Dick looked for General Pope and his brilliant staff, but he did not see them.
"Gone to bring up the reserves," whispered Warner, who saw Dick's inquiring look.
But the Vermonter's slur was not wholly true.

Pope was on his way to his main force, doubtless not really believing that Jackson himself was at hand.

But the little army that he left behind fighting with renewed energy and valor broke away from the Southern grasp and continued its march toward that court house, in which the boys could see no merit.
Jackson himself, knowing what great numbers were ahead, was content to swing away and seek for prey elsewhere.
They emerged from the wood toward morning and saw ahead of them great masses of troops in blue.

They would have shouted with joy, but they were too tired.

Besides, nearly two thousand of their men were killed or wounded, and they had no victory to celebrate.
Dick ate breakfast with his comrades.