The reports of the engagement at Groveton are singularly meagre.  Preceded and followed by events of still greater moment, it never attracted the attention it deserved.  On the side of the Union 2800 men were engaged, on the side of the Southerners 4500, and for more than an hour and a half the lines of infantry were engaged at the very closest quarters.  The rifled guns of the Federals undoubtedly gave them a marked advantage.  But the men who faced each other that August evening fought with a gallantry that has seldom been surpassed.  The Federals, surprised and unsupported, bore away the honours.  The Western brigade, commanded by General Gibbon, displayed a coolness and a steadfastness worthy of the soldiers of Albuera.  Out of 2000 men the four Wisconsin and Indiana regiments lost 750, and were still unconquered.  The three regiments which supported them, although it was their first battle, lost nearly half their number, and the casualties must have reached a total of 1100.  The Confederate losses were even greater.  Ewell, who was shot down in the first line, and lay long on the field, lost 725 out of 3000.  The Stonewall Brigade, which had by this time dwindled to 600 muskets, lost over 200, including five field officers; the 21st Georgia, of Trimble’s brigade, 178 men out of 242; and it is probable that the Valley army on this day was diminished by more than 1200 stout soldiers.  The fall of Ewell was a terrible disaster.  Zealous and indefatigable, a stern fighter and beloved by his men, he was the most able and the most loyal of Jackson’s generals.  Taliaferro, peculiarly acceptable to his Virginia regiments as a Virginian himself, had risen from the rank of colonel to the command of a division, and his spurs had been well won.  The battle of Groveton left gaps in Jackson’s ranks which it was hard to fill, and although the men might well feel proud of their stubborn fight, they could hardly boast of a brilliant victory.

Strategically, however, the engagement was decisive.  Jackson had brought on the fight with the view of drawing the whole Federal army on himself, and he was completely successful.  The centre, marching on the Stone Bridge from Manassas Junction, heard the thunder of the cannon and turned westward; and before nightfall A.P.  Hill’s artillery became engaged with Sigel’s advanced guard.  Pope himself, who received the intelligence of the engagement at 9.20 P.M., immediately issued orders for an attack on Jackson the next morning, in which the troops who had already reached Centreville were to take part.  “McDowell,” ran the order, “has intercepted the retreat of the enemy, Sigel is immediately in his front, and I see no possibility of his escape.”