In the Shenandoah Valley, Jubal Early’s Confederates continued to militarily spar with Union forces led by Philip Sheridan. After meeting stiff resistance at Cedar Creek, on Sunday, August 14, 1864 Sheridan abruptly withdrew his army toward Winchester, believing that without sufficient supplies he could not hold the line against Early’s aggressive Confederates. By Wednesday, August 17, after learning of Sheridan’s withdrawal, Early’s forces pushed northward in hot pursuit. Near Winchester, Federal cavalry successfully engaged Early’s Confederates, covering the retreat of Sheridan’s main column. Despite harassing the retreating Federals, the Confederates were not numerically strong enough to defeat Sheridan. However, Sheridan also could not defeat the wily Early and his veteran force, leaving the Shenandoah Valley as a potential invasion route into the American North and her urban cities.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.