lincoln was now concerned that if banks could not hold jackson, his confederate army might move to attack washington d.c. on may 24, he had instructed generals john c. frémont and irvin mcdowell to send troops to support banks. this was before banks was defeated at winchester. frémont was ordered to move his forces towards harrisonburg, virginia, to the southeast. mcdowell was ordered to sent 20,000 of his 40,000 troops to support banks at winchester.