Explore pivotal Civil War sites around Winchester, spanning campaigns from 1862 to 1864, in the Shenandoah Valley, long known by local Native American tribes as the “Daughter of the Stars.” This tour offers a deep dive into the area’s rich history, starting with the First Battle of Kernstown, where Stonewall Jackson’s tactics and the terrain significantly influenced the war’s direction.
Visiting Winchester’s Historical Landmarks
In Winchester, the tour highlights the area’s strategic importance, showcasing Jackson’s headquarters alongside Union and Confederate cemeteries; all this is found amid the town’s charming historical architecture. The journey continues to the Third Winchester battlefield, underlining the critical roles of future presidents and military leaders in a battle marked by fierce engagements and strategic prowess.
The final leg takes us to Cedar Creek, the scene of a decisive late-war clash, featuring a surprise Confederate attack and Sheridan’s dramatic response. Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, with preserved Civil War earthworks and the historic Belle Grove Plantation, this tour encapsulates the strategic, human, and natural elements that defined the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley.
This private battlefield tour pairs nicely with our Southern Shenandoah Campaigns Tour.
Let us show you the way as you relax and skip the self-guided tour hassle. Your own battlefield guide will meet you in front of the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center.
After an introduction, your battlefield guide will join your vehicle as you depart to your first stop. It is recommended that the battlefield guide drive your vehicle so you can relax and enjoy the tour, but it’s up to you who drives.
Joining your vehicle keeps the cost down so you can see more battlefields with us.
Step-on battlefield guides are available for larger passenger vehicles (van or bus). For more information and prices, please contact us.
Note: The Northern Shenandoah Valley Campaigns can be tailored into one of our Custom Battlefield Tours.
