Third Battle of Winchester

Early on the morning of September 19, 1864, when Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan first attacked, Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry and Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur's infantry delayed the advance until Gen. Jubal A. Early arrived with the rest of his army in time to resist Sheridan's main attack at 11:40 A.M. Lee posted two cavalry brigades and Maj. James Breathed's six-gun horse artillery battalion at the Huntsberry Farm. After Federals drove Gordon's division from the south side of Red Bud Run, Breathed's gunners, guided by the sound of battle through the woods, punished them as they crossed the Middle Field. At the same time, Confederate Col. William Payne dismounted his Virginia cavalry brigade and advanced to the edge of the ravine, firing into the Union flank and helping save the Confederate left. Breathed and Payne then supported Confederate infantry south of there as it counterattacked and drove back the Federals. Early in the afternoon, Lee detached Col. Thomas T. Munford's cavalry brigade and two artillery pieces to the southern end of the battle line to face Union cavalry threatening the Confederate route of retreat. Breathed and Payne remained at the farm to harass Union forces on the south bank of Red Bud Run and to repulse Federal attempts to silence the Confederate guns. When Union Gen. George Crook attacked about 3 P.M., Lee withdrew his remaining forces from the position before they became seriously engaged, sending them to confront a large Union cavalry force storming up the Valley Turnpike to the west.

Virginia · United States