Without a halt they pressed forward steadily, and after two days' march, exhausted and half famished, they reached the Manassas Gap Railroad.

Here they were put into trains as fast as these could be prepared, and by noon on the 20th joined Beauregard at Manassas.

The cavalry had performed their duty of preventing the news of the movement from reaching the enemy until the infantry were nearly a day's march away, and then Stuart reassembled his men and followed Johnston.

Thus the Confederate plans had been completely successful.

Over 30,000 of the enemy, instead of being in line of battle with the main army, were detained before Winchester, while the little Confederate force which had been facing them had reached Beauregard in time to take part in the approaching struggle.
In the North no doubt as to the power of the grand army to make its way to Richmond was entertained.