the battle was fought in frederick county and winchester, virginia on march 23, 1862. it was the opening battle in jackson's valley campaign. jackson's cavalry commander, colonel turner ashby, had skirmished with union troops on march 22, 1862. on march 23, jackson sent his cavalry under ashby against the union position. colonel nathan kimball, the union commander, concentrated his forces on pritchard hill and also set up his artillery there. jackson set up his artillery west of pritchard hill on sandy ridge. during the battle he visited his artillery position. he discovered that while he thought he was attacking a moderate sized union army, he was in fact fighting an entire division. seeing a force much larger than his, jackson turned to his aide and said "we are in for it."