First Battle of Winchester

First Battle of Winchester Bowers Hill Began: May 25, 1862 Ended: Same day Location: Frederick County and City of Winchester, Virginia Theater: Eastern Theater Campaign: Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign Outcome: Confederate victory Combatants Department of the Shenandoah One division, additional attached units Department of the Valley Two divisions Commanders Nathaniel P. Banks Major General, USA Thomas J. Jackson Major General, CSA Strength 6,500 16,000 Casualties 2,019 400

After skirmishing with Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks’s retreating army at Middletown and Newtown on May 24, Maj. Gen. T.J. Jackson’s division continued north on the Valley Pike toward Winchester. There, Banks was attempting to reorganize his army to defend the town. Ewell’s division converged on Winchester from the southeast using the Front Royal Pike. On May 25, Ewell attacked Camp Hill, while the Louisiana Brigade of Jackson’s division outflanked and overran the Union position on Bowers Hill. Panic spread through the Federal ranks, and many fled through Winchester. Banks’s army was soundly defeated and withdrew north across the Potomac River. This was a decisive battle in Jackson’s Valley Campaign. (NPS summary)