On May 15, 1864, a Federal invasion of the Shenandoah Valley was repulsed at New Market, Virginia, by a small rebel army commanded by Major General John C. Breckinridge. Following its defeat there, the Army of the Shenandoah retreated down the Valley to the vicinity of Strasburg to lick its wounds behind the protective barrier of Cedar Creek.

Breckinridge did not pursue the defeated Federals after his victory, feeling it impracticable to do so with his small force. Instead, believing the Valley safe from Federal aggression for the time being and acting on discretionary orders for Lee, he decided to march most of his little army to reinforce the hard- pressed Army of Northern Virginia, currently locked in a death struggle with the armies under the direct control of U. S. Grant.

Brigadier General John D. Imboden was left to protect the Valley with only his own brigade of cavalry, supported by a few guns and the valley reserves, a total of less than 3000 part-time and full- time soldiers. Breckinridge had miscalculated both the extent of his victory and the tenacity of his enemy.

As on every battle front during the spring campaign of 1864, defeat rarely deterred Union armies from renewed effort, and the Federal Valley Army was no exception.

Brigadier General David 'Black Dave' Hunter

In the space of just ten days, The Army of the Shenandoah received reinforcements and a new commander, Brigadier General David 'Black Dave' Hunter (at right). Immediately, Hunter went to work dismissing inefficient or cowardly officers, and quickly succeeded in restoring morale to recently defeated troops. By May 25th, the Union valley army was revitalized and at dawn on May 26th, the troops marched from their encampments along Cedar Creek and resumed the offensive.

We can imagine the commotion that the electrifying news the renewed enemy offensive raised at Imboden's Valley District headquarters. Implicit in his excited dispatches to the government at this time was that more troops must be found quickly if the Valley was to be held, because Imboden's meager force was insufficient for the task.

However, Breckinridge's men were committed to the defense of Richmond (along with just about every other Confederate soldier in northern Virginia) and could not be returned to the valley. The only troops available were those operating in the Department of West Virginia, where Brigadier General William E. 'Grumble' Jones commanded. Jones already had his hands full trying to suppress a Federal offensive in West Virginia.

Nevertheless, Jones scraped together what troops he could and headed for the valley to challenge The Army of the Shenandoah. Remarkable, as was the resilience shown by the Valley Federals, was the Confederate ability to scrape together sufficient troops to fight Hunter at all. Then to move them to the Valley in less than ten days, is an equally astounding achievement.

Thus, on the morning of June 5th, as Hunter's army approached Piedmont, Virginia, a diverse army of 5600 Rebel soldiers, mostly veteran troops from all over West Virginia, prepared for battle north of the town under the watchful eye of their grumpy but pugnacious, and surprisingly confident general. The historical engagement was very hard fought, generating more casualties than did any battle of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862. At one point, Grumble had the battle won, but he made a grave tactical error that cost him the battle.

More Peidmont: June 5, 1864

Introduction and Historical Background
Brigadier General William E. 'Grumble' Jones
Scenario for Johnny Reb
Scenario Map and OOB (very slow: 279K)

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