General Pope himself returned to his army and dispatch
after dispatch arrived stating that Jackson and his whole force had been
at Bristoe Station while the Union stores were burning.
"Now is our chance," said Dick to his comrades, "why doesn't the general
move on Jackson at once, and destroy him before Lee can come to his help?"
"I'm praying for it," said Warner.
"From what I hear it's going to be done," said Pennington.
Their hopes came true. Pope at once took the bold course, and marched
on Jackson, but the elusive Stonewall was gone. They tramped about in
the heat and dust in search of him. One portion of the army including
Colonel Winchester's regiment turned off in the afternoon toward a place
of a few houses called Warrenton. It lay over toward the Gap through
which Jackson had gone and while the division ten thousand strong did not
expect to find anything there it was nevertheless ordered to look.
Dick rode by the side of his colonel ready for any command, but the
mystery, and uncertainty had begun to weigh upon him again. It seemed
when they had the first news that Jackson was behind them, that they had
a splendid opportunity to turn upon him and annihilate him before Lee
could come.
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