Seymour's Sixth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, with four 12-pounder howitzers of Walton's battery, and Harrison's, Green's, and Cabell's companies of Virginia Cavalry. At this season habitually low and sluggish, it is, however, rapidly and frequently swollen by the summer rains until unfordable. The banks for the most part are rocky and steep, but abound in long-used fords. The country on either side, much broken and thickly wooded, becomes gently rolling and open as it recedes from the stream. On the northern side the ground is much the highest, and commands the other bank completely.
Roads traverse and intersect the surrounding country in almost every direction.
Finally, at Mitchell's Ford the stream is about-equidistant between Centreville and Manassas, some six miles apart. The day began slowly. Initially, the Federal Army with its shear numbers of men was winning the battle. Jackson and the arrival of the 9,000 experienced troops under General Johnston from the Shenandoah Valley. Johnston had slipped away from the troops that were sent to hold him in the valley and brought his troops by rail to Manassas.