Jackson's Valley Campaign (Shenandoah Valley Campaign)
March 23-June 9, 1862

In a bold attempt to delay Federal reinforcements from reaching McClellan's slow-moving Army of the Potomac threatening Richmond from the Virginia Peninsula, Confederate MG Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign successfully kept much larger Union forces engaged, pinned-down, and frustrated in the Spring of 1862. Rapid and clandestine troop movements were Jackson's trademark. From late April to early June (about 48 marching days), his Valley Army (16,000+ men) covered 676+ miles and fought 5 battles! The Battle of Kernstown (23 March - a tactical Union victory by BG James Shields) convinced the Union command to redeploy forces, originally destined to augment McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, to the defense of Washington, DC and to the occupation of the northwestern Shenandoah. In response Jackson threw back a Union force (BG Robert H. Milroy of MG John C. Fremont's command) at the Battle of McDowell (8 May), west of Staunton. Marching undetected through Massanutten Mountain passes, Jackson next surprised and captured much of the Union garrison (COL John R. Kenly, commanding) at the Battle of Front Royal (23 May). Now hurrying north, the Valley Army defeated Union forces (MG Nathaniel P. Banks, commanding) at the Battle of Winchester (25 May), forcing a Federal retreat across the Potomac. Jackson captured military supplies at Harper's Ferry and, most importantly, caused additional Union troops, once bound for the Virginia Peninsula, to be diverted to the Valley. Within a week, however, three different Union columns, bent on eliminating the elusive "Stonewall" Jackson and his Valley Army, converged on the Confederates as they made a remarkable forced withdrawal to the south. On 8 June Jackson turned on his pursuers at the Battle of Cross Keys where elements of his army (MG Richard S. Ewell, commanding) defeated advancing Federals (MG Fremont's command) near Harrisonburg. The following day (9 June) Jackson ended his renowned and oft-studied Valley Campaign by routing (aided by the arrival during the battle of Ewell's victorious troops from Cross Keys) Shield's vanguard (BG Erastus B. Tyler, commanding) at the Battle of Port Republic. Jackson's opportune Valley Army had stymied elements of four Union armies (64,000+ men - BG Shields, MG Fremont, MG Banks, and MG McDowell) and gave the struggling Confederacy new hope and a legendary military campaign of lasting import. Estimated Casualties (Kernstown to Port Republic): Union - 7,000 (nearly half taken prisoner); Confederate - 3,000+.

Notes:

  1. Numbers in parentheses reflect estimated strength of armies or units.

  2. Estimated casualty figures are totals for killed, wounded, missing in action, and taken prisoner.

  3. Alternative names of battles and campaigns appear in parentheses.

  4. Military and naval rank abbreviations in text: LT - Lieutenant, CPT - Captain, MAJ - Major, LTC - Lieutenant Colonel, CDR - Commander (Navy), COL - Colonel, BG - Brigadier General, MG - Major General, RADM - Rear Admiral (Navy), LTG - Lieutenant General, VADM - Vice Admiral (Navy), and GEN - General.

  5. Army Organization: Although authorized and actual strength and the rank of the commanding officer often varied, the standard military unit during the War was the infantry regiment (1,000 men, COL commanding) which was comprised of 10 companies (100 men each, CPT commanding). 3-4 Regiments = 1 Brigade (3,000-4000 men, BG commanding). 3 (sometimes 4) Brigades = 1 Division (9000-12,000 men, BG or MG commanding). 2-4 (usually 3) Divisions = 1 Corps (18,000-24,000+ men, MG - North and MG or LTG -South commanding). 2 or more Corps = An Army (usually 20,000-100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding). 2 or more Armies = An Army Group (usually 100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding).

Sources:

Photographs courtesy of The Generals of the American Civil War Website.

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