With Patterson’s army advancing up (south) the Shenandoah Valley, Johnston developed plans to interfere with the move. Patterson proved uncooperative, however, when he decided to hole up at Martinsburg awaiting supplies before moving farther south. After waiting several days for Patterson to advance, Johnston gave up and pulled back to Winchester on July 7. Johnston did not think he had the strength to mount an attack against Patterson at Martinsburg, whose army he believed numbered in excess of 18,000 men. In fact it was much smaller (around 14,000).
Patterson was ready to launch his campaign against Johnston on July 8, but not before receiving a number of regiments from a variety of states to replace those units whose terms of enlistment were about to expire. Among the new officers were West Pointers, including George Thomas and John Abercrombie. Patterson’s initial euphoria about his chances to hold Johnston’s Confederates in the Valley while McDowell moved against Beauregard quickly evaporated, and his former cautious attitude returned when subordinates voiced concerns about moving against Johnston.
Patterson’s temperament did not improve when he convinced himself that Johnston’s army numbered more than 40,000 of all arms, when in reality it was about one-quarter that number. Patterson began moving south on July 15, but he made it only as far as Bunker Hill, a bit more than five miles from Martinsburg. A reconnaissance party launched the next day met up with Stuart’s cavalry and obstructions across the road, and no further action or move south was undertaken. Believing that he had done enough to convince Johnston that he was planning to launch an attack, Patterson halted his advance.1
Patterson’s officers once again counseled caution. In conjunction with their urging, the commanding Gen. decided to move east toward Charlestown, where the army could either attack Johnston or move toward Washington. The march got underway on July 17. When Gen. Scott protested the move, Patterson drafted orders to advance toward Winchester. Before moving, he consulted with his Pennsylvania troops, whose terms of enlistment were set to expire on the morning of July 18. To his dismay, most of the units refused to remain with the army—despite the fact that a major battle that might decide the fate of the nation was rapidly approaching. Patterson called off the movement to Winchester.2
Meanwhile, McDowell’s move toward Manassas Junction spurred the Confederate high command in Richmond into action. Johnston received a wire at 1:00 a.m. on July 18 ordering him to unite with Beauregard’s army aligned behind Bull Run creek. Before issuing orders, Johnston pondered what to do about Patterson’s Federals. When word reached him that Patterson’s men were still in their camps as of 9:00 a.m. that morning, Johnston moved to act upon his orders. The men in the ranks were unaware of where they were headed or why. When orders were received to pack up their gear and break camp, they expected a march north toward Patterson’s army. When they marched southeast toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, rumors about their ultimate destination spread like wildfire through the ranks. Jackson’s Brigade led the army and its commander set a blistering pace. After a brisk march of ninety minutes, he stopped his men so a communication from Johnston could be read: “Gen. Beauregard is being attacked by overwhelming forces…. Every moment now is precious, and the Gen. hopes that his soldiers will step out and keep closed, for this march is a forced march to save the country.” The men responded with cheers, for they were anxious to engage the enemy. Many worried they would not have an opportunity to fight before the war came to a close.3
Jackson marched to Millwood near the Shenandoah River. His men waded the river after lunch and continued through Ashby’s Gap to the hamlet of Paris, which they reached at 2:00 a.m. on July 19. Jackson halted here and allowed the men to sleep for a few hours while he personally stood guard over them. Johnston’s other brigades—Bartow’s, Bee’s, Smith’s, and Elzey’s—followed Jackson in that order. The head of Jackson’s column reached Piedmont Station on the Manassas Gap Railroad line about 6:00 a.m. on July 19. Not yet hardened by war and hard marching, the exhausted men devoured breakfast while their officers rounded up rail cars to haul them to Manassas Junction.4