Battle of Cedar Creek

Overview

The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, was fought on October 19, 1864, during the American Civil War. The fighting took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia, near Cedar Creek, Middletown, and the Valley Pike. During the morning, Lieutenant General Jubal Early appeared to have a victory for his Confederate army, as he captured over 1,000 prisoners and over 20 artillery pieces while forcing seven enemy infantry divisions to fall back. The Union army, led by Major General Philip Sheridan, rallied in late afternoon and drove away Early's men. In addition to recapturing all of their own artillery seized in the morning, Sheridan's forces captured most of Early's artillery and wagons.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Cedar Creek was the decisive engagement that ended Confederate military power in the Shenandoah Valley. Early's Army of the Valley opened the battle with a morning assault that captured over 1,000 Union prisoners and more than 20 artillery pieces, forcing seven Union infantry divisions to fall back — an apparent Confederate victory. The Union army under Sheridan rallied in the late afternoon and reversed the outcome entirely, driving Early's forces from the field. In addition to recovering all of their own artillery seized in the morning, Sheridan's troops captured most of Early's artillery and wagons. The loss effectively destroyed Early's offensive capacity in the valley, securing Union control of a strategically vital corridor that had repeatedly threatened Washington and supplied Confederate forces throughout the war.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (10)