Civil War Valley Campaigns of 1864

Civil War Valley Campaigns of 1864

There were a large number of different battles and conflicts as part of the Civil War during 1864, and many of these took place in he Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.

During the year 1864 Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General and put
in direct control and command of all Union United States Forces. He took up
headquarters with the Army of the Potomac, but left Generals Sherman and Meade in control of their respect division and Army Commands.

There were three main campaigns in 1864 that General Grant focused his attention
on. The Lynchburg Campaign from May to June of 1864, the General Sheridan Shenandoah Army Valley Campaign of August ñ October 1864, and finally the B&O
Railroad Campaign against Confederate General Jubal Early, in August 1864.

In the Lynchburg Campaign, General Grant sent General Sigel with his West
Virginia soldiers to destroy Confederate General Leeís supply lines and the railroad center at Lynchburg, Virginia.

General Siegel took 10,000 soldiers and while tried to get through wound up being blocked with soldiers and cadet members of the Virginia Military Institute.

Later Union General David Hunter tried again, but again did not have very much success at least at first in Lynchburg, when he was opposed by Confederate General Jubal Early.

Union General Hunter did have some small successes, including a chance to burn the Virginia Military Institute in retaliation for their cadets opposing him earlier.

General Lee was losing patience and dispatched General Phillip Sheridan to take
charge. General Sheridan started slowly, but then moved and captured Atlanta
Georgia.

Sheridan and conducted a intense, scorched earth campaign that denied Confederate General Sherman a chance to supply his men and Army. Sheridan burned crops, destroyed fields and made sure there were no supplied available for Confederate troops.

Union General Sheridan continued to have victory after victory and finally defeated Confederate General Early decisively, first at the B&O Railroad Campaign against Confederate General Jubal Early, in August 1864. Then again at the Battle of Waynesboro early in 1865 in March.