Recognizing that a direct assault on the strong Confederate defenses at Fisher's Hill would fail, Union commander Gen. Philip Sheridan accepted Gen. George Crook's plan to send the Army of West Virginia on a long march around the Confederate left flank to strike the left and rear of the enemy's line. While Sheridan moved the main body of his army to Fisher's Hill on September 21, Crook's corps stayed on the north bank of Cedar Creek, then moved to Hupp's Hill at sunset. On the morning of September 22, Crook began his march west, and by about 2:00 p.m., as other Federal forces distracted Confederate attention, his command reached the Back Road near St. Stephens Church and started climbing the eastern face of Little North Mountain. Around 4:00 p.m. his men reached their attack position, and when Crook ordered the charge they burst from the mountainside onto the Confederate left. Advancing across rugged ground, the Federal lines lost formation, but the troops continued forward with officers and men mixed throughout the assault as veteran soldiers pressed the attack without waiting for further orders.

Photo: Bradley Owen

Strasburg, Virginia · USA