Hey everyone, thanks for downloading Episode 151 of our Civil War Podcast.

I'm Rich. And I'm Tracy. Hello y'all. Welcome to the podcast. In the last episode we discussed the first

Battle of Winchester, which took place on Sunday, May 25th, 1862. But before we continue on with what

happened after Stonewall Jackson's victory at Winchester, this might be a good time to hit the

pause button, so to speak, and quickly review the outline of the Valley campaign thus far, since we've

been covering this story arc for a number of weeks now, and a lot has already taken place.

Okay, so as you guys already call, the 1862 Valley campaign had its origins in the Confederate

desire to limit the size of the Union threat against Richmond. McLellant's advance up the peninsula

was the most direct threat to the Confederate capital, but then a bit later on, the danger to

Richmond was magnified by the potential advance of another federal force, South from Fredericksburg.

If that force, led by Irvin McDowell, could link up with McLellant at the very doorstep of

Richmond, it would almost certainly result in the fall of the rebel capital. And so all of

Stonewall Jackson's maneuvering and fighting out in the Shenandoah was ultimately meant to so engage

the attentions of the Yankees there that it would prevent them from leaving the Valley to aid

the drive to capture Richmond. Jackson had taken an initial step toward that end with an offensive

movement in late March that resulted in the first battle of Kernstown. That clash was a Confederate

tactical defeat, but it nonetheless had persuaded the Federals to hold Nathaniel Banks in the valley,

which in turn set up Stonewall's subsequent success.

Well, while Richard S. Yolves' division had kept an eye on Banks, Jackson took his command

westward from Stanton, united with the small force under Edward Allegheny Johnson, and struck at

the advance element of John C. Freeman's federal army, McDowell on May 8th. That fight ended with the

Yankees under Milroy and Shank, retreating back into the rugged terrain of the Alleghenes.

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