Battle of Opequon Facts

September 19, 1864

Key facts about the Battle of Opequon, also known as the Third Battle of Winchester.

Portrait of Philip Sheridan

The Battle of Opequon was a turning point in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. Within little more than a month after the conflict, Major General Philip Sheridan (pictured here) drove Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early’s forces out of the valley. [Wikimedia Commons]

Also Known As

  • Third Battle of Winchester

Date

  • September 19, 1864

Location

  • Frederick County, Virginia

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Shenandoah (Three infantry corps, one cavalry corps)

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Valley (Four infantry divisions, two cavalry divisions)

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 40,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 10–12,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 5,018 (697 killed, 3,983 wounded, 338 missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 3,611 (226 killed, 1,567 wounded, 1,818 missing/captured)

Result

  • Union victory

Timeline of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

These are the main battles and events of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 in order.