The Northern Flank

The Northern Flank. Third Winchester Battlefield Park. (left panel) , Shenandoah At War , In 1996, Congress designated eight counties as the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, with a mission to preserve and interpret the region's Civil War battlefields and related historic sites. The effort is led by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. Third Winchester is one of more than 20 battlefields that are part of t Foundation's work., To learn more about the battle, the Valley's Civil War story, or to support our efforts, go to www.ShenandoahAtWar.org. To contact the Foundation, call 540-740-4545 or email [email protected]., Third Winchester Trailhead , This is the main entrance to the Third Winchester Battlefield Park. From here, you can follow the trail to where it branches off to the key Confederate artillery position on the Huntsberry Farm, or you can continue south, following the route of the Union attack across Red Bud Run, and then cross the bridge to the trails on the other side and other key battlefield features, including the West Woods, Middle Field, and First Woods., The ground in front of you was the furiously-contested northern flank of the battlefield during Third Winchester. It witnessed the key Confederate artillery position on the Huntsberry Farm, the abortive Federal attempts to drive that artillery away, the Union flanking movement across the ridgeline, and the Federal attack across Redbud Road that broke the stalemate in and around the Middle Field., In addition, just north and west of here Union cavalry gradually pushed back the Confederate cavalry along the Valley Tumpike (modern-day US-11), setting the stage for the thunderous Federal cavalry charge that broke the southern line., Third Winchester Visitor Center , The Third Winchester Visitor, located at 541 Rodbad Road, features battlefield maps, images, and interpretive panels on each phase of the battle., Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District , [email protected] . www.ShenandoahAtWar.org . 540-740-4545, (right panel) , Fury on the Flanks , "Bullets, shot, shell and shrapnel rained on us like hail” -Union Capt. Russell Hastings, 23nd Ohio, Duval's Division, VIII Corps, As Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's Union forces moved towards Winchester on the morning of September 19, many Confederate troops were still racing south (some passing across the ground around you) to join Gen. Jubal Early's hurriedly formed defensive line east of the city, south of Red Bud Run. Meanwhile, Confederate horse artillery under the immediate command of Maj. James Breathed moved into position on the Huntsberry Farm on the heights north of Red Bud Run. When the Federals launched their assaults across the Middle Field, Breathed's gunners poured fire into their flank. "The shells came screaming through the trees,” one Federal soldier remembered, "lopping off branches, crippling the line and destroying organization., As the battle became a costly stalemate, Sheridan ordered Gen. George Crook's VIII Corps (Army of West Virginia) forward. Crook led one of his divisions across to the north side of Red Bud Run, then moved west (left to right from where you're standing) across the Huntsberry Farm. About 3:30 pm, Crook attacked south across the waterway while his other division attacked simultaneously across the Middle Field. Despite difficulties crossing the "muddy slough” of Red Bud Run, and stiff resistance by the Confederates, Crook's two-pronged attack forced the southerners back, and the Confederates withdrew to join Early's final defensive line north and east of Winchester., Meanwhile, throughout the day, Union Cavalry had been advancing from north of here, pushing Confederate horsemen back along the Valley Turnpike. Sheridan now ordered an all-out attack, and as the Federal infantry pressured the Confederates from all sides, the Union cavalry launched a massive charge that shattered the Confederate left flank. The Confederate line collapsed, sending the southerners spilling through the streets of Winchester in a scene of chaos and confusion. , , (captions) , "A vivid sheet of fire...ran along the front, and a deadly storm of grape and bullets tore through our ranks. It seemed as if half of the regiment went down." -Col. William S. Lincoln, 34th Massachusetts Infantry, This Alred Waud sketch shows the Federals attacking the Confederates in their final L-shaped defensive position. Courtesy Library of Congress, Mai. James Breathed commanded the Confederate guns on the Huntsberry Farm. Breathed's guns had been captured from the Federals in August 1862 , and would be lost back to them during the Confederate defeat at Tom's Brook on October 9, 1864., Union Gen. George Crook's flanking movements were key to Union victory at both Third Winchester and Fisher's Hill (September 22, 1864). Crook was captured by Confederate raiders in February 1865 and held prisoner for a month before being paroled.