Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

by Daniel T. Davis, Phillip S. Greenwalt

Finalist, 2014, Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Book Award

Sweep the Shenandoah Valley “clean and clear,” Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant ordered in the late summer of 1864.

His man for the Maj. Gen. “Little Phil” Sheridan, the bandy-legged Irishman who’d proven himself just the kind of scrapper Grant loved. Grant turned Sheridan loose across Virginia’s most vital landscape, the breadbasket of the Confederacy.

In the spring of 1862, a string of Confederate victories in the Valley had foiled Union plans in the state and kept Confederate armies fed and supplied. In 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia used the Valley as its avenue of invasion, culminating in the battle of Gettysburg. The Valley continued to offer Confederates an alluring backdoor to Washington D.C.

But when Sheridan returned to the Valley in 1864, the stakes jumped dramatically. To lose the Valley would mean to lose the state, Stonewall Jackson had once said—and now that prediction would be put to the test as Sheridan fought with Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early for possession.

For the North, the fragile momentum its war effort had gained by capturing Atlanta would quickly evaporate; for Abraham Lincoln, defeat in the Valley could very well mean defeat in the upcoming election. For the South, more than its breadbasket was at stake—its nascent nationhood lay on the line.

Historians Daniel Davis and Phillip Greenwalt, longtime students of the Civil War, have spent countless hours researching the Valley battles of ’64 and walking the ground where those battles unfolded. Bloody The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 shifts attention away from the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia to the campaign that ultimately determined the balance of power across the Eastern Theater.

Genres: Civil War, History, Nonfiction, Audiobook

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2013

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one in a rapidly developing series on Civil War battles, published by Savas Beatie. Each volume has two components--one is simply a somewhat brief telling of the tale of the battle addressed; the second is a discussion of the battlefield today--where to go to see what aspects of the battle and the struggle to preserve battlefield remnants against economic development. The latter provides an interesting addendum to the book.

I recently visited the battlefield at Winchester where Phil Sheridan attacked Robert E. Lee's "bad old man," Jubal Early. It was depressing. To get to one key part of the battlefield when Union troops outflanked Confederate, you had to drive through a high school parking lot to get to this portion of the battlefield.

These books also do a good job providing an abbreviated description of the battle. This is interesting, in that it represents Sheridan's first campaign in truly independent command. He was sluggish at the outset as he got used to his troops and getting a picture of the environment surrounding him. Indeed, Grant visited him to get Sheridan moving. By the time the two spoke, Sheridan had articulated a strategy--which Grant signed off on. After that? "Katy bar the door."

The Winchester battle started slowly for the Union forces, but as the day wore on, they outflanked the Confederates and won a smashing victory. Shortly thereafter, another victory against what Early thought of as a near impregnable position. And on it went.

Then, a good description of Cedar Creek when the Confederate forces outflanked the Union troops and forced many off the battlefield. Ah! Then the famous ride by Sheridan. Between him and the commanding general of the VI Corps, things stabilized. Other Union troops returned to the battlefield and Early was decisively defeated as Sheridan launched his attack.

All in all, a very nice book for what it does. Very much recommended.

[George Kasnic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to devour and enjoy this series. It provides gritty detail of battles large and small in the US Civil War. This trip through the Shenandoah Valley brought me back memories of summer trips my grandfather took us on to the battlefields there. Prior to highways and byways, most of the battlefields were markers with only a few having visitor centers - this was the 1970's. Still I was able to recall walking many of these fields, seeing the ground that had once been trod by those defending the union. The perspective continues to be refreshing for someone raised on - excepting the works of Bruce Catton who broke bread with G.A.R vets - the false Lost Cause narrative prevalent when I was an adolescent, of humanizing and bringing to life the Union perspective and viewpoint. This book does a fabulous job of calling out the chief architect of that myth of the rebellion, Jubal Early. There is still much ground to be covered in undoing this insulting and false historic narrative, but this book does its part in continuing to chip away the artifice and damage done by the Lost Cause narrative.

Just to be clear, the cause of the Civil War was enslavement. Every secessionist state constitution explicitly states it as the cause. Without chattel slavery there is no Civil War.

[William Olenick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author in this fine book cover the autumn of 1864 and its important events. They follow the actions of General Early that leads to the Second Valley Campaign (The first being in 1862 with General Jackson leading). Also it covers why General Sheridan comes to the Valley and continues through the main attacks between the two generals.
This smaller book is right up there with Jeffery Wert's book, From Winchester to Cedar Creek. As in all of the ECW book the narrative is followed by a tour of the significant places along a driving tour of the valley.
There are maps and dozens of photos to support the text. Several appendices cover additional information. I would much recommend this book to others.

[Mark Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary/overview of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign occurring Aug-Oct 1864 between Sheridan and Early’s Valley armies. Beginning with Third Winchester and concluding with Cedar Creek, the authors deliver a good narrative overview of each engagement supplemented with easy to follow maps (except Cedar Creek). The books of the Emerging Civil War Series are not meant to be exhaustive but give enough detail to inform a choice on whether to dig in more specifically to the individual battles, leaders, soldiers, etc.

[Monte Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly brief book on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. It does cover all the important battles and movements in an easily understandable way. It has many pictures which would add to the book, but the clarity of most of them is so poor they can't add anything to the story. It is a shame. This book would be a good starting point for anyone wanting to know more about this series of battles, but for the more serious student, it is somewhat simplified.

[Trent Niederberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

good guide to have for overview and tour

Writing satisfactory, research not footnoted, conclusions hasty, I am glad to own this work but look to others for detail and real scholarship.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history of the Shenandoah campaign and the impact it had on the South.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice brief book on a important battle that the Union”snatched victory from defeat..”

[W Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good brief history of the 1864 Valley Campaign. Good tours of the battlefields are included.

[Tomlikeslife · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good account of the final battles in the Shenandoah Valley. The book also includes car tour information. Time for a road trip.

[Shelly♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody Autumn gives a brief history of the 1864 Valley Campaign which pitted Union General Phillip Sheridan vs. the Confederacy's "Bad Old Man", Jubal Early. It covers the Third Battle of Winchester through Cedar Creek. Including many photos, the first part of the book would be a great introduction to these engagements for the unfamiliar reader. The second part of the book is a driving tour of the major areas mentioned. And finally, an appendix adds additional information about the campaign and area that would not have fit anywhere else in the book.

It's the perfect companion to your next tour through the lower Shenandoah Valley and a great jumping off point for someone interested in studying the campaign in earnest.

Recommend for students of the Civil War.