Fortunately for the Confederacy, the Virginia officers possessed a staunch supporter in the Governor of the State.  Mr. Letcher knew Jackson’s worth, and he knew the estimation in which he was already held by the Virginia people.  The battle of Manassas had attained the dignity of a great historical event, and those whose share in the victory had been conspicuous were regarded with the same respect as the heroes of the Revolution.  In the spring of 1862 Manassas stood alone, the supreme incident of the war; its fame was not yet overshadowed by mightier conflicts, and it had taken rank in the popular mind with the decisive battles of the world.

Jackson, at the same time that he addressed Johnston, wrote to Letcher.  It is possible that he anticipated the course the Governor would adopt.  He certainly took care that if a protest were made it should be backed with convincing argument.

“The order from the War Department,” he wrote, “was given without consulting me, and is abandoning to the enemy what has cost much preparation, expense, and exposure to secure, is in direct conflict with my military plans, implies a want of confidence in my capacity to judge when General Loring’s troops should fall back, and is an attempt to control military operations in details from the Secretary’s desk at a distance...As a single order like that of the Secretary’s may destroy the entire fruits of a campaign, I cannot reasonably expect, if my operations are thus to be interfered with, to be of much service in the field...If I ever acquired, through the blessing of Providence, any influence over troops, this undoing my work by the Secretary may greatly diminish that influence.  I regard the recent expedition as a great success...I desire to say nothing against the Secretary of War.  I take it for granted that he has done what he believes to be best, but I regard such policy as ruinous."* (* Memoirs pages 232 and 233.)

This letter had the desired result.  Not content with reminding Jackson of the effect his resignation would have on the people of Virginia, and begging him to withdraw it, Governor Letcher took the Secretary of War to task.  Mr. Benjamin, who had probably acted in ignorance rather than in defiance of the military necessities, at once gave way.  Governor Letcher, assured that it was not the intention of the Government to interfere with the plans of the general, withdrew the resignation:  Jackson had already yielded to his representations.

“In this transaction,” says his chief of the staff, “Jackson gained one of his most important victories for the Confederate States.  Had the system of encouragement to the insubordination of inferiors, and of interference with the responsibilities of commanders in the field, which was initiated in his case, become established, military success could only have been won by accident.  By his firmness the evil usage was arrested, and a lesson impressed both upon the Government and the people of the South."* (* Dabney volume 1 page 327.)