George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

1 [225] delayed his march that ample time had been afforded Banks to remove all the public property in town to a place of safety, and take such measures for the future as sound judgment should dictate. I determined to hunt up General Banks, and give him such facts as the experiences I have related revealed. Without much difficulty I found the house he occupied in Winchester. He was in a bedroom, but had not retired; before him was a bathing-tub, giving evidence that he had found time to enjoy that luxury. To confirm, so far as he would, my own belief in the force of the enemy, and that he would attack at daylight with a force that could overwhelm us at once, I brought with me my once inebriated surgeon, now, however, completely sobered. In a few words I told Banks all that had befallen us, urging that this afforded confirmation of the belief I had expressed to him the preceding night at Strasburg; and then, bringing forward my prisoner, I presented him as a man who, if he would speak at all, would tell the truth. To my appeal the surgeon replied, that, filled with regret as he was at the circumstances of his capture, we could hardly expect him to reveal the number of General Jackson's army; still he would say that he believed his force to be greatly superior to ours, and further, that it was General Jackson's intention to attack us at daylight,that is, he did not doubt such was his intention; and then, said he, with a show of humor, “If you can whip him, he won't whip you.” If my own assertions, backed up by my prisoner's, made any impression on General Banks, I did not perceive it. To my suggestion that now, even at this hour, all the public property in the town should be sent forward to the other side of the Potomac, and preparations made to retire in proper order before the tremendous odds against us, first destroying public property that could not be transported, Banks preserved the same stolid front, the