To the right of the batteries, Stuart’s Hill was strongly occupied by Longstreet, with Anderson’s division as general reserve; and this wing of the Confederate army was gradually wheeled up, but always under cover, until it was almost perpendicular to the line of the unfinished railroad.  The strength of Lee’s army at the battle of Manassas was hardly more than 50,000 of all arms.  Jackson’s command had been reduced by battle and forced marches to 17,000 men.  Longstreet mustered 30,000, and the cavalry 2500.

(* Hood’s Texans had a hymn which graphically expressed this truism:—­

“The race is not to him that’s got
The longest legs to run,
Nor the battle to those people
That shoot the biggest gun.”)

But numbers are of less importance than the confidence of the men in their ability to conquer,* and the spirit of the Confederates had been raised to the highest pitch.  The keen critics in Longstreet’s ranks, although they had taken no part in the Manassas raid, or in the battles of August 28 and 29, fully appreciated the daring strategy which had brought them within two short marches of Washington.  The junction of the two wings, in the very presence of the enemy, after many days of separation, was a manoeuvre after their own hearts.  The passage of Thoroughfare Gap revealed the difficulties which had attended the operations, and the manner in which the enemy had been outwitted appealed with peculiar force to their quick intelligence.  Their trust in Lee was higher than ever; and the story of Jackson’s march, of the capture of Manassas, of the repulse of Pope’s army, if it increased their contempt for the enemy, inspired them with an enthusiastic determination to emulate the achievements of their comrades.  The soldiers of the Valley army, who, unaided by a single bayonet, had withstood the five successive assaults which had been launched against their position, were supremely indifferent, now Longstreet was in line, to whatever the enemy might attempt.  It was noticed that notwithstanding the heavy losses they had experienced Jackson’s troops were never more light-hearted than on the morning of August 30.  Cartridge-boxes had been replenished, rations had been issued, and for several hours the men had been called on neither to march nor fight.  As they lay in the woods, and the pickets, firing on the enemy’s patrols, kept up a constant skirmish to the front, the laugh and jest ran down the ranks, and the unfortunate Pope, who had only seen “the backs of his enemies,” served as whetstone for their wit.

By the troops who had revelled in the spoils of Winchester Banks had been dubbed “Old Jack’s Commissary General.”  By universal acclamation, after the Manassas foray, Pope was promoted to the same distinction; and had it been possible to penetrate to the Federal headquarters, the mirth of those ragged privates would hardly have diminished.  Pope was in an excellent humour, conversing affably with his staff, and viewing with pride the martial aspect of his massed divisions.  Nearly his whole force was concentrated on the hills around him, and Porter, who had been called up from the Manassas road, was already marching northwards through the woods.