page_title: William Henry Powell (soldier)
section_title: Battle of Cedar Creek
hierarchical_section_title: William Henry Powell (soldier) / Division commander / Battle of Cedar Creek
caption_attribution_description: English: This is a map of Winchester - Front Royal - Fisher's Hill area in Virginia during the American Civil War. It was first published in 1912.
context_page_description: William Henry Powell was an American soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War. He was a leader in the iron and nail business before the war, and his leadership abilities proved useful in the military. Powell began as a captain, and quickly ascended to higher roles in the cavalry, including commanding a regiment, a brigade, and then a division. Powell was awarded his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for heroism at Sinking Creek, Virginia, when, as leader of a group of 22 men, he captured an enemy camp and took over 100 prisoners. This was accomplished without the loss of any of his men on November 26, 1862. He was honored with the award on July 22, 1890.
  In July 1863, Powell was shot while leading cavalry in Wytheville, Virginia. Although surgeons on both sides of the conflict believed his wound was fatal, Powell survived—and became a prisoner of war. He was later exchanged, and returned to his command of the 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. In 1864, Powell commanded brigades while fighting mostly in the Shenandoah Valley under the direct supervision of General William W.
context_section_description: On October 19, 1864, Powell was promoted to brigadier general. On the same day, the Battle of Cedar Creek took place southwest of Middletown, Virginia. The battle began in the morning with a Confederate attack. At that time, Powell's 1st Brigade was eight miles away from Powell and the 2nd Brigade, and closer to Cedar Creek. When the battle started, this brigade was needed to support the Union Army's left, so it was detached to General Wesley Merritt. Powell positioned the 2nd Brigade on the road to Front Royal, and prevented the Confederate cavalry under General Lunsford L. Lomax from flanking the main Union force. A week later, the division skirmished with Lomax's Division further northwest at Middletown.
caption: Powell's division operated in the Front Royal area in October and November 1864.
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