It was now 10.30 A.M., and Jackson had long since learned that Lee was near at hand.  Longstreet’s advanced guard had passed through Gainesville, and the main body was closing up.  Not only had time been gained, but two brigades alone had proved sufficient to hold the enemy at arm’s length, and the rough counterstrokes had disconcerted the order of attack.  A fresh Federal force, however, was already approaching.  The troops from Centreville, comprising the divisions of Hooker, Kearney, and Reno, 17,000 or 18,000 men, were hurrying over the Stone Bridge; and a second and more vigorous attack was now to be withstood.  Sigel, too, was still capable of further effort.  Bringing up Steinwehr’s division, and demanding reinforcements from Reno, he threw his whole force against the Confederate front.  Schenck, however, still exposed to the fire of the massed artillery, was unable to advance, and Milroy in the centre was hurled back.  But through the wood the attack was vigorously pressed, and the fight raged fiercely at close quarters along the railway.  Between Gregg’s and Thomas’ brigades a gap of over a hundred yards, as the men closed in upon the centre, had gradually opened.  Opposite the gap was a deep cutting, and the Federals, covered by the wood, massed here unobserved in heavy force.  Attack from this quarter was unexpected, and for a moment Hill’s first line was in jeopardy.  Gregg, however, had still a regiment in second line, and throwing it quickly forward he drove the enemy across the railroad.  Then Hill, bringing up Branch from the third line, sent this fresh brigade to Gregg’s support, and cleared the front.

The Germans had now been finally disposed of.  But although Longstreet had arrived upon the ground, and was deploying in the woods on Jackson’s right, thus relieving Early, who at once marched to support the centre, Jackson’s men had not yet finished with the enemy.  Pope had now taken over command; and besides the troops from Centreville, who had already reached the field, McDowell and Porter, with 27,000 men, were coming up from Manassas, and Reynolds had not yet been engaged.  But it is one thing to assemble large numbers on the battle-field, another to give them the right direction.

In the direction of Gainesville high woods and rolling ridges had concealed Longstreet’s approach, and the Federal patrols had been everywhere held in check by Stuart’s squadrons.  In ignorance, therefore, that the whole Confederate army was concentrated before him, Pope, anticipating an easy victory, determined to sweep Jackson from the field.  But it was first necessary to relieve Sigel.  Kearney’s division had already deployed on the extreme right of the Federal line, resting on Bull Run.  Hooker was on the left of Kearney and a brigade of Reno’s on the left of Hooker.  While Sigel assembled his shattered forces, these 10,000 fresh troops, led by some of the best officers of the Army of the Potomac, were ordered to advance against A.P.  Hill.  Reynolds, under the impression that he was fighting Jackson, was already in collision with Longstreet’s advanced-guard; and McDowell and Porter, marching along the railway from Manassas, might be expected to strike the Confederate right rear at any moment.  It was then with good hope of victory that Pope rode along his line and explained the situation to his generals.