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Overall Size: 19" x 25"
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The sun was beginning to drop towards the western horizon on August 28, 1862. Stonewall Jackson's 24,00 men lay concealed in the woods north of the Warrenton Turnpike stretching from Sudley on the left to north of Brawner's Farm on the right. The Confederates had been resting after a devastating flanking march which culminated the previous day in the capture and destruction of Major General John Pope's Federal Army of Virginia's supply depot at Manassas Junction.
General Jackson had marched his command northward to be in a position where he could monitor Federal activity on the Warrenton Turnpike, several hundred yards in front of this men. The ciritical linkup with General Robert E. Lee's remaining forces under General James Longstreet was paramount in Jackson's thoughts. Finally, a courier arrived earlier in the afternoon of August 28, informing Stonewall that Lee and Longstreet were nearby forcing a passage at Thoroughfare Gap, to Jackson's right flank and rear.
Now Stonewall Jackson could precipitate a fight, knowing that the junction of the two "wings" of the Confederate Army was only hours away.
Jackson, relieved at the news, had reclined to a fence corner catching some needed rest. Soon scouts reported enemy activity in the front of Brawner's farm on the Warrenton turnpike. Jackson rose quickly and ran to his horse, buckling on his sword as he approached "Little Sorrel." He immediately galloped off alone toward the Union column marching eastward across his front. Through the broomsedge field below Brawner's farmhouse he rode back and forth, trotting within easy musket range of the Federal Division of General Rufus King, which included a brigade of westerners wearing conspicuous black Hardee hats; soon to be known as the "Iron Brigade."
Stonewall scrutinized the Federal regiments, marching at route step, for several minutes in this highly exposed position, riding along their left flank, sometimes halting, then rapidly riding on, only to halt and reverse direction to examine them again.
Suddenly he pulled up, wheeled "Little Sorrel," and returned swiftly to his command. Arriving in front of this staff and officers he touched his hat in salute and quietly said, "Bring out your men, gentlemen." Thus started the vicious fight at Brawner's farm which would be fought well into the approaching darkness, initiating the Battle of Second Manassas, and also initiating the bulk of the "Iron Brigade" to combat for the first time, opposite the vaunted Stonewall Brigade.