page_title: Winchester, Virginia in the American Civil War
section_title: The occupation of Major General Nathaniel Banks
hierarchical_section_title: Winchester, Virginia in the American Civil War / The occupations of Winchester / The occupation of Major General Nathaniel Banks
caption_attribution_description: English: Publisher: Frank Leslie's pictorial history of the American Civil War New York, 1862 New York Public Library
context_page_description: The city of Winchester, Virginia, and the surrounding area were the site of numerous fights during the American Civil War as both contending armies strove to control that portion of the Shenandoah Valley.
context_section_description: MajGen. Banks primary objective in the Shenandoah Valley from 1861 to 1862 was to defend Washington, D.C. from possible attack by the Confederates, as well as defend and protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  During the winter of 1861, Banks headquartered his troops of the V Corps in Frederick, Maryland. A pontoon bridge crossing the Potomac River was completed in early March 1862, allowing Banks to begin crossing and marching up the Shenandoah Valley with superior forces against Major General Stonewall Jackson.  MajGen. Jackson evacuated Winchester, retreating up the Valley.  During the summer of 1862, two major battles were fought in Winchester between Banks and Jackson:
  During Banks first occupation from (March May 12 to 25, 1862:
  The First Battle of Kernstown, March 23, 1862
  The First Battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862
  Following the First Battle of Winchester, Banks retreated down the Valley.  Shortly thereafter, by May 31, MajGen. Jackson departed Winchester up the Valley and Banks re-entered the town, occupying it with forces from June 4 to September 2, 1862)
caption: Entry of General Banks' Division, May, 1862
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