After the battle at
Cedar Mountain (q. v.),
Pope
[
180]
took position with his army along the line of the
Rapidan, where he was reinforced by troops from
North Carolina, under
Burnside and
Stevens.
The Confederates now concentrated their forces for a dash on
Washington in heavy columns.
Halleck, perceiving possible danger to the capital, issued a positive order to
McClellan, Aug. 3, 1862, for the immediate transfer of the Army of the Potomac from the
James River to the vicinity of
Washington.
The commander of that army instructed
Halleck that the “true defence of
Washington” was “on the banks of the
James.”
The order was at once repeated, but it was twenty days after it
was first given before the transfer was accomplished.
Meanwhile,
General Lee having massed a heavy force on
Pope's front, the latter had retired behind the forks of the
Rappahannock.
Lee pushed forward to that river with heavy columns, and on Aug. 20-21 a severe artillery duel was fought above
Fredericksburg, for 7 or 8 miles along that stream.
Finding they could not force a passage of the river, the
Confederates took a circuitous route towards the mountains to flank the Nationals, when
Pope made movements to thwart them.
But danger to the capital increased every hour.
Troops were coming with tardy pace from the
Peninsula, and on the 25th, when those of
Franklin,
Heintzelman, and
Porter had arrived,
Pope's army, somewhat scattered, numbered about 60,000 men.
Jackson crossed the
Rappahannock, marched swiftly over
Bull Run Mountain, through Thoroughfare Gap, to
Gainesville (Aug. 26), where he was joined by
Stuart, with two cavalry brigades.
At twilight
Stuart was at Bristow Station, in
Pope's rear, and between the latter and
Washington.
He and
Banks had no suspicion of this movement.
Jackson knew the perils of his position, and the necessity for quick action.
He sent
Stuart forward to
Manassas Junction before daylight (Aug. 27), to break up
Pope's communications with the capital.
The alarm instantly spread among the Nationals.
Jackson, with his whole force, pressed to the
Junction, and
Pope attempted to capture him before he should form a junction with
Longstreet, at the head of
Lee's column, then approaching.
Pope ordered
McDowell, with
Sigel and the troops of
Reynolds, to hasten to
Gainesville to intercept
Longstreet.
Reno was ordered to move on a different road, and support
McDowell, while
Pope moved along the railway towards
Manassas Junction with
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181]
Hooker's division.
He directed
General Porter to remain at
Warrenton Station until
Banks should arrive there to hold it, and then hasten to
Gainesville.
McDowell reached
Gainesville without interruption; but near Bristow Station,
Hooker encountered
General Ewell, and in the struggle that ensued each lost about 300 men.
The latter hastened towards
Manassas, but
Hooker's ammunition failing, he was unable to pursue.
Pope now ordered a rapid movement upon the
Confederates at the
Junction, while
General Kearny was directed to make his way to Bristow Station, where
Jackson might mass his troops and attempt to turn the
National right.
This movement was made early on the morning of Aug. 28, 1862.
Porter was ordered to move towards Bristow Station at one o'clock, but did not march before daylight, at which time
Jackson had taken another direction.
He destroyed an immense amount of captured stores, and hastened to join
Longstreet, then approaching through Thoroughfare Gap.
Some of
Pope's troops failed to execute orders.
The latter arrived at the
Junction just after
Jackson had left, and pushed all of his available forces upon
Centreville in pursuit.
Kearny drew
Jackson's rear-guard out of
Centreville late in the afternoon (Aug. 28), and the forces of the
Confederates were turned towards Thoroughfare Gap, from which was coming their help.
Towards evening the troops under
Ewell and
Taliaferro encamped near the battle-ground of
Bull Run nearly a 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 fiercely upon them.
A sanguinary battle ensued.
The brunt of it was borne by
Gibbons's brigade, supported by that of
General Doubleday.
The struggle continued until dark.
The losses were heavy, and in that battle
General Ewell lost a leg.
Pope, at
Centreville, now attempted to crush
Jackson before
Longstreet could join him.
McDowell and
King were directed to maintain their position, while
Kearny should follow
Jackson closely at one o'clock in the morning (Aug. 29), and
Porter (whom he believed to be at the Junction) to move upon
Centreville at dawn.
Before these movements could be executed,
Longstreet and
Jackson had formed a partial junction.
Near the entrance to Thoroughfare Gap, through which
Longstreet had marched, there was
a sharp engagement, which ended at twilight.
Longstreet was held in check for a while by
Ricketts's division, and the cavalry of
Buford and
Bayard, which had fought the battle.
Early the next morning (Aug. 29),
Ricketts fled to
Gainesville, closely pursued.
Pope's army was now scattered and somewhat confused.
Lee's whole army, now combined, pressed forward.
Pope ordered
Sigel, supported by
Reynolds, to advance from
Groveton and attack
Jackson on wooded heights near.
He ordered
Heintzelman, with the divisions of
Hooker and
Kearny, towards
Gainesville, to be followed by
Reno, while
Porter, with his own corps and
King's division, was to move upon the road to
Gainesville from
Manassas, for the turning of
Jackson's flank on the
Warrenton pike, and to fall heavily on his rear.
Lee was then approaching along that pike, and
Jackson determined to hold his advantageous position, at all hazards, until the main army should arrive.
At five o'clock in the morning,
Sigel, with the divisions of
Schurz,
Schenck, and
[
182]
Milroy, advanced to attack
Jackson.
A battle began at seven o'clock, and continued with great fury until ten,
Sigel constantly advancing, while it was evident that
Jackson had been reinforced.
It was so.
Longstreet, with the vanguard of
Lee's whole army, which had been streaming through Thoroughfare Gap all the morning unopposed, had now reached the field of action.
Sigel maintained his ground until noon, when
Kearny's division arrived, and took position on
Sigel's right.
Reynolds and
Reno also came up, followed soon afterwards by
Hooker.
Then the Nationals outnumbered the
Confederates, and for some hours the battle assumed the aspect of a series of skirmishes.
Pope ordered
Porter into action, and other troops were directed to support him; but
Porter, as he alleged, did not receive the order until dusk, and the brunt of the battle fell upon his intended supports.
It was desperately and gallantly fought on both sides.
Jackson was hourly reinforced by fresh divisions of
Lee's army.
Soon after dusk this sharp and important
battle at Groveton ended, without victory on either side, and each having lost about 7;000 men.
Pope's entire army (excepting
Banks's forces at Bristow Station) and a part of
McClellan's were in this action.
Pope's effective men had been reduced in numbers by various causes, and it was estimated that his army fit for service did not exceed 40,000 men on the evening of this battle.
