Cross Keys, VA

Date: June 8, 1862

Location:

Campaign: Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign [March-June 1862]

Battles in Campaign:

• Kernstown I, VA - March 23, 1862 B

• McDowell, VA - May 8, 1862 C¹

• Front Royal, VA - May 23, 1862 C¹

• Winchester I, VA - May 25, 1862 A

• Cross Keys, VA - June 8, 1862 B

• Port Republic, VA - June 9, 1862 B

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Major General John C. Frémont

• Confederate: Major General Richard S. Ewell

Principal Forces:

• Union: 11,500

• Confederate: 5,800

Description:

• Moving up the Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Jackson's army, Major General John C. Frémont's army encountered Major General Richard S. Ewell's division at Cross Keys on June 8th. 

• Brigadier General Julius Stahel's brigade, attacking on the Union left, was stunned by a surprise volley from Trimble's command and driven back in confusion.

• After feeling out other parts of the Confederate line, Frémont withdrew to the Keezletown Road under protection of his batteries.

• The next day, Trimble's and Patton's brigades held Frémont at bay, while the rest of Ewell's force crossed the river to assist in the defeat of Brigadier General E. Tyler's command at Port Republic.

Photo Gallery²

Cross Keys Battlefield	Battle of Cross Keys - June 8, 1862	Battle of Cross Keys Map
Cross Keys Battlefield - Goods Mill Interpretative Center	Cross Keys Battlefield - Immigrant Soldiers	Cross Keys Battlefield Wayside
Battle of Cross Keys - Trimble's Ravine

Slide Presentation: None

Classification³: B

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 664

• Confederate: 287

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites: 

• The Battle of Cross Keys - Wikipedia

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/25/2011