the Confederates had only about 50,000 available troops with which
to oppose McClellan's great army and had the Union commander been
aware of this he might have moved straight against the city and
swept its defenders from his path. But McClellan always believed
that he was outnumbered and on this occasion he wildly exaggerated
his opponents' strength. In fact, he crept forward so cautiously
that the Confederates, who had almost resigned themselves to losing
the city, hastened to bring up reenforcements and erect defensive
works of a really formidable character. The best that was hoped
for, however, was to delay the Union army. To defeat it, or even
to check its advance, seemed impossible, and doubtless it would
have proved so had it not been for the brilliant exploits of the
man who was destined to become Lee's "right hand."

This man was General Thomas Jonathan Jackson, who had earned the
nickname of "Stonewall" at Bull Run and was at that time in command
of about 15,000 men guarding the fertile Shenandoah Valley, the
"granary of Virginia." Opposing this comparatively small army were
several strong Union forces which were considered amply sufficient
to capture or destroy it, and McClellan proceeded southward, with
no misgivings concerning Jackson. But the wily Confederate had
no intention of remaining idle and McClellan's back was scarcely
turned before he attacked and utterly routed his nearest opponents.
A second, third and even a fourth army was launched against him,
but he twisted, turned and doubled on his tracks with bewildering
rapidity, cleverly luring his opponents apart; and then, falling on
each in turn with overwhelming numbers, hurled them from his path
with astonishing ease and suddenly appeared before Washington
threatening its capture.