Most contested

Mom and I have been visiting Civil War Battlefields. I was looking for another one to visit that wasn't too far away. It needed to have a visitor's center (for Mom). I googled it. The Third Winchester Battlefield came up. Less than an hour away. We went. The visitor's center turned out to be very nice. There was a diorama of the battle and several movies.

Winchester Battlefield Visitor Center

Shenandoah Battlefields

Replica cannon

Winchester was the most contested town in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War, changing hands dozens of times and serving as the site of three major battles, along with nearby engagements. The first (May 25, 1862) and second battles (June 13-15, 1863) were won by the Confederates (Jackson and Ewell). The third battle (September 19, 1964) was won by the Union and was part of Sherman's successful campaign against Jubal Early. Thomas Laws was an enslaved man who delivered secret messages between Sherman and a Unionist civilian.

Statue honoring Thomas Laws

Sketch showing the anguish of war

The Third Winchester was one of the largest, bloodiest, and most important battles in the Shenandoah Valley. Two Confederate generals were killed and four were wounded. Participants in the battle included two future presidents, a former vice president of the US, and a colonel whose grandson was General George S. Patton.

Well-known participants in Winchester battles.

It was decided to remove Confederate statues from Richmond's Capitol Square. Two of the last to leave were Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire and  Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith. Both have been relocated to the Winchester Battlefield. Dr. McGuire was a surgeon in the Confederate Army attached to Stonewall Jackson's command. Smith was a Major General in the Confederate Army, the oldest to serve in the field.

Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire

William “Extra Billy” Smith