Beyond Gainesville Jackson took the road which led to Bristoe Station, some seven miles south of Manassas Junction.  Neither the success which had hitherto accompanied his movement, nor the excitement incident on his situation, had overbalanced his judgment.  From Gainesville the Junction might have been reached in little more than an hour’s march; and prudence would have recommended a swift dash at the supply depot, swift destruction, and swift escape.  But it was always possible that Pope might have been alarmed, and the railroad from Warrenton Junction supplied him with the means of throwing a strong force of infantry rapidly to his rear.  In order to obstruct such a movement Jackson had determined to seize Bristoe Station.  Here, breaking down the railway bridge over Broad Run, and establishing his main body in an almost impregnable position behind the stream, he could proceed at his leisure with the destruction of the stores at Manassas Junction.  The advantages promised by this manoeuvre more than compensated for the increased length of the march.

The sun had not yet set when the advanced guard arrived within striking distance of Bristoe Station.  Munford’s squadrons, still leading the way, dashed upon the village.  Ewell followed in hot haste, and a large portion of the guard, consisting of two companies, one of cavalry and one of infantry, was immediately captured.  A train returning empty from Warrenton Junction to Alexandria darted through the station under a heavy fire.* (* The report received at Alexandria from Manassas Junction ran as follows:  “No. 6 train, engine Secretary, was fired into at Bristoe by a party of cavalry, some 500 strong.  They had piled ties on the track, but the engine threw them off.  Secretary is completely riddled by bullets.”) The line was then torn up, and two trains which followed in the same direction as the first were thrown down a high embankment.  A fourth, scenting danger ahead, moved back before it reached the break in the road.  The column had now closed up, and it was already dark.  The escape of the two trains was most unfortunate.  It would soon be known, both at Alexandria and Warrenton, that Manassas Junction was in danger.  The troops had marched nearly five-and-twenty miles, but if the object of the expedition was to be accomplished, further exertions were absolutely necessary.  Trimble, energetic as ever, volunteered with two regiments, the 21st Georgia and 21st North Carolina, to move on Manassas Junction.  Stuart was placed in command, and without a moment’s delay the detachment moved northward through the woods.  The night was hot and moonless.  The infantry moved in order of battle, the skirmishers in advance; and pushing slowly forward over a broken country, it was nearly midnight before they reached the Junction.  Half a mile from the depot their advance was greeted by a salvo of shells.  The Federal garrison, warned by the fugitives from Bristoe Station, were on the alert; but so harmless was their