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mountains through Thoroughfare Gap； to fall upon Pope's rear and
cut his communications with Washington； and if possible to
destroy the vast depot of stores collected at Manassas。
The cavalry； under Stuart； were to accompany him。 The march
would he a tremendous one； the danger of thus venturing into the
heart of the enemy's country immense； but the results of such an
expedition would； if successful； be great； for Lee himself was to
advance with his army on Pope's flank； and there was therefore a
possibility of the utter defeat of that general before he could be
joined by the army marching to reinforce him from
Fredericksburg。
It was on Monday the 25th of August that Jackson started on his
march； ascending the banks of the Rappahannock； and crossed the
river at a ford； dragging his artillery with difficulty up the narrow
and rocky road beyond。 There was not a moment to be lost； for if
the news reached the enemy the gorge known as Thoroughfare Gap
would be occupied； and the whole object of the movement be
defeated。 Onward the force pushed； pressing on through fields and
lanes without a single halt； until at night； hungry and weary but full
of spirit； they marched into the little town of Salem； twenty miles
from their starting…place。 They had neither wagons nor provisions
with them； and had nothing to eat but some ears of corn and green
apples plucked on the road。
It was midnight when they reached Salem； and the inhabitants
turned out in blank amazement at the sight of Confederate troops
in that region； and welcomed the weary soldiers with the warmest
manifestations。 At daylight they were again upon the march； with
Stuart's cavalry； as before； out upon each flank。 Thoroughfare Gap
was reached； and found undefended； and after thirty miles'
marching the exhausted troops reached the neighborhood of
Manassas。 The men were faint from want of food； and many of
them limped along barefooted； but they were full of enthusiasm。
Just at sunset； Stuart； riding on ahead； captured Bristoe； a station
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad four miles from Manassas。
As they reached it a train came along at full speed。 It was fired at；
but did not stop； and got safely through to Manassas。 Two trains
that followed were captured； but by this time the alarm bad spread；
and no more trains arrived。 Jackson had gained his point。 He had
placed himself on the line of communication of the enemy； but his
position was a dangerous one indeed。 Lee； who was following
him； was still far away。 An army was marching from
Fredericksburg against him； another would be despatched from
Washington as soon as the news of his presence was known； and
Pope might turn and crush him before Lee could arrive to his
assistance。
Worn out as the troops were； it was necessary at once to gain
possession of Manassas； and the 21st North Carolina and 21st
Georgia volunteered for the service； and； joined by Stuart with a
portion of his cavalry； marched against it。 After a brief contest the
place was taken； the enemy stationed there being all taken
prisoners。 The amount of arms and stores captured was
prodigious。 Eight pieces of artillery； 250 horses； 3 locomotives；
and tens of thousands of barrels of beef； pork； and flour； with an
enormous quantity of public stores and the contents of
innumerable sutlers' shops。
The sight of this vast abundance to starving men was tantalizing in
the extreme。 It was impossible to carry any of it away and all that
could be done was to have at least one good meal。 The troops
therefore were marched in and each helped himself to as much as
he could consume； and the ragged and barefooted men feasted
upon tinned salmon and lobsters； champagne and dainties of every
description forwarded for the use of officers。 Then they set to
work to pile the enormous mass of stores together and to set it on
fire。 While they were engaged at this a brigade of New Jersey
troops which had come out from Washington to save Manassas
was attacked and utterly routed。 Ewell's division had remained at
Bristoe； while those of Hill and Jackson moved to Manassas； and
in the course of the afternoon Ewell saw the whole of Pope's army
marching against him。
He held them in check for some hours； and thus gave the troops at
Manassas time to destroy completely the vast accumulation of
stores； and when Stuart's cavalry； covering the retreat； fell back at
nightfall through Manassas； nothing but blackened cinders
remained where the Federal depots had been situated。 The blow to
the Northerners was as heavy as it was unexpected。 Pope had no
longer either provisions for his men or forage for his cattle； and
there was nothing left for him but to force his way past Jackson
and retire upon Washington。
Jackson had now the option of falling back and allowing the
enemy to pass； or of withstanding the whole Federal army with his
own little force until Lee came up to the rescue。 He chose the
latter course； and took up a strong position。 The sound of firing at
Thoroughfare Gap was audible； and he knew that Longstreet's
division of Lee's army was hotly engaged with a force which； now
that it was too late； bad been sent to hold the gorge。 It was nearly
sunset before Pope brought up his men to the attack。 Jackson did
not stand on the defensive； but rushed down and attacked the
enemy…whose object had been to pass the position and press
on…with such vigor that at nine o'clock they fell back。
An hour later a horseman rode up with the news that Longstreet
had passed the Gap and was pressing on at full speed； and in the
morning his forces were seen approaching； the line they were
taking bringing them up at an angle to Jackson's position。 Thus
their formation as they arrived was that of an open V； and it was
through the angle of this V that Pope had to force his way。 Before
Longstreet could arrive； however； the enemy hurled themselves
upon Jackson； and for hours the Confederates held their own
against the vast Federal army； Longstreet's force being too far away
to lend them a hand。 Ammunition failed； and the soldiers fought
with piles of stones； but night fell without any impression being
made upon these veterans。 General Lee now came up with
General Hood's division； and hurled this against the Federals and
drove them back。 In the evening Longstreet's force took up the
position General Lee had assigned to it； and in the morning all the
Confederate army had arrived； and the battle recommenced。
The stuggle was long and terrible； but by nightfall every attack had
been repulsed； and the Confederates； advancing on all sides； drove
the Northerners； a broken and confused crowd； before them； the
darkness alone saving them from utter destruction。 Had there been
but one hour more of daylght the defeat would have been as
complete as was that in the battle of Bull Run； which had been
fought on precisely the same ground。 However； under co