June 13, 1863---The Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia: Day One

JUNE 13, 1863: 

The Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia         (Day One): 

In order to move on Pennsylvania, Robert E. Lee ordered J.E.B. Stuart’s 19,000-strong cavalry to clear the Shenandoah Valley of Union forces, which were concentrated at Winchester behind well-armed fortifications. The Union forces, numbering 10,000, convinced that Stuart’s cavalry had been sapped by the Battle of Brandy Station, did not call for reinforcements.

The Union troops met the Confederate troops in the open near Kernstown, and fell back slowly toward their entrenchments, counterattacking several times without effect. Finally, the Union troops retired into their fortifications. A wing of Confederate cavalry swung around to cut off the potential Union escape route.