Unknown, August 27, 1862

Bristoe Station, August 27, 1862.

At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junction with your. whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your left well to the east. Jackson, Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a severe fight with them to-day, driving them back several miles along the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly, at the earliest dawn of day, upon Manassas Junction we shall bag the whole crowd. I have directed Reno to march from Greenwich at the same hour upon Manassas Junction, and Kearny, who is in his rear, to march on Bristoe at daybreak. Be expeditious, and the day is our own.

JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding.

The order was received at about 2 o’clock on the morning of the 28th, and the movement was directed to be made immediately. Without following the succeeding movements in all their details, the court will direct their attention to the single point in the conduct of General McDowell which they cannot pass without disapproval.

In the afternoon of the 28th, at fifteen minutes ;:ast 4 o’clock, the sevCuar, XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. 329

eral corps and divisions were placed as follows: Ricketts’ division of McDowell’s corps was in front and on the east side of Thoroughfare Gap, holding in check the advance of Longstreet’s forces. Sigel’s corps had been turned toward the Warrenton pike and Centreville by the way of New Market. Reynolds’ division was on the road leading to Manassas, near Bethlehem Church. King’s division of McDowell’s corps was between the Manassas Railroad and the Warrenton pike, and about 2 miles southwestwardly from Groveton. A small portion of Jackson’s forces were near Groveton, probably less than a brigade; but the main portion was at Centreville and marching toward Sudley Springs, and bearing from that point toward Groveton, on the Warrenton pike, near to which point and on the pike was collected at least fifty transportation wagons of the rebels’ train, headed toward Gainesville. General Pope was following the mass of Jackson’s forces toward Centreville from Manassas.

At the hour of 1.20 p. m. General Pope transmitted the following order to General McDowell, which was received at about the hour of 4 o’clock p. m.: