Sheridan's Calvary Bullets

Timeline of The Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley – 1864

In May of 1864 Grant launched his Overland Campaign. His objective was Lee’s army, which he would either try to destroy in the field or box into the defences around Richmond. For Grant, the Shenandoah Valley was just one of several sideshows that he hoped would support his main operation.

The Shenandoah was always more important to the South. It was a vital source of food, supplies, and recruits. Its geography made it a sheltered approach for Confederate armies to land at Washington’s back door. As Lee’s army was relentlessly pushed into a siege around Richmond, he saw the Valley as the South’s only chance to divert Union attention away from Richmond.

Jubal Early was given the Second Corps – Jackson’s old command – and sent to the Shenandoah Valley to see if he could repeat the magic of 1862 when Jackson and his “foot cavalry” drew many times his strength in Union troops away from McClellan’s drive on Richmond.