an attack on the Rebel lines at Manassas was
discussed; that he objected to any such movement until Patterson
was in such a position as to prevent the junction between General
Johnston's Army and the troops at Manassas; that on the 6th of
July, he was sent by General Scott, with four picked New York
regiments, to Patterson, and (waiving his own seniority rank)
reported to that General, at Williamsport; that Patterson gave him
command of a division of 8,000 men (and two batteries) out of a
total in his Army of 22,000; that he "delivered orders from General
Scott to General Patterson, and urged a forward movement as soon as
possible;" that there was "Some delay at Martinsburg,
notwithstanding the urgency of our matter," but they "left there on
[Monday] the 15th of July, and went in the direction of
Winchester,"--down to Bunker Hill,--Patterson with two divisions
going down the turnpike, and Sanford taking his division a little
in advance and more easterly on the side roads so as to be in a
position to flank Johnston's right; that on that afternoon (Monday,
July 15) General Patterson rode up to where Sanford was locating
his camp.

Continuing his testimony, General Sanford said: "I was then within
about nine miles of Johnston's fortified camp at Winchester.
Patterson was complimenting me upon the manner in which my
regiments were located, and inquiring about my pickets, which I had
informed him I had sent down about three miles to a stream below.
I had driven out the Enemy's skirmishers ahead of us. They had
some cavalry there. In answer to his compliments about the
comfortable location I had made, I said: 'Very comfortable,
General, when shall we move on?' * * * He hesitated a moment or
two, and then said: 'I don't know yet when we shall move. And if I
did I would not tell my own father.' I thought that was rather a
queer speech to make to me under the circumstances. But I smiled
and said: 'General, I am only anxious that we shall get forward,
that the Enemy shall not escape us.' He replied: 'There is no
danger of that. I will have a reconnaissance to-morrow, and we
will arrange about moving at a very early period.' He then took
his leave.

"The next day [Tuesday, July 16th], there was a reconnaissance on
the Winchester turnpike,