Fisher’s Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864

The Battle of Fisher’s Hill was fought on September 22, 1864, during the American Civil War. The battle took place near Strasburg, Virginia, and it was a significant Union victory that helped to strengthen their position in the Shenandoah Valley.

In the summer of 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early launched a campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, hoping to capture Washington D.C. and force the Union Army to withdraw from the South. Early’s troops had scored several victories, including a major one at the Battle of Kernstown in July. However, Early’s forces were greatly outnumbered, and he was forced to withdraw to the Fisher’s Hill defensive position.

The Union Army under the command of Major General Philip Sheridan pursued Early and engaged his forces at Fisher’s Hill. Sheridan had been appointed to lead Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley, and he was determined to take control of the area. He had approximately 33,000 troops, while Early had just over 10,000.

Sheridan’s plan was to attack Early’s left flank, and he ordered General William Emory to make a diversionary attack on the right flank. Emory’s attack was successful in drawing Confederate attention away from the left flank, and the Union forces were able to launch a surprise attack on Early’s left.

The Union forces quickly broke through the Confederate lines and began to push Early’s troops back. The Confederates tried to make a stand on the high ground at the top of the hill, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the Union’s superior numbers and firepower. The Confederate troops retreated, leaving behind a large number of supplies and ammunition.

The Battle of Fisher’s Hill was a decisive victory for the Union, and it helped to solidify their control over the Shenandoah Valley. The victory also boosted morale in the North, which had been suffering from a string of defeats. Early’s campaign had been halted, and the Union Army was able to concentrate on other fronts.

The battle was also significant because it demonstrated the effectiveness of Sheridan’s leadership. He had been appointed to lead the Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley after several other commanders had failed to achieve success. Sheridan’s tactics and determination proved to be successful, and he went on to win several more battles in the area.