Following his victory at First Winchester in May 1862, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley to avoid converging Union forces under Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont and Brig. Gen. James Shields. Jackson turned east at Harrisonburg and on June 8, Maj. Gen. Richard Ewell defeated Fremont in a day long engagement at Cross Keys. The following day Jackson attacked and defeated Shields at Port Republic. The victory solidified control of the Shenandoah Valley.