The orders transmitted to him orally by an ofificer of Pope's
staff reached him in somewhat equivocal shape; he was to
"move to the front immediately, assume command of all forces
in the front, deploy his skirmishers if the enemy advances, and
attack him immediately as he approaches, and be re-enforced
from here" (Culpeper).
Finally, it must be supposed that he had been stung by
Pope's language in the address above quoted and was resolved
to prove, when the opportunity presented, that he and his
men were at least not cowards in the face of the enemy.
Surely they gave sufficient proof this day, when they dashed
upon and almost fought to a standstill three times their num-
ber of Confederate troops under some of the best leaders of
the South. But the pity of the deed lay in its uselessness,
when they could have had the help of Ricketts' and Sigel's
men had they fought merely a delaying action while they sent
for these to come to their aid.
