10am: Yanks on march west from Warrenton, Rebs from Valley

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South of Warrenton
At last, Sigel’s First Corps, Army of Virginia had started marching. Reynolds still waited for it to take its position so he could start his own men.

Bristoe StationThe sleepy railroad depot had had a busy morning. Shortly after dawn, the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac (detailed to the Army of Virginia) had departed for Manassas Junction. Not long afterwards, the Union Ninth Corps had marched through, in transit to Manassas Junction. And at 10:30, the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac (also detailed to the Army of Virginia) had arrived. Fitz John Porter, its resentful commander, had no intention of moving it further that day. His men had been run from one side of northern Virginia to the other hunting Jackson’s elusive men, and he was determined to provide them some long-needed rest. As they filed into the fields surrounding the railroad, he ordered them to set up camp for the evening.

West of CentrevilleA.P. Hill’s men had been marching and fighting for over twenty-four hours with no more than a few minutes of sleep stolen here and there. The Light Division had reached Centreville around dawn, and ransacked the small amount of supplies while obstructing the Turnpike there. Then it had started marching west down the Turnpike towards Stone Bridge.

Around 10:00, Hill received a message from Jackson from the “Battlefield of Manassas”, written at 8:00 am. It said “that the enemy were in full retreat, and to move down to the fords and intercept him…” Hill wrote in his report:

But having just seen two intercepted dispatches from Pope to McDowell, ordering the formation of his line of battle for the next day on Manassas Plains, I deemed it best to push on and join General Jackson.

West of Thoroughfare GapWhen Lee reached Longstreet’s headquarters, the latter gave the order to march. D.R. Jones, a veteran of First Manassas, led his division first, followed by John Bell Hood, Cadmus Wilcox’s, and James Kemper. Somewhere behind them was the forgotten hero of that first battle, Shanks’ Evans with his independent South Carolina brigade. Only Dick Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s Wing remained far behind, still guarding the fords on the Rappahannock.