When the Army of the Potomac was transferred to the
Virginia peninsula, early in 1862, it was necessary to hold the
Confederates in check in the Shenandoah Valley (where they were led by “
Stonewall”
Jackson), in order to secure
Washington, D. C. General Lander, who had struck
Jackson a sharp blow at Blooming Gap, had died, and was succeeded in command by
General Shields.
Banks was then (February, 1862) in command of the 5th Corps.
He sent
Colonel Geary to reoccupy
Harper's Ferry, and took command there in person late in that month.
He pushed
Jackson back to
Winchester, where he was posted with about 8.000 men, when
Johnston evacuated
Manassas, early in March.
Then he retired up the valley, pursued by
Shields, who produced great consternation among the
Confederates.
Shields found his antagonist too strong to warrant an attack, and fell back to
Winchester, closely pursued by cavalry under
Colonel Ashby.
Banks repaired to
Manassas after its evacuation, leaving
Shields to guard the Shenandoah Valley.
Near
Winchester he had nearly 7,000 men (part of them cavalry) and twenty-four guns well posted half a mile north of the village of
Kernstown and 2 1/2 miles south of
Winchester.
On March 22
Ashby's cavalry drove in
Shieds's pickets.
Under cover of night
Shields pushed on some troops, under
Colonel Kimball, to
Kernstown.
A sharp and severe battle ensued, in which
Shields was badly wounded.
The Confederates were repulsed at all points, and fled up the valley, closely pursued by
Banks, who remained in that region to watch the
Confederates, while
McClellan should move on
