General Jubal Early, following a series of…

General Jubal Early, following a series of unsuccessful Union attacks on his flanks, decides on July 19, to withdraw from his precarious position at Berryville to a more secure position near Strasburg.

During the evacuation of the military hospitals and storage depots at Winchester, Union forces under Brigadier General William W. Averell win a rare victory over Confederate forces under Major General Stephen D. Ramseur at the Battle of Rutherford's Farm.

The poor Confederate performance at the battle, as well as a series of small cavalry engagements south of Winchester the following day, lead Union commanders George Crook and Horatio G. Wright to conclude the Confederates are merely fighting a rearguard action and that Early is leaving the Valley and heading for Richmond to reinforce the Army of Northern Virginia.

With the threat to Washington, D.C., seemingly over, Wright withdraws the VI Corps and XIX Corp from the valley to return to the aid of Grant's siege of Petersburg, Virginia, on July 20, leaving only the three-division strong Army of West Virginia in the Valley.

The following two days are relatively quiet with both armies resting in their camps some fifteen miles (twenty-four kilometers) from each other.

On July 23, Confederate cavalry attack the Union advanced picket line at Kernstown, leading to a sharp cavalry skirmish.

From prisoners caught in the skirmish Early learns of Wright's departure.

In order to continue to be of service to Lee in the Valley, Early realizes he has to attack the diminished force in front of him to ensure that Grant's force at Petersburg will not be reinforced.