By April 15 Jackson’s force had increased to 6000 men.* (* On April 5 he had over 4000 infantry.  O.R. volume 12 part 3 page 844.  The estimate in the text is from Colonel Allan’s Valley Campaign page 64.  On April 9, however, he was so short of arms that 1000 pikes were ordered from Richmond.  “Under Divine blessing,” he wrote, “we must rely upon the bayonet when firearms cannot be furnished.”  O.R. volume 12 part 3 pages 842 and 845.) McClellan had now landed an army of over 100,000 at Fortress Monroe, on the Yorktown Peninsula, and Johnston had marched thither to oppose him.  The weather had at last cleared; although the mountain pines stood deep in snow the roads were in good order; the rivers were once more fordable; the Manassas Gap Railway had been restored as far as Strasburg, and Banks took heart of grace.

April 17.

On the 17th his forces were put in motion.  One of Ashby’s companies was surprised and captured.  A brigade was sent to turn the Confederate left by a ford of the North Fork; and when the Virginians, burning the railway station at Mount Jackson, fell back southwards, the Federal cavalry seized New Market.

For the moment the situation of the Valley army was somewhat critical.  When Johnston marched to the Peninsula he had left a force of 8000 men, under General Ewell, on the Upper Rappahannock, and with this force Jackson had been instructed to co-operate.  But with the road across the Massanuttons in his possession Banks could move into the Luray Valley, and occupying Swift Run Gap with a detachment, cut the communication between the two Confederate generals.  It was essential, then, that this important pass should be secured, and Jackson’s men were called on for a forced march.

April 18.

On the morning of the 18th they reached Harrisonburg, twenty-five miles from Mount Jackson, and halted the same evening at Peale’s, about six miles east.

April 19.

On the 19th they crossed the Shenandoah at Conrad’s store, and leaving a detachment to hold the bridge, moved to the foot of Swift Run Gap, and went into camp in Elk Run Valley.  In three days they had marched over fifty miles.  Banks followed with his customary caution, and when, on the 17th, his cavalry occupied New Market he was congratulated by the Secretary of War on his “brilliant and successful operations.”  On the 19th he led a detachment across the Massanuttons, and seized the two bridges over the South Fork at Luray, driving back a squadron which Jackson had sent to burn them.

April 22.

On the night of the 22nd his cavalry reached Harrisonburg, and he reported that want of supplies alone prevented him from bringing the Confederates to bay.

April 26.

On the 26th he sent two of his five brigades to Harrisonburg, the remainder halting at New Market, and for the last few days, according to his own dispatches, beef, flour, and forage had been abundant.  Yet it had taken him ten days to march five-and-thirty miles.