Battle of Cedar Creek

October 19, 1864

The last major battle of Sheridan's Valley Campaign of August through October of 1864, the Battle of Cedar Creek saw 47,210 total forces engaged and an estimated 7,682 total casualties. It is also known as the Battle of Belle Grove. NPS Soldiers & Sailors Database »

“There burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a panic-stricken army— hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others… utterly demoralized, …all pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly that a disaster had occered at the front.”

U.S. Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan

“The concentration was stopped; the blow was not delivered… We halted, we hesitated, we dallied.”

Confederate Maj. Gen. John Gordon

The Federal victory at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864 ended Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley. Coming just three weeks before the presidential election, news of the victory boosted morale in the Northern states and helped carry Abraham Lincoln to a landslide reelection.

A Victory Turned From Disaster

On October 19, 1864 Maj. Gen. Jubal Early’s Confederates launched a predawn attack at Cedar Creek. They drove Federal soldiers out of their camps around Belle Grove Plantation and through Middletown in disarray. US Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, however, rallied his troops and turned the Confederate victory into a total defeat. Read more »

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Eve of Battle

On the night of October 18, 1864, tents sheltering part of General Philip Sheridan’s 32,000 strong Union Army of the Shenandoah blanketed the fields of Belle Grove. Read more »

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Long Meadow Crossing

Two Confederate divisions crossed the North Fork of the Shenandoah and marched along the road, passing Long Meadow. Read more »

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Silent March

After fording Cedar Creek, approximately 3,000 Confederates marched with a rising fog obscuring their movements. Read more »

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Surprise Attack

After a silent all-night march along the base of the Massanutten, the Confederates forded the creek and river and, aided by a dense fog, stormed this hill, catching many of the Union soldiers unaware, some still sleeping in their tents. Read more »

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Bearing the Brunt

The 128th New York Regiment bore the brunt of the Confederate attack against their position. In the fog and smoke they could see little-- only the flash of rifles and sounds of battle told them where the enemy was. Read more »

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Stand of the Eighth Vermont

In a desperate attempt to stem the onward rush of Confederates, Col. Stephen Thomas was ordered to sacrifice his 1,000 soldiers from Vermont, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The fight that followed was a “vortex of hell,” one veteran later claimed. Read more »

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A Rich Prize

Belle Grove was Union headquarters, and thus was surrounded by hundreds of supply wagons, ambulances, and tents. As the Confederate advance neared the plantation manor house there was a scramble to evacuate them to safety. Read more »

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Defense in the Cemetery

The Middletown Cemetery, on a knoll west of the village, was the only point where Union officers believed they could establish a strong position and attempt to slow the Confederate advance. Read more »

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The Fatal Halt

General John Gordon and his commanding officer, General Jubal Early, met to assess the situation. Gordon urged continuing the pursuit. Early believed that the battle had been won. Read more »

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Sheridan Arrives

General Philip Sheridan arrived on the battlefield following his famous and dramatic ride from his headquarters in Winchester. Read more »

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Union Counterattack

Sheridan’s reformed battle lines stretched for almost two miles from east to west. Their counterattack took them back over the fields that they had earlier fled. Read more »

Order of Battle

The order of battle shows the hierarchy of army units in the field at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

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Army of the Shenandoah (USA)

Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan

Sixth Corps

Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright, Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts

1st Division

Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton

1st Brigade

Col. William H. Penrose

4th New Jersey

10th New Jersey

15th New Jersey

2nd Brigade

Col. Joseph E. Hamblin

2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery

65th New York

121st New York

95th Pennsylvania

96th Pennsylvania

2nd Division

Brig. Gen. George W. Getty

1st Brigade

Col. James M. Warner

62nd New York

93rd Pennsylvania

98th Pennsylvania

102nd Pennsylvania

139th Pennsylvania

2nd Brigade

Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Grant

2nd Vermont

3rd Vermont

4th Vermont

5th Vermont

6th Vermont

11th Vermont

3rd Brigade

Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Bidwell

1st Maine

43rd New York

49th New York

77th New York

122nd New York

61st Pennsylvania

3rd Division

Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts

1st Brigade

Col. William Emerson

14th New Jersey

106th New York

151st New York

184th New York

87th Pennsylvania

10th Vermont

2d Brigade

Col. Joseph W. Keifer

6th Maryland

9th New York Heavy Artillery

110th Ohio

122nd Ohio

126th Ohio

67th Pennsylvania

138th Pennsylvania

Artillery Brigade, Sixth Corps

Col. Charles Thompkins

Battery E, 5th Maine Artillery

1st Battery NY Light Artillery

Batteries C & G, 1st RI Art'y

Battery M, 5th U.S. Artillery

Eighth Corps

Brig. Gen. George Crook

1st Division

Col. Joseph Thoburn

1st Brigade

Lt. Col. Thomas F. Wildes

34th Massachusetts

5th New York Heavy Artillery

116th Ohio

123rd Ohio

3rd Brigade

Col. Thomas M. Harris

54th Pennsylvania

10th West Virginia

11th West Virginia

15th West Virginia

2nd Division

Col. Rutherford B. Hayes

1st Brigade

Col. Hiram F. Duval

23rd Ohio

36th Ohio

5th West Virginia

13th West Virginia

2nd Brigade

Lt. Col. Benjamin F. Coates

31th Ohio

91st Ohio

9th West Virginia

14th West Virginia

Artillery Brigade, Eighth Corps

Capt. Henry A. DuPont

Battery L, 1st Ohio Artillery

Battery D, 1st Penn. Artillery

Battery B, 5th U.S. Artillery

Provisional Division

Col. J. Howard Kitching

6th New York Heavy Artillery

Nineteenth Corps

Maj. Gen. William H. Emory

1st Division

Brig. Gen. William Dwight

1st Brigade

Col. Edwin P. Davis

29th Maine

30th Massachusetts

90th New York

114th New York

116th New York

153rd New York

2d Brigade

Brig. Gen. James W. McMillan, Col. Stephen Thomas

12th Connecticut

160th New York

47th Pennsylvania

8th Vermont

Division Artillery

5th Battery New York Artillery

2d Division

Brig. Gen. Cuvier Grover

5th Battery New York Artillery

1st Brigade

Brig. Gen. Henry W. Birge

9th Connecticut

12th Maine

14th Maine

26th Massachusetts

14th New Hampshire

75th New York

2nd Brigade

Col. Edward L. Molineux

13th Connecticut

3rd Massachusetts Cav. (d'mtd)

11th Indiana

22nd Iowa

131st New York

159th New York

3rd Brigade

Col. Daniel Macauley

38th Massachusetts

128th New York

156th New York

175th New York

176th New York

4th Brigade

Col. David Shunk

8th Indiana

18th Indiana

24th Iowa

28th Iowa

Division Artillery

Maj. Albert W. Bradbury

1st Battery, ME Light Artillery

Battery D, 1st RI Light Artillery

17th Battery, IN Light Artillery

Cavalry Corps

Maj. Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert

Escort: 1st Rhode Island Cavalry

1st Division

Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt

1st Brigade

Col. James H. Kidd

1st Michigan Cavalry

5th Michigan Cavalry

6th Michigan Cavalry

7th Michigan Cavalry

25th New York Cavalry

2nd Brigade

Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Devin

4th New York Cavalry (Headquarters Guard)

6th New York Cavalry

1st New York Dragoons

17th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Reserve Brigade

Col. Charles R. Lowell, Jr.

2nd Massachusetts Cavalry

6th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Army Headquarters)

1st U.S. Cavalry

2nd U.S. Cavalry

5th U.S. Cavalry

Division Artillery

Batteries K & L, 1st US

2d Division

Col. William H. Powell

1st Brigade

Col. Alpheus S. Moore

14th Pennsylvania Cavalry

22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry

8th Ohio Cavalry

2nd Brigade

Col. Henry Capehart

1st New York Cavalry

1st West Virginia Cavalry

2nd West Virginia Cavalry

3rd West Virginia Cavalry

Division Artillery

Battery L, 5th U.S. Artillery

3rd Division

Brig. Gen. George A. Custer

1st Brigade

Col. Alexander Pennington, Jr.

1st Connecticut Cavalry

3rd New Jersey Cavalry

2nd New York Cavalry

5th New York Cavalry

2nd Ohio Cavalry

18th Pennsylvania Cavalry

2nd Brigade

Col. William Wells

3rd Indiana Cavalry

1st New Hampshire Cavalry

8th New York Cavalry

22nd New York Cavalry

1st Vermont Cavalry

Horse Artillery

Batteries B & L, 2nd U.S. Artillery

Batteries C, F, & K, 3rd U.S. Artillery

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Army of the Valley (Confederate)

Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early

Ramseur's Division

Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur

Battle's Brigade

Brig. Gen. Cullen A. Battle

3nd Alabama

5th Alabama

6th Alabama

12th Alabama

61st Alabama

Grimes' Brigade

Brig. Gen. Bryan Grimes

2nd North Carolina Battalion

32nd North Carolina

43nd North Carolina

45th North Carolina

53rd North Carolina

Cook's Brigade

Brig. Gen. Philip Cook

4th Georgia

12th Georgia

21st Georgia

44th Georgia

Cox's Brigade

Brig. Gen. William R. Cox

1st North Carolina

2nd North Carolina

3rd North Carolina

4th North Carolina

14th North Carolina

30th North Carolina

Kershaw's Division

Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw

Conner's Brigade

Maj. James N. Goggin

2nd South Carolina

3nd South Carolina

3rd South Carolina Batt'n

7th South Carolina

8th South Carolina

15th South Carolina

20th South Carolina

Wofford's Brigade

BG. William T. Wofford

3rd Georgia Battalion

16th Georgia

18th Georgia

24th Georgia

Cobb's (Georgia) Legion

Phillip's (Georgia) Legion

Humphrey's Brigade

Col. Daniel N. Moody

13th Mississippi

17th Mississippi

18th Mississippi

21st Mississippi

Bryan's Brigade

Col. James P. Simms

10th Georgia

50th Georgia

51st Georgia

53rd Georgia

Pegram's Division

Brig. Gen. John Pegram

Pegram's Brigade

Col. John S. Hoffman

13th Virginia

31st Virginia

49th Virginia

52nd Virginia

58th Virginia

Johnston's Brigade

BG. Robert D. Johnston

1st North Carolina Batt'l S.S.

5th North Carolina

12th North Carolina

20th North Carolina

23rd North Carolina

Godwin's Brigade

Lt. Col. William S. Davis

6th North Carolina

21st North Carolina

54th North Carolina

57th North Carolina

Gordon's Division

Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon

Evans' Brigade

BG Clement A. Evans

13th Georgia

26th Georgia

31st Georgia

38th Georgia

60th Georgia

61st Georgia

12th Georgia Battalion

York's Brigade

Col. William R. Peck

1st Louisiana

2nd Louisiana

5th Louisiana

6th Louisiana

7th Louisiana

8th Louisiana

9th Louisiana

10th Louisiana

14th Louisiana

15th Louisiana

Terry's Brigade

Brig. Gen. William Terry

2nd Virginia

4th Virginia

5th Virginia

10th Virginia

21st Virginia

23rd Virginia

25th Virginia

27th Virginia

33nd Virginia

37th Virginia

42nd Virginia

44th Virginia

48th Virginia

50th Virginia

Wharton's Division

BG. Gabriel C. Wharton

Wharton's Brigade

Maj. Peter J. Otey

30th Virginia Batt'l S.S.

45th Virginia

50th Virginia

51st Virginia

Patton's Brigade

LC John C. McDonald

22nd Virginia

23rd Virginia Batt'l

26th Virginia Batt'l

Smith's Brigade

Col. Thomas Smith

36th Virginia

45th Virginia Batt'l

60th Virginia Thomas's Legion

Lomax's Division

MG. Lunsford L. Lomax

Imboden's Brigade

Col. George H. Smith

18th Virginia Cav.

23rd Virginia Cav.

62nd Virginia Mounted Inf.

Johnson's Brigade

BG. Bradley T. Johnson

8th Virginia Cav.

21st Virginia Cav.

22nd Virginia Cav.

34th Virginia Batt'n Cav.

36th Virginia Batt'n Cav.

McCausland's Brigade

BG. John McCausland

14th Virginia Cav.

16th Virginia Cav.

17th Virginia Cav.

25th Virginia Cav.

37th Virginia Batt'n Cav

Jackson's Brigade

BD. Henry B. Davidson

2nd Maryland Cav.

19th Virginia Cav.

20th Virginia Cav.

46th Virginia Batt'n Cav.

47th Virginia Batt'n Cav.

Horse Artillery

Lurty's Battery(VA)

McClanahan's Battery (VA)

Rosser's Division

MG. Thomas L. Rosser

Wickham's Brigade

Col. Thomas H. Owen

1st Virginia Cav.

2nd Virginia Cav.

3rd Virginia Cav.

4th Virginia Cav.

Payne's Brigade

Col. William H. Payne

5th Virginia Cav.

6th Virginia Cav.

15th Virginia Cav.

Rosser's "Laurel" Brigade

Col. Oliver R. Funsten

7th Virginia Cav.

11th Virginia Cav.

12th Virginia Cav.

35th Virginia Batt'n Cav.

Stuart Horse Artillery

Maj. James Breathed

Johnston's Battery (VA)

Thomson's Battery (VA)

Shoemaker's Battery (VA)

Artillery

Col. Thomas H. Carter

Braxton's Battalion

Maj Marcellus Moorman

Carpenter's Alleghany Batt. VA

Cooper's Stafford Batt. VA

Hardwicke's Lee Batt. VA

Cutshaw's Battalion

Maj. Wilfred Cutshaw

Fry's Orange Batt. VA

Garbers's Staunton Batt. VA

Jones Richmond "Howitzer"  Batt. VA

King's Battalion

Maj. William McLaughlin

Brian's Lewisburg Batt. VA

Chapman's Monroe Batt. VA

Lowry's Wise Batt. VA

Nelson's Battalion

LC William Nelson

Kirkpatrick's Amhurst Batt. VA

Milledge's Regular Batt. GA

Snead's Fluvanna Batt. VA

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Part of a series of articles titled
Drive the Enemy South.

Previous:
Skirmish at Hupp's Hill

Next:
Thanks of the Nation

Where this belongs

• Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park

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