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The Valley District was an organization of the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was a military organization whose primary mission was to provide the necessary forces and capabilities to support the National Security and defense of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865....
 and subsection of the Department of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia

The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War of the American Civil War....
 during the American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
, responsible for operations between the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains

The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains, is a Physiographic regions of the world of the larger Appalachian Mountains division. The province consists of the Northern and Southern physiographic sections, which divide near the Roanoke River gap....
 and Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains

The Allegheny Mountain Range — informally, the Alleghenies — is part of the vast Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and Canada....
 of Virginia
Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state....
. It was created on October 22, 1861, and was surrendered by the authority of Gen Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee

Robert Edward Lee , was a career United States United States Army officer , an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history....
 at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House

File:New Appomattox Court House.jpgFile:Appomattox Court House new and old marker.jpgThe Appomattox Court House is a courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892....
 on April 9, 1865.

Background
The Valley District was created to administer various home guard and military units and armies which operated in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bound to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River and to the south by the James River ....
.






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The Valley District was an organization of the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was a military organization whose primary mission was to provide the necessary forces and capabilities to support the National Security and defense of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865....
 and subsection of the Department of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia

The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War of the American Civil War....
 during the American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
, responsible for operations between the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains

The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains, is a Physiographic regions of the world of the larger Appalachian Mountains division. The province consists of the Northern and Southern physiographic sections, which divide near the Roanoke River gap....
 and Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains

The Allegheny Mountain Range — informally, the Alleghenies — is part of the vast Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and Canada....
 of Virginia
Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state....
. It was created on October 22, 1861, and was surrendered by the authority of Gen Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee

Robert Edward Lee , was a career United States United States Army officer , an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history....
 at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House

File:New Appomattox Court House.jpgFile:Appomattox Court House new and old marker.jpgThe Appomattox Court House is a courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892....
 on April 9, 1865.

Background


The Valley District was created to administer various home guard and military units and armies which operated in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bound to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River and to the south by the James River ....
. The first forces organized in this area prior to the creation of the Valley District were the Forces In and About Harper's Ferry, Virginia, which existed from April 18, 1861, to June 15, 1861. The Forces In and About Harper's Ferry were originally under the Virginia State Militia
Virginia Militia

The Virginia militia is composed of the body of the people in the Virginia which is an armed force of all citizens capable of bearing arms. The Virginia militia was established in 1607 as part of the British militia system....
, and were placed under three commanders during that time. MajGen Kenton Harper (Virginia State Militia) commanded from April 18 to April 28, then command fell to Col Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Virginia State Militia) from April 28 to May 24, and finally the forces were transferred to the Confederate States Army and BGen Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston

Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career United States Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
 from May 24 to June 15, 1861.

From June 15 to October 22, military organization in the Shenandoah Valley came under local leadership until the Department of Northern Virginia. It was created on October 22, 1861, as Johnston prepared defenses in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia consistsof several County and independent cities in the U.S. state of Virginia in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C....
. The Valley District was defined as the area between the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Alleghenies and extended south from the Potomac River
Potomac River

The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. The river is approximately 383 statute miles long, with a Drainage basin of about 14,700 square miles ....
 to the vicinity of Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia

Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County, Virginia in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,853 as of the United States Census 2000....
 and covered an area of roughly five thousand square miles.

Three districts were created under the Department of Northern Virginia were:

  • The Aquia District
    • First commander: MajGen Theophilus H. Holmes
      Theophilus H. Holmes

      Theophilus Hunter Holmes was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate States Army general in the American Civil War.Holmes was born in Clinton, North Carolina, North Carolina....
    • Period of existence: October 22, 1861 to April 18, 1862
  • The Potomac District
    • First commander: MajGen Pierre G. T. Beauregard
      P. G. T. Beauregard

      Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard , was a Louisiana-born author, civil servant, politician, inventor, and the first prominent General officer for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
    • Period of existence: October 22, 1861 to January 29, 1862
  • The Valley District
    • First commander: MajGen Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
      Stonewall Jackson

      Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E....
    • Period of existence: October 22, 1861 to April 9, 1865


While the Aquia and Potomac Districts ceased to exist by the spring of 1862, the need remained for military organization in the Valley throughout the remainder of the war.

1864


During 1864, while under the command of LtGen Jubal Early
Jubal Anderson Early

Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate States of America general in the American Civil War. The articles written by him for the Southern Historical Society in the 1870s established the Lost Cause of the Confederacy point of view as a long-lasting literary and cultural phenomenon....
, the Valley District operated its own independent army, the Army of the Valley
Army of the Valley

The Army of the Valley was the name given to the army of Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early's independent command during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the summer and autumn of 1864....
, which was essentially composed of the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate States Army Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American Civil War....
. The Second Corps was detached from Lee's main army to invade, threaten and assault Washington, D.C., on the hopes of drawing forces away from General
Commanding General of the United States Army

Prior to the institution of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1903, there was generally a single senior-most officer in the army. From 1783, he was known simply as the Senior Officer of the United States Army, but in 1821, the title was changed to Commanding General of the United States Army....
 Grant's
Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant , was an United States general and the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States ....
 forces, and thereby relieving pressure on his siege
Siege

A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by Battle of attrition and/or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit." A siege occurs when an attacker encounters a city or fortress that cannot be easily taken by a coup de main and refuses to surrender ....
 around Richmond
Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. Like all Virginia municipalities incorporated as cities, it is an independent city and not part of any county....
, and Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia

Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and 23 miles south of Richmond, Virginia. The population was 33,740 as of the United States Census 2000....
.

Command history

Commander From To
LtGen Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E....
 October 22, 1861 December 29, 1862
BrigGen William E. "Grumble" Jones
William E. Jones

William Edmondson Jones, known as Grumble Jones, was a planter, a career United States Army officer, and a Confederate States Army cavalry General officer, killed in the American Civil War....
 		 December 29, 1862 May 28, 1863
MajGen Isaac R. Trimble
Isaac R. Trimble

Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was a United States Army officer, a civil engineer, a prominent railroad construction superintendent and executive, and a Confederate States Army General officer in the American Civil War, most famous for his leadership role in the assault known as Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg....
 		 May 28, 1863 July 21, 1863
BGen John D. Imboden
John D. Imboden

John Daniel Imboden was a lawyer, teacher, Virginia state legislator. During the American Civil War, he was a Confederate States Army cavalry General officer and Irregular military fighter....
 July 21, 1863 December 15, 1863
MajGen Jubal A. Early December 15, 1863 March 9, 1864
BGen John D. Imboden
John D. Imboden

John Daniel Imboden was a lawyer, teacher, Virginia state legislator. During the American Civil War, he was a Confederate States Army cavalry General officer and Irregular military fighter....
 March 9, 1864 May 4, 1864
MajGen John C. Breckinridge
John C. Breckinridge

John Cabell Breckinridge was a lawyer, United States House of Representatives, United States Senate from Kentucky, the 14th Vice President of the United States, Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States in United States presidential election, 1860, a Confederate States Army General officer in the American Civil War, and...
 		 May 4, 1864 June 13, 1864
LtGen Jubal A. Early June 13, 1864 March 29, 1865
MajGen Lunsford L. Lomax
Lunsford L. Lomax

Lunsford Lindsay Lomax was an United States educator, farmer, and Officer in the United States Army who resigned his commission to join the Confederate States Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War....
 		 March 29, 1865 April 9, 1865


See also

  • Army of Northern Virginia
    Army of Northern Virginia

    The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War of the American Civil War....
  • Winchester in the American Civil War
  • Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum
    Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum

    The Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum was an antebellum home owned by Confederate States Army#Ranks and insignia Lewis Tilghman Moore, commander of the 31st Virginia Militia....
  • Army of the Valley
    Army of the Valley

    The Army of the Valley was the name given to the army of Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early's independent command during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the summer and autumn of 1864....