Chronology

 

1864

Feb Breckinridge takes command of Confederate Western Department of Virginia

Mar Grant develops Federal strategy to exert pressure and mass at all points

Apr Breckinridge assembles 9,000 troops to confront Federal threat in Valley
30 Federals under Sigel advance south from Martinsburg

May
1 Federals occupy Winchester
11 Federals camp at Cedar Creek
15 Breckinridge defeats Sigel at Battle of New Market
16 Sigel retreats to Cedar Creek
17 Breckinridge's force entrained for Lee's army
19 Sigel relieved, given local command at Harpers Ferry
21 Hunter takes command of Federals at Cedar Creek
26 Hunter begins advance southward

June
2 Federals reach Harrisonburg
5 Hunter defeats Jones at Battle of Piedmont
6 Hunter occupies Staunton
7 Breckinridge and two brigades ordered to Lynchburg from Richmond
11 Hunter sacks Lexington
13 Early's Corps ordered to Valley
17 Corps begins arriving in Lynchburg; Breckinridge places himself under Early's command
18 Hunter defeated at Battle of Lynchburg
27 Early reorganizes and moves down Valley

July
2 Early's forces reach Winchester
3-4 Early bypasses Harpers Ferry garrison; crosses Potomac at Shepherdstown
5 Grant sends Ricketts' Division, VI Corps to Washington
8 Early reaches Frederick, MD
9 Early defeats Wallace at Battle of Monocacy
11 Early reaches Silver Spring, MD; VI Corps occupies Washington defenses; First Division, XIX Corps, en route to Petersburg from New Orleans, diverted to Washington
12 Skirmishing at Fort Stevens, DC; Early makes night withdrawal
14 Early crosses Potomac at White's Ferry VA
19 VI Corps under Wright engages Early at Snicker's Gap; Federals joined by Crook of Hunter's command
20 Federal cavalry under Averell defeats Ramseur at Winchester
20-23 VI Corps returns to Washington
22 Federals enter Winchester
23-24 Early defeats Crook at Battle of Kernstown, advances & wrecks Martinsburg railyards
30 Confederate cavalry bums Chambersburg, PA

Aug
7 Federal Middle Military Division created under Sheridan to coordinate against Early; composed of VI Corps (Wright), VIII Corps (Crook), XIX Corps (Emory), Cavalry Corps (Averell, later Torbert)
15 Early reinforced with Kershaw's Infantry, Fitzhugh Lee's Cavalry Divisions
10 Tentative maneuvering until ...

Sept
16 Kershaw's Division starts to return to Lee's army
17 Grant visits Sheridan at Charlestown, WV, tells him to "Go in!"
19 Sheridan defeats Early at Third Battle of Winchester, or Opequon; Early retreats to Fisher's Hill
20 Sheridan follows to Strasburg
21 Breckinridge ordered to southwest VA
22 Early defeated at Battle of Fisher's Hill & pursued to Harrisonburg; Sheridan begins "Burning" as far south as Staunton
24 Kershaw's Division rejoins Early, having gotten as far east as Gordonsville

Oct
6 Federals begin withdrawing north, followed by Early
9 Confederate cavalry defeated at Battle of Tom's Brook
10 Federals camp at Cedar Creek
12 VI Corps released to Grant's army, gets to Ashby's Gap and is recalled
13 Early closes to Fisher's Hill; heavy skirmish forward to Hupp's Hill
14 VI Corps closes into Cedar Creek camp
16 Sheridan departs for conference in Washington; Early's false message intercepted, Cavalry Corps sent back to Cedar Creek; cavalry skirmish west of camp
17 Gordon's Division makes second combat reconnaissance to Hupp's Hill; Sheridan departs Washington

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