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The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas, was the first major battle of the Civil War. It took place in Virginia near the city of Manassas on July 21, 1861. The Confederate Army won the battle with the retreat of the Union Army back to Washington.
This analysis will use information from numerous sources:
• Wikipedia: This open-source online encyclopedia can provide a general overview of the battle; but most importantly, this source provides links to other valuable sources. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run • History Magazine: This reputable source provides a more in-depth analysis of the battle, including relevant before and after information.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/first-battle-of-bull-run
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It occured on July 21, 1861 near the city of Manassas, 25 miles from Washington, D.C. Despite Brigadier General Irvin McDowell’s doubts regarding the battle readiness of his troops, President Abraham Lincoln ordered him to mount the offensive. Lincoln hoped for a quick and decisive victory to end the war quickly, and he pushed aside McDowell’s requests for additional time to train, correctly assuming that the Confederates were equally ill-trained. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard was camped at Bull Run and prepared for defensive operations due to advance notice of the attack through spies in …show more content…
At the beginning of the battle, it appeared that the numbers advantage McDowell had was a key factor that would secure a Union victory. Union Major General Robert Patterson and his 18,000 men were to support the operation by preventing Brigadier General Joseph Johnston’s unit of 12,000 Confederate troops from reinforcing Beauregard. Patterson failed in this endeavor. Johnston’s 12,000 Confederate soldiers arrived at the First Battle of Bull Run by way of railroad and swiftly changed the course of the battle.
This operation hinged on Beauregard’s lack of reinforcements, and Patterson’s failure was endemic of the shortcomings in the implementation of a strategy that involved several moving pieces. McDowell’s forces were not trained well enough to maintain proper command and control throughout the operation. Beauregard’s force was equally untrained; however, he had superior interior lines. While Patterson’s exhausted men moved slowly, Johnston could use the Manassas Gap Railroad to reinforce
It was well believed until Jackson’s forces began unloading rounds on the Union army stopping McDowell’s forces from advancing, holding the line like “a stone wall.” As the new Union recruits witnessed battle for the first time and felt the lack of preparation, they were quick to retreat back to Washington DC. The Southern victory and the tens of thousands of lives lost proved to the Union that this war was not going to be easily won.
McClellan had proven throughout the Peninsula Campaign to be an incredibly timid opponent. He had been deceived time and again into believing that he was vastly outnumbered when the Southern forces were of similar size to his own. Lee's aggressiveness had proven successful against him in every previous engagement, and Malvern Hill looked to be no different. However, his opponent was not McClellan, who” rode to Haxall’s Landing.. and determined the site of the Army’s new base” (Santoro, 191). As a result, Fitz John Patrick commanded Union forces at Malvern Hill (Krick). He was not intimidated by the Confederate offensive. This confusion over the nature of the enemy commander proved to be another major blow to the Army of Northern Virginia's assault. Had the enemy commander been more timid, he may have failed to reinforce the lines under assault with the reserve because he believed the Southern attack is a feint, a mistake McClellan would make at Antietam. Had this occurred, the Confederate attack might have met with more
The first battle of bull run also known as the first Manassas was the bloodiest battle the nation had seen at that point. It all started on july 21st, 1861 near the city of Manassas in Virginia. There were two armies the Union and the Confederates. Both sides had many strengths and weaknesses throughout the war and they played factors.This battle’s view changed over the course of the battle because they thought it was going to be a quick and easy battle but it was not. Many deaths, missing, and wounded people followed with this battle.
General Pierre Beauregard, commander of Confederate troops at the Battle of First Bull Run and second-in-command during the Battle of Shiloh, commented that the enemy was given "...the most surprising surprise" but the delays allowed Union reinforcements to take their place on the battlefield beside their comrades and drive the rebels back after two days of fighting. No ground was gained, no strategic town was taken, no supply depot was sacked, but the Union victory did force the evacuation of Confederate troops from much of Tennessee and split the rebel forces along the lines formed by the Mississippi River.
The weather on the day of battle was hot, in the mid 80’s to low 90’s, and humid. The heat had a negative effect on Union soldiers. The Union Army set out at 2 a.m. to avoid engaging in battle during the hottest part of the day. Many of these Soldiers were untrained in road marches and lacked discipline. They would break ranks to find water, rest or collect blackberries. For these reasons they reached Bull Run three hours late and consequently ended up fighting well into the day. Both sides went into the battle with high morale. They believed that over the course of a few days they would be victorious and the war would be won in this one battle. The terrain of the Battle was mostly rolling country side. Bull Run River was running through the battlefield, which is what the battle was named after. Soldiers had to
You might of heard of the first battle of Bull Run, but did you know a second one exists? The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought between August 28th and 30th, 1862 in the city of Manassas, Virginia. This was the second time both forces had met at Bull Run. The previous battle of Bull Run had taken place the year before and had resulted in a victory for the South. The Union army was commanded by Major General John Pope and McClellan, with General Robert E. Lee leading the Confederate army. This battle is considered one of the worst Union defeats in the Civil War.
The people fighting in this war included the Confederates and the Union, like most battles during the U.S. Civil War. The battle took place around 10 miles northeast of Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is the Confederates capital so this area was somewhat familiar to them, which is a benefit.
The Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Manassas by the Confederacy, was the first major land battle that the armies of Virginia fought. Most think that the Civil War officially started when the Confederate troops gunned down Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, but the Battle of Bull Run is what really kicked off the war. No one had actually really got down and dirty to fight until this battle. It was essentially the first battle of the Civil war.
Imagine standing with twenty eight thousand Union soldiers staring at thirty two thousand Confederate soldiers all young and scared of what lies ahead because five thousand won't be alive when the battle is over. The North will lose the battle and they will realize that this won't be as easy as they thought. Three generals were showcased in this battle Union General Irvin McDowell Confederate Joseph E. Johnston Confederate P.G.T. Beauregard . The battle of Bull Run was a defining moment in the Civil War. It helped the North realise what they were up against. It also showcased 3 simi-famous generals.
General J.E.B Stuart is the cavalry leader assigned by General Lee to recon the movements of the Union army. Stuart rode too far north and was absent for most of the battle. Lee was left with no Intel on the Union army and was fighting in unfamiliar Northern territory. With no information about the movements of the Union army or the surrounding area strategic planning was
The Battle of Bull Run, or First Manassas to the Confederate States of America, was the first major battle of the Civil War. The battle would be a rude wake up call for everyone entering the war. This paper will explore the various details of the battle, including its importance.
The Confederates at Manassas knew far ahead of this action due to many Southern spies in Washington. The Southern troops spread in lines along eight miles of Bull Run Creek. The heaviest Southern troops were on a ridge around Henry House. After a few skirmishes, the Union Army arrived at Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
The battle began on July 1, 1863, when some of General Ambrose Powell Hill?s advance brigades entered the town of Gettysburg Pennsylvania looking for shoes (The History Place Battle of Gettysburg 2). Because of General Stuart?s failure to complete his mission of tracking the Union army, Hill?s troops encountered a Union cavalry division commanded by Major General John Buford (Microsoft Encarta Battle of Gettysburg 2). During battle in front of Cemetery Hill, General Hill was faced with stubborn resistance from the Union forces trying to hold until the rest of the forces could arrive and help out. The fighting went on until General Richard S. Ewell arrived and forced the federal troops to retreat to better ground Southeast of Gettyburg (The History Place Battle of Gettysburg 2). Although the Confederates won the day, Ewell made the mistake of not allowing General Hill to force the Union forces back further leaving the Union troops with higher ground, and that is the conclusion of day one.
The battle of Chancellorsville took place on April 30th to may 6th 1863. It was fought in Chancellorsville, Virginia.This was was fought to stop General Joseph Hooker’s attempt to flank General Lee’s men. In this battle the Union suffered 14,000 and the Confederates suffered 10,000.The Confederates also lost General Jackson, a major loss which will eventually feel the cost of losing him. Over this 7 day battle some major generals were in battle. Some of these names include General Robert E. Lee, Joseph Hooker, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Robert E. Rodes, William Mahone and George Sykes. To start the war General Sykes and General Mahone meet at the orange turnpike. General Sykes men seem to be forcing the the Confederates back. General Rodes
McDowell had 34,000 troops ready to attack 25,000 Confederate forces spread out over eight miles on the other side of Bull Run. Most of the Confederate forces were clustered on the Confederate right flank, prepared to counterattack. McDowell plan