His own men knew his worth.  Bull Run had shown them the measure of his courage and his ability; in a single battle he had won that respect and confidence which go so far towards establishing discipline.  But over Loring’s men his personal ascendency was not yet established.  They had not yet seen him under fire.  The fighting in the Romney campaign had been confined to skirmishing.  Much spoil had been gathered in, but there were no trophies to show in the shape of guns or colours; no important victory had raised their self-respect.  It is not too much to say that the silent soldier who insisted on such constant exertion and such unceasing vigilance was positively hated.

“They were unaccustomed to a military regimen so energetic as his.  Personally the most modest of men, officially he was the most exacting of commanders, and his purpose to enforce a thorough performance of duty, and his stern disapprobation of remissness and self-indulgence were veiled by no affectations of politeness.  Those who came to serve near his person, if they were not wholly like-minded with himself, usually underwent, at first, a sort of breaking in, accompanied with no little chafing to restless spirits.  The expedition to Romney was, to such officers, just such an apprenticeship to Jackson’s methods of making war.  All this was fully known to him; but while he keenly felt the injustice, he disdained to resent it, or to condescend to any explanation."* (* Dabney volume 1 page 321.)

Jackson returned to Winchester with no anticipation that the darkest days of his military life were close at hand.  Little Sorrel, the charger he had ridden at Bull Run, leaving the senior members of the staff toiling far in rear, had covered forty miles of mountain roads in one short winter day.  “After going to an hotel and divesting himself of the mud which had bespattered him in his rapid ride, he proceeded to Dr. Graham’s.  In order to give his wife a surprise he had not intimated when he would return.  As soon as the first glad greetings were over, before taking his seat, with a face all aglow with delight, he glanced round the room, and was so impressed with the cosy and cheerful aspect of the fireside, as we all sat round it that winter evening, that he exclaimed:  ’This is the very essence of comfort.’"* (* Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson.)

He had already put aside the unpleasant memories of the expedition, and had resigned himself to rest content with the measure of success that had been attained.  Romney at least was occupied, and operations might be effectively resumed at a more propitious season.

Six days later, however, Jackson received a peremptory message from the Secretary of War:  “Our news indicates that a movement is making to cut off General Loring’s command; order him back immediately."* (* O.R. volume 5 page 1053.)