rs rejoined the better of the two； and in downright desertion the Federals were the worse； simply because their own peace party was by far the stronger。 The final advantage brings us back to strategy； on which the whole campaign was turning。 Lee and Jackson worked the Confederates together。 Lincoln and Stanton worked the Federals apart。
On the last of April Jackson slipped away from Swift Run Gap while Ewell quietly took his place and Ashby blinded Banks by driving the Federal cavalry back on Harrisonburg。 Jackson's men were thoroughly puzzled and disheartened when they had to leave the Valley in full possession of the enemy while they ploughed through seas of mud towards Richmond。 What was the matter？ Were they off to Richmond？ No； for they presently wheeled round。 〃Old Jack's crazy； sure； this time。〃 Even one of his staff officers thought so himself； and put it on paper； to his own confusion afterwards。 The rain came down in driving sheets。 The roads became mere drains for the oozing woods。 Wheels stuck fast； and Jackson was seen heaving his hardest with an exhausted gun team。 But still the march went onslosh； slosh； squelch； they slogged it through。 CLOSE UP； MEN！CLOSE UP IN REAR！CLOSE UP； THERE； CLOSE UP！
On the fourth of May Jackson got word from Edward Johnson； commanding his detached brigade near Staunton； that Milroy； commanding Fremont's advanced guard； was coming on from West Virginia。 Jackson at once seized the chance of smashing Milroy by railing in to Staunton before Banks or Fremont could interfere。 This would have been suicidal against a great commander with a well…trained force。 But Banks； grossly exaggerating Jackson's numbers； was already marching north to the railhead at New Market； where he would be nearer his friends if Jackson swooped down。 Detraining at Staunton the Confederates picketed the whole neighborhood to stop news getting out before they made their dash against Milroy。 On the seventh they moved off。 The cadets of the Virginia Military Institute； where Jackson had been a professor for so many years； had just joined to gain some experience of the real thing； and as they stepped out in their smart uniforms； with all the exactness of parade…ground drill； they formed a marked contrast to the gaunt soldiers of the Valley； half fed； half clad； but wholly eager for the fray。
That night Milroy got together all the men he could collect at McDowell； a little village just beyond the Valley and on the road to Gauley Bridge in West Virginia。 He sent posthaste for reinforcements。 But Fremont's men were divided too far west； fearing nothing from the Valley； while Banks's were thinking of a concentration too far north。
In the afternoon of the eighth； Milroy attacked Jackson with great determination and much skill。 But after a stern encounter； in which the outnumbered Federals fought very well indeed； the Confederates won a decisive victory。 The numbers actually engagedtwenty…five hundred Federals against four thousand Confederateswere even smaller than at Kernstown。 But this time the Confederates won the tactical victory on the spot as well as the strategic victory all over the Valley； and the news cheered Richmond at what； as we have seen already； was its very darkest hour。 The night of the battle Jackson sent out strong working parties to destroy all bridges and culverts and to block all roads by which Fremont could reach the Valley。 In some places bowlders were rolled down from the hills。 In one the trees were felled athwart the path for a mile。 A week later Jackson was back in the Valley at Lebanon Springs； while Fremont was blocked off from Banks； who was now distractedly groping for safety and news。
The following day； the famous sixteenth； we regain touch with Lee； who； as mentioned already； then wrote to Jackson about attacking Banks in order to threaten Washington。 This dire day at Richmond； the day McClellan reached White House； was also the one appointed by the Southern Government as a day of intercession for God's blessing on the Southern arms。 None kept it more fervently； even in beleaguered Richmond； than pious Jackson in the Valley。 Then； like a giant refreshed； he rose for swift and silent marches and also sudden hammer…strokes at Banks。
Confident that all would now go well； Washington thought nothing of the little skirmish at McDowell； because it apparently disturbed nothing beyond the Shenandoah Valley。 The news from everywhere else was good； and Federals were jubilant。 So were the civilian strategists； particularly Stanton； who； though tied to his desk as Secretary of War； was busy wire…pulling Banks's men about the Valley。 Stanton ordered Banks to take post at Strasburg and to hold the bridges at Front Royal with two detached battalions。 This masterpiece of bungling put the Federals at Front Royal in the air； endangered their communications north to Winchester； and therefore menaced the Valley line toward Washington。 But Banks said nothing； and Stanton would have snubbed him if he had。
On the twenty…third of May a thousand Federals under Colonel Kenly were sweltering in the first hot weather of the year at Stanton's indefensible position of Front Royal when suddenly a long gray line of skirmishers emerged from the woods； the Confederate bugles rang out； and Jackson's battle line appeared。 Then came a crashing volley； which drove in the Federal pickets for their lives。 Colonel Kenly did his best。 But he was outflanked and forced back in confusion。 A squadron of New York cavalry came to the rescue； but were themselves outflanked and helpless on the road against the Virginian horsemen； who could ride across country。 Kenly had just made a second stand； when down came the Virginians； led by Colonel Flournoy at racing speed over fence and ditch； scattering the Federal cavalry like chaff before the wind and smashing into the Federal infantry。 Two hundred and fifty really efficient cavalry took two guns （complete with limbers； men； and horses）； killed and wounded a hundred and fifty…four of their opponents； and captured six hundred prisoners as welland all with a loss to themselves of only eleven killed and fifteen wounded。
Ashby's cavalry； several hundreds strong； pushed on and out to the flanks； cutting the wires； destroying bridges； and blocking the roads against reinforcements from beyond the Valley。 Three hours after the attack a dispatchrider dashed up to Banks's headquarters at Strasburg。 But Banks refused to move； saying； when pressed by his staff to make a strategic retreat on Winchester； 〃By God； sir； I will not retreat！ We have more to fear from the opinions of our friends than from the bayonets of our enemies！〃 The Cabinet backed him up next day by actually proposing to reinforce him at Strasburg with troops from Washington and Baltimore。 Nevertheless he was forced to fly for his life to Winchester。 His stores at Strasburg had to be abandoned。 His long train of wagons was checked on the way； with considerable loss。 And some of his cavalry； caught on the road by horsemen who could ride across country； were smashed to pieces。
Jackson pressed on relentlessly to Winchester with every one who could march like 〃foot cavalry；〃 as his Valley men came to be called。 On the twenty…fifth； the third day of unremitting action； he carried the Winchester heights and drove Banks through the town。 Only the Second Massachusetts； which had already distinguished itself during the retreat； preserved its formation。 Ten thousand Confederate bayonets glittered in the morning sun。 The long gray lines swept forward。 The piercing rebel yell rose high。 And the people； wild with joy； rushed out of doors to urge the victors on。
By the twenty…sixth； the first day on which Stanton's reinforcements from Baltimore and Washington could possibly have fought at Strasburg； the Confederates had reached Martinsburg； fifty miles beyond it。 Banks had already crossed the Potomac； farther on still。 The newsboys of the North were crying； DEFEAT OF GENERAL BANKS！ WASHINGTON IN DANGER！ Thirteen Governors were calling for special State militia； for which a million men were volunteering； spare troops were hurrying to Harper's Ferry； a reserve corps was being formed at Washington； the Federal Government was assuming control of all the railroad lines； and McClellan was being warned that he must either take Richmond at once or come back to save the capital。 Nor did the strategic disturbance stop even there； for the Washington authorities ordered McDowell's force at Fredericksburg to the Valley just as it was coming into touch with McClellan。
On the twenty…eighth Jackson might have taken Harper's Ferry。 But the storm was gathering round him。 A great strategist directing the Federal forces could have concentrated fifty thousand men； by sunset on the first of June； against Jackson's Army of the Valley； which could not possibly have mustered one…third of such a number。 McDowell arrived that night at Front Royal。 He had vainly protested against the false strategy imposed by the Government from Washington； and he was not a free agent now。 Yet； even so； his force was at least a menace to Jackson； who had only two chances of getting away to aid in the。 defeat of McClellan and the saving of Richmond。 One was to outmarch the conve