1862. treat. Whatever fate had in store for us, it didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the sail, though our curiosity was greatly excited to know what this movement meant. Tuesday, In a letter to McClellan dated May 25, the President gives a full statement of the situation, closing with the following paragraphs, which he puts in italics : If McDowell's force was now beyond our reach, we should be entirely helpless. Apprehension of something like this, and not unwillingness to sustain you, has always been my reason for withholding McDowell's forces from you. Please understand this, and do the best you can with the forces you have. We were routed out at 3 A.M., and marched to the station in Alexandria, where, after waiting patiently for two hours, we boarded freight cars for Manassas Junction. Some of the boys succeeded in procuring local newspapers, by which we became partially informed of the excitement. The necessity of feeling our way, as we rode along, delayed our arrival until the afternoon. We were soon in possession of Northern papers that gave us full particulars of Banks' movements, and lively discussions round camp-fires ensued, ending in a generally expressed hope that we might take a hand in bagging Jackson. This was the beginning of that series of movements which culminated in the battle of Manassas, or, as it has sometimes been called, "Second Bull Run." 1862. CHAPTER V. ORDERS received that shovels, pickaxes, etc., were to be Wednesday, carried by the men instead of the wagons, as heretofore. May 28. This caused a good deal of grumbling. In addition we were to carry sixty rounds of cartridges, fifty in the boxes and ten in our haversacks. Our prejudices having been excited against McDowell, we promptly placed this disagreeable order with the others, to his credit. The following communication will indicate the interest felt in our movement by the enemy: GENERAL LEE: HEADQUARTERS HARRISON'S, VA., GENERAL, If McDowell is approaching, of which there can be no doubt, we must fight very soon. Every man we have should be here. Major-General Holmes' troops should therefore be ordered to Richmond forthwith; they may be wanted to-morrow. I have more than once suggested a concentration here of all available forces. Nine hours later the following despatch was received by General McDowell: WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862, 5.40 P.M. GENERAL MCDOWELL, Manassas Function: I think the evidence now preponderates that Ewell and Jackson are still about Winchester. Assuming this, it is for you a question of legs. Put in all the speed you can. I have told Fremont as much, and directed him to drive at them as fast as possible. By the way, I suppose you know Fremont has got up to Moorefield, instead of going to Harrisonburg? FRONT ROYAL RIDGE WATERLOO RUN THOROUGHFARE WARRENTON WARRENTON HAYMARKET GAINSVILLE CENTREVILLE MANASSAS BRISTOW STATION CATLETTS LEXONDRIA RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, CULPEPER 1862. May 29. At 6 A.M. marched to Hay Market, twelve miles, Thursday, arriving about 10 A.M., when we took cars and rode to Thoroughfare Gap, where we left the cars and marched through a rough crooked defile to the west side of the mountains and camped in an orchard. While marching to-day, General Ord borrowed a pipe from one of the boys whom he saw smoking; being suddenly called away by an aid, he took it with him. There was not a man in the Thirteenth who wouldn't have been glad to contribute a pipe, or anything else he had, to the comfort or pleasure of General Ord. Friday, Started at 5 A.M. and marched through White Plains and Salem, halting three miles from the latter place, making a distance of fifteen miles for the day's march. We were overtaken in the afternoon by a severe thundershower which lasted all night, in consequence of which we were completely drenched. Some of the tents were washed away by the rain. The following despatch was sent by General McDowell to the President : I am pushing forward everything to the utmost, as I telegraphed the Secretary of War last night. Major-General Shields did not think we could make Front Royal before to-night. I sent him your telegram and asked him what could be done by extraordinary exertions to accomplish your wishes that the advance of my force should be at Front Royal by 12 o'clock noon to-day. I informed him of the position of affairs, and how necessary it was to get forward. He fully appreciated the case, and said he would go without supplies, except what the men could carry themselves, and would place two brigades at Front Royal by noon and two other brigades within five miles of Front Royal by the same time. It will require driving to accomplish this, and the day is hot. I am urging General Ord forward with all the physical force of the railroad and moral power of a strong representation of the urgency of the case. He will be beyond Rectortown to-night. At 5 P.M. General McDowell sent a telegram from Piedmont to the Secretary of War of which the following is an extract : I was disappointed on arriving at this place at 12 M. to find General Ord's division here, only five miles from its camp of last night (although I had ordered them to leave their knapsacks), and in much confusion. I reproached General |