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Confederate General Richard Ewell's Second Corps had been ordered to clear the Shenandoah Valley for the advance of the Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania. The main obstacle was the heavily fortified Union occupied town of Winchester, Virginia, garrisoned by Robert H. Milroy's division of around 7000 men. Milroy's confidence in his formidable defenses was not borne out and despite an attempt to break out, much of his division was captured. The comprehensive defeat caused panic in the North and Lee's road to Pennsylvania was now open. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Albert A. Nofi, The Gettysburg Campaign: June-July 1863 (New York: Da Capo Press, 1996) , 39-45.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Battles/Soldiers
