to the Federal Government; that they could not afford to leave the Upper Potomac ill secured; and that the knowledge that an active and enterprising enemy, who had shown himself determined to take instant advantage of every opportunity, was within the Valley, would probably cause them to withdraw troops from McClellan in order to guard the river.  A fortnight after the battle, asking for reinforcements, he wrote, “If Banks is defeated it may greatly retard McClellan’s movements."* (* Ibid part 3 page 844.)

Stubborn as had been the fighting of his brigades, Jackson himself was not entirely satisfied with his officers.  When Sullivan and Kimball came to Tyler’s aid, and a new line of battle threatened to overwhelm the Stonewall regiments, Garnett, on his own responsibility, had given the order to retire.  Many of the men, their ammunition exhausted, had fallen to the rear.  The exertions of the march had begun to tell.  The enemy’s attacks had been fiercely pressed, and before the pressure of his fresh brigades the Confederate power of resistance was strained to breaking-point.  Garnett had behaved with conspicuous gallantry.  The officers of his brigade declared that he was perfectly justified in ordering a retreat.  Jackson thought otherwise, and almost immediately after the battle he relieved him of his command, placed him under arrest, and framed charges for his trial by court-martial.  He would not accept the excuse that ammunition had given out.  At the time the Stonewall Brigade gave back the 5th and 42nd Virginia were at hand.  The men had still their bayonets, and he did not consider the means of victory exhausted until the cold steel had been employed.  “He insisted,” says Dabney, “that a more resolute struggle might have won the field."* (* Dabney volume 2 page 46.)

Now, in the first place, it must be conceded that Garnett had not the slightest right to abandon his position without a direct order.* (* He was aware, moreover, that supports were coming up, for the order to the 5th Virginia was sent through him.  Report of Colonel W.H.  Harman, 5th Virginia, O.R. volume 12 part 1 pages 391 and 392.) In the second, if we turn to the table of losses furnished by the brigade commander, we find that in Garnett’s four regiments, numbering 1100 officers and men, there fell 153.  In addition, 148 were reported missing, but, according to the official reports, the majority of these were captured by the Federal cavalry and were unwounded.  At most, then, when he gave the order to retreat, Garnett had lost 200, or rather less than 20 per cent.

Such loss was heavy, but by no means excessive.  A few months later hardly a brigade in either army would have given way because every fifth man had fallen.  A year later and the Stonewall regiments would have considered an action in which they lost 200 men as nothing more than a skirmish.* (* On March 5, 1811, in the battle fought on the arid ridges of Barossa, the numbers were almost identical with those engaged