First Battle of Bull Run

by Julia

The first battle of Bull Run was the major battle of the civil war. It took place near Bull Run creek. The battle of Bull Run took place near the town of Manassas, Virginia. The battle was on July 23rd, 1861.  Both sides were extremely confident of an easy and quick victory. The Confederates had an army that contained about 20,000 men.       

President Abraham Lincoln gave the Union general an army of 30,000 inexperienced men. Abraham Lincoln’s goal was to reach the Confederate army’s capital; Richmond. Abraham Lincoln’s target was the Confederate army that contained about 20,000 men.

At the battlefield, Bull Run creek was only crossable at a bridge and a number of fords. A man named Henry Hill commanded the fords and the bridge.  On the morning of July 23rd, 1861 the Confederates attacked the bridge.       

That afternoon, the Confederates launched several piecemeal assaults at Henry House Hill. Attacks from both armies lasted for about two hours. At around 4:00 p.m., fresh troops from Beauregard’s army arrived at the field. The fresh troops rolled up the Confederates. Eventually, the Union army retreated back to Washington D.C., allowing the Confederate army to escape unmolested.      

The reason the first battle of Bull Run was important because it was the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War. There were other battles before the First Battle of Bull Run, but the First Battle of Bull Run was the fist major battle of the U.S. Civil War.

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