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The Key to the Shenandoah Valley - by Edward B McCaul (Paperback)
About this item
Highlights
- During the Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was the scene of 326 engagements, many taking place around Winchester.
- About the Author: Edward B. McCaul, Jr., is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and received a Ph.D., in history from Ohio State University.
- 235 Pages
- History, Military
Description
About the Book
"During the Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was the scene of 326 engagements, many taking place around Winchester. The city was occupied and evacuated 72 times and five major battles were fought in the vicinity, including First and Second Kernstown and Cedar Creek. Geography was a crucial factor in the struggle to control Winchester, which was key to controlling Virginia. Confederate occupation gave them psychological dominance of the central valley and enabled them to disrupt enemy operations. When Union forces prevailed, they dictated the tempo of operations in the region. The decisive Union capture of the city in 1864 foretold the end of the Confederacy. Drawing on the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, this book chronicles the strategic battle for the heart of the Shenandoah Valley"--Book Synopsis
During the Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was the scene of 326 engagements, many taking place around Winchester. The city was occupied and evacuated 72 times and six major battles were fought in the vicinity, including First and Second Kernstown and Cedar Creek.
Geography was a crucial factor in the struggle to control Winchester, which was key to controlling Virginia. Confederate occupation gave them psychological dominance of the central valley and enabled them to disrupt enemy operations. When Union forces prevailed, they dictated the tempo of operations in the region. The decisive Union capture of the city in 1864 foretold the end of the Confederacy. Drawing on the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, this book chronicles the strategic battle for the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.
Review Quotes
"The strength of this book lies in its examination of environmental and terrain factors and their influence on the fighting and strategy of armies in the Shenandoah Valley... McCaul's precise depictions of battlefield terrain and army movements, along with a wealth or modern and historic maps, provide an excellent overall strategic walkthrough of this critical Civil War site."-Civil War Book Review
About the Author
Edward B. McCaul, Jr., is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and received a Ph.D., in history from Ohio State University. He has published more than 30 articles and interviews in addition to two books on the Civil War. He lives in Winchester, Virginia.