“To prevent such a movement, and junction of Banks’ forces with McClellan’s, is of the utmost military importance, and you will be expected to make a desperate stand, falling back only in the face of an overwhelming enemy. “In case, unfortunately, you should be obliged to retire, march on this point and effect a junction with this corps. “If you still deem it best to remain at Carter’s Mill the General desires you to maintain possession of Leesburg, as an outpost, by a regiment without baggage or tents, and to be relieved every three or four days. As you may be aware, this army has taken up a line of triangular shape, with Centreville as the salient, one side running to Union Mills, the other to Stone Bridge, with outposts of regiments three or four miles in advance in all directions, and cavalry pickets yet in advance as far as Fairfax Court House. “Respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS JORDAN, Assistant Adjutant General. “Col. N. G. Evans, “Commanding at Leesburg, Va.” We can now understand something of the importance of General Evans holding on hard at Leesburg, keeping the left flank of the army protect while it confronted General McClellan’s people before Washington; and there is nothing which has a more demoralizing military effect than that one fatal word—“flanked.” General Evans had now under his command the Eighth Virginia Regiment under Col. Eppa Hunton, who had occupied Leesburg shortly after the battle of July 21st, joined later by three Mississippi regiments, viz., the Thirteenth, Col. Wm. Barksdale; Seventeenth, Col. W. S. Featherstone; Eighteenth, Col. E. R. Burt, which, together with six guns of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion and four companies of cavalry commanded by Lieut. Col. W. H. Jenifer, made up the Seventh Brigade of General Beauregard’s corps. Immediately on receipt of the above order General Evans prepared to march, and on the night of the 19th moved his brigade to the burnt bridge[3] on the Alexandria pike, four miles east of Leesburg, and only eight miles from General McCall’s position at Dranesville. The next morning, Sunday, a courier of McCall’s bearing orders to General Meade to examine the roads leading to Leesburg was captured, and from this prisoner General Evans learned the position and purpose of the enemy at Dranesville. Heavy cannonading had been going on during the night from batteries on the Maryland hills, which continued throughout the day, Sunday, and General Stone developed his purpose to make the very movement indicated in Beauregard’s dispatch, in doing which he sent Gen. W. A. Gorman’s brigade of infantry, having cavalry and artillery in support, over the river at Edward’s Ferry, making reconnaissance toward Leesburg.