Where did the First Battle of Bull Run take place?
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle on land between the Union and Confederate armies and took place in Manassas, Virginia, about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C.
What state was the Battle of First Bull Run located?
First Battle of Bull Run
- Background. South Carolina in December 1860 was the first of seven Southern states to declare secession from the Union.
- Opposing forces. ...
- Battle. ...
- Aftermath. ...
- Additional battle maps
- In popular culture. ...
- Sesquicentennial. ...
- Battlefield preservation. ...
- See also
- Notes. ...
Where was the Second Battle of Bull Run located?
Second Battle of Bull Run
- Background. After the collapse of Maj. ...
- Opposing forces. III Corps, Maj. ...
- Battle. The Second Battle of Bull Run began on August 28 as a Federal column, under Jackson's observation just outside Gainesville, near the farm of the John Brawner family, moved ...
- Aftermath. ...
- Battlefield preservation. ...
- Historic photographs. ...
- See also
- Notes. ...
- References. ...
- Further reading. ...
Was the Battle of Bull Run the bloodiest battle?
Bull Run was the largest and bloodiest battle in United States history up until that point. Union casualties were 460 killed, 1,124 wounded, and 1,312 missing or captured; Confederate casualties were 387 killed, 1,582 wounded, and 13 missing (a very high 10% casualty rate of the troops engaged in battle, excluding missing or captured). [11]
Where was the first battle of Bull Run and who won?
First Battle of Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull Run Battle of First ManassasDate July 21, 1861 Location Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia 38°48′53″N 77°31′22″W Result Confederate victoryBelligerentsUnited States (Union)Confederate StatesCommanders and leaders9 more rows
Where did the first battle of Bull Run start?
On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia. The engagement began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run.
Where was the battle of Bull Run?
Fairfax CountyVirginiaPrince William CountyFirst Battle of Bull Run/Locations
When was the first battle of Bull Run?
July 21, 1861First Battle of Bull Run / Start dateFairfax County and Prince William County, VA | Jul 21, 1861. Bull Run was the first full-scale battle of the Civil War.
Who won the 1st Battle of Bull Run?
ConfederateFederal forces under General Irvin McDowell attempted to flank Confederate positions by crossing Bull Run but were turned back. The end result of the battle was a Confederate victory and Federal forces retreated to the defenses of Washington, DC.
Who shot first in Bull Run?
Striking out at 2:30 a.m. on July 21, 13,000 Union soldiers crossed Bull Run near Sudley Church. Meeting little Confederate resistance, the Federals fired the first shots of the battle at about 6 a.m. when they encountered Rebel pickets.
What happened in the first battle of Bull Run?
On July 21, 1861, in the first major land battle of the Civil War, a large Union force under General Irvin McDowell is routed by a Confederate army under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard.
Who won the Battle of Bull Run 1 and 2?
ConfederateConfederate Army Under Robert E. Lee Wins Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) On the Union left, Fitz John Porter defied Pope's orders to lead his men forward against the Confederates on August 29, believing himself to be facing Longstreet's entire corps.
How many battles of Bull Run were there?
two conflictsThe Battles of Bull Run were two conflicts in the American Civil War. They were fought in the summers of 1861 and 1862 at a small stream named Bull Run, near Manassas, Virginia. The Battles of Bull Run are also called First Manassas and Second Manassas. The Confederacy won both battles.
How many died at Bull Run?
Total casualties for the battle topped 22,000, with Union losses numbering 13,824. Confederates killed, wounded, or missing numbered 8,353 men, Longstreet's massive charge on the second day having accounted for the bulk of that total.
What was the first major battle of the Civil War?
The first Battle of Bull RunThe first Battle of Bull Run (also called the first Battle of Manassas) was the first major land battle of the Civil War. Following President Abraham Lincoln's orders, the Union Army under General Irvin McDonnell marched from Washington, D.C., to seize the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.
When did the Bull Run end?
July 21, 1861First Battle of Bull Run / End date
How many died at Bull Run?
Total casualties for the battle topped 22,000, with Union losses numbering 13,824. Confederates killed, wounded, or missing numbered 8,353 men, Longstreet's massive charge on the second day having accounted for the bulk of that total.
Was Fort Sumter the first battle of the Civil War?
April 12, 1861Battle of Fort Sumter / Start date
Where did the Battle of Antietam take place?
SharpsburgWashington CountyBattle of Antietam/Locations
Where did the Civil War begin?
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.
What was the first battle of Bull Run?
Overview of the First Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. First Battle of Bull Run, also called First Battle of Manassas , Battle of First Manassas, or Manassas Junction, (July 21, 1861), in the American Civil War, the first of two engagements fought at ...
Where was the first battle of the Civil War?
First Battle of Bull Run, also called First Battle of Manassas , Battle of First Manassas, or Manassas Junction, (July 21, 1861), in the American Civil War, the first of two engagements fought at a small stream named Bull Run, near Manassas in northern Virginia. (Civil War battles often had one name in the North, ...
What was the name of the battle that Johnston escaped from the Federals?
American Civil War: The war in 1861. …on July 21 in the First Battle of Bull Run , he discovered that Johnston had escaped the Federals in the valley and had joined Beauregard near Manassas just in time, bringing the total Confederate force to about 32,000. (The battle came to be known in the South as the Battle….
How many troops did Johnston move to Bull Run?
Johnston was able to mask his intentions and, utilizing the Manassas Gap railroad, moved 10,000 troops to Bull Run. Johnston arrived on the scene July 20 and, as the ranking general, accepted Beauregard’s plan of attack against Centreville, a town some 5 miles (8 km) to the east.
How many Confederates died in the Battle of Bull Run?
Beauregard and Johnston’s 32,230 Confederates lost 387 killed and 1,582 wounded, with just 13 reported missing or captured. First Battle of Bull Run. Confederate soldiers killed during the First Battle of Bull Run, July 1861. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
When was Stonewall Jackson at Bull Run?
Stonewall Jackson at the First Battle of Bull Run, July 1861. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-DIG-pga-11168) The fighting at Henry House Hill was severe, and about 1:30 pm, McDowell brought up two artillery batteries to the fighting line.
Who was the Union leader who fought at Bull Run?
His delay in advancing, however, would prove the undoing of his plan. Upon perceiving the Union movements, Beauregard notified the authorities in Richmond by telegraph, and Johnston, then facing Patterson’s army near Winchester, was ordered to join Beauregard as quickly as possible. Johnston was able to mask his intentions and, utilizing the Manassas Gap railroad, moved 10,000 troops to Bull Run. Johnston arrived on the scene July 20 and, as the ranking general, accepted Beauregard’s plan of attack against Centreville, a town some 5 miles (8 km) to the east. Before the attack could be launched, however, the Union army assaulted the Confederate left on July 21.
What was the name of the first battle of Bull Run?
/ 38.8147°N 77.5227°W / 38.8147; -77.5227. The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was the first major battle of the American Civil War.
Where was the first battle of the Civil War?
The battle was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about 30 miles west-southwest ...
How many men were in the Hunter and Heintzelman division?
On the morning of July 21, McDowell sent the divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman (about 12,000 men) from Centreville at 2:30 a.m., marching southwest on the Warrenton Turnpike and then turning northwest toward Sudley Springs to get around the Confederates' left. Tyler's division (about 8,000) marched directly toward the Stone Bridge. The inexperienced units immediately developed logistical problems. Tyler's division blocked the advance of the main flanking column on the turnpike. The later units found the approach roads to Sudley Springs were inadequate, little more than a cart path in some places, and did not begin fording Bull Run until 9:30 a.m. Tyler's men reached the Stone Bridge around 6 a.m.
How did McDowell reduce the Union army?
McDowell reduced the size of his army to approximately 31,000 by dispatching Brig. Gen. Theodore Runyon with 5,000 troops to protect the army's rear. In the meantime, McDowell searched for a way to outflank Beauregard, who had drawn up his lines along Bull Run. On July 18, the Union commander sent a division under Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler to pass on the Confederate right (southeast) flank. Tyler was drawn into a skirmish at Blackburn's Ford over Bull Run and made no headway. Also on the morning of 18 July Johnston had received a telegram suggesting he go to Beauregard's assistance if possible. Johnston marched out of Winchester about noon, while Stuart's cavalry screened the movement from Patterson. Patterson was completely deceived. One hour after Johnston's departure Patterson telegraphed Washington, "I have succeeded, in accordance with the wishes of the General-in-Chief, in keeping General Johnston's force at Winchester."
Where was the Confederate Army of the Potomac?
The Confederate Army of the Potomac (21,883 effectives) under Beauregard was encamped near Manassas Junction where he prepared a defensive position along the south bank of the Bull Run river with his left guarding a stone bridge, approximately 25 miles (40 km) from the United States capital. McDowell planned to attack this numerically inferior enemy army. Union Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson 's 18,000 men engaged Johnston's force (the Army of the Shenandoah at 8,884 effectives, augmented by Maj. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes 's brigade of 1,465) in the Shenandoah Valley, preventing them from reinforcing Beauregard.
How many infantry divisions were there in the Battle of Bull Run?
McDowell 's Army of Northeastern Virginia was organized into five infantry divisions of three to five brigades each. Each brigade contained three to five infantry regiments. An artillery battery was generally assigned to each brigade. The total number of Union troops present at the First Battle of Bull Run was about 35,000 although only about 18,000 were actually engaged. The Union army was organized as follows:
How many people died in Bull Run?
Bull Run was the largest and bloodiest battle in United States history until then. Union casualties were 460 killed, 1,124 wounded, and 1,312 missing or captured; Confederate casualties were 387 killed, 1,582 wounded, and 13 missing. Among the Union dead was Col. James Cameron, the brother of President Lincoln's first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. Among the Confederate casualties was Col. Francis S. Bartow, the first Confederate brigade commander to be killed in the Civil War. General Bee was mortally wounded and died the following day.
What was the first battle of the Civil War?
The first major clash of the Civil War in the East took place in July 1861, in Northern Virginia. This battle, called Bull Run by Northerners and Man assas by Southerners, pitted a Union force commanded by General McDowell against a Confederate army under Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph Johnston. What was expected to be a quick Union triumph, however, ended in a Union defeat as McDowell's forces were routed. The Confederate victory greatly enhanced Southern confidence and morale, and indicated that the war would not be as quick and easy as previously imagined.
What was the battle of the Wilderness?
The battle of the Wilderness was a tactical Confederate victory, but the Army of the Potomac did not behave as it had in the past when previous Union commanders had pulled back after being defeated, giving both sides an opportunity to rest and regroup. The Virginia Campaign of May-June 1864 reflected Grant's military philosophy. "The art of war," he maintained, "is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on." Grant continued to press Lee, accepting massive casualties as long as the Army of the Potomac continued to inflict losses on the Confederates. In this new war of attrition, Grant knew that the South lacked the manpower to keep up the fight indefinitely. Therefore, over the next month, Grant was in constant contact with Lee—at Spotsylvania, North Ana, and Cold Harbor. While Lee, operating on interior lines, was able to parry each blow, he could never wrest the initiative from his adversary. Eventually Grant and Meade were able to sidestep Lee once more, cross the James River, and besiege Petersburg.
What was the result of the Union's victory at Shiloh?
Nonetheless, the Union victory at Shiloh led to the capture of Corinth. The way was now open toward both Vicksburg on the Mississippi River and Chattanooga—the gap through the Appalachian barrier necessary to the capture of Atlanta. Coupled with the capture of New Orleans by Admiral David Farragut, 1862 began well for the Union in the West. However in the fall, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg launched a counteroffensive into Kentucky in an attempt to draw Union forces out of Western Tennessee. The effort was turned back at Perryville, Kentucky in October.
How old is the Civil War?
Thousands of volumes have been written about the Civil War. And though it is nearly 150 years old, it is still the most-researched event in American History. Another possible activity would be to have students dig more deeply into some of the war's other battles. Using the interactive Civil War map, have students, in pairs, select a battle to research. Students can then create some visual presentation (PowerPoint, poster, etc.) in which they display to the class the information concerning their battle.
Who won the Battle of Antietam?
After driving McClellan from the Virginia Peninsula in June and July, then defeating another Union force near the old battlefield of Manassas/Bull Run in August, Confederate General Robert E. Lee took the offensive, marching north into Maryland in September of 1862. Once again, McClellan's caution provided Lee the time he needed to concentrate his much smaller force near Antietam Creek, just outside the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in American history, but what could have been a decisive Union victory was instead merely a tactical draw, and Lee successfully retreated across the Potomac. It was, however, enough of a Union success that President Lincoln could issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which changed the character of the war. Frustrated by McClellan's failure to secure a decisive victory at Sharpsburg/Antietam, or to follow Lee immediately after the battle, Lincoln relieved him of command. Learn more about the significance of Antietam with the History Channel video below.
Who was the leader of the Union Army in 1861?
In the East, the Union army found itself with new leadership after the defeat at Manassas/Bull Run. Lincoln appointed General George B. McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac in November 1861, and he succeeded in turning a ragtag collection of recruits into an organized fighting machine. But although he was a superb organizer, he was extremely cautious in the field. This extreme cautiousness was illustrated during the brilliantly conceived but poorly executed Peninsula Campaign, McClellan's attempt to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital, by advancing from the southeast. Unreliable reports that exaggerated the size of the Confederate force contributed to McClellan's caution. In nearly every interaction between McClellan's forces and the Confederate army, McClellan failed to seize the advantage. Many of the additional forces that McClellan asked for were held back to deal with the threat created by Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley
What was Grant's plan for 1864?
Grant believed that up to that point, Union armies in different theaters had "acted independently and without concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together." Accordingly, his strategic plan for 1864 called for putting five Union armies into motion simultaneously against the Confederacy. While three smaller armies in peripheral theaters (Nathaniel Banks against Mobile, Franz Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley; and Ben Butler moving toward Richmond via the James River) tied down significant Confederate forces, preventing them from shifting troops from one theater to another, the two main armies, Meade's Army of the Potomac and William Tecumseh Sherman's army group at Chattanooga would lock horns respectively with Lee in Virginia and Joe Johnson's Army of Tennessee on the road to Atlanta. The simultaneous advance of several armies is called "concentration in time."
Who was the leader of the first bull run?
The Battle of First Manassas (First Bull Run) Rallying the Troops of Bee, Bartow, and Evans, Behind the Robinson House, by Thure de Thulstrup. Cheers rang out in the streets of Washington on July 16, 1861 as Gen. Irvin McDowell’s army, 35,000 strong, marched out to begin the long-awaited campaign to capture Richmond and end the war.
How many miles did the first day of the march cover?
Called from shops and farms, they had little knowledge of what war would mean. The first day’s march covered only five miles, as many straggled to pick blackberries or fill canteens. McDowell’s lumbering columns were headed for the vital railroad junction at Manassas.
Who was the Confederate commander at the Stone Bridge?
Valuable time was lost as the men stumbled through the darkness along narrow roads. Confederate Col. Nathan Evans, commanding at the Stone Bridge, soon realized that the attack on his front was only a diversion. Leaving a small force to hold the bridge, Evans rushed the remainder of his command to Matthews Hill in time to check McDowell’s lead unit. But Evans’ force was too small to hold back the Federals for long.
When did Johnston and McDowell arrive at the junction?
Most of Johnston’s troops arrived at the junction on July 20 and 21, some marching directly into battle. On the morning of July 21, McDowell sent his attack columns in a long march north towards Sudley Springs Ford. This route took the Federals around the Confederate left.
Where was the first battle of the Civil War?
This series of maps shows the Union (blue) and Confederate (red) troop locations and movements before and during the First Battle of Manassas (or Bull Run) that took place in Virginia on July 21, 1861. This was the first major battle of the American Civil War and the fighting was marked by confusion, with Union and Confederate troops wearing similar uniforms and flying similar flags. When it looked as if the Union troops might prevail, Virginians under the command of Thomas J. Jackson rallied on Henry House Hill, where he earned his famous nickname "Stonewall." The battle ended in a rout of Union troops.
Where did the Union troops march in the Battle of Henry House?
They initially marched up Henry House Hill, a prominence to the east of Matthews Hill. As they did this, the lead troops of the Union flanking column, under Rhode Islander Ambrose E. Burnside, encountered Evans’s line. The battle had begun in earnest. For nearly an hour, Evans and his Confederates held.
What time did the Confederates retire from the Battle of Manassas?
July 21, 1861, 11:30 a.m. Confederate forces at Matthews Hill retire to Henry House Hill during the First Battle of Manassas. Union general Irvin McDowell halts his advance, giving the Confederates time to consolidate their new position. July 21, 1861, 2:00—3:00 p.m.
What time did the First Manassas take place?
First Manassas, after 4 p.m. Union retreat, after 4 p.m. First Manassas, noon to 2 p.m. Attacks on Henry House Hill, noon–2 p.m. First Manassas, July 21, 1861, morning. Situation morning, July 21. In the summer of 1861, President Lincoln faced pressure to make a move against the Confederates in Virginia.
How many casualties did the Union suffer in the Battle of Manassas?
The Union troops suffered 2,896 casualties against the Confederates’ 1,897, shocking numbers at the time. First Manassas was the bloodiest battle in American history to date; yet it would not compare to the bloodletting still to come. In fact, the historian Ethan Rafuse has argued that the most important effect of the battle was to convince numerous persons, North and South, that the Civil War would last longer and would exact a toll much greater in both blood and treasure than many had expected. Prior to First Manassas, many believed that a single battle would decide the war. Afterward, it became clear that much more than one victory would be needed to win the war. And while the Confederates had defeated McDowell, on July 26, a new leader, George B. McClellan, fresh from his successes in western Virginia, reported to Washington, D.C., to organize and train the new recruits arriving.
What happened on July 21, 1861?
At the same time on July 21, Union troops began marching to their positions. At six o’clock, Tyler’s men began their demonstration at the Stone Bridge to attract Confederate attention. Meanwhile, the flanking column started toward Sudley Ford.
Where did McDowell's men retreat?
McDowell’s men retreated through Centreville and on to Washington, D.C. Although some units certainly fled in a panic, enough Union troops maintained their composure to hold the Confederates at bay. The Confederates, for their part, exhausted after the fighting of the day and badly disorganized themselves, were in no shape to mount a sustained pursuit of the fleeing army.
Overview
The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was the first major battle of the American Civil War. The battle was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about 30 miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. The Union's forces were slow in posit…
Background
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina was the first of seven Southern States to declare secession of the state from the Union of the United States. By February 1, 1861, six other Southern States passed ordinances of secession. The Constitution of the Confederate States of America was adopted in Montgomery, Alabama on February 8, 1861. On March 1, 1861, Confederate States Army forc…
Battle
On the morning of July 21, McDowell sent the divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman (about 12,000 men) from Centreville at 2:30 a.m., marching southwest on the Warrenton Turnpike and then turning northwest toward Sudley Springs to get around the Confederates' left. Tyler's division (about 8,000) marched directly toward the Stone Bridge. The inexperienced units immediatel…
Aftermath
The battle was a clash between relatively large, ill-trained bodies of recruits, led by inexperienced officers. Neither army commander was able to deploy his forces effectively; although nearly 60,000 men were present at the battle, only 18,000 had actually been engaged on each side. Although McDowell had been active on the battlefield, he had expended most of his energy maneuvering nearby regiments and brigades, instead of controlling and coordinating the movem…
In popular culture
The First Battle of Bull Run is mentioned in the novel Gods and Generals, but is depicted more fully in its film adaptation. The battle forms the climax of the film Class of '61. It also appears in the first episode of the second season of the mini-series North and South, in the second episode of the first season of the mini-series How the West Was Won and in the first episode of the mini-series The Blue and the Gray. Manassas (1999) is the first volume in the James Reasoner Civil War Seri…
Sesquicentennial
Prince William County staged special events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War through 2011. Manassas was named the No. 1 tourist destination in the United States for 2011 by the American Bus Association for its efforts in highlighting the historical impact of the Civil War. The cornerstone of the commemoration event featured a reenactment of the b…
Battlefield preservation
Part of the site of the battle is now Manassas National Battlefield Park, which is designated as a National Battlefield Park. More than 900,000 people visit the battlefield each year. As a historic area under the National Park Service, the park was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
See also
• Armies in the American Civil War
• Troop engagements of the American Civil War, 1861
• List of costliest American Civil War land battles
• Origins of the American Civil War