Nor was this the sum of his troubles.  On this same day, when his outposts were falling back before superior numbers, and the Valley regiments were closing round their flank, he received a telegram from Stanton, informing him that the forces commanded by McDowell, Banks, and Fremont were to form one army under Major-General Pope; and that this army was “to attack and overcome the rebel forces under Jackson and Ewell, and threaten the enemy in the direction of Charlottesville!” All hope of succour passed away, and the “Young Napoleon” was left to extricate himself as best he could, from his many difficulties; difficulties which were due in part to his own political blindness, in part to the ignorance of Lincoln, but, in a far larger degree, to the consummate strategy of Lee and Jackson.

NOTE

The Marches in the Valley Campaign, March 22 to June 25, 1862.

Miles
March 22 Mount Jackson-Strasburg 28
March 23 Strasburg-Kernstown-Newtown 18 Battle of
Kernstown
March 24-26 Newtown-Mt.  Jackson 35
April 17-19 Mt.  Jackson-Elk Run Valley 50
April 30-May 8 Elk Run Valley-Mechum’s River Station 60
May 7-8 Staunton-Shenandoah Mt. 32 Battle of
M’Dowell
May 9-11 Bull Pasture Mount-Franklin 30 Skirmishes
May 12-15 Franklin-Lebanon Springs 40
May 17 Lebanon Springs-Bridgewater 18
May 19-20 Bridgewater-New Market 24
May 1 New Market-Luray 12
May 22 Luray-Milford 12
May 23 Milford-Front Royal-Cedarville 22 Action at
Front Royal
May 24 Cedarville-Abraham’s Creek 22 Action at
Middletown and Newtown
May 25 Abraham’s Creek-Stevenson’s 7 Battle of
Winchester
May 28 Stevenson’s-Charlestown 15 Skirmish
May 29 Charlestown-Halltown 5 Skirmish
May 30 Halltown-Winchester 25
May 31 Winchester-Strasburg 18
June 1 Strasburg-Woodstock 12 Skirmish
June 2 Woodstock-Mount Jackson 12
June 3 Mount Jackson-New Market 7
June 4-5 New Market-Port Republic 30
June 8 Battle of Cross Keys
June 9 Cross Keys-Brown’s Gap 16 Battle of
Port Republic
June 12 Brown’s Gap-Mount Meridian 10
June 17-25 Mount Meridian-Ashland Station
             (one rest day) 120
                                                    —–­
                                                    676 miles in 48
marching days
          
                                              Average 14
miles per diem