noon
And then the unexpected , unimaginable thing happened . A new dust cloud rose over the hill toward Manassas Junction . The Southerners were hoping against hope that it might be Kirby Smith with his lost regiment from the Shenandoah Valley . The regiment had been expected since noon . It was now half past three o'clock . General McDowell , the Union Commander , was hoping against hope that Patterson 's army from the Shenandoah would join his . They were not long in doubt .