Army of the Valley facts for kids

The Army of the Valley was a special group of soldiers during the American Civil War. It was led by Jubal Early, a general for the Confederate side. This army fought in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864.

The Army of the Valley was the last Confederate group to enter Northern lands. They even reached the edge of Washington, D.C., the capital city. This army stopped existing after a big loss at the Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia, on March 2, 1865.

History of the Army of the Valley

General Robert E. Lee was the main Confederate commander. He was stuck fighting near Petersburg. Lee wanted to pull away some of the many Union soldiers he faced. He was also worried about recent Union wins in the Shenandoah Valley. This valley was very important for getting food and supplies for his army.

Lee came up with a bold plan. On June 12, 1864, he told General Jubal Early to take charge of a part of his army. This group was called the Second Corps. Lee renamed it the Army of the Valley. This name had been used before by Stonewall Jackson for similar troops in 1862.

Early's March and Threat to Washington

Early's job was to march north through the Shenandoah Valley. Then, he was to cross the Potomac River into Maryland. His goal was to threaten cities like Baltimore or Washington. Early quickly got his troops ready. They left Petersburg by train and arrived in Lynchburg. Here, they joined forces with John C. Breckinridge. They were supposed to fight Union troops led by David Hunter. However, Hunter's Union soldiers left when they saw Early's larger force.

Early's army easily pushed past small Union groups. Breckinridge's men were now part of the Army of the Valley. They moved north and then east from the valley. They crossed the South Mountain range. Near Frederick, Maryland, they were held up for a whole day. This happened during the Battle of Monocacy, where they fought against Union forces led by Lew Wallace.

On July 11, Early's army reached Washington, D.C. They threatened the city before leaving two days later. On July 24, after returning to the Shenandoah Valley, the Army of the Valley won its last major battle. This was the Second Kernstown. They defeated the Union VIII Corps led by George Crook. Early then sent many of his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) under John McCausland. They raided and burned much of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. This was likely in return for Hunter burning the Virginia Military Institute.

Sheridan's Campaign and Final Defeat

By the end of July, President Abraham Lincoln was tired of Early's army moving freely. He met with General Ulysses S. Grant to discuss what to do. Major General Philip Sheridan was chosen to take command. He replaced Hunter, who resigned.

From August to October, Sheridan's forces repeatedly defeated the Army of the Valley. They pushed Early's men southward. The Army of the Valley was no longer a big threat.

Early's damaged army stayed together through the winter of 1864-1865. But it was much smaller and weaker than before. Many soldiers left and went home. Those who remained had very few supplies, ammunition, clothes, and food. Still, they kept a military presence.

However, on February 27, 1865, Sheridan left Winchester. He had two cavalry groups. They moved to attack Early near Waynesboro. Major General George Armstrong Custer led one of these groups. After a short fight, a strong Union attack broke through Early's army. His small force was scattered. General Early and a few other officers and soldiers managed to escape capture. But over 1,500 men were captured. They were sent to Fort Delaware to wait for the war to end. The Army of the Valley stopped existing. Lee then removed Early from service. He felt Early could not inspire new soldiers to keep fighting.

Campaigns and Battles

• Valley Campaigns of 1864
  • Early's Raid and Operations Against the B&O Railroad (June – August 1864)
    • Battle of Monocacy (July 9, 1864)
    • Battle of Fort Stevens (July 11–12 1864)
    • Heaton's Crossroads (July 16, 1864)
    • Battle of Cool Spring (July 17–18 1864)
    • Battle of Rutherford's Farm (July 20, 1864)
    • Second Battle of Kernstown (July 24, 1864)
    • Battle of Folck's Mill (August 1, 1864)
    • Battle of Moorefield (August 7, 1864)
  • Sheridan's Valley Campaign (August – October 1864)
    • Battle of Summit Point (August 21, 1864)
    • Battle of Smithfield Crossing (August 25–29 1864)
    • Battle of Berryville (September 3–4 1864)
    • Battle of Opequon (September 19, 1864)
    • Battle of Fisher's Hill (September 21–22 1864)
    • Battle of Tom's Brook (October 9, 1864)
    • Battle of Hupp's Hill (October 12, 1864)
    • Battle of Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864)
• 1865 Sheridan's Expedition to Petersburg
  • Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia (March 2, 1865)