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that I cannot tell you。〃
This was quite enough for Vincent； who found the cavalry scouting
close to Patterson's force； prepared to attack the enemy's cavalry
should it advance to reconnoiter the country； and to blow up
bridges across streams； fell trees； and take every possible measure
to delay the advance of Patterson's army； in its attempt to push on
toward Winchester before the arrival of General Johnston's force
upon the scene。
〃I am glad to see you hack； Wingfield；〃 Major Ashley said； as lie
rode up。 〃The colonel tells me that in the despatch he got last
night from Johnston the general said that Stuart's information had
reached in a remarkably short time； having been carried with great
speed by the orderly in charge of the duty。 We have scarcely been
out of our saddles since you left。 However； I think we have been
of use； for we have been busy all round the enemy since we arrived
here in the afternoon； and I fancy he must think us a good deal
stronger than we are。 At any rate； he has not pushed his cavalry
forward at all； and； as you say Johnston will be up to…morrow
afternoon； Winchester is safe anyhow。〃
After the Federals had recrossed the river； and Johnston had taken
up his position round Winchester； the cavalry returned to their old
work of scouting along the Potomac。
On the 20th of June movements of considerable bodies of the
enemy were noticed； and Johnston at once despatched Jackson
with his brigade to Martinsburg； with orders to send as much of the
rolling…stock of the railroad as could be removed to Winchester； to
destroy the rest； and to support Stuart's cavalry when they
advanced。 A number of locomotives were sent to Winchester
along the highroad； drawn by teams of horses。 Forty engines and
300 cars were burned or destroyed； and Jackson then advanced and
took up his position on the road to Williamsport； the cavalry camp
being a little in advance of him。 This was pleasant for Vincent； as
when off duty he spent his time with his friends and schoolfellows
in Jackson's brigade。
On the 2d of July the scouts rode into camp with the news that a
strong force was advancing from Williamsport。 Jackson at once
advanced with the 5th Virginia Infantry； numbering 380 men and
one gun； while Stuart； with 100 cavalry； started to mnake a
circuitous route； and harassed the flank and rear of the enemy。
There was no intention on the part of Jackson of fighting a battle；
his orders being merely to feel the enemy； whose strength was far
too great to be withstood even had he brought his whole brigade
into action； for they numbered three brigades of infantry； 500
cavalry； and some artillery。
For some hours the little Confederate force skirmished so boldly
that they checked the advance of the enemy； whose general
naturally supposed that he had before him the advanced guard of a
strong force； and therefore moved forward with great caution。
Thou the Confederates； being threatened on both flanks by the
masses of the Federals； fell back in good order。 The loss was very
trifling on either side； but the fact that so small a force had for
hours checked the advance of an army greatly raised the spirits and
confidence of the Confederates。 Stuart's small cavalry force；
coming down upon the enemy 's rear； captured a good many
prisoners…Colonel Stuart himself capturing forty…four infantry。
Riding some distance ahead of his troop to find out the position of
the enemy； he came upon a company of Federal infantry sitting
down in a field； having no idea whatever that any Confederate
force was in the neighborhood。 Stuart did not hesitate a moment；
but riding up to them shouted the order； 〃Throw down your arms；
or you are all dead men。〃 Believing themselves surrounded； the
Federals threw down their arms； and when the Confederate cavalry
came up were marched off as prisoners。
Jackson； on reaching his camp； struck his tents and sent them to
the rear； and formed up his whole brigade in order of battle。 The
Federals； however； instead of attacking； continued their flank
movement； and Jackson fell back through Martinsburg and halted
for the night a mile beyond the town。
Next day he again retired； and was joined six miles further on by
Johnston's whole force。 For four days the little army held its
position； prepared to give battle if the enemy advanced； but the
Federals； though greatly superior in numbers； remained immovable
at Martinsburg； and Johnston； to the great disgust of his troops；
retired to Winchester。 The soldiers were longing to meet the
invaders in battle； but their general had to bear in mind that the
force under his command might at any moment be urgently
required to join the main Confederate army； and aid in opposing
the Northern advance upon Richmond。
Stuart's cavalry kept him constantly informed of the strength of
the enemy gathering in his front。 Making circuits round
Martinsburg； they learned from the farmers what numbers of
troops each day came along； and while the Federals knew nothing
of the force opposed to them； and believed that it far outnumbered
their own； General Johnston knew that Patterson's force numbered
about 22；000 men； while he himself had been joined only by some
3；000 men since he arrived at Winchester。
On the 18th of July a telegram from the government at Richmond
announced that the Federal grand army had driven in General
Beauregard's pickets at Manassas； and had begun to advance； and
Johnston was directed if possible to hasten to his assistance。 A
few earthworks had been thrown up at Winchester； and some guns
mounted upon them； and the town was left under the protection of
the local militia。 Stuart's cavalry was posted in a long line across
the country to prevent any news of the movement reaching the
enemy。 As soon as this was done the infantry； 8；300 strong；
marched off。 The troops were in high spirits now； for they knew
that their long period of inactivity was over； and that； although
ignorant when and where； they were on their march to meet the
enemy。
They had no wagons or rations； the need for speed was too urgent
even to permit of food being cooked。 Without a halt they pressed
forward steadily； and after two days' march； exhausted and half
famished； they reached the Manassas Gap Railroad。 Where they
were put into trains as fast as these could be prepared； and by noon
on the 20th joined Beauregard at Manassas。 The cavalry had
performed their duty of preventing the news of the movement from
reaching the enemy until the infantry were nearly a day's march
away； and then Stuart reassembled his men and followed Johnston。
Thus the Confederate plans had been completely suceessful。 Over
30；000 of the enemy； instead of being in line of battle with the
main army； were detained before Winchester； while the little
Confederate force who had been facing them bad reached
Beauregard in time to take part in the approaching struggle。