Troops were hastening from every direction to reenforce General Pope, the entire force on James River especially was to be brought rapidly north of the Rappahannock, and any delay in the operations of the Confederates would thus expose them to attack from the Federal forces concentrated from all quarters in their front.
[Illustration: Map--Upper Rappahannock] IV.
JACKSON FLANKS GENERAL POPE.
It was thus necessary to act with decision, and General Lee resolved upon a movement apparently of the most reckless character.

This was to separate his army into two parts, and, while one remained confronting the enemy on the Rappahannock, send the other by a long circuit to fall on the Federal rear near Manassas.

This plan of action was opposed to the first rule of the military art, that a general should never divide his force in the face of an enemy.

That Lee ventured to do so on this occasion can only be explained on one hypothesis, that he did not highly esteem the military ability of his opponent.

These flank attacks undoubtedly, however, possessed a great attraction for him, as they did for Jackson, and, in preferring such movement, Lee was probably actuated both by the character of the troops on both sides and by the nature of the country.