Confederate Gibraltar

Confederate Gibraltar. "A natural fortification, apparently an impregnable one". , This is Fisher's Hill, the Shenandoah Valley's "Gibraltar"- "a natural fortification, apparently an impregnable one," that sits at the narrowest part of the Shenandoah Valley, stretching just four miles from Little North Mountain to your front to Massanutten Mountain behind you., After Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early's army suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's force at Third Winchester on September 19, 1864, Early withdrew south here to Fisher's Hill. The Federals pursued, and by September 21 the armies faced each other again., Unfortunately for Early and the Confederates, after their losses at Third Winchester this position was "too big for [his] enfeebled army." Early's infantry only covered three-fourths of the line; the western end of the position was manned by understrength cavalry brigades., In addition, while the eastern end of the Fisher's Hill ridgeline was too rocky and precipitous for an assault - "a spot for Rocky Mountain goats to fight in" - the ridgeline descended as it ran westward, and the last stretch was relatively flat. And it was in that lower, weakest section that Early had placed his cavalry., It was a weakness that Sheridan was determined to exploit. On the morning of September 22, he sent Gen. George Crook's corps toward Little North Mountain to strike the Confederate left., (Sidebar):, The left flank of Early's infantry line stood on the high ground to your left. A one-mile loop trail will lead you along this part of the Confederate position-the scene of the decisive fighting at the Battle of Fisher's Hill.