The Battle of Winchester/Opequan Creek
September 19, 1864

On September 19 at Winchester, Hayes wrote, "General Crook's command in general, and my brigade and the Second (Kanawha) Division in particular, squared up the balance left against us on the 24th of July at the same place."¹⁸⁴ Having spent the morning guarding wagons, Hayes was sent for by Crook about noon.¹⁸⁵ McCown reported that the Thirteenth marched from camp to the "left bank of the Opequan creek . . ." which they followed to the Berryville and Winchester Road, and there crossed the creek.¹⁸⁶ (See Figure 12, below.)

Figure 12 - Battle of Winchester/Opequan Creek, September 19, 1864

His brigade was ordered to ". . . walk fast, keep silent, until within about one hundred yards of the [enemy's] guns, and then with a yell to charge at full speed."¹⁸⁷ Hayes wrote that just as they were ready to begin, they came to a deep creek, about twenty-five yards wide, boggy, and with high banks.¹⁸⁸ Both of Crook's divisions, however, were able to cross the creek and rush the enemy.¹⁸⁹ McCown reported that Hayes' brigade "went into action on a charge, the enemy having planted a battery directly in our front from which our advancing column suffered severely, but our boys rushed bravely forward with their accustomed impetuosity and with their usual battle cry, rushed up to the very muzzles of the rebel guns, who gave way and fled in confusion through Winchester."¹⁹⁰ The move was a success and two cannons were captured. They chased the fleeing rebels for a while, but encountered a second line which was "strongly posted." They continued to advance, supported by the cavalry, and the enemy fell back about a mile, where the fight was repeated. Finally, Crook's men won the struggle and Early was pushed back to Cedar Creek.¹⁹¹ McCown reported that at sunset on September 20, the Thirteenth arrived at Cedar Creek and camped. After dark on September 21, they "marched to the right of Strasburg and camped for the night."¹⁹² Colonel Duval was injured in the fighting on September 19 and had gone home to recuperate, so Hayes was put in charge of the division.¹⁹³

On September 22, McCown reported that they "found the enemy strongly posted behind his entrenchments on Fisher's Hill. . . ." (See Figure 13, below.) General Sheridan immediately began making plans to dislodge them, and as McCown wrote "Gen'l Crook's gallant little `Army of West Virginia'" formed the left of the line, which also included the 19th and 6th Army Corps. At the same time that the 19th and 6th Army Corps were pressing on the enemy's right and center, General Crook's army "made a furious charge down behind the entrenchments, doubling up the rebel line and scattering them in great confusion." They pursued the fleeing rebels to the Staunton pike that night, and to Woodstock the next day.¹⁹⁴

Figure 13 - Battle of Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864

On September 24, they marched past Edinburg and Mt. Jackson to New Market, and on September 25 they camped about one mile from Harrisonburg on the Staunton road.¹⁹⁵ They remained in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area until October 6, grinding wheat, taking livestock, and engaging in other such activities. Hayes wrote: "Everything eatable is taken or destroyed. No more supplies to Rebels from this valley. No more invasions in great force by this route will be possible."¹⁹⁶ The Thirteenth marched to Cross Keys on October 1, and back to camp at Harrisonburg on October 2.¹⁹⁷ On October 6, the army began marching back down the valley with the Thirteenth as rear guard, and camped for the night near New Market. On October 7 they continued, marching past Mt. Jackson, Edinburg, and camping near Woodstock.¹⁹⁸ On October 8, they began moving early as the Confederate cavalry was harassing their rear, and at Fisher's Hill Hayes reported that they "Ascended Round Top Mountain, Rebel signal station. A fine view of the Valley, marred by the fires and smoke of burning stacks and barns."¹⁹⁹ McCown reported that at Fisher's Hill the Thirteenth was detached from the Brigade to guard the Signal Station on round top mountain . . . ." He also reported that there was an artillery battle between the cavalries of the Confederates General Lunsford Lomax and McCausland, and the Union General George A. Custer. On October 9, the Thirteenth continued guarding the signal station. The artillery fight between the two cavalries also continued, with the Union side claiming victory and "capturing eleven pieces of artillery and pursuing the retreating enemy thirty miles." On October 11, the regiment moved from Round Top Mountain through Strasburg, and united with Sheridan's entire army in camp at Cedar Creek. McCown reported that the 6th and 19th Army Corps "occupied the banks of Cedar Creek on the right of the turnpike and the Army of West Va. was on the left of the pike." There the task of fortifying began immediately and breastworks were completed along a three-mile line. McCown wrote that of the Army of West Virginia, the 1st Division (Colonel Thoburn's) was camped within the breastworks, while the 2nd Division (Hayes') was about one mile to the rear.²⁰⁰

Everything seemed to be calm on October 12. Hayes wrote to his uncle that the Valley campaign "is supposed to be ended."²⁰¹ However, on October 13, the enemy artillery surprised them and "commenced a furious shelling, in which Col. Thoburn's Division suffered severely."²⁰² Hayes' brigade was immediately ordered up and took a position "near the foot of Massanutton [sic] Mountain." Three men of the Thirteenth were wounded by bursting shells. They kept this position all night and the next day (October 14) Colonel Brown and the Thirteenth went out to Strasburg, met the enemy's skirmishers, and "laid in line of battle all day."²⁰³ That night they returned to camp, and for the next few days resumed the work of fortifying.

Next: The Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864
Back: Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, August-December 1864
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