[744] been occupied by French in making insignificant reconnoissances. Having only a single division, he is perhaps waiting for the two others to cross the defile: the latter, which have been travelling over ten miles from Piedmont, arrive at nine o'clock; and at last he decides to move, but only with great caution. Birney's division, under Ward, moves forward in line of battle. The uneven ground renders its march slow and difficult: however, its left makes at length its appearance before Wapping Heights, occupied by Walker's skirmishers.
The position of the latter, alone with six hundred men, and having before him a whole corps, seems singularly critical. Fortunately for him, the reinforcements come opportunely, owing to the regularity which characterizes all the movements of the various Confederate corps. Ewell, having started very early, arrives at the moment with Rodes' division to mask the Manassas gorges, while the remainder of his corps will follow the route to Chester Gap. He sees the danger at a glance. Walker, feeling himself too much exposed on Wapping Heights, has left there only a line of skirmishers, and has deployed his brigade on a hill less elevated, it is true, but also less extended and very steep, which is situated more to the west. Ewell sends immediately two hundred and fifty men to reinforce him, and forms the remainder of Rodes' division in a position still more to the rear: he deploys a whole brigade as skirmishers to cover his front, and awaits the attack of the Federals. He has well estimated their forces, and guessed the concentration which Meade is making behind the line of the Blue Ridge. Therefore, he understands that he can no longer think of following the remainder of the army through Chester Gap. His resolution has been immediately taken. Johnson remains with his divison at Front Royal, in order to watch the ford where the Strasburg road crosses the south branch of the Shenandoah, and the road to Milford, which runs along the right bank of that stream. This last route will be taken at night by the divisions to reach Thornton Gap. As long as daylight lasts the enemy will be prevented, at any cost, from debouching into the valley. Early, who is too far off to arrive in time, and would run the risk of being cut off, will move on Strasburg with the trains, to follow in the shelter of Massanutten
