Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 2.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[280] abandoned by his opponent, concluded that Jackson had struck home, and he set out in great haste by way of Orleans and Salem, to join him, if possible, between Thoroughfare Gap and Manassas. It was between these two points that Pope intended to post himself to prevent this junction, which could be easily done, as the space which separated him from it was not half the distance that Longstreet had to march. Gainesville, where the turnpike and the railroad passing through Thoroughfare Gap intersect the main road from Alexandria to Warrenton, was the strategic point, the possession of which would secure this important result to the Federals. Pope entrusted McDowell with the task of occupying this position with his own corps and that of Siegel, and Reynolds' division, in all about twenty-five thousand men. Kearny and Reno were directed to follow him as far as Greenwich, a village situated south of Gainesville, while he in person, following the railway track with Hooker's division, proceeded toward Manassas. Finally, Porter, who had been on his way to Warrenton Junction since the day previous, was to concentrate his two divisions at that point, and then to resume his march along the Greenwich and Gainesville route as soon as Banks should join him. The latter was to cover the retreat of the army by following, like Hooker, the railroad line as far as Cedar Run.

That evening this movement was successfully accomplished; the rear-guard, however, had not yet come up. Morrell had only joined Porter during the day, and the latter had remained at Warrenton Junction, waiting for Banks, who was to relieve him there; the railway track had been destroyed by Stuart, and it required a whole day's work to render it practicable for the trains which followed the army. But Hooker had obtained a great advantage over Ewell's division, which had been left near Catlett by Jackson. He had met this division seven kilometres above Bristow station, and driven it before him beyond the point last mentioned on the borders of a difficult stream, called Broad Run. Ewell, finding himself too far from Jackson, was not willing to resist to the last extremity; but Hooker's vigorous attack had compelled him to abandon his wounded on the field of battle. There were about three hundred men disabled on each side. At last, quite late at night, McDowell, Siegel and Reynolds had