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The Battle of Front Royal, VA, was fought #OTD in 1862. The engagement was part of Thomas Jackson’s campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, capturing supplies and tying up @USArmy units from reinforcing General George McClellan’s offensive against Richmond. #CivilWar🧵 
General Nathaniel Banks commanded 9,000 men in the Valley, and concentrated near Strasbourg. A smaller force of about 1,000 under Colonel John Kenly held Front Royal, which Jackson approached on the morning of May 23rd.
Jackson had more than three times as many men as Kenly, and used the rest of his force well to cut off mountain passes and prevent U.S. reinforcements, including Banks’ main body, from reaching Front Royal.
Outflanked by cavalry and outnumbered, Kenly ordered a withdrawal. His men attempted to burn the bridges over the Shenandoah River to slow Jackson’s pursuit, but they failed. Wounded as he made a stand with his men, Kenly was captured along with over 700 of his soldiers.
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