantial: 5,020 Union and 3,610 Confederate.
Fisher’s Hill (September 21-22, 1864)
This two-day engagement followed the defeat at Opequon and took place in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s bloodied army retreated and took up a formidable defensive position at Fisher’s Hill, south of Strasburg. On September 21, the Union army advanced, successfully driving back Confederate skirmishers and capturing crucial high ground. The decisive moment came on the 22nd, when Union Brigadier General George Crook’s Corps executed a brilliant flanking maneuver along North Mountain, launching an attack around 4 p.m. The Confederate cavalry offered minimal resistance, and the startled infantry proved unable to counter the attacking force. The Confederate defense swiftly collapsed from west to east as Major General Sheridan’s other corps joined the assault. Early was forced to retreat further to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, effectively opening the Valley to a Union “scorched earth” invasion. This devastating policy, which saw mills and barns burned from Staunton to Strasburg, became infamously known as the “Burning” or “Red October.” The Union victory at Fisher’s Hill resulted in estimated casualties of 528 Union and 1,235 Confederate, severely crippling Early’s army.
The Final Blows: October 1864
Tom’s Brook (October 9, 1864)
Also referred to as the Battle of Woodstock Races, this engagement unfolded in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Following his victory at Fisher’s Hill, Major General Philip Sheridan relentlessly pursued Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s army up the Shenandoah Valley to near Staunton. On October 6, Sheridan initiated a withdrawal, during which his cavalry systematically burned anything deemed of military significance, including critical barns and mills, as part of the “scorched earth” strategy. Reinforced by Confederate General Joseph Kershaw’s division, General Early pursued the retreating Federals. Confederate Major General Thomas Rosser, who had arrived from Petersburg to assume command of General Fitz Lee’s cavalry division, continuously harassed the Union forces. However, on October 9, Union Brigadier General Alfred Torbert’s troopers abruptly turned on their pursuers, decisively routing Generals Thomas Rosser and Lunsford Lomax’s divisions at Tom’s Brook. This overwhelming Union cavalry victory firmly established their superiority in the Shenandoah Valley. Estimated casualties included 57 Union and 350 Confederate.
Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864)
Also known as the Battle of Belle Grove, this extensive and dramatic engagement spanned Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties of Virginia. At dawn on October 19, 1864, the Confederate Army of the Valley under Lieutenant General Jubal Early launched a devastating surprise attack on the Federal Army at Cedar Creek, initially routing the VIII and XIX Army Corps. The Union line was broken, and a significant portion of the army was in disarray. However, in one of the most iconic moments of the war, Commander Major General Philip Sheridan, having ridden twenty miles from Winchester, arrived on the battlefield to rally his retreating troops. His presence and impassioned leadership reinvigorated the Union forces. In the afternoon, Sheridan launched a crushing counterattack that not only recovered the lost ground but utterly broke the back of the Confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley. This resounding victory at Cedar Creek had immense implications; President Abraham Lincoln capitalized on the momentum of Sheridan’s successes in the Valley and General William T. Sherman’s concurrent triumphs in Georgia to secure his re-election. The Union victory resulted in estimated casualties of 5,665 Union and 2,920 Confederate, marking the virtual end of significant Confederate operations in the region.
Conclusion: The Enduring Impact of Sheridan’s Valley Campaign
The culmination of Sheridan’s Valley Campaign in Virginia definitively secured Union control over the vital Shenandoah Valley. This strategic victory eliminated a critical supply line for the Confederacy and prevented further Confederate incursions into Union territory, particularly toward Washington, D.C. The aggressive tactics employed by Major General Philip Sheridan, especially the
