George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

[165] received from him, dated at Columbia Bridge at 2.25 P. M., addressed by signal to General Banks, announcing that “Rebels drove in my pickets at Burnt Bridge and on Gordonsville road; started out reinforcements and am now driving them; will report fully.” Burnt Bridge lies south of Columbia Bridge, over which the road to Gordonsville and Richmond crosses the Shenandoah. Fearing that we would not fall into the little trap of moving to Staunton, against which McClellan warned Banks, it might be that Jackson was trying all approaches to our rear, lest he might not have the opportunity to crush us with reinforcements in his own good time. With the pass across the mountain well guarded, and our advance at least sixteen and a half miles southeast of Harrisonburg, even up to the Shenandoah at Conrad's Store, we were holding Jackson at arm's-length. What now was to be done? How would higher powers move in a concentration that should force the yet lingering life of rebeldom out of its ugly body? It seemed as if the gloom and uncertainty that had so recently covered everything as with a pall was being dispelled. Every day deserters came to us in their gray uniforms, to say that not more than half of Jackson's army would fight; that they were worn out with service, and had no idea of the cause or the object of the war; also that the privates of Jackson's army had heard of but a single victory gained by us, that of Fort Donelson; and this “one of their boys accidentally saw in a newspaper.” At this time, too, the Administration in divers ways gave out that the end was nigh; that the services of our troops would be required but for two or three months longer. An Indiana regiment, offered and enlisted but for one year, the Government were unwilling to accept, and wished to muster it out at once; but finally declared that it was willing to keep it for sixty or ninety days longer,--and that was as long, said Secretary Stanton,