Battle of Summit Point

Other Names: Flowing Springs, Cameron's Depot

Location: Summit Point, West Virginia

Campaign: Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign (August-December 1864)

Date: August 21, 1864

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal Early [CS]

Forces Engaged: Divisions

Casualties and losses: 1,000 total

Result(s): Inconclusive

Brief Description:

As Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan concentrated his army near Charles Town, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early and Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson attacked the Federals with converging columns on August 21. Early moved east via Smithfield against the Union VI Corps. Anderson struck north against Wilson's Union cavalry at Summit Point. There was cavalry fighting near Berryville. The Federals fought effective delaying actions, withdrawing to near Halltown on the following day. Confederates fired artillery at Sheridan's headquarters at Locust Point, the John and Lucy Packette family home. Some civilians had not yet evacuated the structure, but none were injured. Early's inability to coordinate his separate attacking columns enabled Sheridan to regroup and withdraw his troops to Halltown. Sheridan's campaign was off to a rough start, but by mid-September his victory over Early at Winchester would begin to turn the tide in the Shenandoah Valley.