Portal:American Civil War/Selected biography/47

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Jubal Anderson Early (November 3, 1816 – March 2, 1894) was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. His post war articles written for the Southern Historical Society helped to establish the lost cause mythos.

He fought in most of the major battles in the Eastern Theater, including the First Battle of Bull Run, Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and numerous battles in the Shenandoah Valley. Early's most important service was in the Valley Campaigns of 1864, when he commanded the Confederacy's last invasion of the North. Grant, losing patience and realizing Early could attack Washington any time he pleased, dealt with the threat by sending out an army under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan. At times outnumbering the Confederates three to one, Sheridan defeated Early in three battles starting in early August and laid waste to much of the agricultural properties in the Valley, denying their use as supplies for Lee's army.