The Third Battle of Winchester

Thoburn's Attack

As the Nineteenth Corps tried to reorganize its lines, Union Col. Joseph Thoburn's division of the Eighth Army Corps came up from reserve and took position at the edge of the First Woods behind you. Union Gen. Philip Sheridan ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

Union Victories in the Valley

After the successful attack of the Union Eighth Corps, it was only a matter of time before the Confederates lost the battle. As Confederate Gen. Early consolidated his lines closer and closer to Winchester, his ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The Union Rear

The First Woods saw little combat, but areas near the front lines were bustling with activity. Here, men of Grover's, Dwight's, and Thoburn's Union divisions formed for their attacks across the Middle Field. Union Generals rallied the broken ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

Camp Averell

In the months after the Third Battle of Winchester, this area became home to Camp Averell, named after Union cavalry gen. William Woods Averell. Elements of six cavalry and "mounted infantry" regiments from New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

(Left Side): The Third Battle of Winchester - September 19, 1864

Bloodiest Battle of the Shenandoah Valley

Gen. Jubal Early assuming that Gen. Phil Sheridan was yet another cautious Union commander, divided his roughly 14,000 troops on a wide front north from ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The First Woods - A Perfect Slaughterhouse

As Confederates drove Union Gen. Grover's 2nd Division back across the fields in front of you, the 1st Division of the Nineteenth Army Corps was moving up to the edge of the First Woods ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The Middle Field - Bloodiest Encounter in the Shenandoah Valley

You are standing in the Middle Field - perhaps the bloodiest place in the Shenandoah Valley. After hours of preparation, Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah was ready to advance against the ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The West Woods

You are standing near the center of General Early's infantry line at what has come to be called the West Woods. Although these particular trees were not here during the Battle of Third Winchester, some are in the ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The Confederates Reform

"Unless this force were driven back, the day was lost."

General Jubal A. Early, C.S.A.

Standing here about noon during the battle, you would have seen Union troops under Gen. Henry Birge pursuing Gen. Clement Evans' Georgians from right to ...

The Third Battle of Winchester

The Second Woods

You are standing at the site of what is known as the Second Woods. The fighting in and around the Second Woods was so rapid and chaotic that many participants disagreed on the details and order of the ...