Fisher's Hill

Confederate Maj. Gen. Jubal Early’s Army of the Valley, bloodied by its defeat at the Third Battle of Winchester on September 19th, retreated 20 miles up the valley and took a defensive position in an east-west line across Fisher’s Hill, southwest of Strasburg.  Maj. Gen. Phillip Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah, in accordance with Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's orders, aggressively pursued Early.  Sheridan, outnumbering Early about three to one, noted that the right of the Confederate line was anchored on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, but the left flank rested on the slope of Little North Mountain. On September 21st, the Union army advanced, driving back skirmishers and capturing important high ground. On the 22nd, Maj. Gen. George Crook’s Eighth Corps moved along Little North Mountain to outflank Early and attacked about 4 pm. The Confederate cavalry posted there offered little resistance, and the startled infantry were unable to face Crook's attacking force. The Confederate defense collapsed from west to east as Sheridan’s other corps joined in the assault. Early retreated 70 miles up the Valley to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, opening the region to Sheridan's “scorched earth” invasion. Mills, crops and barns from Staunton to Strasburg were burned in what became known as “The Burning” or “Red October.”