MILFORD, Engagements at. Milford, Va., on the east bank of the south branch of the Shenandoah, was the scene of several skirmishes and three cavalry engagements dur ing the Civil War. On 24 June 1862 detach ments of the First Maine and First Michigan cavalry attacked about 300 mounted Confed erate infantry at the place, without decisive result, and withdrew. When Sheridan, after the battle of the Opequon (q.v.), followed Early up the valley, he ordered General Tor bert, commanding the cavalry, up the Luray Valley, to get past Earl's right and cut off his retreat. Wilson's division advanced and 21 Sept. 1864 attacked Wickham's cavalry di vision of two brigades and drove it from Front Royal and up the valley to Milford, where Wickham took up a strong defensive position on the south side of Milford Creek, one flank on the Shenandoah and the other on a knob of the Blue Ridge. When Torbert came up on the 22d he concluded that the position was too strong to be attacked, and not knowing that Sheridan had attacked Fisher's Hill (q.v.) fell
back to near McCoy's Perry, again advancing, and on the 23d occupying Milford, which had been abandoned by Wickham. Sheridan was greatly disappointed by Torbert's failure to carry the place on the 22d. After the battle of Cedar Creek (q.v.), 19 Oct. 1864, Milford was occupied by Lomax's Confederate cavalry di vision, and its defenses strengthened. On 24 October Powell's cavalry division, two brigades of about 1,100 men, with six guns, moved up the Luray Valley to reconnoitre. Powell skirmished with Lomax's outposts on the 25th, and on the morning of the 26th attacked Lomax in position at Milford, using his artil lery freely, and continuing the contest until 2 P.M., when, finding the defense so stubborn and the position too strong to be carried, he with drew.