The Shenandoah Valley stretches 150 miles between Lexington, Virginia and the Potomac River and forms a corridor between the Piedmont Region and the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia. This article focuses on the upper part, from Harper's Ferry and the Potomac River to Lexington and where the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Washington & Lee College are located. Both Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Robert E. Lee are buried there in this narrow corridor, a place rich in the history of Virginia and the Confederacy. The valley was the breadbasket of Virginia. Acres of grain and herds of livestock were raised there. Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the mechanical reaper, was born in Rockbridge County near Lexington. During the War of Independence, the valley supplied Washington's men, besieging Yorktown with 500,000 pounds of dressed beef. It was the main supplier of food to the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the war. It also became the "breadbasket" of the Army of Northern Virginia until Union cavalry commander Major General Philip Sheridan pillaged and burned the crops and homes in the valley in 1864.
In the northeast corner of the valley lies Harper's Ferry, the location of the government armory that John Brown raided to obtain weapons for the revolt of the slaves he intended to lead. After the war started Jackson offered his services to his home state of Virginia and he was out in charge of the few troops in the valley on April 30, 1861. Jackson had, up until then, been a professor of mathematics, optics and artillery at VMI. His reputation in mathematics and optics was not the best, but his seminars on the use of artillery were classics.
The new Colonel of Volunteers, placed under the command of Brigadier General Joe Johnston, devoted his initial efforts to training his new brigade of about 3000 men. On June 15th, northern troops crossed the Potomac and invaded the northern portion of the valley while Confederate troops fell back to Winchester. A little over a month later, on July 18th, a second northern force crossed the Potomac near Washington on its way, or so it claimed, to Richmond.
The 35,000 Federals, under Brigadier General Irving McDowell, advanced a short distance to Manassas Junction. There, waiting, was the main Confederate Army, numbering 22,000, and under the command of Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard. In the Shenandoah Valley, Johnston and Jackson had 11,000 men while the enemy, commanded by Patterson, comprised some 14,000 effectives. At 1 AM on the 18th, Johnston was ordered to march to the assistance of Beauregard. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry screened Patterson and prevented him from knowing the way in front was bereft of Confederate infantry.
By July 21st, only 3 brigades from Johnston's army had joined Beauregard — Jackson's, Bee's and Bartow's, but the rest were following as the Federals moved to the attack. Beauregard intended to meet the attack with one of his own. Each side tried to turn the other's left. The Confederate right got bogged down. The Northern right crossed Bull Run creek and were climbing Matthews Hill close to way towards their objective of turning the Confederate left when they began climbing the Henry Hill. On the reverse side of this hill, protected against artillery, was Jackson's brigade.
Confederate troops fell back from the Yankee attack. Hamilton's brigade was forced back and Imboden and Bartow's units were repelled. As they retreated over the crest of Henry Hill, Bee yelled behind to his troops, "There stand's Jackson like a stonewall!" "Rally round the Virginians."
An officer told Jackson that the day was going against them. Jackson told him to shut up. Another told Jackson that ammo was becoming critical. Jackson informed him that they would give the enemy the bayonet. Jackson broke the charge of the Federals, then counterattacked. In conjunction with Confederate reinforcements, the charge swept the Union army across Henry Hill, Matthews Hill, them back across Bull Run Creek. The Federals became a disorganized group hardly able to resist. The day made the Colonel's reputation from now on Jackson was "Stonewall" Jackson and the brigade became the "Stonewall" Brigade.
Valley Command
A few days after the battle Jackson returned to the Shenandoah in complete command. He put his 3500 infantry and 700 cavalry through a rigorous training program.
In the meanwhile Major General George B. McClellan has assumed command of the Union Army of the Potomac. Troops began pouring into Washington and the area around the city became a vast training ground. Bowing to pressure to do something with his army, McClellan decided to move on Richmond by sea. The Union navy would take his force to the James peninsula below Richmond. Despite his pleasure that McClellan would soon be on the move, Union President Abraham Lincoln insisted than enough troops near Washington to insure its safety.
McClellan offered 30,000 inside the city and 25,000 at Manassas Junction. The garrison at Manassas Junction would be augmented by Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley after Confederate forces there had been dispersed and driven far enough south so as not to be a factor in the campaign.
Jackson had his own plans. During the winter campaign he had launched a campaign against Federal forces along the Potomac. Jackson and his captured considerable railroad rolling stock, disrupting communications along the Union front. As weather got worse, Jackson withdrew to Winchester leaving Loring at Romney.
This did not suit Loring at all and he wrote directly to Judah Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of War, claiming that his post at Romney was too dangerous. Benjamin wrote Jackson ordering that Loring be pulled back. Jackson complied. He then immediately sent in his resignation, stating that if he was going to be interfered with in this manner he could not be of any use to the Confederacy and that he would rather go back to teaching at VMI. "Such intrusion" he wrote, "was ruinous."
When word reached Johnston he went to Benjamin to intervene on Jackson's behalf, followed closely by Robert E. Lee and the governor of Virginia. The combined weight of Jackson allies had the immediate effect of causing the Secretary of War to apologize and rescind his order. It also meant that the Army of Northern Virginia was immune from political interference for the rest of the war.
On March 1, 1862 Banks moved his Federals south into the valley, while McClellan's army moved by ship to Fortress Monroe. Jackson left Winchester and headed north to meet Banks' advance despite being outnumbered 9 to 1. He called a council of war with his officers and proposed a surprise attack to try to drive Banks back. However, orders were mixed up and the ammunition and other supplies were sent back several miles. Jackson became infuriated and said that would be the last council of war he would ever hold — and it was.
By mid-March Banks was in Winchester and knew that Jackson only had a 4600 men. Banks then .decided to push him further south with Shields' division and while the of his troops joined McDowell at Manassas Junction. Reinforced, McDowell could then begin to move south guarding McClellan's right flank as the Army of the Potomac approached Richmond. Jackson's orders were the opposite — he had to do everything that he could do to keep ALL of Bank's men in the valley.
Kernstown
When the Federals moved south out of Winchester, it was only Shields Division that made the move. The other divisions began to move towards Manassas Junction. Turner Ashby, Jackson's cavalry commander scouted Shield's lines and due to good concealment thought that only a rear guard of some 4000 men was south of Winchester when actually it was Shields entire division of 9,000 men. After receiving Ashby's erroneous report on March 23rd, Jackson decided to attack immediately. He surveyed the battlefield and determined that the best terrain was to the left. His initial attack was well coordinated and he struck the Federals with over 2000 infantry in the first contact.
Initially, the Federals withdrew, but Shields began to bring the rest of his division forward and it became evident by noon that the Federal force was well over 4000. Jackson brought up reserves and the battle continued most of the day. The Southerners slowly gave ground but never broke. They retired from the field but the Federals did not pursue. Jackson retreated to New Town, some 32 miles south of Kernstown.
Shields sent word of the battle to Banks and to Washington. He spoke of the fierceness of the assault and stated that Jackson would never have attacked in such a manner unless he was going to be reinforced.
Misled by Shields' panicked report, the decision was made to keep the entire division in the valley. In addition, two other divisions on the way to McDowell were ordered to return toward the valley while another division was sent to what is now West Virginia to reinforce Fremont.
Banks ordered Shields to push Jackson well south of Strasbourg, then to resume movement to McDowell and then they would all move south towards Richmond, and become McClellan's right wing, as the First Corps.
One of the after effects of the battle of Kernstown was that Jackson replaced Colonel Richard Garnett as commander of the Stonewall Brigade. Garnett had the brigade fall back during the battle because they were out of ammunition. Jackson refused to accept the excuse claiming that the brigade could have continued their attack with bayonets or even rocks.
Banks advanced southwards very slowly. It was not until April 2 that he occupied Woodstock, a little over 30 miles south of Winchester. From, roughly opposite Strasburg to Harrisonburg the valley is split into two smaller valleys by the Massanutton Mountains. The larger valley to the west continues to be called the Shenandoah, but the smaller valley to the east is called the Luray valley. When Banks moved south of Strasburg in the main valley, Jackson could come out of the Luray valley and hit his supplies and communications. As a precaution Banks detached a rear guard while in reality Jackson was at Mt. Jackson, a little further south in the main valley.
Meanwhile Johnston had left Manassas Junction and retreated to Culpepper Court House. When McClellan's troops began to land on the James peninsula he move to oppose him, leaving Anderson and 12,000 men at Culpepper Courthouse and Ewell with 8500 men near the mountains. At the same time Fremont, in western Va., had sent Milroy forward with 3500 men toward Staunton. McDowell was at Culpepper with 33,000. In front of Milroy was "Allegheny" Johnson with 2500 men. Joe Johnston had 55,000 to face McClellan's 110,000.
A new factor was the appointment of Robert E. Lee as Commander of all Confederate troops in Virginia. He wrote Jackson that Jackson could use Ewell to strike a heavy blow against Federal forces in the valley. At this time there were 188,000 Federal troops in Virginia and only 80,000 Southern troops.
On April 17th Banks started south towards Harrisonburg while Jackson retreated before him. When Jackson got far enough south he turned left (east) into Luray valley near Swift Run Gap which put him in direct communication with Ewell. Jackson's own command now had 6,000. He instructed Ewell to come through Swift Run Gap and camp where he had camped. Jackson marched his men south through the Luray Valley to Brown's Gap and through the mountains to Neecham's River Station, leaving the valley. He rested for two days and Banks reported that he had left the valley and that there was nothing left for his troops to do. Shields division was taken from him and told to march toward Gen. McDowell and prepare to move on Richmond.
On May 29, Jackson began his retreat. The Stonewall Brigade stayed behind to harass Harper's Ferry an additional day. On May 30th, Shields was coming in behind him and had captured Front Royal, only 12 miles from Strasburg. Jackson was 28 miles from Strasburg.
On the 31st 15,000 Federal troops moved south across the Potomac. Fremont, with 25,000 men was coming in from the west, and was himself only 20 miles west of Strasburg. It seemed that Jackson was doomed, Yet, by short, sharp attacks against both Shields and Fremont, Jackson brought his entire army back up the valley, plus all captured stores and captured army personnel. When Shields and Fremont were attacked, they both thought it was Jackson's entire army and they both assumed defensive positions. McClellan's right wing, McDowell's Corps, would not be at Richmond.
Jackson continued to move south and Shields and Fremont followed him Shields was moving up the Luray Valley with Fremont in the main valley, Jackson was frequently turning to offer battle. As one of his officers said "When he advanced, he worried only about the ammunition wagons. In retreat, he would fight for a wheelbarrow."
At this point Shields had 10,000, Fremont had 15,000 and Jackson had 16,000. Fremont was pushing hard and a skirmish near Harrisonburg on June 6 resulted in a battle during which Turner Ashby, Jackson's cavalry commander, was killed.
Shields listened to a so-called "deserter" who said that Jackson was in full retreat and throwing equipment away. Shields contacted Fremont and Washington claiming that if he could catch Jackson he would shatter his army. Jackson, on the other hand, decided that if he could entice them forward in the right sequence, he would whip both armies. Jackson reached the point where the Massanuttons ended and the Luray and Shenandoah valley became one again. He crossed the south fork of the Shenandoah to confront Shields who was closest and coming down the Luray Valley. However, Shields slowed down.
Due to the vast forests in the Luray Valley it was difficult for Jackson to be sure exactly where the main body of Shields army was, The terrain around Port Republic and Cross Keys made it mandatory that he had to defeat Fremont first. On June 6 and 7th Confederate infantry bivouacked at Mill Creek, near the hamlet of Cross Keys. The cavalry was also watching Shields. Because of the extensive 'forests and broken terrain in the Luray Valley it was hard for Jackson to know where Shields main force was. While Jackson wanted to fight Fremont first, he could not allow Shields to get behind him, thus blocking Jackson's retreat and plundering his supplies.
On June 8th, Fremont moved forward. However, while vigorous in pursuit, he was timid in the attack. Although he had 24 regiments at hand, he sent only 5 forward. Ewell had picked an excellent defensive position and although he utilized only 3 brigades the Federal attack was beaten back with ease, The Confederates counterattacked and drove Fremont back about a mile.
Almost at the same time, some of Shields advanced guard appeared and got across the South River. They threatened the supply trains and some of the artillery. Jackson intervened and tried to change the placement of a gun. He called to the men who took one look at him and began to move the gun so it would bear on Jackson. He galloped away and mustered some troops that and pushed Shield's advance guard back, thus ended May 8th.
The next morning before dawn one of the colonels commanding a brigade in Ewell's force asked Jackson how long they would have to delay Fremont if he attacked. The Colonel's name was Patton. He was the grandfather of General George S. Patton. Jackson told him he hoped to be back with Ewell's force by 10 A.M. What Jackson was going to try to do was to cross a river; fight a battle re-cross the same river and fight another battle with only one bridge available. He tried to build some temporary fords but they were washed away. Shields moved into position on the morning of the 9th Jackson had serious difficult in getting his troops across the river. Shields did not have his entire command present but what was there was well posted. For two hours the issue was in doubt and then Jackson reluctantly called for Ewell's men.
They crossed the bridge burned it and went in and attacked Shield's on his flank. The Federal's dissolved and began a retreat up the Luray Valley When Fremont reached the river, he could hear Shields retreating and he immediately did the same. Two armies with 25,000 men were being pursued by an army of 16,000.
With the valley cleared of Union troops, Jackson turned eastward and joined up with Lee who defeated McClellan's grandiose plans during the peninsula campaign.
Dale Tomlinson lives in Memphis, Tennessee and has had lifelong interest in military history. This is his first contribution to Cry "Havoc!"
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© Copyright 1999 by David W. Tschanz.
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