I have a question about Stonewall Jackson's 1862 valley campaign. After defeating Banks' army and elements of McDowell's, Why didn't he and Ewell march on Washington rather than joining Lee's army near Richmond? Sure, Richmond was in danger from McClellan's army, but marching on Washington may have drawn him North, and or made him retreat earlier. Or would Banks' and McDowell's armies still present a big enough danger to Jackson's small army to discourage him from going East to Washington?
Good question. One place to look is Stonewall Jackson the man the myth the legend, as it contains an acount of the orders sent under which Jackson operated.
https://www.amazon.com/Stonewall-Jackson-James-Robertson/dp/0028646851 not all acounts give you that kind of detail.
Lee (April 21) send 3 conditional operational guidlines to Jackson, First, if Jackson thought it practable, combine with Ewell and drive Banks down the valley, if defeating him to drive towar4ds Wshington if Banks was too strong, Ewell was to retire to Virginia Central RR, and from their reinforce either Fields force around Fredricksburg or Johnstones army or Jackson, thirdly, if Jackson thought he could contain banks on his own, Ewell was to move to Richmond.
Before engeing Banks in the valley with Ewell and achieving success, his orders, replacing the 3 guilines, of 18th may from Johnston, were to march to Richmand unless that concentration made it to late to catch Banks.
Jackson replies on 23 that he will attack, and if wins drive on harrisonburg, if defeated or banks too strong, he will retire to Swift runn gap and block Banks. Lee reply to that, was if defeated to sever Union supply and communications by moving on from there to Warenten and northern Va . But he wanted a "the blow, whever struck, must be successfull, be sudden and heavy"
Jackson combines and defeats.
June13 after his success, he sends and aide, A Boteler ro Richmond, asking for 40,000 more men, so he can drive down the valley and plunge into the north, "By that means Richmond can be relieved and the campaign transfered to PA".
June 16th Boteler returns to Jackson, lee explains that no such support can be sent and that Jackson and his command is to come to Richmond as speedily as possible and help drive Mc away from the capital. He was to mask this deployment, which he did, so effectivly that the Union thought he was comming down the valley with 20,000 reinforcements. "Unless McClellan can be driven from his entrenchments he will soon be in posistion under cover of his heavy guns within shelling distance of Richmond.I know of no know of no surrer way of thwarting him than that proposed".
Hope that helps.
Ps lee was not able to give orders to Jackson at some points as he was acting for the President and not going through the chain of command. Jackson was thus put in an awkward spot as orders from his superior johnstone did not conform to lees suggestions.
As this photo shows, Banks was well supported.
https://img.ifcdn.com/images/e7c6a94d8cead9f317dec53f6084da12626b66175138ede151844c0c7bd2e311_1.jpg