First Battle of Winchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Battle of Winchester |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Nathaniel P. Banks | Stonewall Jackson | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 6,500 | 16,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,019 | 400 | ||||||
The First Battle of Winchester happened on May 25, 1862. It took place in and around Frederick County, Virginia and Winchester, Virginia. This battle was part of the American Civil War.
It was a big win for the Confederate Army. Their leader, Major General Stonewall Jackson, led his troops to victory. This battle was a key part of his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson's soldiers attacked the side of the Union Army led by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks. The Union forces had to retreat across the Potomac River into Maryland. Because of some mix-ups among the Confederate leaders, Jackson could not chase Banks into Maryland.
Why the Battle Happened
At the start of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln wanted his generals to attack the Confederacy strongly. Major General George B. McClellan was getting his army ready for the Peninsula Campaign. His goal was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia and end the war. To do this, McClellan had to use fewer soldiers to protect Washington, D.C..
This left only two Union forces to protect Washington. General Banks was in the Shenandoah Valley. General Irvin McDowell had troops in northern Virginia. Banks was supposed to clear the Shenandoah Valley of Confederate forces. Then he would move closer to Washington. This would allow McDowell's 30,000 soldiers to attack Richmond from the north.
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was given a job. He had to keep the Federal Army busy in the Valley. This would stop them from joining McClellan. Jackson lost the First Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862. But even with the loss, Jackson won a big strategic victory. He kept Banks in the Valley. This stopped McDowell from sending soldiers to McClellan's campaign.
On April 17, the weather got better. Banks started moving south towards Harrisonburg, Virginia. Around this time, the war situation changed for the Confederacy. General Joseph E. Johnston moved to the Peninsula. He took 55,000 Confederate soldiers to defend against McClellan's 110,000 troops. Confederate General Richard S. Ewell's division was now between Johnston and Jackson. He could help either one if needed. So, Jackson no longer needed to stop Union forces from joining McClellan. Now, he wanted to force them completely out of the Shenandoah Valley.
On April 25, Banks' Union forces took over Harrisonburg. Jackson pulled back to Swift Run Gap. This was about 20 miles east of Harrisonburg. This position allowed him to attack Banks' side if the Union forces moved further south. It also let him stay in touch with Ewell's Confederate division for support. Meanwhile, a Union group called a brigade was at McDowell, Virginia. This group, led by Robert H. Milroy, threatened Jackson's supply base at Staunton, Virginia. Jackson left Ewell at Swift Run Gap. He then moved to fight Milroy.
On May 8, Jackson's soldiers attacked Milroy's Union forces at McDowell. The Union forces had fewer casualties. So, it was a tactical victory for the Union. But it was a strategic victory for Jackson. The Union forces pulled back across the Allegheny Mountains. This ended the threat. Jackson went back to the Shenandoah Valley. He decided that his and Ewell's troops would now deal with Banks.
Banks expected Jackson's move. He asked to leave Strasburg and move north. But his request was denied. Earlier, on May 1, Lincoln had ordered one of Banks' groups to join Union forces at Fredericksburg, Virginia. These were under General McDowell. This made Banks' forces weaker. But he thought Jackson had left the Valley. When he learned Milroy had been pushed back at McDowell, Banks sent his 1st Maryland Infantry group to Front Royal, Virginia. This was about 12 miles to the east. It was to protect his left side.
Jackson had planned to attack Banks at Strasburg. But he learned there were Union soldiers at Front Royal. So, he decided to attack there first. On May 23, at the Battle of Front Royal, Jackson's Confederates captured the town. They also captured most of the 900 Union soldiers defending it. Banks realized Jackson was now on his side. He had no help at Front Royal. So, on May 24, Banks retreated to Winchester. Banks had good protection from his rearguard. Also, Jackson and Ewell had poor communication. Because of this, Banks reached Winchester with few losses.
The Battle
When Banks got to Winchester, he started getting his defenses ready. On May 25, Jackson's first attack was pushed back. Ewell came to Winchester from the southwest with his group. He attacked Camp Hill. This is now Overlook Park in the southeastern part of Winchester. At the same time, Jackson's Louisiana Brigade went around the side of the Union position. Then they took over the Union spot on Bower's Hill. This is in the southwestern part of Winchester.
With their sides broken, the Union soldiers started a messy retreat through Winchester. Even people living in Winchester shot at the Union soldiers. Banks retreated across the Potomac River back into Maryland. This was a very important victory for Jackson's Valley Campaign.
What Happened After
Jackson lost about 68 soldiers killed and 329 wounded. Banks' Union forces had about 62 killed, 243 wounded, and over 1,700 captured or missing.
Jackson's foot soldiers were too tired to keep up with the retreating Union soldiers. His cavalry (soldiers on horseback), led by Colonel Turner Ashby, was not helpful at all. They had started taking supplies from the Union wagons that were left behind. They had stopped fighting. Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry was with Ewell's forces. But they could not be found in time. Once they were found, Stuart did not follow Jackson's order. He waited for the order to come through Ewell. Jackson won at Winchester, but he could not completely defeat his enemy.
Banks' defeat worried Washington a lot. President Lincoln ordered McDowell to send 20,000 men to help with the situation in the Shenandoah Valley. These were soldiers McClellan needed for his Peninsula Campaign. For the next few weeks, Jackson kept defeating Union efforts. He won the Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic in June 1862.
Images for kids
-
Map of Winchester I Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.
