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Description:
General “Stonewall” Jackson’s victory on May 23
at Front Royal placed the Confederate Army on Federal Gen. Nathaniel
P. Banks’ right flank, forcing him to abandon his strong position
at Strasburg to prevent being cut off from his base at Winchester.
Once Banks reached Winchester, he attempted to reorganize his men
and defend his base from the hills on the south side of the town.
As Jackson’s Army approached the Federal defenses from the
south, Gen. Richard Ewell’s Confederate division converged
on Winchester from the southeast. On May 25, Ewell attacked Camp
Hill, while the Louisiana Brigade of Jackson’s Army outflanked
and overran the Union position on Bowers Hill. As both lines gave
way, panic spread through the Federal ranks as Banks’ men
raced through the streets of Winchester in an attempt to escape.
Banks’ shattered army withdrew north across the Potomac River.
During the battle and the subsequent retreat Banks lost more than
2,000 men along with most of his supplies while Confederate casualties
were only about 400.
Significance:
As a result of Gen. Bank’s defeat, President
Abraham Lincoln feared for the safety of Washington D.C. and withheld
Gen. Irvin McDowell’s corps from joining the Federal operation
against Richmond, the Confederate capitol.
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