September 20, 1864---The Battle of Fisher's Hill

SEPTEMBER 20, 1864:     

The Battle of Fisher’s Hill:    

Jubal Early’s bloodied force moves up the Valley --- south --- in order to escape Philip Sheridan’s pursuing forces. With only 8,000 effectives against Sheridan’s 30,000, Early knows he must find a defensible place to make a stand. That place is Fisher’s Hill near Strasburg. 

Fisher’s Hill is thought (by both sides) to be impregnable, but this is true only if held in force. Early needs to have enough troops to cover a four-mile front from Little North Mountain to Massanutten Mountain. Without adequate troops his flanks are exposed and susceptible to assault. And there’s the rub. After his losses at Third Winchester the day before, Early simply does not have enough men. A captain in the 13th Virginia succinctly described the Confederate dilemma, saying, ‘The position was a very strong one, but our army was too small to man it.’

Early decides to withdraw and move south again, but by the time he has his orders up, Sheridan has invested Fisher’s Hill. Sheridan dislikes the standard Civil War maneuver of frontal assault, and decides instead to flank Early. This decision is strictly serendipitous. Sheridan does not yet know of Early’s weakness on the flanks. Sheridan orders General George Crook --- who had briefly commanded all Union forces in the Valley, and who many argue was the creator of Sheridan’s assault plan this day  --- to make the maneuver with his seasoned Valley troops. 

 

Crook’s Divisions move left into a position which is completely empty of Confederates. As soon as Crook’s men are in position, they break through the weak Confederate left flank. The Confederate pickets run. As Crook advances, Union troops on the right flank move up over the hill.  

Panic ensues among the Southerners who are expecting a frontal assault. Confederate soldiers abandon their lines, including mounted cavalry. Early later blasts the fleeing horsemen as the “authors of all my disasters,” blaming them for the loss at Fisher’s Hill.  

With everything in chaos, Early orders his scattering troops to leave Fisher’s Hill and head  further south --- up the Valley. Hus ultimate goal now is to link up with Lee’s forces near Richmond.

Deaths are minimal at Fisher’s Hill. Early has 30 men killed; he, however loses more than 1,000 who are taken prisoner. Union losses are 50 killed, and about 600 wounded.

After Fisher’s Hill, Sheridan elects to pursue Early up the Valley, but Early’s men go to ground among the friendly Rebel civilian population, living to fight another day.

Still, Sheridan has reason to be pleased. Not only has he taken most of the lower Valley back after years of Union frustration, but he has reduced Early’s force to less than 7,000 (temporarily at least) disorganized men.