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Kearney, who had arrived at
Bristow at eight o'clock in the morning, was sent forward in pursuit of
Ewell, followed by
Hooker, and, with the divisions of
Kearney and
Reno,
Pope reached
Manassas Junction at noon, just after
Jackson with his rear-guard had left.
He at once pushed all his available forces upon
Centreville in pursuit, and ordered
McDowell to march for that place, and
Porter to come up to
Manassas.
Unfortunately
McDowell had sent
Ricketts' division toward Thoroughfare Gap, but with the remainder of his force he pushed on according to orders.
Kearney drove
Jackson's rear-guard out of
Centreville late in the afternoon,
and the main body of the
Confederates fled by way of the
Sudley Springs road and Warrenton turnpike,
1 destroying the bridges over the little streams behind them.
Their faces were toward Thoroughfare Gap, from which was coming their help, and toward evening a strong force under
Ewell and
Taliaferro encamped on the wooded hills at the west side of the
Warrenton pike, near the battle-ground of
Bull's Run the year before.
King's division of
McDowell's corps was in close pursuit, and when they had reached a point desired by the watching Confederates, the latter fell furiously upon their flank.
A sanguinary battle ensued.
The brunt of it, on the part of the Nationals, was borne by
Gibbon's brigade, nobly supported by that of
Doubleday's under its gallant commander.
It continued until darkness interposed, when the advantage was with the
Confederates.
The losses on each side were very heavy.
Taliaferro was badly wounded, and
Ewell lost a leg.
Pope was now at
Centreville; and, on hearing of this encounter, made immediate arrangements for crushing
Jackson by circumambient pressure before he could form a junction with
Longstreet.
He directed
McDowell and
King to maintain their positions at all hazards; told
Kearney to push forward from
Centreville at one o'clock in the morning,
and follow
Jackson closely along the
Warrenton pike, to prevent his retreat northward toward
Leesburg, and ordered
Porter, whom he supposed to be at
Manassas Junction, to move upon
Centreville at dawn.
But
Longstreet's rapid march, quickened by a knowledge of
Jackson's danger, defeated the plan.
He had passed through Thoroughfare Gap before
King's division was attacked, and near its entrance, between it and
Haymarket, had encountered
Ricketts' division, with the cavalry of,
Buford and
Bayard, which had marched to confront him. An active engagement ensued, and ended only with the sunlight.
The heaviest of the battle fell on the Eleventh Pennsylvania,
