Jubal Anderson Early (1816-1894) ranked among the most important generals who fought with Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. A brigade and corps commander, he played principal roles at the battles of First Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and most of the other engagements in the Eastern Theater during the first three years of the Civil War. In 1864 Early commanded an army in the Shenandoah Valley, winning several victories and menacing Washington before suffering ignominious defeat in a series of battles against Phillip H. Sheridan's Union forces. Early's long and active postwar career was marked by writings devoted to redeeming the South's reputation from the stain of military defeat. Encouraged by Lee and others who wanted the Confederate version to be on record as soon as possible, Early quickly completed a personal account of the last year of the war.