Library of Congress

Cedar Creek

Belle Grove

Frederick County, Shenandoah County and Warren County, VA  |  Oct 19, 1864

In the fall of 1864, in the Shenandoah Valley, Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early had been unsuccessful in slowing Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridan since the recent Union victories at Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Tom's Brook. By mid-October, Early was determined to strike Sheridan’s army in their camps along the east bank of Cedar Creek. Early executed a surprise attack early on October 19 and drove three Union corps from the field. As Early paused to reorganize, Sheridan arrived after a dramatic ride from Winchester in time to rally his troops and launch a crushing counterattack, from which Early’s forces could not recover. Sheridan’s victory at Cedar Creek extinguished any hope of further Confederate offensives in the Valley, and was one of the Union victories in late 1864 that helped ensure President Abraham Lincoln's reelection that November.

All battles of the Sheridan's Valley Campaign

Summit Point
Jefferson County, WV  |  Aug 21, 1864
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 1,000
Third Winchester
Frederick County, VA  |  Sep 19, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 8,630
Union: 5,020
Confederate: 3,610
Fisher's Hill
Shenandoah County, VA  |  Sep 21 - 22, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 1,763
Union: 528
Confederate: 1,235
Tom's Brook
Shenandoah County, VA  |  Oct 9, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 407
Union: 57
Confederate: 350
Cedar Creek
Frederick County, Shenandoah County and Warren County, VA  |  Oct 19, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 8,824
Union: 5,764
Confederate: 3,060

Related Battles

Frederick County, Shenandoah County and Warren County, VA | October 19, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Commanders
Forces Engaged
52,945
Union
31,945
Confed.
21,000
Estimated Casualties
8,824
Union
5,764
Confed.
3,060

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