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Description:
As part of the Federal campaign
to capture the Shenandoah Valley in 1862, Federal Gens. Milroy and
Schenck moved eastward to threaten the Valley from what is now West
Virginia. In response, Gen. Jackson cleverly deceived the Federals
by marching out of the east Valley towards Richmond and then returning
his army to the Valley by rail to Staunton. He then quickly marched
westward along the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike toward McDowell.
Late in the afternoon of May 8, Jackson took up positions along
Sitlington’s Hill. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Milroy
seized the initiative and assaulted the Confederate position. After
four hours of extremely fierce fighting, the Federals were repulsed.
Milroy and Schenck created the ruse of bivouacking for the night,
then quietly withdrew into West Virginia. Jackson was now free to
operate against other Federal forces in the Valley—a key to
his success in this campaign.
Significance:
This first Confederate victory during Jackson’s Shenandoah
Valley Campaign relieved pressure on Richmond and saved the "Confederate
Breadbasket." It also left Jackson free to operate separately
against other Federal forces and revitalized Confederate hopes.
Jackson's incredible bluff, pretending to move east but actually
moving west, was a masterpiece of maneuver, deception and audacity.
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