The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

March 23, 2012

On this date 150 years ago, about 9000 Union troops clashed with 4200 Confederates at Kernstown, Virginia. Skirmishing of the previous day had led the Confederates to assume a smaller enemy force but, although outnumbered, Jackson's troops performed admirably. They retreated untimately, after suffering 80 killed, 375 wounded, and 263 missing, compared to Union losses of 118 killed, 450 injured, and 22 missing. This battle was the preliminary to the Shenandoah Valley campaign. Militarily important, the battle provided a diversion central to Southern stategy: Lincoln now fearing an offensive on the Federal capital, issued orders that General McDowell's troops were to remain as part of Washington's defense. This meant fewer troops for the Peninsula Campaign. In addition, the assault at Kernstown suggested the possibility of a threat on Harper's Ferry, and General Bank's troops were ordered to return to that vicinity rather than join forces with McClellan.

Fort Macon at Beaufort, North Carolina, was the object of the next move by Burnside's Federals. The following day saw General John Parke's soldiers approach Fort Macon and request its surrender. The subsequent refusal resulted in a Union siege of that Confederate position.