He effected more than he anticipated, and performed a daring feat of arms in addition.  Driving the outposts from Hanover Court-House, he charged and broke a force of Federal cavalry near Old Church; pushed on to the York River Railroad, which he crossed, burning or capturing all Federal stores met with, including enormous wagon-camps; and then, finding the way back barred against him, and the Federal army on the alert, he continued his march with rapidity, passed entirely around General McClellan’s army, and, building a bridge over the Chickahominy, safely reentered the Confederate lines just as a large force made its appearance in his rear.  The temporary bridge was destroyed, however, and Stuart hastened to report to his superiors.  His information was important.  General McClellan’s right and rear were unprotected by works of any strength.  If the Confederate general desired to attack in that quarter, there was nothing to prevent.

The results of Stuart’s famous “ride around McClellan,” as the people called it, determined General Lee to make the attack on the north bank of the stream, if he had not already so decided.  It was necessary now to bring Jackson’s forces from the Valley without delay, and almost equally important to mask the movement from General McClellan.  To this end a very simple ruse was adopted.  On the 11th of June, Whiting’s division was embarked on the cars of the Danville Railroad at Richmond, and moved across the river to a point near Belle Isle, where at that moment a considerable number of Federal prisoners were about to be released and sent down James River.  Here the train, loaded with Confederate troops, remained for some time, and the secret was discovered by the released prisoners.  General Lee was reenforcing Jackson, in order that the latter might march on Washington.  Such was the report carried to General McClellan, and it seems to have really deceived him. [Footnote:  “I have no doubt Jackson has been reenforced from here.”—­General McClellan to President Lincoln, June 20th.] Whiting’s division reached Lynchburg, and was thence moved by railway to Charlottesville—­Jackson marched and countermarched with an elaborate pretence of advancing down the Valley—­at last, one morning, the astute Confederate, who kept his own counsels, had disappeared; he was marching rapidly to join Lee on the Chickahominy.  Not even his own soldiers knew what direction they were taking.  They were forbidden by general order to inquire even the names of the towns they passed through; directed to reply “I don’t know” to every question; and it is said that when Jackson demanded the name and regiment of a soldier robbing a cherry-tree, he could extract from the man no reply but “I don’t know.”

Jackson advanced with rapidity, and, on the 25th of June, was near Ashland.  Here he left his forces, and rode on rapidly to Richmond.  Passing unrecognized through the streets, after night, he went on to General Lee’s headquarters, at a house on the “Nine-mile road,” leading from the New Bridge road toward Fair Oaks Station; and here took place the first interview, since the commencement of the war, between Lee and Jackson.