As  this  was  the  important  information  which  Pleasan-
ton had  been  trying  to  secure,  and  as  it  now  ap-
peared that  the  Confederate  commander  was  not
planning  to  make  his  way,  as  had  been  done  in  two
former  campaigns,  down  into  the  Manassas  plains  and
assail  Washington  from  that  direction,  it  was  not
deemed  worth  while  to  urge  Pleasanton's  cavalry  into
any  further  activity.  That  force  had  won  additional
distinction  by  its  brief  campaign,  gaining  information
of  the  movements  of  its  opponents,  venturing  in  every
case  upon  an  aggressive  policy,  and,  without  grave
losses,  forcing  Stuart  to  vacate  the  ground  he  had  been
endeavoring  to  hold.  At  the  same  time  the  honors
were  about  even,  for  Stuart  had  guarded  well  the
passes  leading  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  by
his  .stubborn  and  skilful  resistance  had  prevented
Pleasanton  from  penetrating  far  enough  into  the  dis-

122


SOME    PRELIMINARY    STEPS

puted  territory  to  gain  full  information  concerning
Lee's  whereabouts.  The  knowledge  gained,  however,
sufficed  to  warrant  Hooker  in  making  further  plans
and  movements  when  it  was  supplemented  by  the
news,  which  was  speedily  available  from  the  region
along  the  Potomac,  as  to  the  advance  of  cavalry  and
infantry  across  Maryland  and  into  Pennsylvania.
