"Rienzi: Sheridan’s War Horse" Topic

"In the autumn of 1864, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan launched his campaign to do what no other Union commander had been able to achieve in the Shenandoah Valley—wrest it from a firm Confederate grip. During the first several weeks of Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Campaign Union forces stacked up an impressive string of battlefield victories—Third Battle of Winchester (Sept. 19), Fisher's Hill (Sept. 22), and Tom's Brook (Oct. 9). Those victories, coupled with the devastation of "The Burning" in late September and early October, compelled many of Sheridan's veterans to believe Gen. Jubal Early's Confederate army was defeated and no longer posed a threat in the region once so heavily dominated by Confederate forces.

Although Early's command suffered significant blows, he made one final attempt to reverse his army's fortunes on Oct. 19 – by launching a surprise attack against Sheridan's army. While initially caught off guard, the Army of the Shenandoah tried its best to slow Early's assault that morning. Despite those efforts, all elements of the Union army were compelled to withdraw from their camps along the banks of Cedar Creek and retreat north through Middletown…"
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