"Move on Centreville at the earliest dawn," was the order sent to Porter at Manassas.
General Pope was sure that he could crumble Jackson before Longstreet, who, he knew, was rapidly advancing towards Thoroughfare Gap, could arrive. Ricketts's division was thrown north, to hold the gap.
But General King's troops were exhausted. Instead of holding the ground, he fell back towards the junction.
General Ricketts sent a small force up to the gap, but Longstreet, who had reached Salem, sent a part of his troops over the mountains north, gained their rear, forced them back, and thus opened the gate for the advance of his corps. Ricketts joined McDowell at the junction.
All this made it necessary for General Pope to issue new orders. He sent out his aides.
"Attack at once," was the word to Sigel.
"Push down the turnpike, as soon as possible, towards any heavy firing you may hear," was the despatch to Kearny and Hooker, also to Reno, commanding a division of Burnside's corps.
"Be on the field at daybreak," was the message to Porter.
"Send your train to Manassas and Centreville. Repair the railroad to Bull Run. Work night and day," were the instructions to Banks, who was guarding the trains.