The great question of uniting the two armies had been decided at
Richmond. The time and place depended on the enemy, and, when it was
seen that the real attack was to be against the position at Manassas,
the order was sent to General Johnston to move to that point. His
letters of the 12th and 15th instant expressed his doubts about his
power to retire from before the superior force of General Patterson,
therefore the word "practicable" was in this connection the equivalent
of possible. That it was, at the time, so understood by General
Johnston, is shown by his reply to the telegram.
"Headquarters, Winchester, _July 18, 1861_.
"General: I have had the honor to receive your telegram of
yesterday.
"General Patterson, who had been at Bunker Hill since Monday,
seems to have moved yesterday to Charlestown, twenty-three miles
to the east of Winchester.
"Unless he prevents it, we shall move toward General Beauregard
to-day....
(Signed) "Joseph E. Johnston.
"General S. Cooper."
After General Johnston commenced his march to Manassas, he sent to me a
telegram, the substance of which, as my memory serves and the reply
indicates, was an inquiry as to the relative position he would occupy
toward General Beauregard. I returned the following answer:
"Richmond, _July 20, 1861_.
"General J. E. Johnston, _Manassas Junction, Virginia_.
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