Regarding, then, like Napoleon, the difficulties rather than the numbers of his enemies, Jackson held fast to his purpose, and the capture of Front Royal disturbed him little.  “What news?” he asked briefly as the staff officer rode up to the carriage door.  “Colonel Connor has been driven back from Front Royal.”  Jackson smiled grimly, but made no reply.  His eyes fixed themselves apparently upon some distant object.  Then his preoccupation suddenly disappeared.  He read the dispatch which he held in his hand, tore it in pieces, after his accustomed fashion, and, leaning forward, rested his head upon his hands and apparently fell asleep.  He soon roused himself, however, and turning to Mr. Boteler, who tells the story, said:  “I am going to send you to Richmond for reinforcements.  Banks has halted at Williamsport, and is being reinforced from Pennsylvania.  Dix (Saxton) is in my front, and is being reinforced by the Baltimore and Ohio Railway.  I have just received a dispatch informing me of the advance of the enemy upon Front Royal, which is captured, and Fremont is now advancing towards Wardensville.  Thus, you see, I am nearly surrounded by a very large force.”

“What is your own, General?” asked his friend.

“I will tell you, but you must not repeat what I say, except at Richmond.  To meet this attack I have only 15,000 effective men.”

“What will you do if they cut you off, General?”

A moment’s hesitation, and then the cool reply:  “I will fall back upon Maryland for reinforcements.”

“Jackson,” says Cooke, “was in earnest.  If his retreat was cut off he intended to advance into Maryland, and doubtless make his way straight to Baltimore and Washington, depending on the Southern sentiment in that portion of the State to bring him reinforcements.”  That the Federal Government was apprehensive of some such movement is certain.  The wildest rumours were everywhere prevalent.  Men throughout the North wore anxious faces, and it is said that one question, “Where is Jackson?  Has he taken Washington?” was on every lip.  The best proof, however, that a movement on Washington was actually anticipated by the Federals is the dispatch of the Secretary of War to the Governors of the different States:  “Send forward all the troops that you can, immediately.  Banks completely routed.  Intelligence from various quarters leaves no doubt that the enemy, in great force, are advancing on Washington.  You will please organise and forward immediately all the volunteer and militia force in your State.”  Further, on receiving the news of Banks’ defeat, the President had called King’s division of McDowell’s army corps to defend the capital; and his telegram of May 25 to McClellan, already alluded to, in which that general was warned that he might have to return to Washington, is significant of what would have happened had the Confederates entered Maryland.* (* O.R. volume 11 part 1 page 81.  King’s division, when it was found that Jackson had halted near Winchester, was ordered to Front Royal.  The fourth division, McCall’s, was left to defend Fredericksburg.) McClellan’s vast army, in all human probability, would have been hurriedly re-embarked, and Johnston have been free to follow Jackson.