Battle of Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, USA
What happened
Confederates under Jubal Early made a surprise attack on the Union Army of the Shenandoah under Philip Sheridan. Before dawn, in thick fog, Early's men struck the Union camps and drove back several divisions. Sheridan, who had been away at Winchester, rode to the field and rallied his troops. In the afternoon the Union army counterattacked and Early's army fled south.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Confederate threat in the Shenandoah Valley. The victory also helped Abraham Lincoln win re-election.
What came next
Early's small remaining force was beaten at Waynesboro in March 1865. Part of the battlefield is now a national historical park.
Did you know?
The poem 'Sheridan's Ride' made the general famous, and he renamed his horse 'Winchester'.
Timeline
- 19 September 1864Sheridan wins at Third Winchester.
- 19 October 1864Battle of Cedar Creek.
- 2 March 1865Early is defeated at Waynesboro.
- 2002Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is created.