Confederates win a tremendous victory to gain control of most of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and make the name “Stonewall” a legend in the South.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Confederates win a tremendous victory to gain control of most of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and make the name “Stonewall” a legend in the South.
Following the Federal defeat at Front Royal in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Nathaniel P. Banks retreats and Abraham Lincoln scrambles to send him reinforcements.
Abraham Lincoln revokes David Hunter’s order freeing all slaves in his military department. But Lincoln also declared for the first time that he had the power to free slaves as a wartime necessity.
George B. McClellan finally mobilizes the Army of the Potomac to begin its grand offensive to destroy the Confederacy.
Abraham Lincoln issues an executive order removing George B. McClellan as general-in-chief of all U.S. armies and creating new military departments that would report directly to the secretary of war.
George B. McClellan coordinates a Federal invasion of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, but unexpected complications thwart his plans.