OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The first land battle of the war takes place in northern Virginia, and Confederates blockade the Potomac waterway into Chesapeake Bay.
Tag: Irvin McDowell
Vigorous Measures are Anticipated
165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln calls for increased military enrollment, which results in Federal troops pouring into Washington, D.C. By mid-May, talk turns from defense to offensive operations including an invasion of the South.
“Stonewall” Jackson Makes a Stand
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederate army continues moving south up the Shenandoah Valley and prepares to take on two Federal forces approaching from two different directions.
Do Not Let the Enemy Escape You
Two Federal forces continue their pursuit of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederates in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, but Jackson is able to stay one step ahead of them for now.
A Question of Legs
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederates drive one Federal army out of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, but two more are quickly closing in on them from opposite directions.
A Scare Will Do Them Good
Confederate victories in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley prevent Federal reinforcements from reaching George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. This leaves McClellan vulnerable on the Peninsula.