The Battle for the Shenandoah Valley.

[B7B Southern]

The battle for control of the Shenandoah Vally began March 23 with Stonewall Jackson's loss to the Union army at Kernstown, Virginia. He moved his army back up the valley and called for more help from Richmond.

While you follow along on the map, one can see where he crossed the Blueridge Mountains towards Charlottesville, making the Union army believe he was moving out of the valley but then met the train at a place called Mechums River at Crozet, Va. and came back into the Valley to meet Allegheney Johnson at West View, just a little west of Staunton, Va. on the Parkersburg Turnpike or rt. 254 as it is known today.

This week, and hearing that Milroy was in the area of Monterey, Va., plans were made to move West to protect the valley.

The hills in the backround were covered with tents on this date, 1862, while plans were being made to march. There are encampments made here by reenactors setting up camping demonstrations ever so often.

West View is a small village behind the hill to the left. The mountain ridge in the far background is the Shenandoah Mountain.