Lee’s first targets were the Union positions at Cheat Mountain and Elkwater, guarding the Staunton Turnpike, one of the best roads through the mountains between the Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia. He had 9,000 men with which to carry out this operation, but they were not in the best of condition. The weather was also bad. The situation was made worse by Lee’s over adventurous plan. He split his force into five battalions , and sent them by different routes towards the two main Union spots .
The result of this was that Lee’s men launched a series of attacks on the Federal position. The commander at the time , General John Reynolds, reported attacks on both positions on the 12 of September, Elkwater on the 13 of September, both positions
The result of this was that Lee’s men launched a series of attacks on the Federal position. The commander at the time , General John Reynolds, reported attacks on both positions on the 12 of September, Elkwater on the 13 of September, both positions