Jackson was now left isolated in the Valley.  The nearest Confederate infantry were at Culpeper Court House, beyond the Blue Ridge, nearly sixty miles south-east.  In his front, within two easy marches, was an army just seven times his strength, at Romney another detachment of several thousand men, and a large force in the Alleghanies.  He was in no hurry, however, to abandon Winchester.

Johnston had intended that when the main army fell back towards Richmond his detachments should follow suit.  Jackson found a loophole in his instructions which gave him full liberty of action.

“I greatly desire,” he wrote to Johnston on March 8, “to hold this place [Winchester] so far as may be consistent with your views and plans, and am making arrangements, by constructing works, etc., to make a stand.  Though you desired me some time since to fall back in the event of yourself and General Hill’s doing so, yet in your letter of the 5th inst. you say, “Delay the enemy as long as you can;” I have felt justified in remaining here for the present.

“And now, General, that Hill has fallen back, can you not send him over here?  I greatly need such an officer; one who can be sent off as occasion may offer against an exposed detachment of the enemy for the purpose of capturing it...I believe that if you can spare Hill, and let him move here at once, you will never have occasion to regret it.  The very idea of reinforcements coming to Winchester would, I think, be a damper to the enemy, in addition to the fine effect that would be produced on our own troops, already in fine spirits.  But if you cannot spare Hill, can you not send me some other troops?  If we cannot be successful in defeating the enemy should he advance, a kind Providence may enable us to inflict a terrible wound and effect a safe retreat in the event of having to fall back.  I will keep myself on the alert with respect to communications between us, so as to be able to join you at the earliest possible moment, if such a movement becomes necessary."* (* O.R. volume 5 page 1094.)

This letter is characteristic.  When Jackson asked for reinforcements the cause of the South seemed well-nigh hopeless.  Her Western armies were retiring, defeated and demoralised.  Several of her Atlantic towns had fallen to the Federal navy, assisted by strong landing parties.  The army on which she depended for the defence of Richmond, yielding to the irresistible presence of far superior numbers, was retreating into the interior of Virginia.  There was not the faintest sign of help from beyond the sea.  The opportunity for a great counterstroke had been suffered to escape.  Her forces were too small for aught but defensive action, and it was difficult to conceive that she could hold her own against McClellan’s magnificently appointed host.  “Events,” said Davis at this time, “have cast on our arms and hopes the gloomiest shadows.”  But from the Valley, the northern outpost of the Confederate armies, where