Chapter 6: The Campaign Starts in the Shenandoah Valley

On June 3, 1863, Lee secretly moves his Army of Northern Virginia west from Fredericksburg and into the Shenandoah Valley.

Six days later, his whereabouts are nearly discovered by the Union at Brandy Station, before Jeb Stuart drives them off in what becomes the largest cavalry engagement of the war.

As he continues north up the Valley with the Federals on his right flank, Lee detaches Stuart to cross the Potomac River to shadow and report back on the enemy’s movements. But Stuart is hampered by the presence of Hancock’s II Corps troops in his front and is forced to swing far to the east.