The American Civil War - Chronologically

July 20, 1864 Action of Rutherford's Farm; or the Battle of Carter's Farm; or Stephenson's Depot near Winchester, Virginia, Frederick County General William W. Averell vs. General Stephen D. Ramseur * Union victory while chasing Jubal Early, before second Kernstown * "Pvt. John Shanes, Company K, 14th West Virginia Infantry, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the fighting near Carter's Farm, where he, 'charged upon a Confederate fieldpiece in advance of his comrades and by his individual exertions silenced the piece.'" * There's just this sliver left on the edge of a shopping center, but I'm glad they kept this little pocket park at least to remember what happened here.    Lovely. unplanned finds on the way to Romney, WV https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=12091 Also a thing. And the Civil War Trails markers are updated since construction. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=261495 "Run or Die" Desperate Fighting Occurred Here  On three...

July 19, 1864 Capt. Martindale burns down Boteler's home, Fountain Rock & Elmwood Cemetery Shepherdstown, WV https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=161830 Fountain Rock "Crows… will have to carry their provender with them" —1864 Valley Campaign— The Federal offensive in the Shenandoah Valley begun in May 1864 faltered in the summer with Confederate victories and Gen. Jubal A. Early's Washington Raid in July. Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan took command in August, defeated Early at Winchester in September and Cedar Creek in October, burned mills and barns, and crushed the remnants of Early's force at Waynesboro on March 2, 1865. Sheridan's victories contributed to President Abraham Lincoln's reelection in November 1864 and denied Gen. Robert E. Lee's army much-needed provisions from the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy." In 1864, the conduct of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, the “Breadbasket of the Confederacy” and an avenue of invasion, under...

July 16, 1864 Early Attacked at Purcellville Purcellville, VA  https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159199 Attacked at Purcellville "We found in the road many broken down and burned wagons" —Early's 1864 Attack on Washington— In June 1864, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee sent Gen. Jubal A. Early's corps from the Richmond battlefields to the Shenandoah Valley to counter Union Gen. David Hunter's army. After driving Hunter into West Virginia, Early invaded Maryland to attack Washington, D.C., draw Union troops from Richmond, and release Confederate prisoners held at Point Lookout. On July 9, Early ordered Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's cavalry brigade eastward to free the prisoners. The next day. Johnson sent Maj. Harry Gilmor's regiment to raid the Baltimore area. Union Gen. Lew Wallace delayed Early at the Battle of Monocacy on July 9, Federal reinforcements soon strengthened the capital's defenses. Early attacked there near Fort Stevens on July 11-12 and then withd...

July 14, 1864 Early Crosses at White's Ford North of Leesburg, VA Early returns, failing to have captured Washington or Confederate POWs as planned. "Early's force left Leesburg on the morning of July 16 to the Shenandoah Valley. A Union cavalry stationed ten miles west at Poolesville recaptured the Maryland side."  https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=132655 More White's Ford... https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=811

July 11 and 12, 1864 The Battle of Fort Stevens Washington, D.C. Horatio G. Wright VI Army Corps vs. That desperate bastard Jubal Early With everyone pulled into the fighting around Richmond and Petersburg, Washington, DC was left virtually defenseless against the Confederate forces that had broken through at Monocacy (eventually). Literally, only sick and old guys were left in the forts around the capital. When Early got to the outskirts of DC there were really just these few irregulars left to defend the city, and they fought badly on the first day. Citizens of DC were in a panic. Some, like those working in the quartermaster's office, were quickly armed and organized. However, the Union had bought itself time at Monocacy, and as a result Fort Stevens was fully reinforced with people who knew what they were doing on the second day of battle. Grant was able to spare a few from Virginia; the Confederates were hoping he would do that, but he didn't take enough to make much of a ...