Knowledge (XXG)

Second Battle of Kernstown

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abandoning Pritchard's Hill. Mulligan's division bitterly held its ground at Opequon Church where its advance was halted by Gordon's men. As Hayes's brigade advanced in support, Breckinridge marched Wharton's division to the northeast into a deep ravine that ran perpendicular to the Valley Turnpike. He turned the division into the ravine, which screened his movement from the Federals on the turnpike. As Hayes came up the road past the ravine, Breckinridge ordered a charge and the Confederates assaulted Hayes's exposed flank and sent his division reeling in retreat, taking many casualties.
39: 135: 616:. When the fleeing cavalry encountered the retreating wagon and artillery trains north of Winchester it incited a panic among the Federal teamsters, causing many to abandon their charges as they got caught up in retreat. Many of the wagons had to be burned to prevent them from falling into Confederate hands. As night fell the Confederate cavalry swept the countryside looking for Federals who had become lost from their units in retreat. Most of the Federals spent the night out in the rain, scattered across countryside, trying to evade capture. 664: 233: 545: 596:'s brigade formed east of the Valley turnpike. Crook dispatched cavalry under Averell to ride around the Confederate right flank and get in its rear. As the two armies skirmishers encountered one another the battle got under way. It soon became apparent to the Federal divisional commanders that they were facing a superior Confederate force which they were hesitant to attack and relayed the information to Crook. 240: 604:
division broke, Mulligan found himself caught between two Confederate divisions. Mulligan immediately ordered a withdrawal, and was mortally wounded as he tried to rally his troops and prevent a full rout during the retreat. The Confederate infantry pressed the fleeing Federals all the way back through Winchester and the cavalry kept at their heels well into
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two of his division with cavalry support to meet the attack. In the early afternoon the infantry of both armies had arrived on the field. The Confederate position extended well to each side of the Valley pike south of Kernstown, anchored on each flank on high ground and screened by cavalry. Maj. Gen.
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On the morning of July 24, Early marched his army north against Crook. Confederate cavalry encountered its Union counterpart south of Kernstown in the morning and heavy skirmishing broke out. Couriers alerted Crook to the attack. Crook still believed Early's infantry had left the Valley and sent only
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Crook quickly became impatient by his divisional commanders hesitance to attack the Confederate position, and distrusted their report of the Confederate strength. He ordered Mulligan to attack the Confederates with Thorburn's division in support. At 1 p.m. the Union infantry reluctantly moved out,
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Thoburn was supposed to support Mulligan's right flank in the attack, but because of the topography of the battlefield, he became separated from Mulligan and saw little action during the battle. Gordon's Confederates exploited the gap in the Union line to get on Mulligan's right and when Hayes's
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in the Valley. The following two days were relatively quiet with both armies resting in their camps some 15 miles (24 km) from each other. On July 23, Confederate cavalry attacked the Union advanced picket line at Kernstown, leading to a sharp cavalry skirmish. From prisoners caught in the
283: 276: 577:'s cavalry. Early initially concealed his infantry in a woods, sending out his cavalry and skirmish line of sharpshooters to draw the Federals into battle, thus playing into Crook's misconception that the Confederate infantry had left the Valley. 509:
skirmish Early learned of Wright's departure. In order to continue to be of service to Lee in the Valley, Early realized he had to attack the diminished force in front of him to ensure that Grant's force at Petersburg would not be reinforced.
269: 779: 628:, on July 26. With the Shenandoah Valley clear of Union forces, Early launched a raid into northern territory, the last made by a substantial Confederate force during the war, burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania as retribution for 611:
Averell's cavalry had attempted to flank the Confederates as ordered but ran headlong into Vaughn's cavalry on the Front Royal Pike. The shock of the unexpected Confederate cavalry attack sent the Federal cavalry racing towards
772: 1083: 765: 858: 1088: 561:'s division formed the Confederate center along the Valley Turnpike. Ramseur's division formed on his left with its flank resting on Sandy Ridge to the west of Kernstown, screened by 1093: 985: 980: 1098: 1039: 863: 461:. The poor Confederate performance at the battle, as well as a series of small cavalry engagements south of Winchester the following day led Union commanders 648:. As a result of this defeat and McCausland's burning of Chambersburg on July 30, Grant returned the VI and XIX Corps to the Valley and appointed Maj. Gen. 1010: 624:
The victory marked the high-water point for the Confederacy in the Valley in 1864. Crook's broken army retreated to the Potomac River and crossed near
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On July 19, following a series of unsuccessful Union attacks on his flanks, General Early decided to withdraw from his precarious position at
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did not mention this as a justification.) They also attacked Union garrisons protecting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near
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as commander of Union forces there, turning the tide once and for all against the Confederates in the Valley.
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The Union infantry position remained clustered around the Valley Pike in Kernstown anchored by Col.
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to conclude the Confederates were merely fighting a rearguard action and that Early was leaving the
637: 593: 451: 443: 363: 566: 474: 454: 447: 382: 375: 309: 190: 30: 944: 939: 877: 837: 725: 581: 470: 466: 407: 632:'s burning of civilian houses and farms earlier in the campaign. (Hunter had also burned the 924: 497: 485: 914: 649: 641: 959: 949: 746: 742: 589: 574: 558: 430:, in retaliation for the burning of civilian houses and farms earlier in the campaign. 389: 1072: 929: 605: 423: 411: 139: 134: 990: 909: 629: 462: 403: 168: 173: 693:
The CWSAC Report Update reports 14,000. The NPS battle summary reports 13,000.
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The CWSAC Report Update reports 9,500. The NPS battle summary reports 10,000.
584:'s division on Pritchard's Hill, one of the keys to the Union success at the 95: 82: 752: 705: 415: 573:, formed the Confederate right, with its flank screened by Brig. Gen. 543: 592:'s division formed on Sandy Ridge. To his left, future president 761: 265: 548:
Map of Kernstown II Battlefield core and study areas by the
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Battlefield where the Second Battle of Kernstown took place
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Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
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Frederick County, Virginia, in the American Civil War
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Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
973: 902: 886: 851: 795: 239: 450:won a rare victory over Confederate forces under 565:William "Mudwall" Jackson's cavalry. Brig. Gen. 1089:Confederate victories of the American Civil War 724:. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007. 23: 1094:Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia 773: 277: 8: 722:Shenandoah Summer: The 1864 Valley Campaign 297:and operations against the B&O Railroad 1099:Frederick County in the American Civil War 780: 766: 758: 640:, but Early's orders to his cavalry under 284: 270: 262: 37: 20: 496:from the valley to return to the aid of 1011:Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum 677: 550:American Battlefield Protection Program 843:Battle of Cedar Creek (or Belle Grove) 488:, seemingly over, Wright withdrew the 701: 699: 16:1864 battle of the American Civil War 7: 753:National Park Service battle summary 706:National Park Service battle summary 1001:Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum 864:John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry 252:Location of the battle in Virginia 14: 1016:Third Winchester Battlefield Park 662: 362:was fought on July 24, 1864, at 238: 231: 150: 133: 996:Museum of the Shenandoah Valley 442:to a more secure position near 1006:Stonewall Confederate Cemetery 749:of the 5th Louisiana Regiment. 569:'s division, led by Maj. Gen. 1: 1026:Winchester National Cemetery 745:for July 24, 1864, of Major 588:in 1862. To his right, Col. 823:Battle of Rutherford's Farm 813:Second Battle of Winchester 634:Virginia Military Institute 535:Confederate order of battle 459:Battle of Rutherford's Farm 420:Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1135: 1021:Winchester Medical College 838:Third Battle of Winchester 828:Second Battle of Kernstown 808:First Battle of Winchester 532: 521: 428:Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 360:Second Battle of Kernstown 75:Frederick County, Virginia 24:Second Battle of Kernstown 818:Battle of Snicker's Ferry 803:First Battle of Kernstown 670:American Civil War portal 586:First Battle of Kernstown 479:Army of Northern Virginia 305: 226: 209: 196: 179: 162: 126: 47: 36: 28: 1079:Valley campaigns of 1864 935:Frederick W. M. Holliday 859:Great Train Raid of 1861 372:Valley Campaigns of 1864 955:Cornelia Peake McDonald 57:; 160 years ago 981:Belle Grove Plantation 894:33rd Virginia Infantry 870:Virginia v. John Brown 626:Williamsport, Maryland 553: 406:and drove it from the 163:Commanders and leaders 1055:39.13951°N 78.19530°W 852:Raids and expeditions 547: 533:Further information: 524:Union order of battle 522:Further information: 506:Army of West Virginia 397:Army of West Virginia 392:soundly defeated the 210:Casualties and losses 186:Army of West Virginia 1104:Winchester, Virginia 833:Battle of Berryville 646:Cumberland, Maryland 571:John C. Breckinridge 502:Petersburg, Virginia 368:Winchester, Virginia 249:class=notpageimage| 1060:39.13951; -78.19530 1051: /  594:Rutherford B. Hayes 484:With the threat to 364:Kernstown, Virginia 320:Heaton's Crossroads 92: /  974:Places and tourism 720:Patchan, Scott C. 567:Gabriel C. Wharton 554: 455:Stephen D. Ramseur 448:William W. Averell 383:Army of the Valley 376:American Civil War 202:9,500–10,000 191:Army of the Valley 55:July 24, 1864 31:American Civil War 1109:Conflicts in 1864 1034: 1033: 945:Mary Greenhow Lee 940:Stonewall Jackson 878:Romney Expedition 730:978-0-8032-3754-4 582:James A. Mulligan 477:to reinforce the 467:Horatio G. Wright 408:Shenandoah Valley 370:, as part of the 353: 352: 330:Rutherford's Farm 260: 259: 157:CSA (Confederacy) 122: 121: 1126: 1119:July 1864 events 1114:1864 in Virginia 1066: 1065: 1063: 1062: 1061: 1056: 1052: 1049: 1048: 1047: 1044: 925:John A. Copeland 782: 775: 768: 759: 708: 703: 694: 691: 685: 682: 672: 667: 666: 665: 498:Ulysses S. Grant 486:Washington, D.C. 473:and heading for 422:in Maryland and 300: 298: 286: 279: 272: 263: 242: 241: 235: 155: 154: 138: 137: 107: 106: 104: 103: 102: 97: 93: 90: 89: 88: 85: 65: 63: 58: 49: 48: 41: 21: 1134: 1133: 1129: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1124: 1123: 1069: 1068: 1059: 1057: 1053: 1050: 1045: 1042: 1040: 1038: 1037: 1035: 1030: 969: 915:Nathaniel Banks 898: 882: 847: 791: 786: 739: 717: 712: 711: 704: 697: 692: 688: 683: 679: 668: 663: 661: 658: 650:Philip Sheridan 642:John McCausland 622: 542: 537: 531: 526: 520: 515: 513:Opposing forces 436: 356: 355: 354: 349: 301: 296: 294: 292: 290: 256: 255: 254: 253: 251: 245: 244: 243: 205:13–14,000 149: 132: 100: 98: 96:39.13°N 78.19°W 94: 91: 86: 83: 81: 79: 78: 77: 61: 59: 56: 42: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1132: 1130: 1122: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1101: 1096: 1091: 1086: 1081: 1071: 1070: 1032: 1031: 1029: 1028: 1023: 1018: 1013: 1008: 1003: 998: 993: 988: 983: 977: 975: 971: 970: 968: 967: 965:Richard Parker 962: 960:Hunter McGuire 957: 952: 950:James M. Mason 947: 942: 937: 932: 927: 922: 917: 912: 906: 904: 900: 899: 897: 896: 890: 888: 884: 883: 881: 880: 875: 874: 873: 861: 855: 853: 849: 848: 846: 845: 840: 835: 830: 825: 820: 815: 810: 805: 799: 797: 793: 792: 787: 785: 784: 777: 770: 762: 756: 755: 750: 747:Alexander Hart 738: 737:External links 735: 734: 733: 716: 713: 710: 709: 695: 686: 676: 675: 674: 673: 657: 654: 621: 618: 590:Joseph Thoburn 575:John C. Vaughn 559:John B. Gordon 541: 538: 530: 527: 519: 516: 514: 511: 435: 432: 410:back over the 390:Jubal A. Early 351: 350: 348: 347: 342: 337: 332: 327: 322: 317: 312: 306: 303: 302: 291: 289: 288: 281: 274: 266: 258: 257: 247: 246: 237: 236: 230: 229: 228: 227: 224: 223: 218: 212: 211: 207: 206: 203: 199: 198: 194: 193: 188: 182: 181: 180:Units involved 177: 176: 171: 165: 164: 160: 159: 147: 129: 128: 124: 123: 120: 119: 113: 109: 108: 73: 71: 67: 66: 53: 45: 44: 34: 33: 26: 25: 19: 18: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1131: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1097: 1095: 1092: 1090: 1087: 1085: 1082: 1080: 1077: 1076: 1074: 1067: 1064: 1027: 1024: 1022: 1019: 1017: 1014: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 992: 989: 987: 984: 982: 979: 978: 976: 972: 966: 963: 961: 958: 956: 953: 951: 948: 946: 943: 941: 938: 936: 933: 931: 930:Shields Green 928: 926: 923: 921: 918: 916: 913: 911: 908: 907: 905: 901: 895: 892: 891: 889: 885: 879: 876: 872: 871: 867: 866: 865: 862: 860: 857: 856: 854: 850: 844: 841: 839: 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 824: 821: 819: 816: 814: 811: 809: 806: 804: 801: 800: 798: 794: 790: 783: 778: 776: 771: 769: 764: 763: 760: 754: 751: 748: 744: 741: 740: 736: 731: 727: 723: 719: 718: 714: 707: 702: 700: 696: 690: 687: 681: 678: 671: 660: 655: 653: 651: 647: 643: 639: 635: 631: 627: 619: 617: 615: 609: 607: 606:West Virginia 601: 597: 595: 591: 587: 583: 578: 576: 572: 568: 564: 560: 551: 546: 539: 536: 528: 525: 517: 512: 510: 507: 503: 499: 495: 491: 487: 482: 480: 476: 472: 468: 464: 460: 456: 453: 449: 445: 441: 433: 431: 429: 425: 424:West Virginia 421: 417: 413: 412:Potomac River 409: 405: 402: 398: 395: 391: 388: 384: 381: 377: 373: 369: 365: 361: 346: 343: 341: 338: 336: 333: 331: 328: 326: 323: 321: 318: 316: 313: 311: 308: 307: 304: 299: 287: 282: 280: 275: 273: 268: 267: 264: 250: 234: 225: 222: 219: 217: 214: 213: 208: 204: 201: 200: 195: 192: 189: 187: 184: 183: 178: 175: 172: 170: 167: 166: 161: 158: 153: 148: 145: 141: 140:United States 136: 131: 130: 125: 117: 114: 111: 110: 105: 101:39.13; -78.19 76: 72: 69: 68: 54: 51: 50: 46: 40: 35: 32: 27: 22: 1036: 991:Fort Collier 920:Watson Brown 910:Turner Ashby 868: 721: 689: 680: 630:David Hunter 623: 610: 602: 598: 579: 555: 500:'s siege of 483: 463:George Crook 437: 426:and burning 404:George Crook 359: 357: 340:Folck's Mill 335:Kernstown II 334: 315:Fort Stevens 293:Early's Raid 220: 215: 169:George Crook 127:Belligerents 29:Part of the 1058: / 743:Diary entry 614:Martinsburg 529:Confederate 380:Confederate 325:Cool Spring 174:Jubal Early 116:Confederate 99: / 1073:Categories 1046:78°11′43″W 1043:39°08′22″N 715:References 440:Berryville 434:Background 401:Brig. Gen. 366:, outside 345:Moorefield 62:1864-07-24 638:Lexington 620:Aftermath 494:XIX Corps 452:Maj. Gen. 444:Strasburg 490:VI Corps 475:Richmond 416:Maryland 387:Lt. Gen. 310:Monocacy 197:Strength 70:Location 796:Battles 457:at the 374:in the 118:victory 87:78°11′W 84:39°08′N 60: ( 903:People 728:  540:Battle 471:Valley 399:under 385:under 378:. The 112:Result 887:Units 656:Notes 518:Union 414:into 394:Union 216:1,200 144:Union 726:ISBN 563:Col. 492:and 465:and 358:The 52:Date 636:in 221:600 1075:: 698:^ 608:. 481:. 781:e 774:t 767:v 732:. 552:. 285:e 278:t 271:v 146:) 142:( 64:)

Index

American Civil War

Frederick County, Virginia
39°08′N 78°11′W / 39.13°N 78.19°W / 39.13; -78.19
Confederate
United States
United States
Union
Confederate States of America
CSA (Confederacy)
George Crook
Jubal Early
Army of West Virginia
Army of the Valley
Second Battle of Kernstown is located in Virginia
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v
t
e
and operations against the B&O Railroad
Monocacy
Fort Stevens
Heaton's Crossroads
Cool Spring
Rutherford's Farm
Kernstown II
Folck's Mill
Moorefield
Kernstown, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia

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