Fisher's Hill Battlefield
Posted by: 
Arby Geo
N 38° 59.387 W 078° 24.893
17S E 723897 N 4318821
Site of the 1864 battle between Union General Philip Sheridan and Confederate General Jubal Early. This is a self-guided walking tour (about 1/2 hour) in the Shenandoah Valley.
Waymark Code: WM12FC
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 12/25/2006
Views: 85
After suffering a defeat at the hands of Union General Phil Sheridan at the Third Battle of Winchester, Confederate General Jubal Early and his 10,000 troops withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley and took up a strong defensive position on Fisher's Hill, south of Strasburg on September 20, 1864. At this location, Early and his men had to defend a line just 5 miles wide, stretching from Massanutton Mountain at the east end to Little North Mountain (at the foothills of the Alleghenies) at the west end.
Early placed his men behind a small stream called Tumbling Run facing north for the anticipated attack up the Valley Pike (now Route 11). His right was anchored on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River at the base of Massanutton Mountain. His left was anchored on Fisher's Hill. Although he would have preferred to extend his left all the way to Little North Mountain, he did not have enough troops to cover the territory. Instead he used cavalry to fill the gap. Believing Sheridan to be timid and overly cautious, Early believed he was in a strong enough defensive position to repel any attack. He was wrong.
Sheridan advanced his 30,000 troops into position, placing his 6th Corps and 19th Corps north of Tumbling Run facing towards Early. He sent his 8th Corps, under General George Crook, to advance in secret along Back Road at the base of Little North Mountain and take up a position on Early's left flank.
At 4 P.M. on September 22nd, Crook struck Early's left flank, causing pandemonium among the Confederate defenders on Fisher's Hill. As they turned to meet this attack from the west, Sheridan sent the 6th and 19th Corps southward across Tumbling Run. The result was a rout, with Early's forces retreating further up the Valley, opening up the Valley to a month of destruction and devastation that would be known forever as "Red October".
Type of site: Battlefield
Address:
Strasburg, Virginia USA
Admission Charged: No Charge
Website: [Web Link]
Driving Directions:
Located on Battlefield Rd., just off of Rte 11, South of Strasburg, Va.
Phone Number: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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