Book Review: Decisions of the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign: The Sixteen Critical Decisions that Defined the Operation

Decisions of the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign: The Sixteen Critical Decisions that Defined the Operation. By Robert G. Tanner. Knoxville, TN: The University of Tennessee Press, 2023. Softcover, 160 pp. $29.95.

Reviewed by Doug Crenshaw

With the publication of Decisions of the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign: Sixteen Critical Decisions that Defined the Operation, historian Robert G. Tanner offers a welcomed addition to The University of Tennessee Press’s “Decisions” series. These works study many of the campaigns of the Civil War, analyzing the situations, options, and decisions that shaped both the campaigns and the course of the war. Tanner’s previous research and writing on the 1862 Valley Campaign makes him uniquely qualified to tackle this particular “Decisions” subject.

Due largely to Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson’s exploits, the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign has become the stuff of legend. But it did not begin that way. As overall Federal commander, Maj. Gen. George McClellan did not immediately focus on that region, and the troops there did not immediately receive specific instructions. However, with Jackson’s rapid movements, the Valley soon grew in strategic importance. Ensuing events determined that major decisions had to be made. But, what would the Union objective be?

McClellan, who at the same time was planning his campaign on Richmond, found himself in a bit of a conundrum. Should he bring some of the Federal troops stationed there closer to the Army of the Potomac, or should they remain in the Valley to occupy the attention of the Confederate forces and keep them from reinforcing those defending Richmond? The Confederates had to make difficult decisions of their own in regard to their strategic vision. Tanner delves into all of these issues in detail, explaining each situation, the alternatives, the choices ultimately made, and their effect on the war in Virginia.

An example of these important decisions is Lincoln’s May 1, 1862, order to have Brig. Gen. James Shields’ division sent to Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell’s department in the Fredericksburg area. While this move had potential benefits to McClellan’s efforts at Richmond, it also left the Valley vulnerable. The numerical odds had been against Stonewall Jackson, but now they were more even. How would the Confederates react? Should they immediately bring Jackson to Richmond, or leave him in the Valley to occupy the attention of the Federals? The ramifications of these decisions were enormous. Did Lincoln make a major mistake? Tanner claims that “A fully resourced Union spring offensive in the valley likely would have prevented Jackson’s far-ranging maneuvers that affected the entire war in Virginia.” (p.62). Good food for thought.

A key decision facing Gen. Robert E. Lee in June of 1862 was whether to bring Jackson to Richmond to augment his force in the attacks on McClellan or have him move down the Valley and threaten Maryland, which might have forced McClellan to send troops there. The pressure to get it right was intense. The author works through the options facing Lee and the thought process behind the choice he ultimately made.

Tanner puts the reader on the hot seat with the commanders and the politicians. The consequences of the decisions these leaders had to make receive expert coverage throughout the book and are intriguing to ponder. The author has utilized a combination of primary and secondary sources, many of which are familiar, and he has turned up several obscure original documents. Tanner has also annotated many of his footnotes, which provides additional insight and clarity. This is not a quick read. It is meant to be, and is, a very thought-provoking study. If readers have an interest in the 1862 Valley Campaign and the war in the Eastern Theater, this book is an excellent resource.

Decisions of the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign also includes a helpful driving tour. To truly understand a battle, it is important to visit the ground and walk the terrain. Of course, this can be a bit more complicated in the Valley, where the contending armies covered great distances, and following the full campaign could require several days to retrace the movements of the armies. Fortunately, to help, Tanner has arranged the tour efficiently and has included a number of cartographer Edward Alexander’s excellent maps. Each stop includes a description of the situation and the decisions made, with insight added through quotations from the leaders’ correspondence and reports. The author does state that the visitor should allow for two full days to complete the tour. The tour portion is an excellent companion to the historical coverage provided in the book.