the presence of the Confederates. Their infantry line occupied the edge of the skirt of woods, with a battery posted on their right, and a column of cavalry was visible in rear.

Jackson proceeded here as elsewhere upon the rule that it is better to attack if possible, and promptly ordered his line to advance. Harper's men did so with alacrity-were met by the Philadelphia Rangers-and the action began with animation on both sides, the Federal battery on the right of their line opening a vigorous fire upon the Confederates. In spite of this fire, however, and that of the Federal sharp-shooters, they continued to advance, and drove the enemy from a farmhouse and yard which he had occupied, which so elated the young volunteers that they prepared to attack the main Federal line of battle. Jackson, however, ordered them to fall back from this dangerous position';, and the movement having been construed as a defeat, the Federal cavalry pushed forward in pursuit, advancing rapidly in close column down the turnpike. They were met by the artillery. Jackson galloped back to Pendleton's gun, which was under the crest of the hill, and, pointing out the cavalry, directed him to fire a shot at the column. This was promptly done; Captain Pendleton, who had been an Episcopal clergyman, giving the characteristic order, "Aim low, men! and may the Lord have mercy on their souls!" The shot struck the head of the cavalry column, overthrowing men and horses; they wheeled about in confusion, and, says an eye-witness, "vanished like phantoms." The fire of the six-pounder was then turned upon the Federal artillery, and one who took part in this skirmish, whose statements are always fair and reliable, declares that their cannoncers ran from the pieces at the first shot. They had better gunners afterwards.

The action continued until about noon, the Federal forces apparently fearing to advance incautiously. The Confederate line was no doubt regarded as the advance-guard of a much heavier force near at hand, and General Patterson extended his flanks to envelope Jackson and force him to fall back upon his supposed reserves. This resulted as he wished, the Southern

troops slowly retiring to prevent being outflanked; the loss upon each side having been, it is said, exactly the same-two men killed and a few wounded.

The "affair at Falling Waters," as Johnston styles it in his official report, was inconsiderable for the force engaged, and decided nothing; but its effect upon the morale of the Southern troops was important. It gave them confidence in themselves, since a force of three hundred and eighty men had been able to hold in check for several hours an invading column of many thousands; and, what was perhaps equally important, convinced them of the coolness and soldiership of their commander. Jackson had met the enemy with the skill and nerve of the trained soldier; and the men afterwards told with admiration how, while writing a despatch in the midst of the action, a cannon ball. which tore the tree above his head to splinters had not made him move a muscle or discontinue his occupation. These may seem trifles, and some readers may regard it as unnecessary trouble to state that Jackson had military courage. But such incidents are not trifles in war. They conciliate the confidence and good feeling of troops; and happy is the general who impresses upon his men the conviction that his nerves are beyond the influence of danger, though death stare him in the face. The troops believed this much of Jackson after the Falling Waters affair.*

CHAPTER X.

JOHNSTON LEAVES THE VALLEY.

JACKSON fell back slowly, continuing to show a bold front to the enemy, and, reaching his camp, struck tents and moved every thing to the rear. He then continued to retire, but about a mile further put his artillery in position, drew up his brigade, and, in

The writer is indebted to General Pendleton for a detailed account of this engagement.

the words of an officer who was intimately associated with him in these movements, "determined to meet the whole invading force if it should come up, satisfied that he could, by the blessing of God, cripple if not crush it.”

The Federal column did not advance, however, upon him in front. The flanking movement continued; and to avoid this, Jackson again retreated. Passing through Martinsburg late in the afternoon, he reached Big Spring, about two miles from the town, on the road to Winchester, where he bivouacked for the night. He was still "full of fight," and anxious to bring on a general engagement before General Patterson's full force came up. During the action in the forenoon he had sent repeated despatches to General Johnston, announcing the state of affairs, and urging him to advance with his main body and attack the Federal commander before he reached Martinsburg. Failing in this hope, he still expected reënforcements, and during the entire night of the 2d of July listened anxiously for the approach of the troops which would enable him to attack Patterson on the next day. The commands of Bee and Elzey were promised, but they did not come, and Jackson's impatience amounted finally to something nearly resembling wrath.

The night passed, morning came, and the day passed onstill no reënforcements came. General Patterson had meanwhile advanced unopposed and occupied Martinsburg, whereupon Jackson fell back again, halting this time at the village of Darksville, seven miles from the town. Here he was met by General Johnston with his whole command, and the troops were speedily disposed in line of battle upon the hills and in the fields surrounding the village. Filled with ardor at the expected battle, Jackson was indefatigable in marshalling his force for the conflict; and, remaining hour after hour in the saddle, chose carefully the position to be occupied by each regiment of his brigade. It was on this occasion, while riding over the ground with Captain Pendleton, that he said: "Captain, I want my brigade to feel that it can itself whip Patterson's whole army, and I believe it can do it!"

Johnston remained at Darksville, drawn up in line of battle, for four days. He was unwilling to attack General Patterson in the town of Martinsburg, whose solid stone buildings and enclosures of masonry gave him every advantage against an assailing force, and hoped, by occupying a position so threatening in the Federal commander's front, to bring him out of his defences to battle in the open fields. His own force was less than half that of his opponent, and his supplies of ammunition were terribly meagre; but trusting to the valor of the troops, he determined to bring on a general engagement and risk all results.

This challenge continued, as we have said, for four days; the troops in order of battle, and every hour expecting an advance of the enemy. None, however, took place, and on the fourth day General Johnston, leaving Stuart with his cavalry in front of the enemy, moved with his command back to Winchester," much to the disappointment of our troops, who were eager for battle with the invaders."*

The men on this occasion almost broke out into open murmurs. They had been subjected persistently day after day to the excitement of an expected action, and now that they were ordered to fall into column and march back, their dissatisfaction was bitter, and they construed the movement into a want of courage and enterprise on the part of their commander. They did not know the scarred veteran commanding them. That officer looked beyond the moment, and his course was soon vindicated by the progress of events. Woven into the warp and woof of his thoughts and meditations was "Manassas."

A few days after the arrival of the army at Winchester, Jackson received his commission of brigadier-general, remaining in command of the First Brigade, to which was added about this time the 33d Virginia regiment, Colonel A. C. Cumming. This appointment was probably made at the instance of General Johnston, who thoroughly understood the capacity of Jackson, and no doubt urged his promotion. It made little difference in

Johnston's Official Report.

his position, and none at all in his personal demeanor or appearance. He appeared before his brigade in the same old gray coat which he had always worn; and the only observable circumstance was that the little known individual, "Colonel Jackson," had assumed that name of "General Jackson," by which he is now known.

No further movements of interest marked the campaign in this region-beginning and ending with the skirmish at Falling Waters; and we linger too long, perhaps, amid these early scenes of the career which we have undertaken to depict. Mightier events were on the march; the Federal authorities were now ready to strike their great blow at the main body of the Confederates at Manassas. Here Jackson was to display, in their fullest extent, those qualities of stubborn courage and resolution which characterized him, to win his name of "Stonewall," and to arouse that enthusiasm which in the latter months of his life became so universal. To this great drama we shall now proceed.

General Patterson soon left Martinsburg, and advanced upon Winchester. His force, according to the best information, now numbered about 32,000 men, while Johnston's had been also swollen by the arrival of eight additional regiments from the South. The design of the Federal commander was to hold General Johnston in check, while General McDowell, with the "Grand Army" of 55,000 men, advanced to crush Beauregard at Manassas. It was now the 15th of July; the Federal columns were in motion from Washington, and in three days would be in front of Bull Run. General Patterson accordingly moved from Martinsburg-Stuart retiring with his cavalry before him -and on the 16th was in position at Bunker Hill. The critical moment had now arrived; every hour counted. On the 17th General Patterson knew, by telegraph, that the "Grand Army" was at Fairfax Court-House, within a few hours' march of Beauregard's position; and a further movement was promptly made to hold Johnston in the valley. General Patterson swung his left wing round to the little village of Smithfield, in the direc