During the summer and fall of 1864, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was one of the most contested regions of the South. Federal armies invaded the Valley three times—twice they were repulsed. This book describes the third campaign, the supreme achievement of the Army of the Potomac’s Sixth Corps.
One of the most respected units in the Federal Army, the Sixth Corps formed the nucleus of the Federal force that spent several months competing for control of the Valley with a desperate Confederate army, resulting in some of the toughest fighting of the war.
Following victories at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill the Sixth Corps campaign culminated with a remarkable stand that stopped the attacking enemy and turned what began as a disastrous defeat into a spectacular victory at Cedar Creek.

Jack H. Lepa, the author of several Civil War books, lives in Las Vegas, retired after almost forty years in the hotel industry.

Jack H. Lepa
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 19 photos, 5 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6629-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2674-1
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Preface 1
1. Desperate Measures 3
2. The Capital in Danger 14
3. Chasing Confederates 24
4. The Turning Point 34
5. Back to the Valley 43
6. An Opportunity for Sheridan 53
7. Confusion and Delay 60
8. The Assault Begins 69
9. A Murderous Deadlock 81
10. A Hard Won Victory 92
11. Fisher’s Hill 104
12. Destruction in the Valley 117
13. Camping at Cedar Creek 127
14. Early Not Ready to Quit 137
15. Surprise at Cedar Creek 146
16. The Sixth Corps Holds 157
17. Sheridan Returns 168
18. A High Price for Victory 178
19. To the End 190
Chapter Notes 197
Bibliography 206
Index 215

“outstanding…very highly recommended”—Midwest Book Review; “Lepa does a commendable job of not only describing the military maneuvers of the Union 6th, 8th and 19th Corps in this series of battles, but stresses for the reader the human side of the newly introduced concept of total war. His explanations of military maneuvers are historically accurate and sufficiently detailed to provide the reader with troop placement, actions and strategy. he scholarship is excellent, the readability engaging, and the battle coverage exhaustive and compelling…recommended”—Civil War News.