Kernstown, First
Civil War Virginia


American Civil War
March 23, 1862

Relying on faulty intelligence that reported the Union garrison at Winchester numbered only about 3,000, "Stonewall"  Jackson marched aggressively north with his 3,400-man division. 

The 8,500 Federals, commanded by Col. Nathan Kimball, stopped Jackson at Kernstown and then counterattacked turning Jackson's left flank and forcing him to retreat. Despite this Union victory, President Lincoln was disturbed by Jackson's threat to Washington and redirected substantial reinforcements to the Valley, depriving McClellan's army of these troops.

McClellan claimed that the additional troops would have enabled him to take Richmond during his Peninsula campaign.

Result(s): Union victory

Location: Frederick County and Winchester

Campaign: Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1862) next battle in campaign    Campaigns

Date(s): March 23, 1862

Principal Commanders: Col. Nathan Kimball [US]; Major General Thomas J. Jackson [CS]

Forces Engaged: 12,300 total (US 8,500; CS 3,800)

Estimated Casualties: 1,308 total (US 590; CS 718)


George B. Mcclellan
The Young Napoleon

By age 35, General George B. McClellan (1826�1885), designated the "Young Napoleon," was the commander of all the Northern armies. He forged the Army of the Potomac into a formidable battlefield foe, and fought the longest and largest campaign of the time as well as the single bloodiest battle in the nation's history



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Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress
U.S. Military Academy