In 1865, Waynesboro played host to the last gasp of the Confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley. Although the Battle of Waynesboro isn't among the most recognizable clashes, such as Gettysburg or Antietam, it still holds a special place in American history. The Union forces, led by General Philip Sheridan, included a young brigadier general named George Armstrong Custer. The battle was also the last major conflict for famed Confederate general Jubal Early, whose defeat during the fight spelled the end of his Civil War service. Join author and Waynesboro native Richard G. Williams Jr. as he expertly traces the harrowing narrative of a prelude to the surrender at Appomattox just miles away in Waynesboro.
Richard Williams Jr. is a Southern author who specializes in Virginia history and the Civil War. A previous author and contributor to numerous publications, Williams has earned the Jefferson Davis Historical Medal for his work from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. He lives with his wife and family in Virginia's hallowed Shenandoah Valley.